Is it time to eliminate hot nuts in first class? They’re boring and they do not distinguish the product. It’s like airlines aren’t even trying. And that’s why coming up with a replacement seems like a real opportunity to wow customers with something different.
Since American Airlines wants to pivot to offering a premium product, but doesn’t seem to know how, I’ve been thinking about ways they could go premium without spending much more money. After all, even as they say they want to be premium they just cut second drink service on longer coach flights. My first suggestion was that improving their onboard coffee would be a good start. And they could do that in coach which is where most passengers fly.
So what would it mean to offer a real premium product, and not just a ‘me too, but slightly less than’ version of United and Delta? One real opportunity for an airline to distinguish itself would be to recognize that it’s time to replace the hot towel and hot nuts first class rituals.
As some online commentators would like to see:
[H]ot nuts in first class are the airline equivalent of your grandma’s candy dish. Once iconic. Now just sad, always stale, and vaguely suspicious.
Every time that tiny ramekin of lukewarm, over-roasted mystery legumes shows up, I wonder: “Is this what luxury tastes like? 2007?”
So here’s my modest proposal at the same or less overhead to AA. Two alternative snacks that might not taste like they’ve been aging in a pressurized drawer since the Bush administration:
Option A: A single, delicious parmesan shortbread cookie — fancy, flaky, and no risk of accidental dental work.
Option B: Little crackers and a tiny tapenade dip cup.
There is a certain sameness to the nuts. I usually decline them, or if I don’t it’s because I miss my window and I don’t want to be rude as a flight attendant is placing them on my tray. There’s just so little variance in the product, outside of that time when disgraced former United CEO Jeff Smisek’s cost-cutting meant that whole cashews were replaced with cashew pieces.
Now, some airlines ‘mix’ it up a bit. A more premium version might be mostly cashews.
There’s the Hawaii nut mix, with candied dried pineapple.
Or the local flavor of Hawaiian Airlines macadamia nuts.
I always loved the British Airways premium cabin nut mix, to be honest.
And I do like American Airlines olives, which I eat and usually leave the nuts.
During the pandemic, American Airlines had hopes of keeping cost cuts even once the worst was over, and instead of bringing back first class meals replacing them with something that “still has a premium feel but is different and more modern.”
What would more modern and more premium look like for the pre-meal drink accompaniment?
- Mini Antipasto Skewers. Bite-sized skewers with things like mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, olives, basil, or roasted peppers.
- Spiced or Sweet-Roasted Seeds. Pumpkin or sunflower seeds roasted with gourmet flavorings (maple-chipotle, thyme & sea salt).
- Artisanal Crackers with Individual Spreads. Crackers made from grains like spelt or quinoa. Accompany with spreads (herbed cheese spread, hummus, or tapenade).
- Small “Amuse Bouche” Canapés. Mini crostini or petite tarts with interesting toppings (whipped goat cheese, roasted vegetables, smoked salmon). This would obviously be a bit pricier.
- Individually Wrapped Specialty Chocolates. Maybe replace the drink accompaniment with something after the meal like petit fours? Filled chocolate bonbons perhaps or macarons, to pair well with post-meal coffee or tea.
- Savory Shortbread Bites. Buttery, crumbly shortbread made with herbs, aged cheese, or even black truffle. Or, better yet, I can’t even tell you how delicious the crepes fourrees are that Air France serves, but maybe place them in a ramekin rather than serving in the box?
Some of these are a bit pricier, so not the sort of thing that Devon May would ever sign off on at American Airlines. But an airline that wanted to differentiate its first class product, create more of an experience, and compete for higher margin business seemingly could do so with a bit of creativity.
The truth is, of course, that airlines want to balance premium perception, cost-effectiveness, and simple service.
- relatively long shelf life
- minimal labor to serve (no complicated prep or plating)
- stored and distributed efficiently with limited risk of spoilage
You’d be more likely to see gourmet popcorn, artisanal cheese crisps, and spiced or sweet-roasted seeds than antipasto skewers or canapés.
Gary, aren’t these the same nuts you hawked to us during the pandemic trying to save “the company.” What changed?
You’re describing what JetBlue does in the Mint Cabin.
Not that some of your suggestions aren’t good but I Love the warm nuts on AA. I’m sometimes disappointed on morning flights, when I’m in first class, that they won’t be serving the nuts.
Choice is great but I’d leave the nuts as an option.
I still enjoy the nuts. Why do people think everything has to be “re-invented”?
Are you out of material? I read your blog religiously but this is about the dumbest article I’ve seen you write.
Warm nuts (when they actually do it) are actually one of the better things domestic carriers offer… anything else would a) cost more, and b) likely appeal to fewer tastes (the more seasonings/exotic it gets the more people you exclude, especially those with food allergies – which encompasses a lot more than nuts).
You want a single selection for efficiency. Almost everyone (without allergies) will eat nuts. That’s not true of many of your other suggestions. Lots of picky eaters won’t eat olives, or tomatoes, or hummus.
Nuts are also pretty filling. With the entrée plates often portioned modestly, at least compared to the serving size most Americans are used to, the nuts go a long way to making the meal service as a whole sufficiently satisfying.
You will have to take my hot nuts from my cold dead hands.
And yes, the double entendre is intentional 🙂
My favorite aircraft appetizer has always been the Satay on Singapore Airlines. Technically there are peanuts in the dipping sauce, but the whole thing is delicious !
I’d be happy if they just brought back the cookie. Simple but I enjoyed it more than the nuts.
No matter what you pick, someone is going to moan about it. With a megaphone.
I would recommend a varying soup/salad course. Or if AA wants to develop an identity, take something like an eggroll and switch what’s inside of it every so often (pizza, cheesesteak, taco, curry, etc.)
You can not be serious Gary? What’s wrong with the ramekin of warm nuts? Personally, I like them.
The nuts are great. Maybe a bigger portion. On domestic flights they’re often the best part of the meal.
As long as they don’t do anything desert like such as cookies, I am ok with variety.
Slow news day?? I know you are the expert on everything but now you are suggesting how airlines should “fix” the nut service??
I wouldn’t have said ‘ruining’ but I suppose hyperbole, speculation, and rushing to harsh judgment is literal currency on the internet these days… so… (yes, burn the witch! Burn her!!)
In all seriousness, I like cashews, olives, cheese, crackers, etc., but I’ll take what I can get, if I happen to be up front, so no biggie, more there for the larger seat, recliner or lie-flat, to board before the peasants (joking, of course, sorta), and hopefully to enjoy a decent meal, if the flight is even eligible.
They’re just fine – focus on improving the salad, appetizer, and main coruse, and get back to 4 step service as an option. they’re monetizing first class better than ever.
@Thing 1 is right, this is comedic gold… @David P “loves… warm nuts!” while @Ken merely ‘enjoys’ them and @swag says they ‘fill’ him… And Gary was ‘nuts’ to post this!
Sounds like your job and business model of flying back and forth for work has you stuck in a rut. Time to try something different–teleconference, try a different airline, new customers in different cities. Anything to change your jaded view of the current flying you are doing.
Those crepes fourées on AF are amazing. Best snack in the sky, maybe on all of terrestrial Earth as well.
As a 40+ year F/A, strictly international flights and only premium cabin service, I can say without a doubt there are three components of my service that should never be changed. These three items, hot towels, warm nuts and ice cream sundaes, are a favorite of my passengers and would be truly missed. There are other food items that can be improved upon.
Or, you could just abstain. Based on your size, you clearly don’t need the additional calories.
@Flyer1 — Thank you for your service. And also, for reminding us all of the importance of ice cream sundaes. American and United still get it, occasionally. And when the cart does come around, the only appropriate answer is: ‘Yes, with everything on it.’ Don’t skimp out. Get the nuts on that, too.
Thanks to the generosity of CEO Robert Isom, business class passengers on American Airlines have expressed a preference for warm, salty nuts. However, as an alternative to Isom’s warm, salty nuts, unsalted or unsweetened nuts are recommended, as the added salt or sugar can reduce their heart-healthy benefits.
Please make the warm nuts go away. In First on Alaska and American they are always stale with no flavor whatsoever. Trail mix would be just as easy and tastier.
Nuts are a healthy option. Don’t replace them with more junk food.
Once again, Gary has a bad idea, fueled by his desire to be drama and seen as refined. No surprise there. Nuts are a good option. I prefer that. It’s not surprising that he’d promote unhealthy options that wouldn’t work for diabetes. Sure change it up with macadamia – but don’t take the nuts.
I adore hot nuts on AA flights. I usually ask the flight attendant for a refill which they typically bring me in a normal disposable coffee cup. If you want something else, I suggest going and picking something up in the terminal before the flight. Also, is it me, or is the content here getting redundant and/or useless?
I agree with Ken. Why is it that the millennial generation feels that they have to “re-invent” everything? Some things are best left alone. I don’t think they look at the after effect of their “re-invented” choices (meaning the mess). I remember serving popcorn in coach on a DC-10 to Honolulu years back what a mess. I guess it was just a prelude to today’s mess. A lot of carriers keep the choices minimum because of costs, yes Air France has wonderful items, but let’s not forget they’re subsidized by the government too.
Nuts are one of the VERY few snacks they offer that aren’t carby as all get out. Please don’t replace them with some sugar soaked gourmet nonsense. The nuts are perfect. I look forward to them.
Boo this man.
I like the hot nuts and prefer them to your options Perhaps a more premium mix with more pecans and cashews. But if AA is reading this please keep the nuts.
I think the quality of the nuts on Delta went down. They were more of a premium product now they look and taste like a bargain basement mix
What is the point of “hot nuts,” anyway? Are we blanket-bound travelers in a one-horsed sleigh, traversing the snowy forests of Maine? I think they are disgusting (how many fingers have been over deez nutz?), boring, outdated, a labor to munch, and an annoyingly fat protein source.
Anything would be better…
Gary’s suggestions are all awesome, and I’d swerve to the airline them in FC over a DeezNutz class airline anytime.
I like warm nuts. Considering the only nuts in my house are peanuts, a serving of mixed nuts is great.
William F. Buckley once wrote that the airline that served a deli sandwich like those served at the Carnegie Deli could grab a lot of market share.
Jon nailed it. I wish Air France would just serve me those the whole flight and I could probably skip the real food
Leave the nuts alone!! It’s the one small piece of decency on airlines we still have. I like the nuts that AA offers and do from time to time bye the and have them shipped to my house. Not sure what the beef is about them but I think they are a nice thing to have. Pick on other items instead.
The only hot nuts in first class are the ones with two legs
Maybe they should serve those Schweddy Balls as introduced on SNL.
Nuts to nuts! How about checking my bags through on separate tickets and letting me standby arriving at the gate within 45 minutes
Or letting me stand by for better routing
These changes cost even less than the nuts or dips or any other snack.
@Thing 1–It continues! @Matt says he ‘adores’ hot nuts and @Chuck prefers ‘warm’ nuts. Zing!
@Ralphie — Millennials aren’t ‘killing’ anything. Nice try stoking intergenerational conflict. Really, it’s more astroturfing than anything else, which is defined as “the deceptive practice of presenting an orchestrated marketing or public relations campaign in the guise of unsolicited comments from members of the public.” Remember, follow the money, folks. None of our differences are really about age, gender, race, culture, etc. It’s the haves vs. have-nots. Or should I say, have-nuts… *wink*
Sounds like a ‘first {class}world’ problem… More importantly, what about the ‘third world’ REAL problems in the back of the bus ?? … Ohh ? .Why not .”Let them eat cake !” …lol
@bossa — ‘Third’ world? Pish posh. Didn’t you hear… it’s now called ‘the global south’ which replaces ‘developing,’ but since that’s too ‘woke,’ it’ll soon be called ‘sh*thole countries,’ again. Praise our king!
I’m ok with the nut service, however not to expose my age i can remember when AA served a caviar plate and champagne as a starter in First Class.(perhaps that is why it has been down graded to call it business now). Hot, prepared onboard, first class Entrées were the norm on four hour domestic flights. The icecream Sundaes and hot fresh chocolate cookies were a welcome finish.
@Thing 1 — How do you feel about @Reb Stimson’s thoughts on his ‘nut service’? Bah! More!
I hate the nuts on AA. Dump ‘em! I laugh at the idea of AA serving a canapé. They can’t even regularly do predeparture bev.
I actually like warm nuts and I look forward to those! Don’t change.
Who doesn’t like deez? Deez what? Deez nutz!
@1990 @Thing 1 — Ha-haa! The thread that keeps on giving.
I’m neutral on the nuts. Give me some and I’ll snack on ‘em but don’t give me any and I won’t miss em.
But much rather prefer the old Southwest free nuts (I’m sure you agree @1990!). I don’t have any expectations for airplane food in general but was a big fan of the Magnolia Bakery banana pudding that UA provides. A good dessert is always welcome.