Over the weekend, American Airlines announced that it would scale back meal service in domestic premium cabins. As innocuous as that seems with all the worries on our plate, it is a shortsighted move and insulting to customers. Yet part of me cannot blame American Airlines for the meal service cuts as it tries find its footing in a harsh new environment.
American Airlines Cuts Meals On Many Flights Over 2200 Miles
Throughout the pandemic, American Airlines has offered full meals in business and first class on flights over 2200 miles. A couple weeks ago, American added a fruit and cheese plate to flights between 900-2200 miles. Now, AA will offer the fruit and cheese plate on all domestic flights over 900 miles with just a handful of exception markets which will continue to receive meals:
- New York ⇄ Los Angeles/San Francisco
- Honolulu ⇄ Dallas
Meals like this have recently been cut from American Airlines
A fruit and cheese plate is now offered instead
A couple things to address first.
First, United Airlines also only offers meal service on its premium transcontinental flights and longer Hawaiian flights. Meanwhile, Delta does not offer meal service at all right now on domestic flights, instead offering only snack boxes. In that sense, American Airlines still surpasses both Delta and United in terms of meal offering, because the fruit and cheese plate, at least historically, has been very tasty. Second, JetBlue has recently restored meal service, but only offers it on Mint transcontinental flights.
The AA move is concerning (and at least newsworthy) because it seems to be moving in the wrong direction, not the right way (like JetBlue). But it’s not even about that.
One Mile at a Time and View from the Wing debate over whether a strong inflight experience is more important than ever. I tend to agree with One Mile at a Time that the most people just don’t care and would much rather have a blocked middle seat. But that’s speculation at this point and View from the Wing rightly notes that there is something wrong with the idea that a first class passenger traveling on back-t0-back six hours flights (like Philadelphia to Los Angeles to Honolulu) receives no meal onboard, just a snack. With most airport concessions still closed, planning food and drink is another stress point in today’s travel experience.
What I liked about AA’s early decision to keep (mostly) full meal service on flights over 2200 miles was how it differentiated AA from others. This pandemic era is the perfect time to experiment. Remember a few weeks ago I wrote about Delta’s bid to become the premium U.S. airline? It seems to be working. Delta says blocked middle seats are the number one reason people are choosing Delta right now.
American Airlines has decided not to block middle seats. But while United cut meals and amenities like blankets, flying transcontinental flights was largely like normal on American Airlines. Maybe AA found this just didn’t matter and customers did not care one way or the other. Maybe that is why American Airlines is now more aggressively resuming service and dumping cheap fares in many markets, unlike Delta and United.
Let’s face it: American Airlines and premium are not synonymous. It could be that AA just decided not to bother.
That’s why I am so split on this. On the one hand, I think airline meals only matter to a small subset of the traveling public. But who will splurge for a first class seat, especially on American Airlines, when seats and legroom are only marginally more comfortable than Main Cabin Extra and there is no service onboard? Doesn’t it just make sense to buy two economy class seats to be able to stretch out even more and save money? Does AA really want its premium cabins filled with complimentary elite upgrades and employees?
CONCLUSION
I do not think meal service matters to most people, especially now. But I also think this is a move in the wrong direction and represents an odd decision to punish the few passengers still buying premium cabin tickets in this era. I doubt AA will reconsider this move, but it simply seems “penny wise, pound foolish” as American Airlines positions itself to win back business in the longterm.
Your thoughts? Does anyone care about AA cutting meal service on most domestic flight over 2200 miles?
The meal service matters – it’s the right thing to offer premium customers, especially in a time when in-airport dining options are scarce.
Lufthansa gets it.
I agree. If you take precautions wear gloves, masks etc…. that would work. Whats the difference between eating on a plane and a restaurant????
We still are charged premium prices for business or first class tickets. So now all your getting is a bigger seat !!
I think it matters as well. I used to count on EXP for upgrades so AA isn’t making extra revenue off me, but food was available.
I’m very rarely flying now but when I have to fly I’m buying only F tickets now and the seat next to me. And no one gets to the airport early to eat anymore, so food on a flight is needed.
Matthew
I think this is well written and am torn with this. On one hand, I agree most who fly first might not care but also recognize the need some may have to have a meal, not a snack, in the routine you and Gary suggested.
What bothers me is how they do this u see the auspice of caring for our safety due to COVID when the reality is all they care about is their bottom line. This coming from the airline who refuses to block middle seats which I have said and will continue to say does little to stop transmission. But at least it gives the appearance of caring.
Last time I checked my area (CMH), first class was competitive but certainly not a drastic reduction in price compared to the other three.
Providing a meal with drinks doesn’t magically expose a passenger or FA to covid. Being on a plane does. And if a passenger is paying a premium fare, they should have premium service. There is no reason that instead of eliminating service they look at changing it up. Bringing back the cheeseburger and chips and putting in a bag and handing to passengers as they sit. Or at least looking at packageable items they could give to passengers. Yes none of us like airplane food domestically but if they truly cared they would be doing something other than eliminating service all together.
How does blocking the middle seat help? You are still 30″ away from the guy in front of you and if in an isle maybe 25″ away. Social distancing on an airplane is impossible, unless you want your plane “full” at 1 person every third row.
Yes, the meal service matters to me if I’m paying for business or first class. That’s part of the experience. That being said, I don’t plan on flying until I know I can do so safely. Once there is a vaccine or at least therapeutic medicine to cure this virus, I’ll be flying again.
Matthew – I am going to echo Greg on this, it actually does matter. Air travel is no longer particularly “luxurious” (was it before coivd anyway?) and providing a level of service to provide a bit of luxury and value is extremely important. Since almost all airlines are racing to be bottom due to revenue situation, having an actual meal on-board is a good differentiator. Delta would be wise to restore some of the service in flight to encompass that “premium” airline experience. I’ll be flying in a few weeks and it is a part of my equation with Delta in terms of using some miles on a upgrade to first or not.
AA’s strategy is simple. If you want a meal, fly on our partner airlines Alaska or JetBlue. Come to us for a Spirit experience.
I think what is important is cost vs benefit. Obviously food on a plane is more expensive than on the ground. If that first class meal costs the airline $50 a person I rather bring my own sammich or full meal. They are one step closer to financial stability and I have a meal I’ll enjoy more anyway. The only thing is I’ll really miss the pretzel rolls 🙁
I’ll miss those pretzel rolls too!
It absolutely matters. Business/first is more than just a larger seat, much more. Drink service matters too. Let people mix their own drinks or give them the small wine bottles/beer cans and a wrapped cup to pour into. No different than handing out water bottles. When people are traveling they will not be preparing their own food, so why is it different on a plane then at the first restaurant/cafe they’re going to stop at once they get off the plane?
Scott Kirby back at AA with his “service enhancements”? Or is it just the “ghost of Scott Kirby”?
Terrible change. Again, what does a meal cost to AA for FC? $5? And they make $400+ per FC seat? This is a slap in the face to loyal FC paid and elite flyers. AA always making horrible changes. So now they have a partnership with Jetblue and Alaska which is ironic since both of them have better service than American. They need to fire Doug Parker long ago.
There are minds immeasurably superior to ours that weigh all these changes. Most First Class customers are burning miles for the upgrade so a captive audience. For Crews working in this time, flying is working in a petrie dish. Once the door closes the re-circulation fans mix every molecule of air in the cabin. Those heppa filters are changed at “D” checks and are filthy. Virus packages are so small that they pass all filtration and if someone sneezes in row 30 that sneeze is in row 1 within 3 minutes. The lack of meal service is a protective measure to the crews. It sux working the line. Hotels have no food. We work a 14 hour day and not a single meal. Airport stops are too short and most food in the terminals is limited. I have to take food and even water to sustain for the duration. If you happen to have a stop outside the US you cannot take any food or liquids there or back. If you do you risk a huge fine and possible jail and or job loss. So the new normal is you are buying the seat a-b. Don’t expect anything and you won’t be disappointed. At least with decreased traffic more flights are getting in early.
Matthew – do you have direct confirmation UA is serving hot meals on the premium TCON flatbed routes yet? I don’t consider the box o’ junk as a “meal” FWIW. My personal data points are from just 3 weeks ago.
I am told that the problem was solved as of 07/01. It looks like I have to make a trip this week and may be able to report first-hand. Stay tuned.
It absolutely matters. Business/first is more than just a larger seat, much more. Drink service matters too. Let people mix their own drinks or give them the small wine bottles/beer cans and a wrapped cup to pour into. No different than handing out water bottles. When people are traveling they will not be preparing their own food, so why is it different on a plane then at the first restaurant/cafe they’re going to stop at once they get off the plane? I understand that this is for the crew but many people just won’t fly, and certainly won’t pay, as I always did, for premium cabins without premium service.
The problem I have is that the meals were terrible to being with, and AA knew it. The “fruit and cheese” is edible, I had two last week, but at the same time, it resembles something a 12-year-old might take to school with them in their lunchbox. It’s a stretch to call it premium.
I don’t think I’m actually missing the meals, but for frequent fliers, being fed the same cheese and crackers over and over could get real old real quick.
I’d have to disagree about the meals being terrible; sure airline meals are by no means going to be comparable to a dining experience on the ground. Notwithstanding “real” international First Class (LH comes to mind), domestic First Class meals in the US are mass produced and quality, quantity, presentation varies widely. That being said, I would have to say that AA had a decent offering at least compared to what UA had sunk to recently.
The big thing for me was being able to rely on having a meal on a flight and not having to schedule connection times to allow time to grab food. Now even scheduling time for food is pointless because airports have so few options available.
But I am inclined to believe its just AA testing the waters to see how people react.
Totally agree that this is a move in the wrong direction ! Are they cutting out the drink service as well. Knowing u are getting feed on a long flight , possibly with tight connections, eases some of the cumbersome planning process that is flying today. It also breaks up the monotony of long flights. Since it is difficult to use upgrade miles most of the time anyway I think I will be looking at airlines that are more passenger oriented! I hope I can use my miles for something!!!!
This is what I think is happening;
Most Regular Businesses Class passengers are NOT flying. And the airlines realize that most will not be flying in the near future.
To at least have some passengers up front besides upgrades and employees, the airlines have had to radically reduce ticket prices.
Thus the downgrade in service which ‘saves’ money.
Who are these “most travelers”? I don’t know anyone who would say meals don’t matter.
Especially in first.
I don’t care about blocked seats and I don’t know why it should be “either one or the other” in the first place.