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Home » American Airlines » Infamous Pastrami Sandwich On American Airlines Still Being Served In First Class
American AirlinesMeal of the Week

Infamous Pastrami Sandwich On American Airlines Still Being Served In First Class

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 10, 2022November 14, 2023 63 Comments

a plate of food on a table

I do love pastrami…but I finally had the chance to try the infamous pastrami sandwich on American Airlines and am sorry to report it is still part of the “refreshed” first class meal service. I now understand why everyone hates it.

A Reincarnation Of The Pastrami Sandwich In American Airlines First Class

I was traveling from Los Angeles to Dallas, a flight of 1,235 miles. American Airlines has restored hot meals in first class on flights over 1,500 miles, but mainline flights between 900 and 1,500 miles which depart before 9:00pm receive a cold meal instead. When American Airlines announced it was refreshing its onboard meal service, it teased cold entrees like smoked salmon, fruit & cheese, or entrée salads.

My flight was operated by a Boeing 787-9 and I was seated in row 7, the last row of the premium cabin. Pre-reserving meals was not available on this flight and apparently will not be available in markets with cold meals (flights under 1,500 miles).

I forgot that American Airlines simply serves meals from front-to-back and does not prioritize preference by status (I still have Executive Platinum status on American for a few more weeks). By the time the flight attendant reached me, the Greek salads had all been claimed and the only meal left was a pastrami sandwich.

I was mildly amused at the opportunity, though I certainly would have ordered the salad had it still been available. No one in the front of the plane ordered the sandwich–I walked by a few moments later and everyone had the salad. Second, my seatmate through a hissy fit over the sandwich.

“I hate this. Why don’t you load enough salads?!”

He refused to eat.

Then the lady across from me, traveling with her mini “guide” dog, also got upset and said she would not even give that sandwich to her dog.

Wow…

But I took one for the team and agreed to try the pastrami sandwich.

Oh my. It really was as bad as people said.

First off, it was mostly bread, with a huge thick roll on both the top and bottom. Worst of all, the bread was ice cold. Are you serious? There was some arugula and some type of spread over the turkey pastrami. And just so we would not forget, a big sticker confirmed what the sandwich was.

a tray of food on a table

Thanks…but no thanks.

American Airlines, it’s time to finally retire this most atrocious sandwich.

CONCLUSION

American Airlines needs to get rid of this sandwich, NOW. At the very least, it needs to instruct flight attendants to heat this in the oven for 20-25 minutes, which I suspect would make it somewhat more edible if it has more supply to burn through.

To those griping that I should be thankful that I get a meal since coach class get nothing, I do remind you this is a travel blog focused on premium cabin travel…

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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63 Comments

  1. Jan Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 12:41 pm

    In b4 @Stuart’s love of AA pastrami sandwiches

    • Stuart Reply
      March 10, 2022 at 12:54 pm

      I put in an order for 5000 of them from AA surplus and sending them to Russia With Love.

      • DavidM Reply
        March 10, 2022 at 4:33 pm

        But…wouldn’t that provoke Putin beyond even some “surplus” Migs from Poland? LOL.

        • Stuart Reply
          March 10, 2022 at 8:24 pm

          Not if we deliver them to Germany first and wash our hands, lol

    • Paul Pine Reply
      April 2, 2022 at 6:52 pm

      The salads are even worse. Totally inedible. American Airlines serves all of us food I would not give to my dog and we keep paying. It’s outrageous . Transatlantic I only fly european or middleastern airlines. American these days is really the bottom of the barrel.

  2. Billy Bob Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    What’s that next to it, potato salad?
    The dessert looks appetizing.

    • Gravelly Point Guy Reply
      March 10, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      Honestly, it looks much better than the “snack hot sandwich “ crap UNITED serves. Pathetic!

    • Lois Cooper Reply
      March 12, 2022 at 8:35 pm

      The only thing edible was the brownie. This is what I was served in first class 2 weeks ago. It was disgusting!

  3. Jason Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 1:07 pm

    How far is 1,5000 miles?

    • James Reply
      March 12, 2022 at 10:06 pm

      Imagine being this dumb

      • Jack Reply
        March 14, 2022 at 10:34 am

        Imagine leaving a snarky comment to someone who was referencing a typo that has since been edited out (1,5000 instead of 1,500) and just looking like a d bag to all that come after.

    • Ron Reply
      March 13, 2022 at 12:53 am

      One more than 1499, yet one less than 1501.

  4. Jerry Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 2:20 pm

    Generally you can tell how often people fly up front based on their order. I haven’t accepted a sando on AA in quite a while.

  5. KRIS Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 2:40 pm

    I agree that this is the most disgusting Deli meat on the planet. Discontinue it immediately,

    • Jorge Paez Reply
      March 10, 2022 at 8:33 pm

      It’s not even real Pastrami! Real Pastrami is made of pork…..

      • Jim Reply
        March 11, 2022 at 9:05 am

        I hope you’re joking

      • Doak P Reply
        March 11, 2022 at 5:01 pm

        Only if pork goes “moo.”

      • David R Reply
        March 11, 2022 at 8:18 pm

        Real pastrami is basically smoked corned beef.

  6. Albert Filho Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 2:44 pm

    AA is the worse air company in the world.
    I bet it’s CEO have never flew on it’s own economy class.
    Any domestic flight with over three hours duration should serve meals.

  7. jbelkin Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    Why not just call it a spam sandwich? That is an abomination that wouldn’t even be offered in a vending machine

    • Dave Reply
      April 12, 2022 at 5:22 am

      That’s really being offensive to Spam. Ask any Hawaiian, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Monty Python fan.

  8. Richard S Taylor Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 3:19 pm

    Opt for the vodka instead.

  9. Elyce Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 3:31 pm

    Editor, you are needed!

    • Ron Reply
      March 13, 2022 at 12:55 am

      What? Didn’t he go threw it thoroughly enough?

  10. John C. Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 3:40 pm

    Parker (CEO) is leaving. Things will improve.

    • Jim Jacobs Reply
      March 10, 2022 at 5:03 pm

      Parker leaving will likely not be enough. What AA needs in an enema. A deep cleaning from the inside out.

  11. s93 Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 4:12 pm

    Some AA FA still follow the pre covid meal order procedure that is front to back on east bound and back to front on west bound. On my flight from DCA to DFW order was taken back to front however as not every one is eating therefore I was able to still have a choice despite sitting in row 1.

  12. viapanam Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 4:43 pm

    Another prime example of Doug Parker’s “The Customer Comes Last” approach to inflight service. We can only hope, as John C. said, that things improve once Parker retires.

  13. Lieze Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    Wow. Is this a first class meal? Ryanair sells better food!

  14. JoeMart Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    This reminded me a joke told on TV :” What’s the difference between having sex or eating the AA pastrami sandwich? At least one knows what is being eaten when having sex.” Interpret the joke as you may.

  15. Pete Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 4:58 pm

    Did you sayAmerican or Greyhound?

  16. C Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    American serves front to back but preferences are taken either front to back or back to front depending on the direction of the flight. There is also the option of ordering in advance to guarantee your choice of meal. Also, you have a typo in the mileage in reference to distance traveled to be served a hot meal.

  17. Billy Hall Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 6:28 pm

    I actually always loved the sandwich. I would always love when I got the chance to eat it. I usually liked it more than a standard meal.

  18. David M Hoffman Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    Turkey Pastrami: Bad as turkey and worse as pastrami.
    AA, just use seasoned roasted/baked turkey in a sandwich. It tastes far better.

  19. Jeanne Paderofsky Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 8:49 pm

    This sandwich is absolutely the most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten. Aa should hang their head in shame.

  20. hp Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    do you guys really book air travel in order to get a good meal? Seriously? Air travel is for travel, nothing more.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 10, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      Wrong blog.

  21. david Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 9:53 pm

    Ethiopian serves the same thing in economy as a mid flight meal.

  22. Bryan Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    So the sandwich was so bad because … there was a lot of bread? That was cold? And had a sticker on the package? Now I want to try this thing…

    • Stuart Reply
      March 11, 2022 at 9:44 am

      Doooo it! Just be sure to close your eyes and hum a happy song when you do to distract yourself.

  23. Tom Reply
    March 10, 2022 at 11:15 pm

    Delta has a pastrami sandwich in first class to Central America that’s terrific. They even gave me a second one!

    • Aron Reply
      March 11, 2022 at 12:15 pm

      Must’ve been real pastrami

    • MeanMeosh Reply
      March 11, 2022 at 1:55 pm

      They used to serve (I think) the same pastrami on rye on mid-haul domestic F routes like LGA-DFW. It was indeed tasty.

  24. life_journey Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 1:36 am

    Millions just died in a pandemic. Potentially thousands will die in a new war.
    Two dozen fliers are upset by turkey pastrami.
    Will the horrors never end.
    People, get some perspective, please.

    • RetiredATLATC Reply
      March 11, 2022 at 7:12 am

      It’s a travel blog, that talks about travel type things.

      Reuters is over @reutersworld or @reutersUS or try Al Jazeera at AJEnglish.

    • Michael Reply
      April 7, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      You do know what this blog is about, right?

  25. Aron Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    Looks like the sandwich I had in jail one time

  26. Roscoe Brown Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 1:48 pm

    Thank you for using the word ‘infamous’ correctly. So many people seem to think it means ‘really, really famous’.

    • Ron Reply
      March 13, 2022 at 12:59 am

      You’re telling me that Ned Nederlander is wrong? Blasphemy.

  27. Mike Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 2:22 pm

    Serve those sandwiches to the Russian army. They’ll be looking for a place to sh.t, instead of fighting.

  28. Anonymous Employee Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    I appreciate the review on this meal. They certainly need to retire this sandwich, but thankfully I’ve seen many other options on other flights. Also American’s procedure is to go Forward-Aft and Aft-Forward contingent on which direction your destination is from your departure city.. Unfortunately you got this option, but I’m also grateful for the review.

  29. Frank Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 5:38 pm

    When you say reincarnated, does that mean the turkey loaf was created when the previous turkey loaf, made from mechanically separated turkey bits glued together, was again mechanically separated and glued together? It could believe that from the looks of it.

  30. David R Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 8:27 pm

    A week ago I flew first class on Alaska (Horizon) from Boise to LAX, about 675 miles. I ate the chicken fajita salad and it was really good. The other choices were a fruit and cheese platter or a “Beets So Fly” salad. No sandwiches.

  31. Ashley Reply
    March 11, 2022 at 10:16 pm

    I was going to ask if you tasted it or rejected it because of how it looked. Then I scrolled back up to the picture showing the… meat? Yuck.

  32. John Reply
    March 12, 2022 at 8:34 am

    Real travelers know to pre-order a Kosher meal. You will get fresh fruit, cold cuts, cheese and breads. And the other passengers will go bananas because they can’t get one!

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 12, 2022 at 8:39 am

      Of course Kosher meals are not available on flights between Los Angeles and Dallas:

      https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/dining/special-meals-and-nut-allergies.jsp

    • Aint Kosher Reply
      March 12, 2022 at 7:22 pm

      LOL, no, you will definitely not find cold cuts AND cheese in a kosher meal

  33. Concerned and not being mean Reply
    March 12, 2022 at 9:55 am

    If this is what you are writing about… you may want to rethink your life a little. No offense meant, seriously, but this is greasping at relevance.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 12, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      Well, you read it…

  34. SKeller Reply
    March 12, 2022 at 11:05 am

    Perhaps you should get an editor to read over your submissions. Your English is nearly as bad as the sandwich.
    Someone throws a hissy fit. Hence, in past tense, they threw a hissy fit.
    I am now through throwing my hissy fit.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 12, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      Its not worth a hissy fit over taht.

      😉

  35. Gustov Reply
    March 12, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    AA Catering has been utter garbage since Doug Parker and His America Worst legion of goons took over the AIrline. AW ruined USAirways level of service and then they took AA down several years later. When will their Board of Directors realize the Clowns running this Circus are the problem and holding the AIrline back from being a respectable airline. Biggest doesn’t equate to The Best…..more like The Worst.

  36. Angela W. Reply
    March 14, 2022 at 7:52 am

    In recent weeks our flights from MIA to ORD we have been offered different FC meals: Charcuterie with tasty cheeses and meats including prosciutto, a side salad and that tasty brownie pictured with that Sammy. We also we’re offered a a blackened shrimp salad. It was really tasty.

    Now let’s discuss the AA Lounge free food offerings…recently they have added “Make Your Own Hero” awful the meat is so processed and the cheese must have been bought from Subway, because there is zero taste. This was offered in Tampa and Orlando.

    New offering at ORD is build your own BBQ Pork Sammy. .

    We are fans of the soup options. They were serving Vegan Chili during the bulk of the winter season and it was really good.

    I would love to even order from
    The menu, but the menu for purchase is even limited.

    If at ORD, swing by Rick Bayless restaurant and order the anything from that menu, and you will be happy you did!

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