American Airlines Improving First Class Meal Service, Bringing Back Hot Food

Gradual because someone ordered way too much disposable plastic and boxes that need to be burned off first. AA is reluctantly restoring hot meals entirely due to competitor activity; never because it’s the right thing to do for customers and lead from the front

This is so idiotic. Southwest and Frontier have already reported concerning numbers regarding future bookings due to the Delta variant. It’s going to be a tough winter. Not as tough as last year but airlines are going to have to start cutting amenities again and catering will be one of the first to go since it requires everyone in first to remove masks to eat.

Imagine thinking that meal service cutback is a COVID safety issue and not cost-cutting issue

Let's not be naive they are not cutting services "for our safety" they are using "safety" as an excuse to cut back on all costs.

Completely off-topic but I do not know where to post the information (I have not seen it on this blog, did I miss it?),
American at London Heathrow has sneakily moved back (partially only) to Terminal 3. This was implemented on August 2 without fanfare.

This makes absolutely no sense to me , especially considering that the New York flights ONLY (JFK-LHR-JFK) remain at Terminal 5.

I would have thought it a joke if I hadn't verified it on the "Live Departures and Arrivals" of LHR.

Does anybody have more info?

Great. Now bring back glassware and hot towels.

And ice cream sundaes and service by course on AFS and IFS flights.

Its been discussed in the AA FlyerTalk forum.

You might find more info there.

Link:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/2049006-aa-splits-operation-lhr-london-heathrow-t3-t5.html

and the hot nuts with tropical fruit bits on first class flights to Hawaii please.

Kind of pathetic. United is eating their lunch ..... (not in a good way).

Are you sure these meals are from First Class and not from economy?

Since everybody is into complaining, I liked my food in J, coming back from Europe a week ago. The salmon, wild rice was delicious from FRA to DFW, although the FA seemed a bit judgemental, when I asked for my third bubbly, an the veg lasagna was quite OK as well from DFW to OGG, especially since 2 FA's were so eager to serve me drinks, that I had to cut them off, LOL.

I flew MIA-SFO last Thursday and had the Quinoa salad with the steak. It was okay, not great, but I have had much worse...

I had my first flight since 2020 last weekend. Reading the extent of service cuts still present in the US with a recovery well underway, I was apprehensive of what an Air Canada Montreal-Toronto would look like in J.

I was surprise to see that for a 1h20m flight of about 320 miles, and about 50 min in the air, not much has changed since the pre-pandemic service in J class. Water bottles served at boarding, a snack of mezze was served in actual china with real silverware, and 3 rounds of drinks with full bar available served in the pre-COVID glassware (ie. no plastic glass or mug). Still limited in economy, but for a flight this short, nothing should really be expected...

If AC can do this while hemorrhaging cash, no doubt that the US legacy are maintaining the scaled back service as cost cutting. Especially with all the cash they received from taxpayers since March 2020...

Exec plat here on AA, I have been flying a different carrier all together than AA because the service in first has dropped drastically on AA. Maybe I will come back, not sure yet. Will take a wait and see approach. For now first class on a different carrier with hot meal service has been fantastic. But that's also because flies the rout I need most.

AA Concierge Key here... which means absolutely nothing. As president of my company, I am very, very seriously considering making a switch to United as I am not hub-based and have options. The American first class product has deteriorated dramatically. I know they use the pandemic as an excuse, but even before the pandemic they were changing the seats and removing IFE via seat back. Then the pandemic hit and while United, Delta and Alaska have restored hot food service, you’re lucky to get pretzels in American First. It’s just absolutely insane and quite clear the customer is NOT valued. When my business is spending the amount of money it spends, it appears I can receive much more value from United Airlines or even Delta or Alaska than I can from American. American better quickly turn the ship around, or they’ll lose significant business from me — may not mean much to them — but others will follow suit. I guarantee it.

Jet Blue has been serving meals (hot meals) in Mint class throughout the pandemic. American is nickel and diming themselves out of once loyal customers. I just canceled my American flight because they still aren't serving hot meals in first class. If Jet Blue had Mint class flights between my city pairs, I'd be on one of them. Instead, I'm book on United.

Sorry, not sorry American. Get your act together and maybe, just maybe, your first class customers will come back.

Month of August & September flew Jet Blue Mint (FLL - LAX) British Airways One World (LAX - LHR) and American Airlines Business (LAX - MIA) and First ( LHR - LAX). My recent LHR to LAX first class (AA 135). Had the steak, which was terrible. Another customer who had tried the steak in first class asked for another meal and was denied, according to FA, due to limited meals. Snacks during fight was a selection of chips, laughable in my opinion, especially in First. Jet Blue Mint small plate option was exceptional as was BA’s food. Jet Blue Mint and BA One world have really stepped up their game.

Way to little for the price charged.

Flown first class pre and post pandemic. Obviously the pre hot meal version was much appreciated and made you feel you were getting something for the fare difference. My complaint with the pandemic food option is that it is not up to par with the fare difference from first to coach.

We are leaving Wednesday for a flight from SEA to DFW. We were told there was no meal service on this flight in any cabin. As we are leaving at 0533 in the morning, the ability to pick anything up to bring onboard with us is pretty close to nil. As seniors over 70, going several hours without food could be very problematic for us. Not that it matters, but we’re in first class.

Nancy, fly United… they have fresh hot meals for you… if you fly AA
, then bring granola… btw, I work for American.

Flying from LA to Dallas the ham sandwich was really good and the fruit was sweet and ripe. Blueberries. Oranges. Pineapple. Honeydew. Strawberries not so much.
Excellent service.