In this post, I’d like to take a look at American Airlines’ meal pre-order program, for premium cabin passengers. We’ve seen the meal pre-order concept become increasingly common with airlines, as a way to ensure that passengers can get their first choice of meals, without airlines having to cater excess meals.
Continue reading: Pre-Order Meals In American First & Business Class
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I am posting from 30,000 feet - just had the short rib with mac and cheese - it is just the right thing for a galley kitchen.
Otherwise, I have always been happy with the Hindu meal - usually a curry and always something I would not ordinarily have at home.
I can't eat dairy products, and AA loves to put cheese on just about every single meal they offer. So, in the past I've normally ordered a Kosher meal as it doesn't include meat and dairy together in the same meal. Until recently, AA offered Kosher meals on just about every flight that had a full meal service. Now it's limited to international and "select" domestic routes only. Seems there is no end to AA's persistent cost cutting.
The pre order meals are often a bit better. Recently when you reserve a meal AA starting sending an email of what you reserved. A nice touch but there are other more important areas in customer facing IT AA could address.
I'm looking forward to my burger and fries next month going to DCA. Will be interesting to see is it restaurant quality or fast food quality.
I went through a phase of ordering special meals just to try them. The Asian vegetarians were usually good; the vegan meals, usually less-so. Kosher was hit-and-miss. I had a very memorable seafood meal in Singapore business class. If you fly regularly it’s interesting to mix it up.
I fly first class to LAX/JFK every month. The meal selections have generally been the same for the past 10 days, for there has been little innovation. Hot nuts, hot croissants, and muffins have not been served for a long time, which is a big disappointment. The fruits that accompany the main course are often on the borderline of freshness. Yes, I always pre-order my meals but I don't look forward to it.
PE on long haul international also allows pre selection, though with less options…
I was surprised when on a flight at 8:15pm PHX-MCI that there was a meal in FC. I always pre-order. This time I never expected a meal so really didn’t think to look at the booking. PDBs, hot nuts and a full meal. Way to go AA!
On my Monday flight from DCA to Lax, the two pre order options were exactly the same as what were available on board.
I regularly fly that route in J and F. I have always had a breadbasket offered with muffins, croissants, and rolls. I am also always offered nuts first with a beverage. I do find the meals to be abit boring and repetitive in their offering.
But, the good news is you could virtually guarantee your preferred choice would be served to you by preordering.
PHX-MCI is such a “nice” oddball route. Full meal service ex-PHX but there’s no catering at MCI so if you’re flying MCI-PHX on the first flight of the morning it’s a limited meal (nothing requiring refrigeration.) All other PHX turns get a full meal service. Still better than what DL caters for their hub routes like what Ben had MSP-YVR last year, though.
Sure..... But if I may be so bold as to inquire about what *temperature* were your nuts ? ... oh, and muffins, croissants and rolls ? ... lol
Just a helpful hint to AA flight attendants: Do NOT write any anything on any part of the pax's meal service items to include but not limited to airline jargon, acronyms, abbreviations, comments, greetings & wishes.
@Timtamtrack Are you trying to make Tim upset with the comment about having better food in hub routes when comparing AA to DL?
I can’t tell you how many times my family has pre ordered and the food was not on the plane. Even had FA’s say it looks like you didn’t pre order. Now I take a screenshot of food orders to show them. Get a sorry and that’s about it. Bottom line is that you may or may not receive your food order
First, it's likely jargon could written by the catering people, no? Crew a bit busy prepping for take-off to worry about such stuff, especially given the small size of the cabins...wide-body aircraft aside.
Second, why does it matter? What's the wrapping is off...it's just your meal. You aren't eating the wrapping as well? And I haven't seen a welcome note in decades on a US carrier....
Should this say before the check-in window closes?
So be sure that you make your selection before the check-in window opens.
But what exactly do you expect the flight attendant to do if the meal is not there / the meal does not even show on the paperwork. Do explain.
Complain to the right people.
We're within 28 days of our 30 day departure window for our international flight to Germany in business class: the meal selection still shows with an 'exclamation' beside it offering no availability or options at this time. Is there another way to pre-select our meals? I see nothing on the aa.com site to explain why the meal selection tab is not available.
Just flew business class from SJU to ATL and my preselected meal of Salmon with rice and cauliflower was ice cold. flight attendant said it was a "cold" meal, not supposed to be served hot ... ???
Someone has given me premium dining with strange meals. I want this removed and get a normal breakfast and lunch. How do I do this on the website?
On American, for the Salmon greens and Grain Bowl, are the mushrooms already mixed into the bowl or are the "pieces" grouped separately? If I can scrape the mushrooms off, the bowl sounds interesting. I am one of those lucky souls where mushrooms taste like a mouthful of dirt (and cilantro like soap). Thanks Everyone!
Feel the same way - the couple of times I've had it the mushrooms could easily separated out. On another note, I've given this meal a try twice and there won't be a third.
I've actually found AA catering to be something to get excited about the last 12 months. I liked the centennial meals. The DFW BBQ meal is excellent. There's now DO&CO from LHR (thank you, mouse!). Big upswing from AA on catering as far as I'm concerned.
Agreed on DO&CO from LHR (had a truly delicious fish dish by them in July). And, I donno why, but the AA 'Centennial' Beef Wellington just didn't 'do it' for me, but, to each their own. Bah!
The puff pastry was meh, steak inside was good though. But there were actual vegetables! Asparagus, parsnips… salad was fresh… shrimp cocktail… a pecan tart with ice cream… look it’s not Keens or anything but it was reasonably tasty.
AA may be improving their catering overall, but that fruit plate in the title picture looks very sad.
The bagel & lox on the JFK-LAX transcon I had yesterday was very good IMO (thankfully was available since I changed from the afternoon to morning flight and didn't preorder). Overall I've found the catering on AA generally good.
@samar Does this mean that you're home from your 2-week trip?! Afternoon still on the A321XLR? Can't wait for more updates!
@1990_ yes, I'm back home as of yesterday. Since I was massively jet lagged, I switched from the mid-afternoon flight to the first of the day (both were on the XLR). Overall a nice way to fly (can't compare to the 321T since I've never taken it). I'm going to try to post some more reports this evening if I'm not too tired from work.
@samar Glad you made it! Oh, and no rush at all. The jet-lag from Asia back to N. America is often brutal. Hope you get good rest and bounce-back quickly.
The app experience was streamlined recently. You no longer have to click on "Manage Trip" which was essentially a glorified web browser interacting with their mobile site. It's now natively available in the app as a "Reserve food" option under Trip options. Much nicer!