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.
This is something I take advantage of almost every time I’m on an eligible flight, especially since it typically offers access to a larger food selection as well. In separate posts, I’ll cover how to pre-order meals with Delta Air Lines and how to pre-order meals with United Airlines.
In this post:
Reserve your meal before you fly American
There aren’t many areas where American surpasses Delta and United when it comes to tech, but meal pre-ordering is an area where the airline leads the way. American has been offering the option to pre-select your main course on many first and business class flights for over a decade, well ahead of its peers. So, how exactly does this work?
For which flights can you pre-select your meal?
American allows first and business class passengers to pre-select their meal. This is available for all first and business class flights where a meal is served. This applies on American Airlines flights, but doesn’t work on codeshare flights on other airlines. It also doesn’t work on flights where just refreshments are served.
When can you pre-select your meal?
You can pre-select your American meal between 24 hours and 30 days prior to departure of a particular flight segment. So be sure that you make your selection before the check-in window opens.
How do you pre-select your meal?
Pre-selecting your American meal is easy. Just go to aa.com and go to the manage your booking function. You can do this either by entering your six digit record locator, or by logging into your AAdvantage account.
Once you’re on an itinerary management page, scroll down to the bottom, under the heading that says “Passengers.” There you’ll see the passengers listed, and you’ll see a section that says “Inflight meals.” Click the little pen next to that, and you’ll be presented with the available options.
If you’re using the American Airlines app, the process is largely similar. Just log into your itinerary, click “Manage trip,” and then you’ll be directed to a webpage that shows the same information as above.
What are the pre-select meal options?
Are American’s meal pre-select options simply what you’d otherwise be offered onboard, or do you get access to more options? It depends on the flight. The pre-select option will always give you access to the options that would otherwise be available onboard.
However, in most cases you also get access to additional options (sometimes up to three). For example, there’s often some sort of a greens and grains bowl, as well as some sort of fruit and cheese plate, which might not be available onboard.
Another nice thing is that the meal pre-order page actually explains the details of each dish. When you’re onboard, a flight attendant might only describe a dish as “lasagna,” or something, while you can get a better sense of what’s being served online.
How does this compare to ordering a special meal?
Separate from American’s option to pre-select your meal, the airline also has special meals for passengers with dietary restrictions. This can be reserved through the same method as above.
Special meals are available to all passengers on long haul international flights. It’s also available for first and business class passengers on select domestic flights. I haven’t fully figured out the pattern as to which flights have special meals, because sometimes you’ll find it available on a two hour flight in one market, but not on a flight of a similar length in another market.
If you select a special meal, that will encompass the entire meal, including any appetizers, desserts, etc. While the primary intention is that this is for those with special dietary needs, I do sometimes order special meals just to mix things up from American’s otherwise boring choices. In particular, I’ve had pretty good experiences with Asian vegetarian and Kosher options.
Why I always pre-select my meal with American
Unlike some foreign airlines, American generally loads exactly as many meals in premium cabins as there are passengers (especially in domestic first class). If you don’t select your meal in advance, expect that you’ll get what’s left over, and not your first choice.
That’s because a significant number of people pre-order meals, and unless you’re the first to be asked for your meal preference, they may have already run out of your choice by the time they get to you.
American’s catering is nothing to get excited about (to put it politely), but there are definitely some options that are better than others (or at least less bad).
Bottom line
If you’re flying American in first or business class, you can pre-select your meal between 24 hours and 30 days of departure. While American otherwise isn’t great with tech, it’s awesome for how long American has offered this feature.
It’s something I’d highly recommend taking advantage of, since you’re otherwise not very likely to get your first choice onboard. For that matter, it even gives you access to options that may not be available onboard.
If you’re an American flyer, do you always select your meal in advance?
Should this say before the check-in window closes?
So be sure that you make your selection before the check-in window opens.
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
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.
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.
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....
On my Monday flight from DCA to Lax, the two pre order options were exactly the same as what were available on board.
But, the good news is you could virtually guarantee your preferred choice would be served to you by preordering.
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!
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.
@Timtamtrack Are you trying to make Tim upset with the comment about having better food in hub routes when comparing AA to DL?
@ Pilot83434 - Didn't you mean to say "wAAy" to go AA ? lol
PE on long haul international also allows pre selection, though with less options…
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.
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.
Sure..... But if I may be so bold as to inquire about what *temperature* were your nuts ? ... oh, and muffins, croissants and rolls ? ... lol
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 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.
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 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.
Namaste !