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I have been living the life of a “free agent” over the past year or so. Delta Air Lines obliterated the value position of staying loyal to them. Plus, I enjoyed my Iberia honeymoon suite business class experience to Portugal and the visit to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in Chicago.
Just recently, I flew American Airlines from my hometown of South Bend to Montego Bay, Jamaica, in business class for just 42,000 miles round trip.I thought was exceptional value for my AA points – again compared to what Delta is charging for Skymiles awards for the same route, that is, 150,000-200,000 business class per person (puke).
But flying AA more and more has been a bit of a learning curve for me and some things I am really not impressed with even with such cheap award ticket prices. For example:
After a visit to the Charlotte Centurion club for breakfast it was time for our lunchtime flight down to Jamaica. I made one big mistake on the way down to Montego Bay — picking row one on the AA A321 (I can almost hear the groans from regular AA flyers across the web). Legroom on this jet is even WORSE than the AB side on Delta 737-900 ERs and that is truly saying something.
On the return trip home I chose row two. That was better even if — on the way to Jamaica I could get free condiments in those seats (as you can see in the shot above). Now, on to the lunch choices.
30 days before the flight I logged in to AA.com and one option sounded very good. The description for the meal choice I selected was the following:
- Golden Roasted Chicken
Roasted tomato chutney, salted smashed potatoes, haricot verts. Created and inspired with wellness in mind by James Beard Award-winning author and nutritionist Ellie Krieger.
With that description, what could go wrong? Considering the cost of chicken nowadays, this sounded simply amazing and delicious.
Well, it sounded amazing anyway. See what you think.
Oh my. Does this look “inspiring” to you? The dead chicken was really, really, dead and dry and burned. The potatoes were flavorless even when drug into the nasty chutney. The beans? Also very dead. The salad may look good but…
The AA flight attendant, during embarkation, said this was his first “hot meal service” since the pandemic began. He began to prepare the trays before takeoff — removing the plastic coverings and prepping them for service. The result was the salad bowls each drug on the liner from the one above them and much lettuce hitting the floor of the galley and getting tossed onto one of the trays (I can only assume one of the trays he was not going to serve us in first class?).
Needless to say, I did NOT have the salad after seeing this event. Really the brownie, while small, was the only good thing on the tray.
For the return flight, we selected another choice rather than again trying the disgusting chicken that, at this point, had been loaded onto the plane before noon in Charlotte, and flown down to Jamaica, and then re-heated at 5PM. We instead switched our pre-ordered selection and went with the “safer” choice of the cheese plate.
It was fine. The cheese was a bit dry at this point but at least we did not this time see the flight attendant unwrapping the trays before departure — as was the case on the way down to the tropical island paradise.
I have frequently complained that since the pandemic Delta Air Lines first class meals have gone downhill — but oh my. If this is what American Airlines considers first class dining in 2023, I think I really need to bring a sandwich for my next flight!
I am almost afraid to ask but have you had worse on American? I think I want to know? – René
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RENE! What a disappointing experience. I agree on paper the menu looks pretty good. Do you think if it wasn’t overheated it would have been a tasty meal?
@Greg – Maybeeee??? But I doubt it. Plus after watching the FA ready it – it was all just yuckville!
I was just ordering my meal and my mouth was watering at the thought of the “Golden Roasted Chicken with roasted tomato chutney, created by James Beard!
I think I will switch to the fruit and cheese…………..
I had this same meal last month. I commented on one of Gary’s articles that I needed a chainsaw to cut it.
@Chris – Ugg. So not just me then. AA needs to dump this thing.
I am currently in an AA flight. I am in first class. The person next to me and I weren’t offer a hot meal. The excuse given for the person next to me was that she was asleep. For me, I was awake – the excuse… there were no other choices, but fruit and yogurt (later offered warm bread). We asked how it comes up that they have no enough meals. They explain they have 20 passangers in first class and 20 meals. I wonder why 18 meals with hot meals and not 20. I let it go at the moment.
Yet, got disapointed when I was opening the door of the restroom and I overheard an attendant saying, there are still 2 meals as she was closing the door of a top cabinet. The other attendant said “It’s for the captain”. Then, I asked the attendant that said about the two meals left that – how it comes that there are supposed to be 20 meals for 20 people but 2 don’t get a hot meal? The attendant said that people preorder and if people doesn’t preorder, there may not be enough hot meals.
I wonder if those two meals left were really for the two passangers that didn’t get a hot meal? I didn’t say that I overheard about the 2 meals left. If it is for the captain or the attendants they deserved it, they are working hard. However, AA should provide more meals that include captain and crew. Today I learned that I need to preorder, and that I should never seat on the first row going west or east, or I’ll be last to get a meal.
During pandemic, AA zeroed out 150k miles and took the Platinum Pro away, so no…
The only way this is ever going to change is if American Airlines executives and board members are required to eat these meals every day. And they should be prepared and served exactly the way they are on the airplanes. Meaning, they should go to the airport and pull all the first class meals Off the plane, bring them to the corporate offices, and then serve them to the executives and board members.
If they were required, eat these meals, every single day, things will change. Until then the clueless executives and board members will continue to think they’re offering a great product. the problem is, the leader ship at American, and united are clueless. Just one man’s opinion.
You should have seen what economy class had, the horror!!
Quit whining
@Robert – On this route economy class was not offered a meal. Beyond that, I expect when I pay for a ticket with points or cash in first class to be offered a decent meal on long flights and one that is prepared safely with hygiene in mind. To me this is not “whining” as you say.
Now I do often whine about Wine but that is another post! 😉
We had no idea you were in economy — and on the same flights as René and Lisa! That is a crazy coincidence. Please tell us about your economy meal experiences on those flights those days.
The days of expecting even a decent meal while flying domestic first class are long gone.. To be honest, I can’t remember ever having a really “wow” meal in 15 years. Last one was a burger Sea-JFK which was tasty. I don’t expect much even flying business class international anymore and I plan accordingly(load up in the lounge or if enough time, have a nice meal at the airport). I do not purchase first domestic or J international for the meals though. I can’t imagine flying economy, it has become a war zone in the back, so I will gladly pay a premium just for the space and the peace of mind knowing I won’t have some 300lb person taking up a portion of my seat and my legs jammed up into the seat in front of me. If I get a decent meal out of it, well then lucky day for me.
Listen No Coach4me…..which would have been worse, a bad meal or the 300lb person taking up part of your seat? What….300lb people aren’t supposed to fly? Try watching what you say to get your point across at the expense of other people.
Well clearly you did not read my post. I said that a bad meal is still much better than being in coach with a 300lb person stuffed in next to you.
Of course 300lb people or even heavier can fly. I don’t mind at all, I am in the front with the bad food.
I weigh 305, and with a 42 in waist can fit perfectly into an Economy Seat.
But keep on fat shaming!
I have to comment on here regarding the meals. We take many trips but have to say something here. We flew 1st Class from DFW to Hawaii and we had exceptional service. Our stewards were kind and always there when we asked for the littlest item. We have flown from MCI to Jamaica on multiple trips and the stewards are wonderful. We always fly 1st Class/Business Class on all trips and have never been disappointed. I will say that we ALWAYS give a courtesy “Thank You” treat bag to the stewards upon flight, but even before giving the bag they have been so sweet to us. We are in our early 60’s and have flown multiple airlines, and after 45+ years. American Airlines have shown to have the most gracious employees we have seen in the last 20+ years. If you want a nice meal, please PREORDER. If you have flown 1st Class you know this rule. Just saying…
I flew Cancun to Dallas in Business recently. Great hard product as it was a 787 and the crew were lovely and very generous with the booze. However, the food was appalling. I couldn’t eve identify the main course and the dessert was a cake about as dry as the on the beach in Mexico. I asked for a bottle of Disarrono and poured it over the cake – problem solved. Flight attendant was very impressed and said she’d advise all future passengers on flights with this meal to do the same!
Seriously, it’s just terrible. No idea who is supplying this food, but it’s almost like they went out of their way to make it bad.
Disaronno poured over anything remotely dry sounds amazing!
I have had the chicken meal last month out of omaha to Phoenix on the A321 the chicken was moist and flavorfull and everything had a fresh taste. The thing to watch out for is the beef on AA no amount of jet cooking mastery cant make that taste good.
Poor you. It’s airline food. Eat in the terminal and bring something on board, pass on the plane meal.
@Doverboy – Did you even read the post? If not maybe re-read the ending bits.
I had that meal on an LAX – MIA segment Boeing 777-300ER and very much enjoyed it, except I had the sundae will all the toppings. Sorry your experience was not as fine dining as mine.
Hey, don’t feel so bad. Awhile back, I’ve flown on a AA flight from Seattle, Wa. to ORD on business class on a newer A321 with sharklets, not to mistake the A321T. You’d be very lucky to use that equipment going to and from but the main point here all I got was a sloppy ham and cheese sandwich with a very small salad, a coke, and ofcourse a delicious sundae. Not even a second meal or snack on the close to the final hour of arrival since it was a 4 hr flight. I can somewhat feel your pain Rene but yeah. It was quite a disappointing experience.☹️
@Ramses – Shudder…
What an entitled loser, you get a free ticket and you are complaining. You think you are royalty, I’m sure they hate you everywhere, bring your own food next time
It is worth noting that AA spends the most per passenger on food. Still, quality will vary from way-point to way-point . . . even if it is the same catering company at those different way-points. And, having a restricted meal — such as vegan or gluten-free or whatever — is always a challenge at best.
It is worth noting that AA spends the most per passenger on food. Still, quality will vary from way-point to way-point . . . even if it is the same catering company at those different way-points. And, having a restricted meal — such as vegan or gluten-free or whatever — is always a challenge at best.
@Lee – Any data point links to your statements? Beyond that my meal was stock offered meal choice.
This might be slightly off-topic – however, I would like to ask if anyone has had the meal service on AA for Charlotte to Dublin and return?
I’m asking for 1st class / Business
If you want something special, go to a restaurant. Do you have the slightest clue what is required to provide food on an airplane?
@JPM – Yes I do. Also as noted in post, there is no catering in MBJ thus the meal for my return flight was loaded in CLT and prepared well before that. I have had any number of airline meals that have been as good as a restaurant meal and when flying 1st class I expect much better than what I was presented.
What is even in the food they serve us on airplanes? The prepackaged and heated food in the back, at least we have an ingredients list as required by law. Have you ever tried to ask a flight attendant for an ingredients list for the first class food? They look completely baffled like why would we want that? Do they even know what’s in there?
Come on back to Delta!
@Tom – As a Diamond (for now) I am still flying Delta a bunch this year as well but not 99.99% of the time as in the past.
Just received a nice note from Delta thanking me for my 40th year anniversary as a frequent flyer. I will be looking for a mileage run to maintain Platinum.
FA here. Note the burning around the edges. I will PROMISE you the FA completely overcooked the entree. Many of the aircraft have new ovens and they cook much hotter. I only know because I overcooked a pilots meal. 15 minutes on low is enough. Sorry your meal was overcooked. Also, we have been told to NOT uncover salads and starters to not cause drying out. I would make sure the company gets the info. I would had felt badly if I overcooked and am frankly horrified that more that the fa had nothing to say about the presentation, much less an apology. Goodness.
@Justask – Thank you for your kind comment and yes I have reached out to AA about this.
OMG René
@flexdoc – I know right!
Airplanes are vehicles designed to get you from one place to another. They weren’t designed with your love of food and restaurants in mind….that have nothing to do with travel or an airplane!
@FRANCIS T BRADY JR – I take it you do not fly 1st class much?
It would be different if we did not pay 2x-5x the cost of economy ticket. The airlines discuss the food as a perk, a reason to spend a lot. No one is asking for 5 star here. But edible should be a minimum standard.
I flew AA for the first time in 15 years!! Overall a very bad experience but it was the fastest way to get to MIL funeral!! I will spare all the details but won’t be on AA metal again for a long time !!
I’ve flown with American in the last year with meals served. Each time I got the cheese plate. My cheese plate was amazing. I really enjoyed my experienced coupled with my amaretto and cokes. So booze, yummy cheese crackers and fruit with excellent customer service. Win Win Win for me.
I just booked an AA first class seat for July. The menu is the same. I generally go for the cheese cold option. I have had basically the same cheese and fruit meals on Delta, United, and now we can add AA. None are anything to write home about, but they are edible ! The only food that I can rave about were flights on Pan Am back in the good old days. On Christmas Day, a flight from Chicago to London, we were served a delicious traditional dinner with turkey, chestnut stuffing etc.. And in the morning before arriving at Heathrow, we had lox, bagels and cream cheese. Pan Am had memorable service and meals. Oh well!