American Airlines Introducing New Inflight Meals & Other Additions This Summer

Updated: June 8, 2023, 5:29pm CDT

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Table of Contents

Transcontinental Premium Cabin
Greek Food to Europe
Main Cabin Items
Other Inflight Additions
Basic Economy Fares Get More Restrictive
Final Thoughts

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If you’re flying American Airlines this summer, you will have several new meal choices to look forward to, thanks to new partnerships with major restaurants.

You’ll find most of these new meal options in the premium cabin, but there are a few offerings for the Main Cabin, too.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the new inflight offerings!

Transcontinental Premium Cabin

If you’re flying on a Flagship flight on a transcontinental route — primarily Los Angeles (LAX) to Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), and Miami (MIA); and New York (JFK) to Orange County (SNA) and San Francisco (SFO) — you’ll be able to choose a new Plant-based bulgogi noodle bowl that includes yakisoba noodles, stir-fry vegetables, and plant-based “beef” crumbles. This new entree choice will be available for preorder before your departure.

Greek Food to Europe

If you’re flying on a premium ticket from Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) to Athens (ATH), Barcelona (BCN), Dublin (DUB), London (LHR), Paris (CDG), and Rome (FCO), American has partnered with restaurant Avli on the Park to introduce new, Greek-inspired entrees, including Greek beef orzo stew and the Kagiana egg scramble for breakfast.

You’ll find these meals and more on these select routes to Europe. Flights originating in Europe will not have these new options.

Main Cabin Items

American Airlines economy cheese plate — Image Credit: American Airlines

If you’re flying in the Main Cabin, there are 2 new offerings, both on flights longer than 1,300 miles. If you’re on a flight departing between 9:46 a.m. and 9 p.m., you can order a fruit and cheese plate.

If you’re departing before 9:45 a.m., you can order a breakfast bag which includes yogurt, granola, and a fig bar. These are buy-on-board items, so you’ll be charged separately for them.

Hot Tip:

Top-tier American Airlines Executive Platinum and ConciergeKey members get 1 buy-on-board food item for free on each eligible flight.

Other Inflight Additions

Along with the new menu items, American is offering free inflight Wi-Fi to T-Mobile customers. The service should be available on all eligible flights by July and offers a “full” Wi-Fi experience, which includes streaming capabilities.

Basic Economy Fares Get More Restrictive

While American is rolling out welcome improvements to its inflight offering, it’s making another change that’s not so great.

From now on, flyers on a Basic Economy ticket flying to and from Asia, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel will be charged $75 to check 1 suitcase. A second bag will cost an additional $100, and a third will cost an extra $200.

Passengers who have booked tickets before yesterday, June 7, 2023, will not have to pay these new fees.

Final Thoughts

It’s certainly a bummer to see American Airlines’ Basic Economy tickets get even more restrictive, and that should certainly give passengers pause before clicking “book” on a Basic Economy ticket.

However, on the positive side, American’s new menu items in the premium cabin sound very tasty, and they’re certainly a welcome addition to what’s otherwise a dull onboard dining experience.

It’s great to see the airline partner with major restaurants to design new inflight meals, though we’d love to see these elevated offerings rolled out to more routes in the near future.