Nearly all airlines cut inflight service during pandemic. Over the past few months, we've seen airlines gradually adding more service, but at different rates. Alaska Airlines, for example, has almost fully restored its first-class inflight service while Delta Air Lines is still far from returning to precoronavirus levels.American Airlines is now restoring inflight catering. However, it's a gradual and phased approach. First, let's recap American Airlines' current first-class service and then we will discuss what is changing.American Airlines offers first-class cateringFor context, let's first look at what the service is like in American Airlines domestic First Class.American offers drinks and snacks on flights up to 900 miles. There is no other food service.American offers drinks on flights under 900 milesAmerican offers a Fresh Bites snackbox on flights between 900 and 1,499 miles. This is a tapas-style snackbox with a variety of options like cheese, fruit, vegetables, and more. Here are some screenshots taken by TheFlyGuy2 to show you what you can expect.American Airlines offers Fresh BitesFor flights over 1,500 miles, you can get a more substantial Fresh Bites snackbox.American Airlines offers Fresh BitesAmericans Fresh Bites snackboxAmericans Fresh Bites snackboxAmerican offers hot meals on select transcontinental flights only (including New York to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orange County as well as Miami to Los Angeles).Hot meals are available at American on certain premium transconsAmerican Airlines improves first-class catering by bringing back hot mealsWe learned a few weeks ago that American Airlines would eventually reinstate hot meal service in the first class cabin. However, no further details were given. Now we have some more details:American will reintroduce tray service in domestic first-class starting today. However, this will change over time.American describes this incremental approach as part of their strategy to ensure that everyone aboard feels safe and comfortable.Customers who fly domestic premium cabin flights over 900+ miles will see Fresh Bites products on trays rather than in boxes during this transition.American will slowly return to hot meal service on the same trays customers used pre-pandemic. However, we don't know which flights will be eligible for this hot meal service.American will soon introduce new meals to regional jets flying over 900+ miles in the coming months.This sounds like a gradual transition. In the next few months, Fresh Bites will be presented on trays and not in boxes. Hot meals will also return in the future. Americans' meal offerings are more of a surprise-and-delight approach. You could also say, surprise and disappointment approach since we are talking about American Airlines catering.You should return to American airlines for hot mealsAmerican Airlines' evolution on service reductionsAll airlines had to reduce their inflight service due to the pandemic. They have been slowly restoring service. American, however, seemed determined to avoid hot meal service being restored.In August 2020, the American SVP of Flight Service stated the following regarding the future of inflight food service. This suggested that such cuts would be permanent.It is very similar in terms of how we served meals over the years, considering the footprint that we have. Is there a way to restore something that is still premium but modern? Or can we make incremental changes that are more effective?We have heard long-term evidence that Americans would not bring back hot meals. Why is American putting off its plans to reduce first-class meals?American seems to be recognizing that other airlines are offering inflight service and that the current offering doesn't compete. United, for instance, has restored hot meals on flights over 1,500 miles and even on shorter hub-to–hub flights.Pilots are generally served the same food as first-class passengers. There have been many complaints from pilots about American cuisine.Bottom lineAmerican Airlines will gradually restore meal service to first class. The new Fresh Bites menu should be available on trays and not in boxes. We should also see hot meals being reintroduced to first class in the coming months.Although it is still unclear which flights are eligible for hot meals on board, this is a good step in the right direction.What are your thoughts on American domestic first-class meal improvements?
