Starting October 20, American Airlines allows coach passengers to reserve in-flight meals, aiming to enhance the dining experience and reduce food shortages.
American Airlines is set to enhance its passenger experience by reintroducing meal reservations for coach passengers, with the new feature launching on October 20 for select flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Los Angeles. Reservations will be available starting October 13, allowing travelers to secure their meal choices and prevent popular items from running out before flight attendants reach their rows.
This initiative has long been anticipated, especially given the notable improvements American Airlines has made in its inflight food offerings over the past 18 months. While customers have enjoyed upgraded menu options on many flights, running out of food has consistently been a major frustration.
Details of the Meal Reservation System
The newly dubbed feature “reserved buy on board” will allow eligible customers to reserve meals via the American Airlines app or on the airline’s website after receiving an email invitation.
- Order Window: Passengers can place their orders between seven days and 20 hours before their flight.
- Specified Selection: American will prepare a specific lineup of meals for each flight, eliminating the guesswork involved in how many items to stock.
- Payment Process: Payment will be processed upon receiving the meal during the flight, simplifying the onboard experience.
- Perks for Elite Members: Elite members can also reserve their complimentary food item, ensuring a preferred choice is always available.
For the upcoming test, American has selected a range of items for preorder, with prices based on their current onboard menu:
- Fruit and cheese plate: $13
- Chicken ranch wrap with turkey bacon, rotini chipotle salad, and a cinnamon churro bar: $14
- Inflight Bites snack box: $10
- Doritos Minis Cool Ranch: $6
- Nuts on Clark roasted salted mixed nuts: $11
- BoomChickaPop sweet and salty kettle corn: $5
According to Raphael Girardoni, American's vice president of culinary strategy and operations, the airline has been refining this approach for about a year, focusing on how customers make their selections. The Dallas and Los Angeles markets provide a diverse demographic for testing and feedback, especially since both airports utilize Sky Chefs.
Plans for Expansion
Beyond the initial test phase, American Airlines anticipates expanding this feature to other markets roughly a month after the test launch, aiming for a full rollout across its eligible domestic flights by the end of the first quarter of 2027. The goal is to effectively allow meal reservations on all flights offering food sales.
A Look Back at Meal Preorders
American Airlines was a pioneer in preordering meals in first class back in 2012. The airline previously tested a similar preorder system for coach passengers in 2018 on flights from Dallas to various cities. It was a necessary move then, as food shortages were common, leaving many passengers disappointed.
The demand for meal preorders has been particularly strong among frequent travelers. As an Executive Platinum member, I find it increasingly vital, especially with limited upgrades available and the need to ensure a better experience during longer flights.
Improving Food Offerings and Availability
In recent years, American Airlines has taken steps to enhance its food offerings. For instance, they reduced the buy-on-board distance threshold from 1,300 to 1,100 miles in mid-2025. They've revamped their menu significantly, much to the relief of their passengers. Transitioning to better quality options, like replacing their previous steak sandwich with a turkey wrap, has drawn positive reception.
Further improvements to coffee selection, including partnerships with Lavazza, and the introduction of better complimentary snacks have shown American's commitment to enhancing the passenger experience, especially for those flying in coach. Adding preorders is a strategic move to minimize food waste and increase sales, addressing a significant issue when popular meals run out quickly.
Looking ahead, there's potential for expansion into additional meal options such as more sandwiches, salads, and fresh bowls, mirroring the successful offerings of partner Alaska Airlines. It might also be worth reconsidering their policy on serving food for shorter flights, as other airlines like United and Alaska provide snack services on shorter routes.
Overall, the revival of meal preorders could be a transformative aspect of American Airlines' service, ensuring that passengers receive the meals they desire while also optimizing the airline's food inventory management.
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