American is bringing back alcohol, snack sales after 2-year hiatus
American Airlines will once again offer booze for purchase in the economy cabin, a carrier spokesperson confirmed to TPG on Thursday.
Beginning on April 18, the Fort Worth-based carrier will offer beer, wine and spirits for purchase in the coach cabin on flights 250 miles and longer.
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Wine and spirits will be available for $9 each, and beer will be available for $8 a bottle. Those seated in extra-legroom Main Cabin Extra seats will receive complimentary liquor once sales resume in April.
At the same time, the airline will also phase in its buy-on-board snack offering for flights over 1,500 miles. Snacks will range from $4 to $6 each.
Beginning in April, the onboard menu will include packaged items like chips and almonds, but it will be expanded in the coming months based on supply chain availability, a carrier spokesperson confirmed to TPG.
Additionally, American will introduce touchless payment options later this year, but for now, any major debit or credit card will be accepted onboard.
Meal service: In-flight service is back — here’s what food and drinks you can expect on your next flight
The airline isn’t making any service cuts as part of the move — soft drinks, along with Biscoff cookies and pretzels, will continue to be provided complimentary.
You’ll find the full menu of alcoholic options available on American flights at the bottom of this post. Note that it includes some new choices such as Aviation Gin and Glenlivet 15-year scotch.
American’s move will now bring its onboard service in line with its competitors. The airline has been the last major holdout in bringing back liquor service in coach.
American first curtailed its beverage offerings at the outset of the pandemic in March 2020. The airline had planned to resume selling alcohol in coach last summer, but those plans were postponed to 2022 due to a rise in the number of unruly passenger incidents across the industry.
Inflight service: Hot food is back on American — here’s what it was like on day 1
Southwest Airlines was the other big holdout, but the Dallas-based carrier resumed selling liquor on its flights on Feb. 16, 2022.
While American is just now bringing booze back to coach, the airline’s first-class passengers have been enjoying the “good stuff” for many months now.
This latest catering update comes on the heels of plated, hot meals returning to its domestic first-class cabin last month.
American’s new liquor menu
Spirits - $9
- Tito's Vodka
- Bacardi Rum
- Dewar's Scotch
- Woodford Reserve
- Aviation Gin
- Bailey's Irish Cream
- Amaretto Disaronno
- Jack Daniels Whiskey
- Glenlivet 15 Year Scotch
Wine - $9
- White
- Red
- Rosé
- Sparkling
Beer -$8
- Bud Light
- Heineken
- Dos Equis
- Goose IPA
- Fat Tire Belgian White
- Truly Hard Seltzer
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees