American unveils revamped onboard experience with new amenity kits, bedding and more

American Airlines is gearing up to launch its new Flagship onboard products with a big update to the soft product.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is debuting new amenity kits, bedding and meals Memorial Day weekend. This includes the airline's first-ever rotating selection of amenity kits, sustainability-focused bedding and additional meal choices as part of a new menu rotation.

"We really based this on customer feedback. So we're incredibly customer-focused at American, we're putting the customer at the center of everything we're doing. And in the design of all of these new amenities and bedding program that we're rolling out, it's really based on customer feedback," Raphael Girardoni, American's managing director of customer experience product and design, said in an interview with TPG.

You'll find all the details below.

New American Airlines amenity kits

American will launch new amenity kits in its first-, business- and premium economy cabins beginning Memorial Day weekend.

The airline will have two different types of kits for travelers: one that's part of its "permanent collection" and another that's offered on a limited-time basis.

The amenity kits will include all the staple amenities that travelers have come to expect from premium cabin pouches, such as a toothbrush, a dental kit, an eye mask and earplugs. The carrier is also partnering with Los Angeles-based beauty retailer Thirteen Lune on the skincare offerings in the amenity kits.

The featured beauty brands will rotate throughout the year, starting with companies such as Joanna Vargas and Relevant.

In addition to the permanent amenity kit, American will also offer limited-edition specialty kits in partnership with Thirteen Lune. The airline isn't sharing the full collection of kits, but it did say that travelers will receive this special limited-time kit for the first few weeks of the summer.

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"We're giving our customers fresh and exciting kits throughout the life of the program," Girardoni said.

In anticipation of this announcement, American sent me the new kits. I was impressed by the limited-edition kits, especially the different shapes of the bags. The contents felt a bit basic, especially the scratchy eye mask, but I'm excited to try the new wellness products on future trips.

New American Airlines bedding

Over recent years, we've seen two of the largest U.S. carriers, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, introduce new bedding and sleepwear focused on sustainability.

Now, it's American's turn to get on this bandwagon as it eliminates the single-use plastic waste that's typically connected to the distribution of pillows and blankets. American's new premium cabin bedding will be distributed in a reusable zipper product bag made with recycled fibers, saving 25 tons of plastic waste a year, according to American.

The carrier will also use recycled fibers and fills from John Horsfall's Re-Thread collection in its new duvets and pillows.

American's new premium cabin pillows will be dual-sided, with a cool-touch fabric on one side and traditional fabric on the other. The airline will also debut new duvets and mattress pads.

Pajamas will remain available in Flagship First (for as long as this cabin is still available) and in the newly introduced Flagship Suite Preferred seats. Slippers will now be available in business class on all international flights, not just on ultra-long-haul flights.

It remains to be seen how customers react to American's new bedding collection, but because flyer preferences are so diverse, there will likely be some travelers who like the new options and some who will miss the old Casper pillows, blankets and mattress pads.

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Flagship Business bedding. AMERICAN AIRLINES

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New American Airlines meals

Along with the new amenity kits and bedding, American will also introduce a revamped dining menu this spring.

The airline's new menu rotation includes staples such as pan-roasted chicken and tortelloni pasta, as well as some new dishes like macadamia-crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce. American does a great job of publishing the menu for its flights within 30 days of departure, so you should start seeing these new offerings launch in the coming weeks.

In addition to the new staples, American is also introducing an extensive new preorder menu for travelers who want to pick their meals before their flight.

American didn't publish the full list of preorder options, but it did mention that there will be rotating selections that vary by region. This includes options such as shawarma seasoned grilled chicken and short rib macaroni and cheese on domestic flights.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, American's onboard catering has remained among the better options in the domestic skies. The airline's meals are generally far more enticing than those offered by United, and they are often on par with what Delta offers in its premium cabins.

Bottom line

All of American's improvements are focused on the soft product — the elements of the flight experience that aren't physically bolted into the plane.

The airline is launching new amenity kits, bedding and meals that are poised to elevate the onboard experience. Of course, we'll have to wait to try out the revamped experience on an upcoming flight, but it should be exciting news for frequent flyers who might be tired of the airline's existing offerings.

While American's announcement is focused on the soft product, the carrier has big upgrades coming to the hard product, with all-new suites launching in the coming months.

American's upcoming deliveries of Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be outfitted with the airline's new Flagship Business Suites with sliding doors and other improvements. The airline will also retrofit its existing Boeing 777-300ERs with the new Flagship Business Suites.

Between the new suites and the upgraded soft product, American is poised to be a top contender for the best business-class experience in the U.S.

Related reading:

• Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
• American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines