American Airlines debuts new wellness menu, brings back preorder option
American Airlines has made some welcome investments in its onboard service in recent months, and more are on the way.
Beginning on Oct. 12, the Fort Worth-based carrier will roll out a new wellness menu for its premium-cabin flyers, a carrier spokesperson told TPG.
These health-forward choices include breakfast frittatas in the morning and a harvest vegetable and grain bowl served during lunch and dinner. The wellness meals were created in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, American's culinary partner, along with award-winning nutritionist Ellie Krieger.
In addition to the aforementioned choices that'll join the regular entree rotation for onboard meals, American will also add wellness-focused meals to its preorder menu. They include:
- Harvest vegetable and grain bowl.
- Golden roasted chicken.
- Mushroom and asparagus frittata.
- Dip duo.
- Note that this dip is an appetizer that will be offered alongside the preorder wellness entree.
You'll find these new choices on select domestic, transcontinental and international flights. If customers enjoy these items, American Airlines will continue serving them for the foreseeable future, according to the spokesperson.
Along with the debut of healthier meals, American will also reintroduce its preorder-only program on Oct. 12. While American already offers a preorder option for most flights, the menu picks were identical to those that would be served during the flight.
Throughout the pandemic, preordering your desired entree just guaranteed that it would be available for you on your flight.
However, as of Oct. 12, you'll soon see new options on the menu that will be exclusively available to those who preorder. This is essentially a watered-down version of Singapore's famed "book the cook" service, which offers premium-cabin flyers a range of additional entree options available by preorder only.
While you won't find a lobster thermidor on American's preorder menu, you will find new options that might be interesting to you, especially if you're a frequent flyer. In addition to the new wellness options mentioned above, I'd expect to see lighter choices, such as a charcuterie board and fruit and cheese plate, return to the preorder menu.
Adding wellness meals and bringing back the preorder-only menu are the latest upgrades coming to American's onboard catering. The carrier was one of the first to bring back hot meals to domestic first class, and many of the food options have been tastier and better presented than they were before the pandemic.
Hopefully, this investment continues to expand to other areas of the carrier's operations, including to the economy cabin and to Admirals Clubs nationwide.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express 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.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees