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American Airlines debuts new wellness menu, brings back preorder option

Sept. 29, 2022
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3 min read
American Airlines Hot Food Breakfast First Class
American Airlines debuts new wellness menu, brings back preorder option
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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.

AMERICAN AIRLINES

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.

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AMERICAN AIRLINES

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.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

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  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.