Apr 19, 2021, 6:39 pm
Last edit by: aztimm
American Reintroduces Beverage Service as Customers Return to the Skies
Starting May 1, American Airlines will reintroduce full beverage service in all domestic premium cabins.
Starting June 1, beverage service, including canned drinks, juice and water, will begin in the main cabin.
Domestic Premium Cabin
- Beginning May 1: Full complimentary beverage service, including alcohol, canned drinks, juice and water.
Domestic Main Cabin
- Beverage service is currently provided on flights longer than 2,200 miles (approximately four hours or more).
- Beginning June 1: Complimentary beverage service, including canned drinks, juice and water.
- Later this summer: Full main cabin beverage service, including alcoholic beverage options, along with American’s popular buy-on-board food program.
Full Beverage + BoB Food Service Coming Back to Domestic Economy Passengers
Apr 19, 2021, 6:20 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
From the actual news release https://news.aa.com/news/news-detail...4/default.aspx
Not sure why with a 1.5 month leeway they can't even pin down a date for food and alcohol to return, when airlines such as DL/AS can do so in 2 weeks. Even then, if they are expecting more people to be flying leisure during the summer, wouldn't you be rushing to get any additional ancillary revenue from those looking for a drink or snack before their vacation?
Domestic Main Cabin
- Beverage service is currently provided on flights longer than 2,200 miles (approximately four hours or more).
- Beginning June 1: Complimentary beverage service, including canned drinks, juice and water.
- Later this summer: Full main cabin beverage service, including alcoholic beverage options, along with American’s popular buy-on-board food program.
Apr 19, 2021, 6:25 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
From the actual news release https://news.aa.com/news/news-detail...4/default.aspx
Not sure why with a 1.5 month leeway they can't even pin down a date for food and alcohol to return, when airlines such as DL/AS can do so in 2 weeks. Even then, if they are expecting more people to be flying leisure during the summer, wouldn't you be rushing to get any additional ancillary revenue from those looking for a drink or snack before their vacation?
Not sure why with a 1.5 month leeway they can't even pin down a date for food and alcohol to return, when airlines such as DL/AS can do so in 2 weeks. Even then, if they are expecting more people to be flying leisure during the summer, wouldn't you be rushing to get any additional ancillary revenue from those looking for a drink or snack before their vacation?
Apr 19, 2021, 6:30 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA/CLT/HKG
Programs: AA EXP (Former US CP)
Posts: 731
I agree I don't understand why DL was able to resume service much more quickly but it is going to take AA nearly a month and a half to resume.
As of right now canned drinks/juices are on request now in Y, and roughly 60-80% of time most are successful in getting those requests fulfilled. I predict this announcement will allow lazy FAs to get even lazier before June 1 as they can use this PR as a way to say "no drinks in Y until June 1" especially because the PR doesn't say how drinks are available upon request, but rather only on flights greater than 2200 miles.
As of right now canned drinks/juices are on request now in Y, and roughly 60-80% of time most are successful in getting those requests fulfilled. I predict this announcement will allow lazy FAs to get even lazier before June 1 as they can use this PR as a way to say "no drinks in Y until June 1" especially because the PR doesn't say how drinks are available upon request, but rather only on flights greater than 2200 miles.
Apr 19, 2021, 7:43 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 138
I've been watching these threads with anticipation. And sadly, they have added nothing to benefit my upcoming trip to Hawaii in June. You think they'd realize kids are better behaved on an 8 hour flight if you at least throw them some pretzels or a wrap with their juice. And I absolutely love packing meals for 5 while paying for PE seats as a plat. Really makes it feel like you're on the vacation you've been waiting 2 years to take... 
Apr 19, 2021, 9:26 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA/CLT/HKG
Programs: AA EXP (Former US CP)
Posts: 731
I wonder how much "turbulence" aka no cabin service due to "expected" rough air there's going to magically be on shorter 250-300 mile flights come June 1st.
I also wonder if the water bottle/orange juice cuplet service will return on shorter flights. Some of those intra-Texas and intra-Carolina routes (DFW-AUS/IAH, CLT-CHS/RDU come to mind) are awfully hard to get an upgrade on and it was nice to have something to drink after making a short connection, especially in the summer.
I also wonder if the water bottle/orange juice cuplet service will return on shorter flights. Some of those intra-Texas and intra-Carolina routes (DFW-AUS/IAH, CLT-CHS/RDU come to mind) are awfully hard to get an upgrade on and it was nice to have something to drink after making a short connection, especially in the summer.
Apr 20, 2021, 4:44 am
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
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So it sounds like the F service will remain as is with the exception of no drinks on demand or a few FAs telling you to go pound sand if you want a drink. Sometime later this year Y service will go back to what it was. That one actually surprises me but it nice to see it coming back because even as an EXP if I don't buy F I'm often not going to fly in F.
Apr 20, 2021, 10:15 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
It's nice that AA can follow DL. Looks like they can continue to be cheAAp by not giving me free drinks in MCE in addition to the ones they no longer give out in the admirals club. Hopefully I will be proven wrong, but I will continue to set the bar unreasonably low to not be disappointed.
May 5, 2021, 1:40 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland, OR.
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 606
We are scheduled for a MCE flight this coming friday. Can anyone comment on what beverages snacks are available right now?
also have a flight from DFW to BZE and wondering about that catering.
Thanks.
TF
also have a flight from DFW to BZE and wondering about that catering.
Thanks.
TF
May 5, 2021, 1:47 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,018
currently there is no differentiation between coach and MCE except if you book an exit or bulk head seat for a few more inches of leg room.
May 5, 2021, 2:02 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
Most planes have a number of MCE seats (with extra legroom) that are not exit or bulkhead.
May 5, 2021, 2:18 pm
#29
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May 5, 2021, 2:29 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,428
There is definitely a difference, only an extra 2-3 inches in most cases, but it is enough for me to notice and my knees appreciate it. The sad part is that the MCE pitch is really just what normal economy pitches used to be not-that-long-ago, so really you are just avoiding the crazy ~31 inch pitch currently in Y. But I digress.