American Upgrades Dining in First Class and Coach

American continues to upgrade their product. A few weeks ago they introduced new amenity kits and now they’re introducing new dining options. Unlike previous improvements, even the folks at the back of the plane will benefit.

American Airlines Collaborates With Chef Richard Sandoval And Chef Marcus Samuelsson To Enhance Inflight Dining Program

Chefs Join American’s Culinary Team to Design Inflight Menus Products and Services

American Airlines is collaborating with Chef Richard Sandoval and Chef Marcus Samuelsson to its inflight dining program as part of the airline’s ongoing effort to enhance and differentiate the onboard travel experience.

On Oct. 1, American will begin offering signature menu items designed by Chef Sandoval onboard flights between the U.S. and Europe, Asia and Latin America in American’s premium class cabins. Also beginning Oct. 1, American will debut the New American Table menu featuring original creations by Marcus Samuelsson. Chef Samuelson’s offerings will be available for purchase on domestic flights more than two hours in length as part of the main cabin dining program.

Here’s a look at some of the new domestic first/business class menu items:

Chef Sandoval’s signature halibut entrée

Chef Sandoval’s lemongrass marinated chicken

Here’s a look at some of the new food for purchase items:

Chef Samuelsson’s signature breakfast biscuit

Chef Samuelsson’s turkey & chutney sandwich

And here’s a look a the new menu:

American Airlines Menu Page One

American Airlines Menu Page Two

I’m a fan of American’s premium class dining product (except for the 3 meat sandwich, the idea of which kind of weirds me out – but that’s a personal issue:-) and I think that they do a great job feeding the minority of folks that get to ride up front.

It’s good to see an improvement than benefits the majority of their customers that ride in the back of the plane. I would however like to see a better snack selection in coach. I’ve been lucky this year (despite dropping to AAdvantage Gold) to have most of my upgrades clear. But on those occasions when it didn’t happen, it seemed that there wasn’t much of a snack selection on those flights except for salty potato chips, nuts, a cheese & cracker mix and the cookie (which actually isn’t very good and proves that it is possible to make a bad chocolate chip cookie). I’d like to see American offer some of the healthier snack items that they sell on California flights on some of their other routes.

Anyway, enough of my whining. Go here to read the chef bios and here for more details.