Taking a few short flights domestically within the USA on a recent visit allowed me a chance to experience American Airlines First Class food. I was very curious to see what they served on flights that were approximately 1 hour in length. And suffice to say I was very surprised at the food offerings (disappointed more like it), as having flown many times in Australia and Europe in domestic business class (equivalent to first class domestically in America) I was used to being served more than just a choice of a packaged snack from a basket. While some of you who fly regularly in the US might be laughing at my surprise, it had been many years since I had travelled in the US (thanks to Covid) so I was unsure what to expect.
So what foods was I offered on my short flights in the US while sitting in first class domestic?
Main Meal Service – Dallas Fort Worth to Nashville
My first flight took me from Dallas Fort Worth in Texas to Nashville in Tennessee and was approximately 1.5hours, taking off at 10.40am. Drinks were served prior to takeoff with cabin crew coming around asking what people would like to drink (rather than having a tray with pre-determined options such as bubbles, juice and water). Straight after take off cabin crew again came around asking what people would like to drink. After drinks had been served to everyone cabin crew came around with a basket which was loaded with packets of snacks. I was really surprised at this. Even though it was a short 1.5 hour flight, there was no meal or individually plated snack served to first class passengers. Just a basket of pre-packaged snacks. It certainly didn’t feel like you were in a premium cabin. I understand it was only a relatively short flight but other carriers in other countries manage to serve small hot or cold meals. I felt like I was in economy to be honest with these snack choices. The service from the cabin crew was great – they were really attentive and the snack basket made two rounds. But still I couldn’t get past it being a snack basket. I suppose at least there was choice of snacks. In the basket there were a range of savoury and sweet snacks (such as Oreo cookies and mini Pop Tarts).



Main Meal Service – Nashville to Charlotte
After a few days in Nashville, I flew to Savannah via Charlotte. The flight from Nashville to Charlotte was an early morning flight (7.30am) and was approximately 1 hour. The food experience on this flight was pretty much the same as the Dallas to Nashville flight I described above. Drinks were offered prior to take off and just after takeoff, and then the snack basket appeared. Again there were a range of savoury and sweet snacks available, however interestingly on this flight they were mostly sweet snacks even when they were ‘savoury’. For example the pistachio nuts were sweetened with sugar and honey, and the rice crisps were a sweet apple and cinnamon flavour.




Nutrition comment
These two flights were morning flights – a 10am flight and 7am flight. Being offered a variety of pre-packaged snacks on board is not a nutritious start to the day. Now you might argue that people can eat breakfast at the airport before boarding, and yes this is true. But when presented with free food on board it can be tempting to take it. It would have been nice to see some fresh food options provided alongside the pre-packaged snacks, even if it was only fresh fruit. Providing passengers a choice in food onboard is so important, especially if they have not eaten in the airport. I won’t comment on each of the snacks individually, but in general the snacks seemed to be quite processed.
Last word on American Airlines First Class Food Review (domestic)
American Airlines First Class food on domestic flights was not inspiring on the routes I flew. In fact I was quite disappointed. Since they were short flights I wasn’t expecting much, but I was expecting more than just a couple of packets of prepackaged snacks in ‘first class’. While I know first class maps to business class in other countries, still when you see what can be offered by other carries on short flights up the pointy end of the plane, this food experience was pretty sad, regardless of nutrition status. The service from the cabin crew was great though – they were incredibly attentive and doing the best they could with the catering on hand.
NOTE: All pictures of American Airlines first class food domestic USA are my own and I review the food from the menu I was given, the menu on the website at the time and the food I ordered on my flight. There may be different options available at other times.
If you would like to see American Airlines business class international food then see my review from April 2024. Or if you would like to see what American Airlines economy is like in main cabin extras – see my review. If you fly American Airlines first class internationally or are Oneworld emerald you might like to check out my review of the American Airlines First Class Lounge London.