American Airlines Adds $10 Inflight Bites, $14 Turkey Sandwich
american airlines is changing its economy buy on board menu with a $10 Inflight Bites box starting May 1 and a new roasted turkey sandwich starting June 1. The updates apply on domestic and short-haul international flights of 1,100 miles or more, where passengers can buy food instead of relying on the current menu.
The Inflight Bites box costs $10 or 1,000 miles and replaces Tray Table Tables. It includes Gochujang beef jerky, Wheat Thins, lemon rosemary green olives, a chocolate cherry granola bar, Oreo cookies, honey roasted cashews, and smoked Gouda cheese spread. American is also keeping real brands such as Wheat Thins and Oreos in the lineup.
Gary Leff on American Airlines
Gary Leff, a travel writer and frequent-flyer expert, described the menu change and criticized the limits on where the food is sold. He wrote, "I think American needs to make food for sale available on 900-mile flights, or at least 1,000 miles -when I’m on a delayed 5 p.m. Charlotte – Austin flight I really want something available."
Leff also flagged the nuts-heavy lineup in a comment, writing, "All those nuts! As a severely allergic person, I do not see this as an improvement." That complaint sits alongside the broader change: food for sale is currently only offered on mainline flights, not Eagle flights, even as the new items arrive.
June 1 Turkey Sandwich
The June 1 addition is a roasted turkey sandwich with Havarti on avocado bread, spinach, sweet red pepper, and caramelized onion-mustard spread. It comes with barbecue chips and a sweet treat, and American priced it at $14 or 1,400 miles.
American’s menu also includes NUTS ON CLARK Roasted Salted Mixed Nuts for $11 or 1,100 miles, BOOMCHICKAPOP Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn for $5 or 500 miles, and a cheese plate for $13 or 1,300 miles. The cheese plate includes Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar, Tillamook Smoked Black Pepper Cheddar, blueberry artigiano cheese, fresh fruit, dried apricots, dried black figs, walnuts, gourmet crackers, Bonne Maman honey, and Toblerone chocolate.
Marcus Samuelsson on Board
The new menu also comes after American offered Marcus Samuelsson sandwiches and a spiced nut mix in 2012. The current rollout keeps the buy on board program in the same part of the cabin, but with a more limited route rule: domestic and short-haul international flights of 1,100 miles or more. Passengers on those flights will see the new items first, starting with snacks on May 1 and the sandwich on June 1.
For economy travelers on eligible routes, the practical change is simple: the food options get broader, but only on certain aircraft and only after the two launch dates. Travelers who want the new box or sandwich will need to be on a mainline flight long enough to qualify under the 1,100-mile rule.
