American Airlines Should Include Meals in the Ticket Price

I fly frequently, about 7 times a year and I always bring my own
snacks on the plane. I bring a bagged lunch if I have a layover. The
only thing they wont allow is your own personal drinks and they serve
them on the plane. Id rather pay less for my ticket and have an option
to bring my own or purchase a snack.

As far as I know, American does accept credit cards (and debit cards)
on-board for food. The no-food policy has been in place for quite some
time, however the marketing spin is that "food is for sale on-board."
It is almost always announced on their website when another route gets
"food for sale" added.

If you want free food, travel internationally. Otherwise, eat at home
or at the airport.

What is the difference if you pay on the plane or with the ticket for
the meal?? If it is the fact that you have to pay for it right then
and there.. bring cash! You should always have some cash on you
anyways.

Remember people if you dont tip the skycaps your luggage may wind up
Accidentally on purpose in the wrong location.

Yeah, I miss that delicious airline food too - NOT! American isn't
the only airline to cut food service as expenses have risen and
profits have shrunk. As others have noted, most airports sell food
and drink inside security, and airlines are more than happy to have
you bring it aboard. Happy travels!

You can take all the liquid, food and even (gasp) mayonnaise you want
on a plane as long as you purchase it after you clear security. Any
airport I have ever been in, large or small, has restaurants after the
security check.

You must not fly very often, and haven't in a long time. I can't
remember the last time I was offered a free meal (yuck) on a plane. I
usually shake my head in disbelief at the people who actually fork
over cash for the priviledge of eating airline food.

Next time plan ahead and think a little, and you will not go hungry.

airlines are cheaper than Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve, I kind of
understand the point.

Most people would rather save the $7 and deal with the food issue on
their own than to pay that much money for crappy food anyway.

And you fly and don't take cash with you?? How do you pay your
skycaps or your parking tolls?

I was not aware of this airline service or lack thereof. Thanks for
informing me.

Profits are so tight that they now charge for the meal...Should
definitely have been informed of this at the time reservations are
made.

Sorry, but I don't want to pay extra money for a crappy meal, when I
can just stop at Mickey D's before a flight, and still be able to take
it on the plane with me. And as far as having Cash, most airlines
don't even take cash anymore. But, at least your letter was well
thought out!

Next time I travel, I plan on researching the airlines ahead of
time, and I will be more likely to fly airlines that include meals in
their flights, even if they cost more.

The only US legacy carrier that does so is Continental. Others may
have snacks, but that's it in the way of meals. I like Virgin
America's -- on demand and they accept plastic.

Not everyone wants to eat Airline food. Why are you wanting everyone
to pay more so you dont have to carry cash. Sheesh. Lay off the
credit card anyway, they are nothing but trouble.

I know how frustrating not having enough cash is. I've been there.
However I personally would not want to pay extra to get food on a
plane. This is because you have no way of knowing what is going to be
on the plane to eat. There could be something that I don't like, or it
may have too much dairy and my husband cant have it.
It's easier to just grab a bite at the airport after clearing
security.

I don't know about the airports you fly from, but all of the airports
I've flown from have restaurants right next to the terminals.
Although this does limit your food choices, they are even more limited
if you decide to eat the food from the airline. These restaurants
normally take debit/credit cards too.

Brooke -- Might I suggest that you carry a bit of cash on you when you
travel for situations like this. You don't need to carry a lot, but
then you are prepared for things like this and for the times that you
want something to eat, drink or read and the credit card machine is
down.

People search with all of our wonderful websites and we usually pick
the airline with the lowest fare.

Thus, if there was a low cost airline and it's fare was $5 less than
American Airlines (assuming all other things equal), many people would
save the money and pick the cheaper fare.

I travel all the time for work, and what I do is simply plan to have
enough time if I need it to get food at the airport. You can get
drinks to take on the plane once you are past security as well as
various snacks.

The airport in the city where I live has a special service that sells
pre-packaged meals that meet all airline safety requirements. You can
take them on board with you without hassle. I have never tried one but
I like the idea because I would rather not eat than eat airline food
anyway.

If your town's airport doesn't have this service you can probably buy
take-out from one on the many restaurants on the concourse if you
don't want to pack your own.

There are several errors here. Not that I'd blame you, as many people
don't fly enough to keep up with all the changes.

Mayo is allowed through security, as long as you don't have over 3oz
of it. A packet or two is allowed. If a TSA agent argues with you,
feel free to ask for a supervisor who will be glad to verify that you
have complied.

Besides, you can buy mayo past security and bring as much as you
like.

Next, most airlines that offer on-board "pay" food accept credit
cards. In fact, my experience on recent flights (I"m actually in
transit right now) has been that will not accept cash, anyway. Just
credit.

I'm also used to being given free soda/juice/water and a tiny snack.
The pay snack is much larger, consisting of multiple items.

Lastly, most people do not want to have $7 tacked onto their ticket so
that they can eat on a short-haul flight.

Unless you were flying out of a smaller airport, many offer fast food
choices as well as other sit down type restaurants with speedy take
out. You can also pack snacks and/or a sandwich to take along and
purchase a beverage after you clear security. I would much rather do
that than have airplane food!

I disagree with you. I prefer to bring my own food when I fly (or
choose to buy something healthful but expensive at the airport on my
return flight home). I shouldn't have to pay $7 or $5 extra for food
I don't want, just so you don't have to have cash on hand for the
in-flight meal.

I can understand your opinion, but I have to say I feel exactly the
opposite. I'd rather not pay anything for a bad airline meal and
bring a snack and plan to eat earlier or later. Every airport has
better options than what I've ever had on an airplane, and I'd rather
pay for a more enjoyable meal than pay for something I won't eat.

I wonder if they could do a "meal option" type thing when you reserve
your flight, giving those that want a meal the ability to prepay for
it. I would think that would save on food waste costs from those like
me.

Nothing is the way it used to be anymore. You can blame that on
whatever you want, it is debatable. I agree w/ you, it is kind of a
pain in the butt to have to pay extra for your dinner once your on the
plane. But, I can tell you that according to the regulations.
Anything you buy past the security gate, you can carry on the plane.
So if you buy a value meal in your concourse, you can take it on the
plane, just don't buy anything BEFORE security or you will have to
throw it out. So, let it be a lesson. Bring food from home, but
DON'T buy any liquids before security.

Brooke, Brooke, Brooke

What you are requesting is the way it "used to be".

Before the flying public demanded lower prices, the airlines mounted
price wars , reduced "services" and chopped overhead.

The unions drained the airlines and what used to be a rewarding
traveling experience became a buslike experience.

We brought it on ourselves when travel by air became the common means
of transport.

No going back from this point.

Those were the days:
Pan AM, Eastern, Braniff, TWA, The old Fronter, Ozark, Piedmont etc.

BillR.

This is the way it is with most airlines now. Only flights of a
certain length include meals. You can buy a sandwich and a drink at
the airport after you pass through security.

Everyone wanted low fares and some things just had to go.

Flying is just one big pain in the a$$ these days. I would rather
just drive now. I would only fly if I had to travel more than 500-600
miles. I was recently planning a trip to North Carolina. It would
take me 6 to 6 1/2 hours to drive it. After thinking it over, I
realized it would take just about that long to fly there as well. I'd
have to drive to BWI airport (about 30 mins), arrive 2 hours early to
go through security, fly for 1 1/2 hours to Charlotte, take about an
hour to get out of the airport and rent a car, and then drive 1 hour
to my destination. And that's assuming that there would be no
delays.

But the biggest problem is the damn security regulations. Personally,
I think they've completely overreacted. I know there are some that
believe "better safe than sorry", but I believe that can be achieved
without some of the regulations they have now.

As for the OP's complaint, I completely agree with her. I'd rather
just pay for everything up front, including the meal, rather than
getting nickeled and dimed throughout the flight. I too, carry very
little cash these days, and use plastic for just about every purchase
over $1 or $2.

I agree with you but the practice has been in place for a long time.
Fuel is MUCH more expensive than it was in the "good old days". And I
may be crazy, but I could swear I gave them my debit card for a meal
in December when I flew home. If you were starving you should have
asked.

I agree with you, but I don't see the airlines changing this practice
any time in the near future. It's all in the name of cost-cutting and
profit margins.

Next time, try Midwest Express. They give you fresh-baked cookies on
your flight. It's not a meal, but hey, it's something!

Brooke, I am curious about the last time you flew on a flight long
enough to serve meals. I personally have not flown for about 5 years,
and I think the no meals policy has been in place for at least that
long.

It is in the spirit of cost cutting. I may be wrong, but I thought it
was a recent change at some airline to go *back* to serving food (with
the optional charge). Maybe that was this one.

Personally, I agree with you. Now, I don't have a mind for business.
But as a customer, I would pay whatever more it costs per ticket to
have 2 inches more legroom, meals, and snacks. Pillows I never had
too much use for, although on a cool flight a blanket was nice.

I think it has become extremely hard for airlines to make money.
Aside from skyrocketing fuel costs, I don't know exactly why. You are
right - food and snacks should be included.

Take a sandwich with you along with a beverage. There's no problem.