American Airlines is preparing to bring back the second beverage service on most domestic and international flights as the carrier looks to shift towards a more premium service offering.
American is Restarting its Second Beverage Service on Flights Over 1,500 Miles
Back in January, American Airlines quietly eliminated its second beverage service on domestic flights over 1,500 miles. Instead, the service shifted towards an on-demand model though, of course, no announcement was made to this effect. This apparently extended to passengers traveling in First Class as well since I only received a single round of drinks on a flight from Dallas to New York earlier this year.
This was likely a cost cutting move as passengers are less likely to push the call button to request a beverage, especially considering the chilly reception it can illicit from some crewmembers.
Now the airline is bringing back the second beverage service. In an internal memo shared with ATX Jetsetter, the second service will return on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 for flights over 1,500 miles.
Select International Flights Will Receive a Pre-Meal Beverage Service
Also included in the memo is the fact that American will begin offering a pre-meal beverage service on International Premium Destination (think long-haul international) flights that depart before 9:01p local time.
On these flights, all passengers will receive a drink service prior to dinner rather than beverage and meal service simultaneously. Based on the way the memo is written, I believe American will continue to offer beverages during the meal.
What Kind of Airline Does American want to be?
Last week it was reported that American was considering eliminating bread and butter from the Premium Economy and Economy meals on long haul flights. This is being considered due to galley space on the carrier’s yet to be delivered Airbus A321XLRs but it prompted me to ask the question of what kind of airline American wants to be.
The carrier has no doubt moved down-market when compared to its rivals Delta and United in recent years though it has made some efforts to improve the premium experience for its passengers. It seems that American realized the schedule isn’t actually the product and passengers want more from their carrier of choice.
Now, the airline is making efforts to change but it doesn’t seem ready, or willing, to jump back into being the premium carrier that it once was. Recent updates are steps in the right direction but the airline is still sending some mixed messages to passengers. It will be interesting to watch what moves American makes over the next few years as it undergoes this transformation.
Summary
American Airlines will re-add the second beverage service on flights over 1,500 miles beginning Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in an effort to provide passengers with a more premium experience. The Fort Worth based carrier has indicated that it wants to shift back towards being a premium airline, though it trails significantly behind its rivals Delta and United.
I’m curious to see what moves the airline makes in the coming months and years as well as what you all think about the change. Will it make a difference or just create more work for flight attendants?