American Airlines will once again offer the option to preorder food in the economy cabin on some flights.[1] The airline is starting small, with a trial on one route. If you’ve ever been stuck with pretzels because the snack boxes ran out a few rows ahead of you, you’ll see why this matters.
The details are still limited, and American hasn’t promised a wider rollout. This article covers what’s confirmed so far, how the system works, and how it compares with earlier efforts.
What American Airlines Has Announced
The program is called Reserved Buy on Board. American will test it on flights between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).[2] Customers will start receiving invitations to place orders on October 13th, and the first eligible flights depart October 20th.[2]
Upgraded Points describes the trial as a starting point, noting that it’s starting on 1 route but should expand to more soon.[1] That expansion hasn’t been confirmed by the airline in the sources I found. For now, treat this as a pilot on a single, high-traffic route.
How the Reserved Buy on Board Trial Works
Eligible passengers will get an email telling them they can preorder. They can order through aa.com or the American Airlines mobile app.[1] Not every ticket holder on every flight will see the option, since it’s limited to the trial flights.
The timing is fairly generous. Participants can pick food starting seven days before departure, and the ordering window closes 20 hours before the scheduled flight.[2] Once an order is in, it’s loaded specifically for that flight[1], so the crew isn’t guessing what to stock.
You Pay Only After Your Food Arrives
One of the more interesting design choices is the payment timing. American won’t collect payment when the order is submitted. The passenger is charged only after the item is delivered onboard.[2] That’s different from a typical advance purchase, where your money is gone the moment you click.
The practical benefit is fewer headaches. According to The Bulkhead Seat, this should eliminate the need to request a refund if a customer changes flights or the airline is unable to provide the selected item.[2] It’s a sensible approach for a trial where the logistics are still being tested.
What’s On The Initial Menu
The opening menu is short. It includes a $13 fruit and cheese plate and a $14 chicken, turkey bacon, and ranch wrap with pasta salad and a churro.[2] These are the heavier choices for passengers who want something closer to a meal.
Snackers get options too. There’s a $10 Inflight Bites snack box, $6 Cool Ranch Doritos Minis, $11 roasted and salted mixed nuts from Nuts on Clark, and $5 BoomChickaPop kettle corn.[2] Prices and items could change if the program grows, so it’s worth checking the app before you fly.
A Perk For American’s Top Elites
The program includes a benefit for the airline’s most loyal customers. AAdvantage Executive Platinum and ConciergeKey members will be able to reserve an eligible item without paying for it.[2] In other words, top-tier members get a complimentary item and a guarantee that it’s waiting for them.
That’s a modest perk, but it fits a familiar pattern. Airlines often use small onboard benefits to reward their highest-status members without changing the broader fare structure. Other flyers will still pay at the prices listed above.
Why Preordering Solves A Real Problem
Buy-on-board food has a built-in weakness. The Bulkhead Seat notes that passengers seated farther back in the cabin sometimes discover that their preferred option[2] is gone by the time the cart reaches them. Anyone who’s flown in the back rows probably knows the feeling.
The airline benefits as well. Upgraded Points says the return is meant to more efficiently stock its flights and ensure that passengers can purchase the option they prefer.[1] Knowing demand ahead of time can mean less guesswork in catering. Whether it cuts waste in practice is something the trial will have to show.
This Isn’t American’s First Try
American has done this before. In 2018, The Points Guy reported that the airline tested a food preordering system for economy passengers on select routes earlier that year, and on August 1 it went systemwide.[3] That version covered “light meals” on qualifying flights, not the broader snack and meal menu described now.
The earlier program also had tighter rules. It applied to flights over three hours that departed between 9:45am and 8pm and didn’t otherwise have a meal provided in economy.[3] A third-party guide from InflightFeed, last updated in January 2025, said American had temporarily suspended the option to preorder a meal on domestic services.[4] That gap helps explain why the new trial is being described as a comeback.
How It Compares With Premium Cabins And Rivals
American already lets some premium passengers reserve meals. Its Premium Dining program lets eligible premium-cabin passengers order online starting 30 days before departure and no later than 20 hours before takeoff.[5] The economy trial uses the same 20-hour cutoff but a shorter seven-day window.
Competitors have tried economy preordering too. The Points Guy reported that United brought back preorders in a form where economy customers could preorder snacks and beverages from the buy-on-board menu, entering card details but not being charged until items were served.[6] That’s close to American’s pay-after-delivery model, which suggests the industry sees it as a workable formula.
