There’s not much else quintessentially British than the tradition of afternoon tea with delicate finger sandwiches, delectable cakes, and scones topped with lashings of clotted crew and jam, and American Airlines will be introducing this very British pastime on flights from London.
There’s just a minor problem… American Airline’s take on afternoon tea just doesn’t sound very nice.
On Thursday, American Airlines said it would soon start testing its afternoon tea concept across all cabins on inbound flights from both London and Paris with both finger sandwiches and scones.
It’s the accompaniment that go along with the scones that will make a British person turn up their nose at the Fort Worth-based carrier’s version of afternoon tea.
Rather than proper clotted cream, American Airlines says passengers will make do with a nondescript ‘crème,’ and fine jams and preserves are being swapped out for the very American alternative: jelly.
Let’s see whether American Airlines can compete with a variety of afternoon teas that are already being served at 35,000 feet, most notably from British Airways, which takes the meal so seriously that it relaunched what it described as “signature afternoon tea service” in its First cabin on transatlantic flights.
Virgin Atlantic is also highly regarded for its mile-high afternoon tea, although if you’ve already enjoyed this very British tradition in a luxury hotel or tea house in the center of London, then, let’s be fair, soggy sandwiches and rock-hard scones served on a plane probably aren’t going to live up to the hype.
Along with its afternoon tea, American Airlines also announced a few other passenger-pleasing enhancements on Thursday, including confirmation that flight attendants will no longer collect noise-canceling Bang & Olufsen headsets from Business Class passengers on Flagship services early.
The more relaxed approach to the branded headsets will apply to inbound U.S. inbound Flagship services, as well as Hawaii Flagship flights and any transcontinental flights branded as Flagship.
Perhaps realizing not only how frustrating it was for premium passengers but also for flight attendants who had to take the brunt of complaints over the issue, American Airlines said the decision to trust passengers with gate-to-gate entertainment was a “win-win” situation for everyone.
What do you think about afternoon tea at 35,000 feet? Is this something you would partake in or would you rather have something more substantial?
They’re also going to sell Tostitos Chips & Salsa on flights over 1300 miles.
Congrats AA, you’ve now achieved the same service that Allegiant offers (though Allegiant sells a larger portion for $1 less and lets you pick salsa or cheese dip) on flights as short as 300 miles.
Why do something so poorly that you’re going to invite scorn from half your passengers? Would they serve Taco Bell on flights to Mexico to “honor” Mexican culinary traditions?
Ummm, how do you know that’s it’s going to be done poorly? AA has her to start this service, abs the author is assuming that it’s gonna be crap.
Y’all need to wait and try it for yourself.
How do you know the service is going to be substandard? It hasn’t even started yet and let’s bd clear, the writer works for a competitor and has no knowledge of the products being used. “Jelly” is the same as jam in the USA and AA uses an extremely delicious French brand. I have found that AA offers better menu options than it’s competitors, so I’m willing to wait and see!
The service will, in fact, include clotted cream.
There’s nothing classy or polished about any aspect of AA’s service – from long-haul first class to American Eagle domestic flights, their crews compete in a race to the bottom of service and grace. The announcements about their take on a cheap version of afternoon tea and deciding not to make their flights even less enjoyable by allowing pax to keep headphones is on point for them and I’m sure their frequent fliers will be delighted. I’d prefer them to focus on cabin safety as much as their cheap inflight service – the basics such as no bags on the floor in bulkhead seats and tray tables up for takeoff and landing would be a great start.