American Airlines debuted their brand new three-class transcontinental bird this week and the new Airbus A321T has a whole host of features that will make flying from LAX to JFK (or vice versa) a lot more pleasant. I’ll let the other guys handle the seating and entertainment upgrades because all I care about is the food. While American is no longer working with Top Chef Master Marcus Samuelsson, they’ve still got an award-winning team creating new dishes for their premium flyers and I got my hands on the brand new menus.

 

Both First and Business Class travelers will be eating roughly the same meal with a few exceptions. Business folks start out with a Thai-seasoned chicken breast in an Asian mint dressing with pineapple and watermelon while Firsties can choose either the chicken or a marinated cheese antipasto plate. Both classes get the same salad (seasonal greens and fresh vegetables offered with chile cucumber salad) but First Class has the option of enjoying their salad with cajun-style roasted chicken breast. The entree choices are the same for everyone: grilled fillet of beef, pumpkin seed-crusted chicken breast, or a cheese tortellini and manicotti duo. Sadly there’s no fish option for pescatarians.

 

For dessert, First Class gets a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sundae or a Grand Marnier fruit salad while Business gets the same sundae or a gourmet cheese plate. Before you land in either class, you’ll get some fruit and cookies baked on the plane.

 

The best part? You can enjoy all of this in fully lie-flat seats because AA is the only domestic carrier to offer that option in both First and Business on their transcon flights.

 

If you end up trying any of the new menu items, please let me know in the comments or via @FlyDine on Twitter. I’m very curious to know how everything turned out.

 

Full menus here: Transcon FC

 

UPDATE From Reader Allan (in the comments):

The new menu is not exclusive to the A321 flights. It is on all of AA’s trans-con routes. Had the new dinner menu on MIA-LAX. Best domestic meal I’ve had on a plane. I’ve always thought AA’s First meals were the best among U.S. carriers, and they’ve actually made them better. While it’s still the usual steak or pasta, it’s a lot more favorful. And the Thai chicken appetizer was delicious. The portions are also a little larger.

One significant change is that in business (or 2-class first), there is now three choices for everybody. It used to be two.

And the new menu will rotate some fish choices.