Is this a luxury or 2007? Hot nuts are still ruining first class
Is it time to eliminate hot nuts in first class? They are boring and do not distinguish between products. It’s something that airlines haven’t tried. And that’s why coming up with a replacement seems like a real opportunity to surprise customers with something different.
American Airlines wants to pivot on offering premium products, but it doesn’t seem to be unaware of any way, so I’ve been thinking about how they’re going to be premium without spending more money. After all, even though they said they wanted to be premium, they cut back on a second drink service on a longer coach flight. My first suggestion was that improving their onboard coffee would be a good start. And they were able to do it with the coach, where most passengers fly.
So, “What does it mean to offer a real premium product, slightly less than me, than the United and Delta versions? One real opportunity for airlines to distinguish themselves is to recognize that it’s time to trade first-class rituals of hot towels and hot nuts.
As some online commentators would like to see:
(h) First class OT nuts are the airline equivalent of grandma’s candy dishes. Once symbolic. Right now, it’s just sad, always old, vaguely suspicious.
Every time a mystery legume plant appears, featuring a small lukewarm ramekin, she says, “Is this a luxurious taste? 2007?”
So here is my modest suggestion with the same or less overhead as AA: Two alternative snacks that may not taste like aging in pressurized drawers since the Bush administration:
Option A: Single, Delicious Parmesan Shortbread Cookies – Fantastic and dim, with no risk of accidental dental work.
Option B: Small crackers and small tapenado dip cups.
Nuts have a certain level of identity. I usually refuse them, or because I don’t want to be rude because I missed the window and the flight attendant has them in my tray. This product has little dispersal in products outside of the time when former United CEO Jeff Smithick meant that the entire cashew was replaced by cashew pieces.
There are a bit of a mix of some airlines now. The more premium version may be primarily cashew nuts.
There is a Hawaii nut mix with candied dried pineapple.
Or a local flavour of Hawaiian Airlines’ macadamia nuts.
To be honest, I loved the British Airways Premium Cabin Nut Mix.
And I like American Airlines olives. I eat it and usually leave nuts behind.
During the pandemic, American Airlines wanted to maintain cost savings even after the worst was over.
What would something more modern and more premium look like?
Mini anti-pasto skewers. Bit-sized skewers, including mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, olives, basil, and roasted peppers. Spices or sweet seeds. Pumpkin or sunflower seeds are roasted with gourmet flavorings (maple chipotle, thyme, sea salt). Craftsman crackers with individual spreads. Crackers made from grains like spelling and quinoa. Comes with a spread (herbal cheese spread, hummus, or tapenade). A small “Amuse Bouche” canapé. Mini crostini or petite tart with interesting toppings (whipped goat cheese, roasted vegetables, smoked salmon). This is clearly a bit expensive. Special chocolates wrapped individually. After a meal like Petit Four, do you replace the accompaniment with something? Maybe filled with macarons to suit well with coffee or tea after meals. Delicious shortbread bites. A buttery, crunchy shortbread made from herbs, aged cheese and even black truffles. Or even better, can the foliez crepes not even tell you how delicious Air France is, but can they even be placed on a ramekin instead of being boxed?
Some of these are a bit expensive, so it’s not something that Devon May would sign off on American Airlines. However, airlines that wanted to distinguish first-class products, create more experiences and compete for a higher margin business can do so with a bit of creativity.
The truth is, of course, that airlines want to balance premium recognition, cost-effectiveness and simple services.
Relatively long shelf life
Minimal labor to provide services (no complicated preparation or plating)
Efficiently preserved and distributed due to limited risk of corruption
You’re more likely to see gourmet popcorn, artisan cheese potato chips, spices and sweet seeds than anti-pasto skewers and canapes.
