American Airlines’ Admirals Club is under scrutiny from travel expert Gary Leff for its recent reduction in serving sizes, a change he attributes to the airline’s cost-cutting policies. The criticism comes amid growing complaints from lounge members and social media users regarding the small plates used to serve food, which many believe fail to meet the needs of travelers.
In an article for the travel site View From the Wing, Leff highlighted how American Airlines has adopted a “one-size-fits-all” approach, echoing comments made by CEO Robert Isom who stated, “never spend a dollar more than we need to.” This philosophy has influenced the ponies’ serving sizes at the airline’s lounges. Consequently, more of you are wising up and calling out this practice as “shrinkflation.”
On the point of food, Leff noted that the small plates available in the Admirals Club really don’t fit much food. This often leads to chaotic scenarios. He elaborated, “They don’t hold much food, and they don’t do a great job of holding it in.” This sentiment is shared widely among travelers who have had to endure the pain of navigating these measly morsels.
Adding to this is the airline’s policy of banning members from removing food, beverages and reading materials from the lounge. One reader noted that while the American Airlines Admirals Club in Charlotte serves full-size brats, the small plates remain unchanged, creating difficulties for guests.
This elitist, condescending reduction in serving sizes hasn’t escaped the notice of redditors either, who flooded the announcement subreddit with complaints. A Reddit user commented, “Been in CLT [Charlotte Douglas International Airport], DFW [Dallas Fort Worth International Airport] and ATL [Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport] this week, and all have moved to the half-sized plates that hold two meatballs and six noodles.” Another user speculated, “Maybe they are trying to discourage food waste, but I think it may increase cleaning costs bc I saw people dropping food from the tiny plates more often.”
American Airlines continues to offer a range of amenities at its Admirals Club lounges, including personal travel assistance, shower suites, and a buffet. The cuts to in-flight food service have been a target for questions about what the airline is making its highest and lowest priority.
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