If you're looking for an honest American Airlines international flight review, I recently flew American from Knoxville to Dallas and then Dallas to Frankfurt, and overall I was pleasantly surprised.
I've flown American quite a bit throughout the Caribbean, so I expected a similar experience, but the long-haul international flight ended up being better than I anticipated in a few areas, especially the food.
Hereβs exactly what my experience was like, including seating, comfort, WiFi, food, entertainment, and whether Iβd fly American internationally again.
My route was:
The Knoxville flight was a larger aircraft with plenty of overhead bin space. Iβve flown American on smaller regional routes before where overhead space filled up quickly and bags had to be gate checked, so I was happy not to deal with that this time.
Boarding was straightforward and organized on both flights. Nothing particularly memorable happened, which is usually exactly what you want when boarding a plane.
If youβre still figuring out flights, I usually start with Skyscanner to compare routes and prices before booking directly or using points.
I normally prefer a window seat, but I donβt usually pay extra for seat assignments.
On my flight to Dallas, I ended up with an aisle seat and an empty seat beside me, which felt like a small travel victory.
For the Dallas to Frankfurt flight, I had an aisle seat on the end of the middle section. I actually ended up loving that setup because I could get up whenever I wanted without climbing over anyone or asking someone to move.
If youβre nervous about the airport or flight process in general, my First Time Flying? Essential Tips for Your First Flight (Step-by-Step Guide) may help before a big international travel day.
Iβm only 5β2β, so legroom isnβt usually a major issue for me.
My husband Brad is 6β7β, and when we travel together we typically upgrade to seats with additional legroom because he needs it.
For me, standard economy was completely manageable. I also travel with a foot hammock, which I absolutely love. Being short means my feet rarely sit comfortably on long flights, and the hammock makes a noticeable difference.
Letβs be honest: sitting in any airplane seat for more than nine hours isnβt exactly comfortable.
That said, I thought the seat reclined reasonably well, and I actually managed to sleep for about four hours.
I also travel with:
I suspect those items helped almost as much as the seat itself.
For more of the exact things I bring on flights like this, Iβd also read International Flight Essentials I never Fly Without (Long-Haul Tested) before packing.
For me, yes.
I know a lot of people struggle to sleep on planes, but with my usual setup I slept surprisingly well.
The combination of the travel pillow, sleep mask, ear plugs, foot hammock, and seat cushion made a huge difference. If sleeping on airplanes is important to you, Iβd prioritize comfort accessories before paying significantly more for upgraded seating.
Flykitt is also a good option if youβre trying to manage jet lag on a long-haul international flight.
The Dallas to Frankfurt flight had seatback entertainment screens, and I loved being able to use my Bluetooth headphone adapter with my own headphones. Between movies, laptop work, a few hours of sleep, and occasionally staring out the window wondering what time zone my body thought it was in, the flight passed fairly quickly.
For me, absolutely.
I used WiFi throughout the flight and had no issues getting work done.
American now offers free WiFi on many flights for eligible cardholders, which made it even more useful. Being able to answer emails and work during a long international flight helped the time pass much faster.
If youβre trying to make international flights more affordable overall, my How I Fly for Free with Credit Card Points on a Big International Trip blog goes into more of how I use points for big trips.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you donβt forget it.
I wasnβt expecting much from airplane food.
Honestly, the food ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the trip.
No, it wasnβt as good as the meals Iβve had flying Emirates, but it was noticeably better than several other airlines Iβve flown.
On the flight to Frankfurt we received:
Drinks were offered regularly and included:
About an hour after takeoff, the flight attendants came through with a simple snack service offering either pretzels or cookies. It wasn't anything particularly memorable, but it helped hold me over until dinner was served a couple of hours later.
Dinner was served roughly two to three hours into the flight.
The meal choices were simply:
One thing that surprised me was how little information was provided about the meals. Even when people asked questions, the descriptions stayed fairly limited.
I chose the chicken option.
The meal included:
The chicken was surprisingly good. Most importantly, it wasnβt rubbery, which is honestly one of my biggest concerns with airplane chicken. The salad was fresh, and I really enjoyed it. The cheese and crackers were probably my favorite part of the tray.
The bread roll, however, was rough. Dry. Bland. Forgettable. I didnβt finish it.
The dessert looked fairly average, so I wasnβt expecting much, but it ended up being a cinnamon roll-style cake that was moist and surprisingly good.
No culinary awards are being handed out here, but for airplane food it exceeded my expectations.
Breakfast was served about two hours before arriving in Frankfurt.
The meal included:
I actually enjoyed this breakfast quite a bit. After sitting for hours, the lighter option felt refreshing compared to another heavy meal. The portion wasnβt huge, but it was enough for me.
The return flight was similar but had a few differences.
For dinner, I again selected the chicken option.
This meal included:
Again, the chicken was surprisingly good and not rubbery. The salad was excellent. The Laughing Cow cheese and crackers were delicious.
The roll was also much better this time. Iβm not sure if the roll improved or if the butter carried the entire operation, but I ate the whole thing. I think it was a different type of roll altogether.
The dessert unfortunately went in the opposite direction. The cake was dry, and I didnβt finish it.
On the return flight we also received ice cream between meals.
That was a nice surprise.
For breakfast I was offered either:
It felt like a slightly unusual breakfast choice, but it actually tasted pretty good.
Again, meal descriptions were minimal. The flight attendants mostly repeated βvegetarian or beefβ without providing much additional information.
The flight attendants were helpful throughout the trip.
Some crew members were friendlier than others, which is pretty typical, but nobody was rude and I never had a negative interaction.
Drink service was consistent, requests were handled quickly, and overall the service was solid.
The food.
That was easily the biggest surprise of the entire experience. I went in expecting typical airline food and ended up enjoying most of the meals. The chicken was consistently good, the salads were fresh, and several of the desserts were better than expected. The only disappointments were minor.
If I had extra money to spend, Iβd probably consider upgrading to Premium Economy or a Comfort-style seat.
That said, I donβt think itβs necessary for most travelers.
If youβre under six feet tall and donβt mind standard economy seating, I think Americanβs international economy product is perfectly reasonable.
For taller travelers, especially anyone built more like my 6β7β husband, the extra legroom may be money well spent.
Absolutely. In fact, I already have additional American Airlines international flights planned in the coming months.
The flights were organized, the seats were comfortable enough, I slept well, the WiFi was useful, and the food was much better than expected.
If youβre considering flying American Airlines to Europe, I wouldnβt hesitate to do it again.
Just bring a travel pillow, sleep mask, foot hammock, and a few backup snacks. Your future self will probably appreciate the planning.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
Use Skyscanner to compare international flight routes and prices before booking.
If your trip includes hotels before or after your flight, I usually compare stays through Booking.com and Hotels.com.
For long flights, Iβd start with The Ultimate Packing List for Perfect Vacations.
I also recommend packing a Universal Power Adapter, Clutch Powerbank, and Airport Backpack for international travel days.
If youβre planning a long-haul flight, read How Tight Is Too Tight for a Layover? before choosing your connection.
For more travel inspiration, you may also like 40 Favorite Travel Destinations Around the World: My Unforgettable Top Picks at 40.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos donβt capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they donβt know theyβre in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But thatβs also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. π·
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. π·
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes Iβve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Hereβs what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
CafΓ© Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davieβs Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (itβs not ketchup, and itβs better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what Iβd skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
Thereβs a version of Gatlinburg thatβs all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then thereβs the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Hereβs everything worth doing downtown, in the order Iβd do it: ποΈ
β¨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
β¨ Walk the strip mid-morning when itβs still manageable
β¨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: donβt skip it)
β¨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
β¨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isnβt your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. Itβs more of a βhereβs what Iβd actually do if I had one solid dayβ kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. π
If someone told me Iβd spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. π
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and itβs one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it β longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
β¨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
β¨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
β¨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
β¨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. π
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
