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.
Here’s exactly what my experience was like, including seating, comfort, WiFi, food, entertainment, and whether I’d fly American internationally again.
My route was:
The Knoxville flight was a larger aircraft with plenty of overhead bin space. I’ve 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 you’re 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 don’t 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 you’re 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.
I’m only 5’2”, so legroom isn’t usually a major issue for me.
My husband Brad is 6’7”, 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.
Let’s be honest: sitting in any airplane seat for more than nine hours isn’t 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, I’d 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, I’d prioritize comfort accessories before paying significantly more for upgraded seating.
Flykitt is also a good option if you’re 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 you’re 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 don’t forget it.
I wasn’t expecting much from airplane food.
Honestly, the food ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the trip.
No, it wasn’t as good as the meals I’ve had flying Emirates, but it was noticeably better than several other airlines I’ve 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 wasn’t 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 didn’t finish it.
The dessert looked fairly average, so I wasn’t 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 wasn’t 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. I’m 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 didn’t 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 “vegetarian or beef” 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, I’d probably consider upgrading to Premium Economy or a Comfort-style seat.
That said, I don’t think it’s necessary for most travelers.
If you’re under six feet tall and don’t mind standard economy seating, I think American’s international economy product is perfectly reasonable.
For taller travelers, especially anyone built more like my 6’7” 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 you’re considering flying American Airlines to Europe, I wouldn’t 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, I’d 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 you’re 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.
YES is always the answer... ✈️
I’m Wendy, and yes, I travel for a living (still pinching myself). After 15 years teaching middle school math, I traded the whiteboard for a passport and never looked back. Knoxville is home base, but Arizona sunsets are on another level, and if it’s been sitting on your list, this is your sign to finally say yes and book it. City guides, hotel reviews, and foodie spots are all on the blog. So glad you’re here 🌵☀️
A café, bakery, market, and wine shop all in one Phoenix stop 🍊
At La Grande Orange, order the crepes first, they’re the thing I’d go back for. The chicken salad sandwich is perfect if someone wants lunch while you’re still on breakfast, and the red velvet mini cupcake and a chai latte round it out. The sea salt chocolate chip cookie is heartier than gooey, so it’s best for dunkers. It’s counter service with easy parking, and the market has quirky gifts you won’t find elsewhere. Leave time to browse, because you’ll stay longer than planned.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ☀️
“Outside Terminal 3” is not a pickup location at PHX.
Before your driver pulls in, text them four things: your terminal, north or south side, door number, and inner or outer curb. Grab your bags first, then call them in. Drivers can wait free in the cell phone lot instead of circling. Getting through security is easy; getting picked up is the hard part.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ✈️
Come for the architecture, stay for the view.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been built into Sedona’s red rocks since 1956. The outside overlooks get busy, but inside is quiet, with huge windows framing the rocks. It’s free, takes 30-45 minutes, and has a paved, wheelchair-accessible ramp. Make sure to bring water in summer.
Save this for your trip planning!
Order it well done. Trust me.🍑🍕
Peach & Pancetta Pizza at Hideaway House in Sedona: roasted peaches, salty pancetta, ricotta, basil, extra-crispy crust. Split the house salad, grab a prickly pear lemonade, and get a patio table facing the red rocks. Skip the bread if you want room for another slice.
Save this for your Sedona trip✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
