DALLAS, TEXAS – DECEMBER 8, 2018: American Airlines passenger jets parked at their gates on a rainy morning at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport which serves the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, metroplex area in Texas. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

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American Airlines has announced new autumn menus for its lounges, featuring dishes with pumpkin spice, which has become a significant fall flavor trend with a passionate fan base. Facebook pages with tens of thousands of members are entirely dedicated to the aromatic blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and (sometimes) allspice.

First introduced by Thompson & Taylor Spice Co. and McCormick & Company in the 1930s as a quick ingredient blend for pumpkin pie, the spicy mix remained quietly tucked away on kitchen shelves and was generally reserved for the holidays until Starbucks introduced its Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003.

The warm beverage proved remarkably popular. Starbucks has sold over 424 million Pumpkin Spice Lattes in the U.S. since its introduction. Dunkin’ Donuts has also introduced its own Pumpkin Spice Latte, as well as an iced pumpkin loaf, pumpkin donuts, and Munchkins.

Pumpkin spice products are now $500 million industry, encompassing everything from coffee to cream cheese to SPAM.

American Airlines Introduces Pumpkin Spice Dishes On Autumn Lounge Menu

American has made a full commitment to fall by hopping on the pumpkin spice bandwagon with its new autumn lounge menu.

Visitors to American Airlines’ Flagship Lounge in Philadelphia will find Pumpkin Bread French Toast served with honey-maple syrup. The airline describes it as “decadent slices of pumpkin-spice bread soaked and griddled, topped with sweet honey-maple syrup.”

Travellers stopping by the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in Miami can enjoy Pumpkin Spice Banana Cafecito Cake, described as “a rich, moist banana cake infused with café-style espresso and warming pumpkin spice.”

American Airlines is not the first airline to take to pumpkin spice. In its autumn 2023 menu, Delta Air Lines added pumpkin-spiced chia pudding with apples, figs and toasted pumpkin seeds to its First Class breakfast menu. The airline also got creative, putting together a “Pumpkin Spice” sound mix on its Spotify-curated in-flight entertainment music selection that year.

Not Everyone Is Wild About Pumpkin Spice

While pumpkin spice has ardent supporters, it also has detractors who feel that its ubiquity diminishes the fall nostalgia that made it popular in the first place. For those less enamored with pumpkin spice, American Airlines’ fall lounge menu offers a cozy selection featuring other seasonal ingredients.

The Flagship Lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth is serving cider mustard chicken, described as “tender chicken paired with cipollini onions, sautéed kale and apples, all draped in a tangy apple cider and whole grain mustard sauce.”

The Chicago Flagship Lounge serves braised beef tips with wild mushrooms, described as “slow-braised beef, melt-in-your-mouth tender, served with earthy wild mushrooms and crispy fried leeks for crunch.”

Philadelphia’s Flagship Lounge offers a savory roasted acorn squash bisque, described as “a silky-smooth soup with the natural sweetness of roasted acorn squash, finished with warming spices and a drizzle of cream.”

Another fall savory alternative American is serving in Philadelphia is roasted Amish chicken pottage, which the airline describes as “hearty and rustic, this creamy stew features tender chicken, sweet garden peas and roasted carrots in a velvety sauce.”

As a sweet alternative to the pumpkin spice French toast in Philadelphia, guests can enjoy a warm gala apple crisp with whipped cream, which the airline describes as “baked apples with cinnamon and oat topping, served warm with whipped cream on the side.”

American Airlines’ Admirals Club lounges also offer a diverse selection of seasonal dishes, although none that feature pumpkin spice.

Still, the airline taps into another popular trend by serving Magnolia Bakery vanilla cupcakes. American serves the sweets that launched a global cupcake craze in the Admirals Club lounges at Austin, Nashville, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, San Francisco, John Wayne Airport, St. Louis Lambert International, and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Those who would like to sample the pumpkin spice treats should fly to Miami or Philadelphia soon. The airline will replace all its autumn dishes with a new winter selection of flavors, beginning in November at its Admirals Clubs and in December at its Flagship Lounges.