American Airlines Is Changing Up Its Drink Cart With Cult-Favorite Non-Alcoholic Options
- American Airlines is adding non-alcoholic beer, Athletic Brewing Company’s Free Wave Hazy IPA, to its inflight lineup starting Feb. 1, marking the first time the airline has served non-alcoholic beer onboard.
For travelers who want a drink in the air—just not that kind of drink— American Airlinesis making a much-appreciated change.
Starting Feb. 1, American will begin offering non-alcoholic beer on flights, officially adding Athletic Brewing Company's Free Wave Hazy IPA to its inflight lineup. It's the first non-alcoholic beer American has ever served onboard, and it signals a broader shift in how airlines are thinking about inflight drinking—more choice, less pressure and options that feel current.
The move follows strong demand for Athletic Brewing's non-alcoholic beers in American's Flagship and Admirals Club lounges, where they've already built a quiet but loyal following. Bringing Free Wave onboard means passengers can opt out of alcohol without opting out of flavor—whether it's a morning flight, a work trip or just a travel day where staying sharp matters.
Related: One of American Airlines' Busiest Lounges is About to Look Very Different
American Airlines
The non-alcoholic beer isn't arriving alone. American is also refreshing its cocktail and beverage lineup with Q Margarita Mix(often paired with Socorro Tequila), Q Tonic Water, Q Club Soda, Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mixand—for the first time— LaCroixSparkling Water in Lime and Berry. Together, the additions make the inflight drink cart feel more like a modern bar menu than a default pour.
Food is getting an update, too. Beginning Feb. 1, Main Cabin customers on select routes will see new buy-on-board meals, including a chicken salad and Boursin cheese wrap with coleslaw and a lemon shortbread cookie. Premium Economy and long-haul Main Cabin menus are also expanding with globally inspired options, from barbecue chicken with grits to beef bibimbap and vegetable yakiniku noodles.
All of this lands in what's shaping up to be a big year for perks at American—especially for frequent flyers and premium-seat passengers. In 2026, AAdvantagemembers are gaining expanded benefits , including free high-speed Wi-Fi on more aircraft—a move travelers say is long overdue. That follows a slate of seven major onboard upgrades American announced late last year, making this less a one-off refresh and more a sustained push.
American isn't just upgrading what's on the tray table—it's starting to make good on its larger promise to uplevel what the entire inflight experience looks like now. And for passengers who want to toast at 30,000 feet without the buzz, that starts with a cold non-alcoholic brew.
Related: 10 New Flight Routes That Make 2026 a Really Good Year to Travel
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
