BBQ News

American Airlines puts acclaimed Dallas BBQ Pecan Lodge on the menu

Pecan Lodge sandwich, soon to be served sky high.

American Airlines

Award-winning Dallas barbecue will soon be served in a lofty new location: on an airplane. Pecan Lodge, the acclaimed BBQ restaurant in Deep Ellum, will be featured on select flights aboard American Airlines.

According to a release, the Fort Worth-based airline is adding Pecan Lodge as an option on certain flights out of DFW bound for New York.

Pecan Lodge is the perennial Dallas BBQ favorite that opened in Deep Ellum in 2014, known for its smoked brisket and "Hot Mess" loaded baked sweet potato. The restaurant's nods include being featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. When Tom Cruise came through Dallas in 2025 on a tour through Texas to promote his new film Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, where did he stop? Pecan Lodge.

The partnership with American begins in February for passengers in first class on flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The offering will consist of a barbecue platter with brisket, smoked sausage, mac & cheese, coleslaw, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

They'll replace that with a new item for March consisting of a chopped brisket sandwich with green beans, potato salad, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.

The options are available only via preorder, beginning January 11 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The Pecan Lodge partnership is the latest in American's commitment to elevating its customer experience. Other recent new menu additions include Champagne Bollinger and Lavazza coffee, both in lounges and in flight.

In a statement, American SVP of Customer Experience Design and Strategy Rhonda Crawford offers high praise for the barbecue brand.

“As we celebrate American’s centennial anniversary in 2026, we’re looking forward to delighting our customers in new ways that honor unique regional tastes, beginning right here in our home state through one of the most beloved barbecue restaurants in Texas,” Crawford says. “Our customers deserve nothing but the best, and Pecan Lodge is certainly that.”

airport barbecue

holiday weekend

2 charming Texas towns named top travel destinations for Labor Day 2026

Photo by Paul Clark

Wimberley is a cozy scenic town in the Hill Country.

Dallas residents have one last opportunity to take a three-day weekend before the summer season ends, and two Texas towns — one each in the Hill Country and Gulf Coast — have soared onto a new list of the best destinations to visit over the Labor Day holiday.

To determine where travelers are heading for the holiday weekend, HomeToGo's latest travel trends report analyzed search patterns for the top 25 destinations in the U.S. that have seen "the strongest year-over-year growth in interest."

The Texas coastal oasis of Rockport and laid-back Hill Country town of Wimberley respectively appeared as the No. 19 and No. 23 most popular Labor Day travel hotspots this year. Last year, Bolivar Peninsula near Houston was the only Texas destination to make the list.

Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi; Red River Gorge, Kentucky; and Orcas Island, Washington, claimed the top three most popular Labor Day travel destinations in 2026.

According to the report's findings, searches for Labor Day trips have grown 23 percent since this time last year. Rural locations account for 90 percent of searches, and 65 percent of searches are for domestic destinations.

"This year, HomeToGo insights show that travelers are embracing the great outdoors while staying close to home," the report said. "The results point to a strong preference for nature-rich, waterfront, and under-the-radar escapes across the country."

Rockport already holds acclaim as one of the most affordable and family-friendly beach destinations this summer, so it makes sense that the charming town would be top-of-mind for Dallas travelers. It's about a six-hour drive from downtown Dallas, not accounting for any holiday traffic.

The sleepy town will also get a lot louder over Labor Day weekend with the arrival of Fiesta en la Playa, an annual Tejano festival taking place at Rockport Market Day Grounds from September 4-6. Featured headliners include Bobby Pulido, Gabriella Martinez (a Selena tribute act), Los Enmascarados, and The Meza Band.

Wimberley, on the other hand, is a much shorter drive from Dallas — about 3.5 hours — and Dallasites can take the scenic route to enjoy the numerous local restaurants and wineries that the Hill Country region has to offer. It's also home to a luxurious Onera resort, where guests can stay in modern treehouses that give panoramic views of the countryside.

hill country travel labor day holiday labor day destinations hometogo vacations