Feb 22, 2015, 6:28 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA/US Domestic Dining (including Canada, Mexico, & the Caribbean)
Note: this thread is about meals served on AA-US. There is another thread for the contingent that wishes to debate and discuss linens as a primary subject, including related presentation issues: Linens / presentation debate for meal service on AA, US / both.
PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST. /Moderators
Welcome to the 2015 Domestic Dining thread and the resulting discussion/trip reports/photos/shared experiences. Here, in this wiki post, I'll strive to explain what you should expect on AA flights in First and Business, meals-wise. Keep in mind that there are many domestic flights, so there are quite a few parameters to keep track of. This Wiki covers both AA and US flights, but as of September 2014, AA and US offers identical meal service domestically, so that part of the merger has its' harmonization completed.
Basically, in its' best condensed form, you should expect to receive a meal between 4:59am - 8pm on flights longer than 900 miles, which equals about two hours in the air. From that point, there are exceptions, and specific timing parameters.
What to Expect - Mainline:
Keep in mind that this list is not entirely inclusive, and there may be certain exceptions and/or abnormalities.
- Up to 699 miles: Light snacks such as a fig bar, cookies, and/or pretzels
- 700-899 miles: Warmed nuts, a snack plate (fruit/cheese, pita/hummus, or spinach dip/pita), and a cookie
- 900-1298 miles: A meal (fruit/breakfast entree; salad/entree) followed by a cookie; no meals between 1:30-4pm
- 1298-2199 miles: A full meal including an appetizer, with cake for lunch desserts and premade ice-cream for dinner desserts
- 2200 miles and above: Same as 1298-2199 miles, but consists of made-to-order sundaes or a cheese plate for both lunch and dinner desserts
What to Expect - Regional:
Keep in mind that this list is not entirely inclusive, and there may be certain exceptions and/or abnormalities.
- Up to 175 miles: A light snack mix along with beverage service
- 176-899 miles: Sweet and savory, organic/healthy snack choices (snack basket)
- 900-2199 miles: Warm mixed nuts, two meal options, and dessert. (For flights over 2200 miles, you will receive the same selection of snacks from 176-899 miles as a pre-arrival snack. All regional meal flights leaving after 8:00pm will also receive sweet and savory snacks as the only option. Editor's note: A regional jet for 2000+ miles? Hope that never happens!)
All of the meal flights that fall under the above timing parameters will receive two choices; normally, one meat and one vegetarian.
Longer westbound flights leaving from the east coast (transcontinental; non-premium) are not officially exceptions, but some flights after 8pm receive a full dinner service (such as the 8:05pm MIA-SAN flight, or the 8:30pm PHL-LAS flight). Additionally, non-premium transcontinental red-eye flights will receive snack basket service upon departure, then a continental breakfast box prior to arrival.
Official Exceptions:
The following flights all fall under 900 miles, but will receive a full meal service, with the exception of flights leaving between 1:31-4pm. Despite some of the listed flights being over 900 miles, they are remaining listed here, based on the AA website for documentation purposes.
- Chicago (ORD) - AUS/BDL/BOS/DCA/EWR/JFK/LGA/MSY/RDU
- Dallas (DFW) - BJX/ORD/MEX/QRO/SLP
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) - PAP
- Los Angeles (LAX) - DEN
- Miami (MIA) - DCA/IAD/PAP
- New York (LGA) - ATL
- Phoenix (PHX) - MZT
Additional Information:
- JFK-LAX/SFO; MIA-LAX are considered premium transcontinental flights, and as such, receives a more refined service with three meal choices, per-course service, printed menus, and tray/tablecloth linens in both F/J. Those flights now are the only domestic flights in the system to offer special meals as another option (which can be reserved by either preordering online, or calling). Red-eye flights will receive a full "supper/snack" meal service, which is basically a condensed dinner service.
- Hawaiian meal service is very similar to what you'd expect on 2200+ mile flights, but there also will be Hawaiian rolls served, along with a pre-arrival continental breakfast/snack (dependent on the length of the route). Tropical warmed nuts are also currently served.
- All flights over 700 miles, regardless of a meal being served or not, will receive warm mixed nuts and a cookie.
Disclaimer: The editor of this Wiki does not guarantee the information presented above will always be accurate or properly followed by AA, given catering mishaps, irregular operations, rogue crews, or mismanagement. For the best up-to-date information, it would be prudent to check AA's website constantly for any updates, or call AA. The editors of this Wiki will keep this Wiki updated as often as possible.
Last updated: 7/26/2015 2:33pm, MrAndy1369
2015 Combined AA/US Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (Consolidated)
Feb 22, 2015, 6:38 pm
#361
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
All flights that are 1299+ miles will receive full meal service during 1:31-4pm (lunch/dinner).
Important side note: does anyone still have the leaked charts of the AA meal service - charts with times on them? They were floating around last year when the leaked new charts showing the new timing parameters.
Feb 22, 2015, 6:53 pm
#362
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
Mesa does not serve meals, even on flights like IAH-LAX, which is beyond ridiculous, but that's Dougie for you.
Feb 22, 2015, 7:21 pm
#363
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Mesa does not serve meals, even on flights like IAH-LAX, which is beyond ridiculous, but that's Dougie for you.
Feb 22, 2015, 8:43 pm
#364
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Yes, flights that are 900-1298 miles, along with exception flights falling under 900 miles, do not receive meals in that departing timeframe; only the snack basket and Lite Bites.
All flights that are 1299+ miles will receive full meal service during 1:31-4pm (lunch/dinner).
Important side note: does anyone still have the leaked charts of the AA meal service - charts with times on them? They were floating around last year when the leaked new charts showing the new timing parameters.
All flights that are 1299+ miles will receive full meal service during 1:31-4pm (lunch/dinner).
Important side note: does anyone still have the leaked charts of the AA meal service - charts with times on them? They were floating around last year when the leaked new charts showing the new timing parameters.
Feb 22, 2015, 9:09 pm
#365
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
900 – 1,298 miles
(2:30 – 3:30 hours)
Warmed mixed nuts, followed by a three-course meal including a warm cookie for dessert is served on most flights*.
*Full meals are served on departures between 5 a.m. -1:30 p.m. and 4:01 p.m. – 8 p.m. Warmed mixed nuts and Lite Bites are served on departures between 1:31 p.m. – 4 p.m. and after 8:01 p.m.
(2:30 – 3:30 hours)
Warmed mixed nuts, followed by a three-course meal including a warm cookie for dessert is served on most flights*.
*Full meals are served on departures between 5 a.m. -1:30 p.m. and 4:01 p.m. – 8 p.m. Warmed mixed nuts and Lite Bites are served on departures between 1:31 p.m. – 4 p.m. and after 8:01 p.m.
Oddly enough, I did some testing. ORD-MIA/MCO both are in that mileage bracket, and despite what the website says, including the asterik next to 900-1298 miles pointing to that text, it looks like you may be correct - there's still meal service shown for 1:31-4pm flights.
So, is the AA website wrong, or...?
Feb 22, 2015, 9:16 pm
#366
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Yes, flights that are 900-1298 miles, along with exception flights falling under 900 miles, do not receive meals in that departing timeframe; only the snack basket and Lite Bites.
All flights that are 1299+ miles will receive full meal service during 1:31-4pm (lunch/dinner).
Important side note: does anyone still have the leaked charts of the AA meal service - charts with times on them? They were floating around last year when the leaked new charts showing the new timing parameters.
All flights that are 1299+ miles will receive full meal service during 1:31-4pm (lunch/dinner).
Important side note: does anyone still have the leaked charts of the AA meal service - charts with times on them? They were floating around last year when the leaked new charts showing the new timing parameters.
ETA: I saw your recent post... Interesting. AFAIK, anything departing after 5am up to 8pm will have a meal if it is over 1,000 miles.
Feb 22, 2015, 9:20 pm
#367
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
Nonetheless, I stand corrected. 1000 miles and above, no gaps in meal windows. Will update the Wiki to reflect this.
Feb 22, 2015, 9:22 pm
#368
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Hmmm okay, looks like the AA website is wrong, then, or out of date. Maybe it was intended for the original cutbacks in September 2014, when the minimum threshold was 1000 miles, and they hadn't updated it to reflect.
Nonetheless, I stand corrected. 1000 miles and above, no gaps in meal windows. Will update the Wiki to reflect this.
Nonetheless, I stand corrected. 1000 miles and above, no gaps in meal windows. Will update the Wiki to reflect this.
When planning your travel, please keep in mind that we serve meals in First and Business Class between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Meals are also determined by flight miles, so time-ranges are approximate.
Feb 22, 2015, 9:26 pm
#369
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
I think AA website got the exception flights mixed up with the 1000-1298 flights. After all the website does state the following for the non-exception flights:
When planning your travel, please keep in mind that we serve meals in First and Business Class between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Meals are also determined by flight miles, so time-ranges are approximate.
When planning your travel, please keep in mind that we serve meals in First and Business Class between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Meals are also determined by flight miles, so time-ranges are approximate.
Feb 22, 2015, 9:51 pm
#370
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Monte Sereno, California
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, 2 mm, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,398
American Airlines is no more it's USair. On my flight yesterday JFK - LAX I was told by a group of FA that the airline is getting a new caterer. The one with the dirt cheap bid won, if you think food is ok to bad now get ready for the full USAir experience coming soon.
I have flown 40,000 miles so far in 2015 and the food and beverage on the non-trans con flights are GARBAGE. The employees of this airline should be ashamed to serve such slop.
There are no words to describe how disgusted I am with the New American Airlines.
I have flown 40,000 miles so far in 2015 and the food and beverage on the non-trans con flights are GARBAGE. The employees of this airline should be ashamed to serve such slop.
There are no words to describe how disgusted I am with the New American Airlines.
I realize that foodservice is a minor part of AA's business, and clearly one of the first to take cuts when cuts are being made, but it is somewhat surprising to me that there isn't more pressure on them in this area, in an era when even companies like McDonald's--let alone companies aiming for higher-end products--seem to be feeling pressure from competitors offering higher quality food offerings. You'd think that given the general increasing attention paid to quality of ingredients and preparation in society at large, there would be more pushback against this decline.
Feb 22, 2015, 9:53 pm
#371
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Hmm, very odd that the website information doesn't match what is currently being used in practice. Honestly I never check the website for this kind of info, I just go directly to FT. 
My best guess is what golfingboy said in that there seems to be some mix up between the standard and exception meal flights on aa.com. Hopefully this isn't a stealth 'enhAAncement' we will be surprised about one day...
My best guess is what golfingboy said in that there seems to be some mix up between the standard and exception meal flights on aa.com. Hopefully this isn't a stealth 'enhAAncement' we will be surprised about one day...
Feb 22, 2015, 10:06 pm
#372
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
Hmm, very odd that the website information doesn't match what is currently being used in practice. Honestly I never check the website for this kind of info, I just go directly to FT.
My best guess is what golfingboy said in that there seems to be some mix up between the standard and exception meal flights on aa.com. Hopefully this isn't a stealth 'enhAAncement' we will be surprised about one day...
My best guess is what golfingboy said in that there seems to be some mix up between the standard and exception meal flights on aa.com. Hopefully this isn't a stealth 'enhAAncement' we will be surprised about one day...
Feb 22, 2015, 10:13 pm
#373
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Feb 22, 2015, 10:17 pm
#374
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
That is definitely odd. It is worth noting though, that the flights in the 900-999 range which are no longer technically exceptions, still will not receive mid to late afternoon lunch service. DFW-MCO is a good example where a few of the 2-4pm flights will only see refreshments.
Feb 22, 2015, 10:30 pm
#375
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
That is definitely odd. It is worth noting though, that the flights in the 900-999 range which are no longer technically exceptions, still will not receive mid to late afternoon lunch service. DFW-MCO is a good example where a few of the 2-4pm flights will only see refreshments.
900-1298 miles: Warmed mixed nuts, followed by a three-course meal including a warm cookie for dessert is served on most flights*.
A321 Transcontinental Service: Warm mixed nuts followed by a three-course meal, with a choice of our signature customized sundae or seasonal fruit and cheese
Also, A321 Transcontinental Service? Most US transcons use A321s too; just a different class of A321. People could get confused and think that means ALL A321 transcons would get that level of service. Misleading. Wouldn't it be better to say something like "Premium Flagship Transcontinental Service (JFK-LAX/SFO; MIA-LAX)"? MIA-LAX uses 1x/2x 777 a day as well, not the A321, but still gets the same service standard as JFK-LAX/SFO.
Hawaii service - they could explain more in-depth what overnight Hawaii-mainland flights get.
That, along with the exception flights listing flights that are above 900 miles.
Just generally confusing and somewhat inconsistent, as well as lacking specifies/details.