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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Jan 7, 2015, 10:32 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
Thanks all for your advice on what I would receive in AA First on a "refreshment" designated flight. Here's what I ended up with:
AA1471 12/29/14 DFW-DEN: 9:10a.m.
Refreshments
MD-80
First Class
No PDB
1 round of drinks
Snack basket containing fruit, granola bars, and the "premium item", a square raspberry danish in a bag.
AA1471 12/29/14 DFW-DEN: 9:10a.m.
Refreshments
MD-80
First Class
No PDB
1 round of drinks
Snack basket containing fruit, granola bars, and the "premium item", a square raspberry danish in a bag.
Jan 7, 2015, 10:50 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
Amen. At least when they were first introduced on the US side, the labels were somewhat decent looking and the packaging moderately attractive. Now they really do look straight out of a vending machine.
Jan 7, 2015, 11:00 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
1/3/15
US1807: MIA-PHL: 8pm
Dinner
A332
First Class
Chicken Piccata or Artichoke Ravioli
I had the Ravioli which was OK. My husband in the window envoy suite said his chicken was borderline inedible. The person next to me barely ate their chicken as well. Pretzel bread was good! The cookie was pretty gross and way below the baked on board cookies. The crew was great.
US1807: MIA-PHL: 8pm
Dinner
A332
First Class
Chicken Piccata or Artichoke Ravioli
I had the Ravioli which was OK. My husband in the window envoy suite said his chicken was borderline inedible. The person next to me barely ate their chicken as well. Pretzel bread was good! The cookie was pretty gross and way below the baked on board cookies. The crew was great.
p.s. AA cookies used to be awesome until the recent post-merger catering changes.
Jan 8, 2015, 2:28 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
By "US" did you mean the airline or the country?
In terms of USA, the country, yes, but that was quite some time ago. I think Continental (which merged with United a few years ago) may have been the last one. If you go back a couple decades, there were probably more.
Southwest Airlines serves free snacks, but they're not much (a small bag of peanuts or whatever).
Meanwhile, if you happen to be Executive Platinum (top elite status) at AA (and maybe for OW Emerald too?), your first sandwich on AA domestic flights is free. But it's only free at AA if that's your elite status.
In terms of USA, the country, yes, but that was quite some time ago. I think Continental (which merged with United a few years ago) may have been the last one. If you go back a couple decades, there were probably more.
Southwest Airlines serves free snacks, but they're not much (a small bag of peanuts or whatever).
Meanwhile, if you happen to be Executive Platinum (top elite status) at AA (and maybe for OW Emerald too?), your first sandwich on AA domestic flights is free. But it's only free at AA if that's your elite status.
I remember when I used to visit my mother in Florida before 2001 that Delta from ATL-VPS (maybe it was indeed Southwest Airlines) used to serve nuts or pretzels every time with a drink. I was quite surprised to find when I was on that route earlier this year that they now don't serve anything.
I will have (from April) oneworld Emerald status, but I'm not sure if AA provide a free sandwich to all oneworld Emeralds or just their own Executive Platinum members.
Jan 8, 2015, 2:54 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NYC LAX RDU
Programs: US-Plt;Concierge key; American AAirpass; Delta Silver;Starwood - Platinum; Amex Cent
Posts: 710
The buy on board meals on US Airways are the best meals served in domestic us - far better than the free meals served in US/AA first - in my opinion.
Same on United - they have some great buy on board in coach - gross food in first.
Same on United - they have some great buy on board in coach - gross food in first.
Jan 8, 2015, 8:21 am
#36
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,203
I'm glad it was a little late as we had to RUN to the flight from our way late BCN-MIA flight...I need to post about our meal in the int'l thread. Great US flight attendants on this flight. PDB given, another drink immediately after takeoff, quick meal service, etc. Yes, the cookies used to be good I agree. These new cookies taste cheap, they remind me of a Herr's or Frito-Lay's Grandma cookies (ie convenience store junk) that were microwaved.
Jan 8, 2015, 8:40 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVP Gold, UN Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 89
Has anyone had any of these options yet? First I've seen them. This is LAX to MIA January breakfast.
Jan 8, 2015, 9:35 am
#38
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I would love to have that southwest chicken salad in F instead of the crap they're serving now. Has anyone had any luck requesting that or a BOB item in lieu of the FC meal and not being charged?
Jan 8, 2015, 10:42 am
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Years ago on a transcon the dinner choices were truly dreadful. I asked if I could sub the BOB instead. I was told that only after the FAs made a pass through Y with any left. IIRC they sold out and so I took the least wretched choice in J (corn beef and hash).
Jan 8, 2015, 1:23 pm
#40
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Gold, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,197
The waffles were around last year. I'd go with them unless you're craving eggs. Too bad the cereal isn't oatmeal. The AA oatmeal is great.
Jan 8, 2015, 2:21 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Here is some of the history of economy meal service in the US. After the tragic attacks of 9/11, meals in domestic economy were discontinued on all major US carriers. They were losing so much money every day that they simply could not continue to provide meals in domestic economy.
Before the 90's, meals were plentiful on most full-service US carriers in domestic economy (even on shorter flights). It was not unusual to have steak in economy on a longer domestic flights. During the 90's, meals were cut back substantially in economy due to the lower deregulated fares, but most carriers still served snacks on medium-length flights with meals on longer domestic flights. Ironcially, meal service was making a comeback in the year prior to the 9/11 attacks.
Before the 90's, meals were plentiful on most full-service US carriers in domestic economy (even on shorter flights). It was not unusual to have steak in economy on a longer domestic flights. During the 90's, meals were cut back substantially in economy due to the lower deregulated fares, but most carriers still served snacks on medium-length flights with meals on longer domestic flights. Ironcially, meal service was making a comeback in the year prior to the 9/11 attacks.
Jan 8, 2015, 3:57 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Back in 2005 or 2006 I know I definitely got a meal in Y on AA on the LAX-SJU route.
Jan 8, 2015, 4:03 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,167
At least AA knows how to make a decent brekky...you guys have no idea how bad UA's is (google "hockey puck" for an idea
)
Jan 8, 2015, 4:11 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
(I recall a post some years ago which documented at least 7 different factors for which AA divided "domestic" vs "international" somewhat differently. Factors include whether second class on two-class planes is called First or Business, whether meals are served in economy, whether 500-mile upgrades are usable, whether domestic or international baggage rules apply, etc, etc.)
Puerto Rico is not part of the United States proper, even though it is a US territory. So it's ripe for confusion about whether it's "domestic" or "international" (not just with airlines, but for example with credit cards that have Foreign Transaction Fees).
Jan 8, 2015, 4:45 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
If I were you, I'd look for something tasty in the airport and bring it on board the aircraft (especially for your MIA-LAX flight). The buy-on-board offerings (credit card only) don't taste bad, but there's always the chance that they may run out of your prefered choice before they reach your seat. It's best to just eat in the airport or bring your own food.