Jan 1, 2016, 11:58 pm
Last edit by: Genius1
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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 2016 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.
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.
2016 Combined AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
Aug 10, 2016, 3:06 am
#1396
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The link that shows how to present the food says, to take the breakfast option vegetarian remove the sausage, not very hard.
Aug 10, 2016, 7:33 pm
#1397
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I'm looking at an 8:20pm DFW-BOS departure. That's outside of AA's "traditional mealtimes" as it's a departure after 8pm. So what food? None at all? Something small? Certainly it's a long flight for a midcon, and to a good business market, but nonetheless not an obvious exception nor a listed exception.
Aug 10, 2016, 7:36 pm
#1398
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I'm looking at an 8:20pm DFW-BOS departure. That's outside of AA's "traditional mealtimes" as it's a departure after 8pm. So what food? None at all? Something small? Certainly it's a long flight for a midcon, and to a good business market, but nonetheless not an obvious exception nor a listed exception.
Aug 10, 2016, 11:22 pm
#1399
Join Date: Jan 2013
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PHL-SEA
Flew PHL-SEA last night. 8:35p departure; I'm delighted to report that despite the post-8p departure this was a full meal flight. Started with typical nuts. Options were the herb chicken breast with the brown rice and green beans (my favorite!) or lasagna. Chicken came with hummus and pita and a salad. Dessert was a full ice cream sundae with choice of toppings, which was a pleasant surprise as well. FA was very attentive throughout flight. Ex-US A320 had FC seats in-need of attention and no power. We landed early and then sat in plane on runway at SEA for 50 minutes (until after midnight) waiting for gate to open--frustrating. But the meal was A+ on execution and service.
Aug 11, 2016, 1:59 am
#1400
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Flew PHL-SEA last night. 8:35p departure; I'm delighted to report that despite the post-8p departure this was a full meal flight. Started with typical nuts. Options were the herb chicken breast with the brown rice and green beans (my favorite!) or lasagna. Chicken came with hummus and pita and a salad. Dessert was a full ice cream sundae with choice of toppings, which was a pleasant surprise as well. FA was very attentive throughout flight. Ex-US A320 had FC seats in-need of attention and no power. We landed early and then sat in plane on runway at SEA for 50 minutes (until after midnight) waiting for gate to open--frustrating. But the meal was A+ on execution and service.
Aug 11, 2016, 9:45 am
#1401
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Aug 11, 2016, 10:06 am
#1402
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Right, I should have said a cookie that may or may not be warmed on board. I've had a couple experiences where I've been plated a Chips Ahoy right out of the bag without ever seeing an oven.
Aug 11, 2016, 4:34 pm
#1404
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Aug 11, 2016, 6:17 pm
#1405
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Aug 11, 2016, 6:35 pm
#1406
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Aug 11, 2016, 6:39 pm
#1407
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Aug 11, 2016, 6:42 pm
#1408
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Aug 11, 2016, 7:27 pm
#1409
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I'm looking at an 8:20pm DFW-BOS departure. That's outside of AA's "traditional mealtimes" as it's a departure after 8pm. So what food? None at all? Something small? Certainly it's a long flight for a midcon, and to a good business market, but nonetheless not an obvious exception nor a listed exception.
). I've been taking the evening CLT-LAX and have learned to bring food on the plane.