Dec 31, 2016, 10:45 pm
Last edit by: JY1024
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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 2017 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.
2017 Combined AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
May 30, 2017, 11:19 pm
#481
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP (probably nothing w/ AA next year :)), Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 405
Had Cheese Capelleti (sp?) in garlic artichoke sauce in F DFW-CLT. One of the better meals I have had in a long time on AA domestic F. One of the better crews/services too, very pleasantly surprised compared to my recent LUS experiences.
Unrelated: Plane was horrible as expected, knees always touch the seat in front of me in F on the LUS A321.
Unrelated: Plane was horrible as expected, knees always touch the seat in front of me in F on the LUS A321.
May 31, 2017, 4:44 am
#482
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Hubby just flew DTW-PHX and no Ice Sundae was served like we got on our ORD-PHX flight, but a piece of cheesecake was served. Was the no ice cream because DTW is not a catering station? and the plane was double catered? Or is DTW a catering station?
May 31, 2017, 9:50 am
#483
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,453
Was DTW-PHX a lunch flight? On midcons such as DTW-PHX and ORD-PHX, the standard dessert offering is a cake or other sweet for lunch, and pre-made ice-cream bowls for dinner. Only the longest transcons--think JFK-LAX, CLT-SFO, MIA-SEA, etc., basically flights between destinations on/near both coasts--get the proper custom, made-to-order sundaes for both lunch and dinner.
May 31, 2017, 1:10 pm
#484
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP,2MM, DL Gold,Starwood PLT
Posts: 3,876
We had the same menu from DFW to JFK two weeks ago and had one of each. I believe lasagna is vegetarian. My husband liked it.
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I had the salad, which was OK. I like Greek salad, but it was not the best one I had.
Certainly good for an airplane meal. Very fresh.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
And here is the cake (which was surprisingly good).
[IMG]
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I think lasagna is more filling, so choose based on how hungry you think you'll be.
[IMG]
[/IMG]I had the salad, which was OK. I like Greek salad, but it was not the best one I had.
Certainly good for an airplane meal. Very fresh.[IMG]
[/IMG]And here is the cake (which was surprisingly good).
[IMG]
[/IMG]I think lasagna is more filling, so choose based on how hungry you think you'll be.
May 31, 2017, 4:12 pm
#485
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
Quick question about meals in F from PHL to Florida cities. I notice that the flight time of PHL-MCO is 2:40, but the actual distance of the flight is 861 miles, which I understand to be the true means by which plated meal service is determined. While I've flown from PHL to many other Florida cities in F, such as TPA, RSW, PBI, and MIA, and have received a full meal service, but all of these flights have a distance of greater than 900 miles, and my one flight from MCO-PHL last year was in Y as my upgrade didn't clear.
My assumption is that there won't be a real meal, but the morning "light bites" concept will be offered. Has anyone had any recent experience with morning refreshment flights? I've had many flights of this length, however all have been during the mid-afternoon window, so I'm familiar with the fruit and cheese, hummus, and charcuterie plates. Is it still just some pieces of coffee cake and some bananas thrown into the normal snack basket? Or is something actually served on a tray?
My assumption is that there won't be a real meal, but the morning "light bites" concept will be offered. Has anyone had any recent experience with morning refreshment flights? I've had many flights of this length, however all have been during the mid-afternoon window, so I'm familiar with the fruit and cheese, hummus, and charcuterie plates. Is it still just some pieces of coffee cake and some bananas thrown into the normal snack basket? Or is something actually served on a tray?
May 31, 2017, 5:02 pm
#486
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
Quick question about meals in F from PHL to Florida cities. I notice that the flight time of PHL-MCO is 2:40, but the actual distance of the flight is 861 miles, which I understand to be the true means by which plated meal service is determined. While I've flown from PHL to many other Florida cities in F, such as TPA, RSW, PBI, and MIA, and have received a full meal service, but all of these flights have a distance of greater than 900 miles, and my one flight from MCO-PHL last year was in Y as my upgrade didn't clear.
My assumption is that there won't be a real meal, but the morning "light bites" concept will be offered. Has anyone had any recent experience with morning refreshment flights? I've had many flights of this length, however all have been during the mid-afternoon window, so I'm familiar with the fruit and cheese, hummus, and charcuterie plates. Is it still just some pieces of coffee cake and some bananas thrown into the normal snack basket? Or is something actually served on a tray?
My assumption is that there won't be a real meal, but the morning "light bites" concept will be offered. Has anyone had any recent experience with morning refreshment flights? I've had many flights of this length, however all have been during the mid-afternoon window, so I'm familiar with the fruit and cheese, hummus, and charcuterie plates. Is it still just some pieces of coffee cake and some bananas thrown into the normal snack basket? Or is something actually served on a tray?
May 31, 2017, 9:33 pm
#487
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: AA (Exec Plat), ANA (Plat), Club Carlson (Gld), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Plat), SPG (Gld)
Posts: 447
Thank you @PremiumSeat
Jun 1, 2017, 2:31 am
#488
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Was DTW-PHX a lunch flight? On midcons such as DTW-PHX and ORD-PHX, the standard dessert offering is a cake or other sweet for lunch, and pre-made ice-cream bowls for dinner. Only the longest transcons--think JFK-LAX, CLT-SFO, MIA-SEA, etc., basically flights between destinations on/near both coasts--get the proper custom, made-to-order sundaes for both lunch and dinner.
Jun 1, 2017, 4:58 am
#489
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IPSWICH - UK
Programs: MARRIOTT TITANIUM - Life, IHG Spire elite, BA BLUE previously BA Gold
Posts: 37
Meal Service AA2217 & AA1028 (MIA>AUA & return)
We will be flying on AA2217 (departure 17:40) from MIA>AUA and returning on AA1028 (departure 14:56), both flights in J.
What can we expect as a meal service? Flight distance is around 1,100 miles with a flight time of around 3 hours. The booking mentions Dinner for AA2217 & Lunch for AA1028.
Also is it a route where we can choose in advance?
Thanks
What can we expect as a meal service? Flight distance is around 1,100 miles with a flight time of around 3 hours. The booking mentions Dinner for AA2217 & Lunch for AA1028.
Also is it a route where we can choose in advance?
Thanks
Last edited by willmoac; Jun 1, 2017 at 5:04 am Reason: added info
Jun 1, 2017, 5:47 am
#490
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
We will be flying on AA2217 (departure 17:40) from MIA>AUA and returning on AA1028 (departure 14:56), both flights in J.
What can we expect as a meal service? Flight distance is around 1,100 miles with a flight time of around 3 hours. The booking mentions Dinner for AA2217 & Lunch for AA1028.
Also is it a route where we can choose in advance?
Thanks
What can we expect as a meal service? Flight distance is around 1,100 miles with a flight time of around 3 hours. The booking mentions Dinner for AA2217 & Lunch for AA1028.
Also is it a route where we can choose in advance?
Thanks
Jun 1, 2017, 9:50 am
#491
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,296
AA1410: LGA-MIA 8:30AM
Breakfast
B738
First Class
This biscuit with cheese and Canadian bacon is one of the worst things I've ever put in my mouth. I tried a few bites and gave up.
I was partially cooked. The biscuit tasted like a wet blanket. The sandwich was soggy and terrible.
Breakfast
B738
First Class
This biscuit with cheese and Canadian bacon is one of the worst things I've ever put in my mouth. I tried a few bites and gave up.
I was partially cooked. The biscuit tasted like a wet blanket. The sandwich was soggy and terrible.
Jun 1, 2017, 9:55 am
#492
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Jun 1, 2017, 10:43 am
#493
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
Jun 1, 2017, 11:44 am
#494
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Jun 1, 2017, 1:04 pm
#495
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730