Since you don't have a date when your Dad actually flew, I'm currently sitting at DFW and the wx is great.

Could there have been a delay due to the inbound, or outbound arrivals/departures?

Then you claim that there was a mechanical, and then there were other pax that boarded all in F. Do we really know if these last minute people were actual VIPs? Or could they all have actually been pax from another flight who arrived late on their flight, the agents didn't think they would make the flight, then they all appeared.

Then you said that the pax said "NO" to catering since it would make them even later....so who really is to blame for the no food? AA or all the people who said "NO" to the late arriving catering?

Interesting dilema.

Write either way....ya never know what you'll get.