Last edit by: JDiver
Meals changes US & AA announced - international and domestic
[Discussion]This thread discusses changes to the combined carrier's meal policy. On Friday, 14 Nov 2014, the following e-mail was sent to AAdvantage frequent flyers:
this after an apparent record of the percentage of complaints received in response to earlier announcements (80% of complaints were about the meal cutbacks),
On Monday, August 4th, 2014, American and US Airways both announced their plans for the final aligned meal service effective September 1st, 2014 for both carriers. This Wiki will touch upon in detail the new meal windows, parameters, and what to expect moving forward.
MEAL WINDOWS:
Up to 699 miles (under 2 hours):
Enjoy a light snack such as a fig bar, cookies or pretzels.
700-999 miles (2 2:45 hours)
A heartier selection of snacks such as sandwiches and fresh fruit is served on most flights (Lite Bites), with exceptions (see below).
1,000 1,298 miles (2:45 3:30 hours)*
Enjoy warmed mixed nuts, followed by a three-course meal including a warm cookie for dessert.
1,299+ miles (over 3:30 hours)*
Enjoy an appetizer paired with your entre followed by cake for dessert. On flights over 2,200 miles and over 4:30 hours, you'll also receive a choice of dessert specialty ice cream or a fruit and cheese plate. Redeye flights in the category of 2,200 miles and above will have a snack basket to begin, then will receive an arrival continental breakfast box. (This does not apply to A321 transcons, listed below.)
*There is no meal service on flights that depart after 8:00pm, only beverages and a snack basket. There is also no meal service on flights that depart before 5:00am.
CERTAIN MARKETS:
A321 Transcontinental Service (JFK-LAX/SFO):
- Refreshing fruit or cucumber-infused water or sparkling wine
- Warm mixed nuts followed by a three-course meal, with a choice of our signature customized sundae or seasonal fruit and cheese
- A snack served shortly before arrival
Note: This focuses specifically on A321 transcontinental service (JFK-LAX/SFO), although some members has clarified that LAX-MIA will continue to receive the same level of service. This still remains to be seen.
Hawaiian Flights:
Between Hawaii and DFW/ORD:
- Full meal with Hawaiian rolls plus two other bread options
- Choice of a customized sundae or a fruit and cheese plate
- Bottle of water
- Selection of snacks prior to arrival
Between Hawaii and LAX/PHX:
- Full meal with Hawaiian rolls plus two other bread options
- Pre-made sundae
- Selection of snacks prior to arrival
EXCEPTION MARKETS:
Exception flights will fall between approximately 600-999 miles. Those flights will receive the same level of service as the published 1000-1299 miles parameters.
- Between DFW and: DTW, ORD, SLC, MEX (Effective 16-Oct-2014)
- Between FLL and: PAP
- Between JFK and: FLL*, MCO, TPA*
- Between MIA and: IAH, PAP, CAP, DCA (Effective 16-Oct-2014), IAD (Effective 16-Oct-2014)
- Between MSP and: CLT, PHL
- Between ORD and: BOS, DCA, DEN, JFK, LGA, RDU, AUS (Effective 16-Oct-2014)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
It was reported from an internal source (but not formally announced) that American Eagle would be discontinuing plated meals and, instead, will offer snack boxes and/or chilled meal boxes on meal flights.
Based on the picture on the websites representing meal service, it is confirmed that American will use US Airways plates, bowls, and other servingware moving forward. Additionally, it has been speculated that tray linens will also be eliminated in lieu of the current US Airways paper tray liner. An AA Twitter representative, however, confirmed that buttonhole napkins would be here to stay.
Additionally on October 1st, American Eagle and US Airways Express flights will follow these same meal time frames with some variations to the service. Flights between approximately 176 and 999 miles will receive snack baskets, and meal flights will feature a chilled gourmet boxed meal. Some popular regional flights between approximately 700 and 999 miles will also receive a chilled gourmet boxed meal.
All information above has been gathered and/or copied from the AA website.
Links:
AA Meal Service
US Meal Service
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
This section is purely vestigial, primarily concentrating on historical announcements prior to August 4th, showing a path from separate carrier policies to a combined policy.
On February 15, 2014, there was an internal announcement shared here, outlining changes to US Airways' meal policy, as well as a few minor changes on the AA side. The changes would occur in two phases: April and September.
April:
US Airways
The meal windows on US Airways has transitioned from the previous 3 1/2 hours and above window as of April 1st; now, they are serving meals on flights that are 2 hours and 45 minutes, and above (specified as 1,000 nautical miles in the announcement). Light snacks on flights under 2:45 hours has been added, featuring breakfast pastries and fresh fruit for morning flights, as well as finger sandwiches on later flights (known as Lite Bites). New meal window tiers has been added to standardize US Airways meal service:
- Less than an hour: Nut mix
- 1 - 2 hours: Snack basket
- 2 - 2:45 hours: Snack basket plus pastries/finger sandwiches (Lite Bites)
- 2:45 hours - 3 1/2 hours: Meal service, no appetizer
- 3 1/2 hours - 4 1/2 hours: Full meal, including an appetizer
- 4 1/2 hours and above: Full meal service, accompanied by the snack basket
American
An expedited service for shorter, eastbound transatlantic flights (JFK-LHR/MAN/DUB) became the only choice in premium cabins. It was also announced that all eastbound transatlantic flights would receive a more streamlined service, but no visible differences has yet to be reported by FT members.
Over the course of this year (but all mentioned changes will discontinue on September 1st, with the exception of A321 transcons receiving three choices, as well as snack & brunch service for redeyes) a few notable improvements were made to transcontinental meal service, such as sorbets being offered as a breakfast/brunch dessert, supper service (an abbreviated dinner service without an appetizer and sundaes) that replaced snack service on redeyes, and three menu choices of entrees being offered instead of the previous two menu choices.
There were also a few cutbacks in the spring: on Flagship Transcontinental service (JFK-LAX/SFO; MIA-LAX), wherein marinated anti-pasto was discontinued in 3-class First Class lunch/dinner service; and in International First Class, where the wine-tasting course, grey placemats, and grey water glasses were eliminated in May.
Historical Weekly Updates (shared from an internal source):
6/14
- Emphasis on being a leader, not a follower, according to Doug Parker.
- Catering and cabin equipment review in progress.
- FA involvement team to be created.
- US/IB codeshare has started these past few days.
- Three cycles of the revision for the joint certificate have been approved by the FAA. FAs now have inflight manual revisions.
- MIA and JFK catering issues are still being addressed.
- Visual presentation of the beef in the sandwich on the second meal service from Europe to the United States is being reviewed by F&B and catering in Europe.
6/21
- Leadership conference focused on restoring AA to greatness.
Reply to negative feedback via website form: (3.5 hr flight RNO-ORD)
Thank you for contacting American. We know that meal options are important to our customers, and we appreciate the opportunity to address your comments about the changes we have made to our First Class meal program.
There are no plans to discontinue the signature services that have set American Airlines apart over the years. In fact, we are investing millions in our product. This includes the existing premium transcontinental service on select markets, and the offering of certain elements that customers have come to appreciate over time such as warm mixed nuts on all meal flights, cookies and premium desserts on longer flights.
Our new Domestic First Class service footprint provides opportunities to not only streamline service but also to enhance the quality of current food components: new salads and entrees. Product offerings are be aligned with the length of flight. For example, appetizers have been added on certain flights, and a new snack basket concept has been introduced on shorter flights. New meal tray elements to modernize presentation have been introduced, including new china and a stemless wine glass.
A component of these changes is to make consistent between American and US Airways the length of flight where a full meal service is offered. Effective September 1, traditional meal service is offered in First Class on flights operated by American that are 2:45 or longer. While this has removed the traditional meal service from some markets served by American, the changes implemented at US Airways earlier this year added meals to many US Airways markets that traditionally have not offered a full meal service.
On flights from 2 hours to 2:45 in length we offer our customers a "Lite Bites" basket with a variety of food options including tea sandwiches, fresh fruit, breakfast breads and sweet and savory snacks. We will, of course, continue to offer complimentary beverages and snacks for our First Class customers on all of our flights, including beer, spirits and our award-winning wine selection.
Meals changes US & AA announced - international and domestic [Discussion]
#571
Join Date: May 2012
Location: NY
Programs: AA Plat Pro, KrisFlyer Elite Gold
Posts: 578
US d/b/a AA
#572
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: Paid F
Posts: 238
This is so pathetic. Compare it to, say, Bangkok Airways, a low-cost carrier in Thailand. Within 10 minutes of takeoff, while still climbing out of Bangkok, we received a full hot meal (these were also "special" meals (I am dairy free, my wife gluten free) -- all were edible and quite tasty along with free drink service. Then a little snack to take with us before landing. This was on a 1-hour flight to Rangoon which cost $217 roundtrip.
These dinosaurs need to wake up. Pitiful.
These dinosaurs need to wake up. Pitiful.
#573
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,177
At least I got pillows on all my short-haul US metal last month.
#574
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,821
Are the redeye trascons from SEA-MIA still having meal service?
#575
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,641
So basically cities under 1000 miles lost the meal service, even if they are located oustide of the US (MIA-SDQ for example)?
Odd enough, MIA-PAP still gets food.
Odd enough, MIA-PAP still gets food.
#576
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
This is so pathetic. Compare it to, say, Bangkok Airways, a low-cost carrier in Thailand. Within 10 minutes of takeoff, while still climbing out of Bangkok, we received a full hot meal (these were also "special" meals (I am dairy free, my wife gluten free) -- all were edible and quite tasty along with free drink service. Then a little snack to take with us before landing. This was on a 1-hour flight to Rangoon which cost $217 roundtrip.
These dinosaurs need to wake up. Pitiful.
These dinosaurs need to wake up. Pitiful.
#578
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,345
+1
I usually decline the meal offerings at UA because they are so bad, and instead just catch up on some sleep. UA could have a 200-mile meal threashold, and it would still rank them far below what AA offers at 1000 miles.
I usually decline the meal offerings at UA because they are so bad, and instead just catch up on some sleep. UA could have a 200-mile meal threashold, and it would still rank them far below what AA offers at 1000 miles.
#579
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,172
LiteBites on an 8pm MIALAX transcon or redeye? That better be a joke!
#580
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,183
Hey, it could be worse. It was rumored that the meal cutoff would be 1000 nautical miles (1150 regular miles).
#581
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,183
What's the difference between "Snack Basket" and "Lite Bites Basket"? Anyone know?
#582
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,172
#583
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,172
AA is keeping meals in competitive markets, and on MIAPAP it competes with Air France, which serves meals in coach, let alone first.
#584
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Vistana Chairman
Posts: 6,178
This is so pathetic. Compare it to, say, Bangkok Airways, a low-cost carrier in Thailand. Within 10 minutes of takeoff, while still climbing out of Bangkok, we received a full hot meal (these were also "special" meals (I am dairy free, my wife gluten free) -- all were edible and quite tasty along with free drink service. Then a little snack to take with us before landing. This was on a 1-hour flight to Rangoon which cost $217 roundtrip.
These dinosaurs need to wake up. Pitiful.
These dinosaurs need to wake up. Pitiful.
And JW76, the last time I checked Bangkok Airways was not competing in the U.S. Domestic market!
#585
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
What's the difference between a 1 step and 2 step meal service? Also are we losing warmed nuts in lieu of the snack basket?