Aug 31, 2014, 11:35 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
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This thread touches upon shared individual experiences when flying First/Business domestically on AA/US, in regards to meal service (sharing menus/photos/experiences, both good and bad), as well as answering questions. Both carriers are still operating separately, but as of 9/1, domestic meal service (including Alaska and Hawaii) has been standardized across both carriers. Hence, the meal experience should be identical on both carriers, across the board, domestically.
What should we expect?
MEAL WINDOWS:
Up to 699 miles (under 2 hours):
Enjoy a light snack such as a fig bar, cookies or pretzels.
700-899 miles (2 – 2:30 hours)
A heartier selection of snacks such as sandwiches and fresh fruit is served on most flights (Lite Bites), with exceptions (see below).
900 – 1,298 miles (2:45 – 3:30 hours)
Warmed mixed nuts and a heartier selection of snacks such as sandwiches and fresh fruit is served on most flights.
1,299+ miles (over 3:30 hours)
Enjoy an appetizer paired with your entrée followed by cake for dessert. For 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 certain transcons, listed below.)
CERTAIN MARKETS:
A321 Transcontinental Service (JFK-LAX/SFO):
Note: This focuses specifically on JFK-LAX/SFO service.
Hawaiian Flights:
Between Hawaii and DFW/ORD:
Between Hawaii and LAX/PHX:
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.
Some of this information has been copied from the AA/US websites. This Wiki will be updated if there are any modifications made to the combined carrier's meal policy.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Flights departing DFW
(lower right wiki corner)This thread touches upon shared individual experiences when flying First/Business domestically on AA/US, in regards to meal service (sharing menus/photos/experiences, both good and bad), as well as answering questions. Both carriers are still operating separately, but as of 9/1, domestic meal service (including Alaska and Hawaii) has been standardized across both carriers. Hence, the meal experience should be identical on both carriers, across the board, domestically.
What should we expect?
MEAL WINDOWS:
Up to 699 miles (under 2 hours):
Enjoy a light snack such as a fig bar, cookies or pretzels.
700-899 miles (2 – 2:30 hours)
A heartier selection of snacks such as sandwiches and fresh fruit is served on most flights (Lite Bites), with exceptions (see below).
900 – 1,298 miles (2:45 – 3:30 hours)
Warmed mixed nuts and a heartier selection of snacks such as sandwiches and fresh fruit is served on most flights.
1,299+ miles (over 3:30 hours)
Enjoy an appetizer paired with your entrée followed by cake for dessert. For 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 certain transcons, listed below.)
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 JFK-LAX/SFO service.
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
- Between FLL and: PAP
- Between JFK and: FLL, MCO, TPA
- Between MIA and: IAH, PAP
- Between MSP and: CLT, PHL
- Between ORD and: BOS, DCA, DEN, JFK, LGA, RDU, AUS
Some of this information has been copied from the AA/US websites. This Wiki will be updated if there are any modifications made to the combined carrier's meal policy.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Flights departing DFW
Late 2014 AA/US Combined Domestic Meals - menu / pictures / etc. (Consolidated)
Sep 7, 2014, 8:23 am
#136
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
DCA-ORD was an decent omelette with sausage and potatoes. Came with a bread of choice and fresh fruit. Overall, much better than old AA breakfast.
I'm hoping the fruit cocktail earlier posters complained about was a mistake--maybe a day 1 catering issue?
Based on my two flights so far, the new catering is as good or better on flights where it wasn't cut. Plus, on flights which used to have the gourmet snack mix, the basket is an improvement.
Overall, it sounds like the losses are the shorter flights that lost meals and the transcons, and the winner is breakfast.
I'm hoping the fruit cocktail earlier posters complained about was a mistake--maybe a day 1 catering issue?
Based on my two flights so far, the new catering is as good or better on flights where it wasn't cut. Plus, on flights which used to have the gourmet snack mix, the basket is an improvement.
Overall, it sounds like the losses are the shorter flights that lost meals and the transcons, and the winner is breakfast.
Last edited by aero0729; Sep 7, 2014 at 8:37 am
Sep 7, 2014, 8:55 am
#137
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Here are my choices for my first post 9/1 flight, on LGA-ORD this coming week:
1) Chimichurri Beef Enchiladas
Served with rice and black beans
2) Bowtie Pasta
With pesto Alfredo sauce, roasted tomatoes and chives
So far looks like the same type of offering as before (granted this is a carve out route). I'm guessing the big change on this route will be no mixed nuts before the meal and no cookie after the meal?
1) Chimichurri Beef Enchiladas
Served with rice and black beans
2) Bowtie Pasta
With pesto Alfredo sauce, roasted tomatoes and chives
So far looks like the same type of offering as before (granted this is a carve out route). I'm guessing the big change on this route will be no mixed nuts before the meal and no cookie after the meal?
Sep 7, 2014, 9:57 am
#138
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,977
DCA-ORD was an decent omelette with sausage and potatoes. Came with a bread of choice and fresh fruit. Overall, much better than old AA breakfast.
I'm hoping the fruit cocktail earlier posters complained about was a mistake--maybe a day 1 catering issue?
Based on my two flights so far, the new catering is as good or better on flights where it wasn't cut. Plus, on flights which used to have the gourmet snack mix, the basket is an improvement.
Overall, it sounds like the losses are the shorter flights that lost meals and the transcons, and the winner is breakfast.
I'm hoping the fruit cocktail earlier posters complained about was a mistake--maybe a day 1 catering issue?
Based on my two flights so far, the new catering is as good or better on flights where it wasn't cut. Plus, on flights which used to have the gourmet snack mix, the basket is an improvement.
Overall, it sounds like the losses are the shorter flights that lost meals and the transcons, and the winner is breakfast.
A big negative breakfast change is the loss of the baked-on-board biscuits. It was one of the AA "signature items" that would make me choose AA over DL.
The fruit cocktail will appear with a continental breakfast catered on the inbound flight and left to sit on the plane overnight. All of the items in that situation have to be non-perishable. So you'll see it on flights out of places like SMF, PIT, and now ANC.
I still think the changes on balance are quite negative. Some very marginal improvements in a few meals and the snack basket on short flights don't come close to balancing the complete loss of meals on many medium-haul flights, the drastic downgrading of meals on many longer flights, and the dessert cutbacks. AA in one fell swoop wiped out a big competitive advantage.
Sep 7, 2014, 10:55 am
#139
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
The service doesn't look as nice as the old AA transcon service, but I'd have to admit it doesn't look that bad, especially with warmed nuts being served, and ice-cream being offered as a dessert vs. a blah cheesecake. Could be worse (DL doesn't have a proper transcon service, except for JFK-LAX/SFO/SEA), but could also be better (keeping AA's true transcon service with printed menus, linens, separate courses, etc).
Sep 7, 2014, 11:40 am
#140
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
I don't know if it has already been mentioned in this thread but the cookies are no longer baked on board (along with the biscuits) either. The new cookies are pretty tasteless and are baked thicker and smaller than the previous variety. Choices in variety seems to have disappeared as well since all I've seen thus far are the chocolate chip cookies.
Sep 7, 2014, 3:17 pm
#142
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
My criticism of that meal follows:
1. The salad is, well, tiny. I don't demand an "Elaine Benes" Big Salad before dinner, but that salad is about the size of an international economy salad (where tiny portions are expected), not a salad befitting a six hour flight in domestic F. It looks like a salad the FAs would assemble for a child, not an adult.
2. IMO, the warm nuts were delivered late. They aren't an "appetizer," that was the beef dish on your tray. The warm nuts are a cocktail snack and should be served with the post-takeoff drink service. When I have dinner at a bar, the bartender makes sure I have the nuts/pretzels/whatever when he serves my drink, not right before my dinner is served.
3. The cheesy roll looks delicious - were seconds offered? It's prepared to the same scale as the salad - like a child's portion. Hope you can get more than one.
Want people to pay for F instead of paying for F on UA or VX (both of which appear to have dinner flights to SFO as well)? Up the game a little in F.
The meal looks great, but it doesn't look like a First Class dinner for a six hour transcon flight. It looks like a dinner/snack well-suited for a 1000-1200 mile mid-con flight.
Sep 7, 2014, 6:14 pm
#143
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
I don't know if it has already been mentioned in this thread but the cookies are no longer baked on board (along with the biscuits) either. The new cookies are pretty tasteless and are baked thicker and smaller than the previous variety. Choices in variety seems to have disappeared as well since all I've seen thus far are the chocolate chip cookies.
I find it funny that the majority of people that say they are not upset with the catering are flying either exception routes or coming from US.
Sep 7, 2014, 8:31 pm
#145
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
Sep 7, 2014, 8:44 pm
#146
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 252
This is the same food choice we had on US #729 PHL-SEA on 9/4. The dessert was either ice cream (two scoops with peanut butter cookies and chocolate chips) or cheese and crackers. I had ice cream, but it was frozen solid when it was served.
Here's this evening's (September 6th) westbound service on US 701 PHL-SFO in F, my first transcon since the 9/1 changes:
PDBs served
(There was then a 1.5 hr storm delay on the tarmac in PHL, with an additional drink service)
After takeoff, drink service and snack basket (basket may have been to tide us over until the entrees were ready given the length of the ground delay)
Warm nuts as an appetizer before the tray
Salad
Meat appetizer with carmelized onions
Entree choice of lasagne or chicken with rice (I went for the lasagne)
Choice of dinner rolls (cheese bread or I think a sourdough, I went with the former)
Pre-made sundae as dessert
I thought the lasagne entree was surprisingly good.
Glassware and the salt and pepper holder had the new AA logo. Hot towels before and after the meal as usual. Had an acceptable chardonnay that seems better than those loaded last month, and was certainly better than one I had on a Republic E170 Friday on BNA-DCA.
Overall, not a lot of change from typical US transcon meals of late, with the exception of warm nuts being added and the replacement of the cheesecake dessert with the sundae. The cheesecakes were good and the sundae was fine, so this is probably a wash IMHO.
The first class FA, Cindy, was excellent as most are that do this route.
PDBs served
(There was then a 1.5 hr storm delay on the tarmac in PHL, with an additional drink service)
After takeoff, drink service and snack basket (basket may have been to tide us over until the entrees were ready given the length of the ground delay)
Warm nuts as an appetizer before the tray
Salad
Meat appetizer with carmelized onions
Entree choice of lasagne or chicken with rice (I went for the lasagne)
Choice of dinner rolls (cheese bread or I think a sourdough, I went with the former)
Pre-made sundae as dessert
I thought the lasagne entree was surprisingly good.
Glassware and the salt and pepper holder had the new AA logo. Hot towels before and after the meal as usual. Had an acceptable chardonnay that seems better than those loaded last month, and was certainly better than one I had on a Republic E170 Friday on BNA-DCA.
Overall, not a lot of change from typical US transcon meals of late, with the exception of warm nuts being added and the replacement of the cheesecake dessert with the sundae. The cheesecakes were good and the sundae was fine, so this is probably a wash IMHO.
The first class FA, Cindy, was excellent as most are that do this route.
Sep 7, 2014, 8:52 pm
#147
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: US
Programs: AA/UA/DL
Posts: 2,773
PHL-PHX US flight
Breakfast w 2 choices
LAX-DFW AA flight
Breakfast w 2 choices
Breakfast w 2 choices
LAX-DFW AA flight
Breakfast w 2 choices
Sep 7, 2014, 8:57 pm
#148
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ABQ & RNO
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, Piper Dakota, Admirals Club, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Gold, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 1,426
That looks like a biscuit.
Someone said they stopped serving biscuits.
Someone said they stopped serving biscuits.
Sep 7, 2014, 9:30 pm
#150
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ABQ & RNO
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, Piper Dakota, Admirals Club, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Gold, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 1,426