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 entre 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 entre 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)
Nov 11, 2014, 12:10 pm
#886
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA PP 8MM, UA 1K 1MM, DL Gold 2MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 51
Nov 11, 2014, 1:37 pm
#887
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 76
I have a friend who works for AA and they told me to not be wowed by the changes on 11/18. Supposedly not much is changing for the menus but the timing/miles might change for meal times. I don't know if it's true or not but we'll find out soon.
Nov 11, 2014, 1:44 pm
#888
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
If true, this would be very disappointing. The meal quality is the biggest problem and needs to be improved significantly in order to be acceptable.
Nov 11, 2014, 2:01 pm
#889
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,634
Nov 11, 2014, 3:06 pm
#890
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA PP 8MM, UA 1K 1MM, DL Gold 2MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 51
That report ties well with the reports from those selecting meals post 11/18 that the menus seem the same as the current ones.
Nov 11, 2014, 5:06 pm
#891
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
Nov 11, 2014, 6:11 pm
#892
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,634
Since comparative pics are apparently not permitted in this thread so a narrative will have to suffice, if allowed. Currently flying UA from IAD-DEN and the UA dinner was better than any post 9/1 USdbaAA meal I've had.
Nov 11, 2014, 6:23 pm
#893
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
Will you be posting a pic of this meal in the UA forum? If not please do so that those of us who are interested can view it in the appropriate thread.
Nov 11, 2014, 7:14 pm
#894
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,634
Nov 11, 2014, 8:16 pm
#895
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,917
-FlyerBeek
Nov 11, 2014, 10:12 pm
#896
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: City with Tax-Payer subsdized AA Maintance Base
Programs: Enough to Cause a Migraine
Posts: 1,857
The salad shrank BIG time on that route, from a very hearty entree-size salad to the pathetic thing that looks like a garnish for a burger.
At least they've kept the miso vinaigrette dressing. [well at least your salad was supposed to come with salad dressing]
All plated together ala USAirways style on an 8hr flight.
How sad.
Nov 11, 2014, 10:25 pm
#897
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: City with Tax-Payer subsdized AA Maintance Base
Programs: Enough to Cause a Migraine
Posts: 1,857
Another poster claimed he was told it was turkey sausage.
The meat in that pic is a sliced hot dog.
It could be a turkey dog though. [technically classified as a type of sausage]
A freakin' sliced hot dog served for breakfast in "First Class"!
Nov 12, 2014, 12:04 am
#898
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,164
The thing that is bugging me is... why did management pretty much convert AA meal service into US meal service, wholesale? I mean, I understand a merger is going to translate into cuts and some service downgrades, but when UA and CO merged, they at least improved pmUA transcontinental service by introducing sundaes and appetizers (which pmUA didn't offer pre-merger, except p.s. JFK-LAX/SFO), as well as brought aboard the snack basket on pmCO flights. They even gave UA F trays linens; the pmUA tray wasn't covered by a linen cloth. Granted, the current UA F meals/serving standards are meh, but they at least merged the service a bit more reasonably, IMHO.
Yes, AA lunchtime midcon flights gained appetizers. Yes, US flights saw lower window thresholds for meals (not by much, though). Yes, US flights now get ice-cream on transcontinental flights and longer midcons, as well as Hawaii flights. Yes, AA's former meh continental breakfast service on shorter flights has been replaced with full breakfasts. Those are the only improvements I can think of. Everything else has been downgrades and cuts.
What really bothers me is, why is AA so insistent on using the pmUS presentation for the most part on domestic flights and now, international J? Why not combine aspects from both carriers ala UA/CO, or go for a completely brand-new look and style: a "refreshing new presentation to celebrate our merger!" The problem is, pmUS presentation and meals weren't popular or well-liked at all. AA, OTOH, was. It would've made more sense for AA to just use the AA presentation, or a completely new presentation to start afresh. The square pmUS dishes and utensils aren't horrible, but they just scream... US Airways. That, and the horrible paper liner that graces domestic flights. It doesn't inspire confidence in customers that this merger is a merger of equals/keeping AA's premium image. Where is the creativity? At the very least, if they kept the pmAA navy blue tray linen and kept the US dishes, that'd be a compromise, a merging of service standards. Instead, they pretty much went stark 100% US Airways overnight.
I just don't understand it. Would it really have hurt them that much to just keep the AA look and feel for F service, or just to start a new look and feel, aka DL post-merger? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Yes, AA lunchtime midcon flights gained appetizers. Yes, US flights saw lower window thresholds for meals (not by much, though). Yes, US flights now get ice-cream on transcontinental flights and longer midcons, as well as Hawaii flights. Yes, AA's former meh continental breakfast service on shorter flights has been replaced with full breakfasts. Those are the only improvements I can think of. Everything else has been downgrades and cuts.
What really bothers me is, why is AA so insistent on using the pmUS presentation for the most part on domestic flights and now, international J? Why not combine aspects from both carriers ala UA/CO, or go for a completely brand-new look and style: a "refreshing new presentation to celebrate our merger!" The problem is, pmUS presentation and meals weren't popular or well-liked at all. AA, OTOH, was. It would've made more sense for AA to just use the AA presentation, or a completely new presentation to start afresh. The square pmUS dishes and utensils aren't horrible, but they just scream... US Airways. That, and the horrible paper liner that graces domestic flights. It doesn't inspire confidence in customers that this merger is a merger of equals/keeping AA's premium image. Where is the creativity? At the very least, if they kept the pmAA navy blue tray linen and kept the US dishes, that'd be a compromise, a merging of service standards. Instead, they pretty much went stark 100% US Airways overnight.
I just don't understand it. Would it really have hurt them that much to just keep the AA look and feel for F service, or just to start a new look and feel, aka DL post-merger? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Last edited by MrAndy1369; Nov 12, 2014 at 12:36 am
Nov 12, 2014, 1:26 am
#899
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
Nov 12, 2014, 2:50 am
#900
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,171
I get the frustration, believe me. It would have hurt financially. They would have needed to cough up more cash with little likelihood of improving returns on the US planes, given that even a better meal isn't going to make for an F experience one wants to pay for on those with the bare-bones feel and amenities overall. Might want to think about venting on the other thread
Also my understanding has always been that the quality (the cut of chicken, the cost of the fruit, etc.) is improving on 11/18, not the actual menus. And honestly, that's fine, the menus don't sound unappetizing, the actual food being served is disgusting.