Feb 22, 2015, 6:28 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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 2015 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. This Wiki covers both AA and US flights, but as of September 2014, AA and US offers identical meal service domestically, so that part of the merger has its' harmonization completed.
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.
Last updated: 7/26/2015 2:33pm, MrAndy1369
2015 Combined AA/US Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (Consolidated)
Jul 29, 2015, 2:10 pm
#1501
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
Just realized I should be pairing these smaller posts with the larger ones, apologies.
7/23/2015
AA 1646
TUL-DFW
5:49-6:59 pm
Seat 4E
B738
Very similar experience as on 7/19, just in the opposite direction.
-PDB of water
-In flight, bar service with refills offered and two passes of the snack basket
7/23/2015
AA 2439
DFW-DCA
7:55-11:56 pm
Seat 4B
B738
So this in-flight experience was about 180 degrees from my awesome 767 flight a few days earlier.
-PDB of H2O or OJ
-Preorder recognized and confirmed on the ground.
Once we were in the air, the flight attendant in first raced through the service like her life depended on it. I fly DCA/ORD route a lot and this felt twice as harried as that service ever does.
Being near the left-front I could see many of the preparations, and thought I was going to have my first experience with having the nuts served with dinner, however they were quickly passed out along with our drinks (the mini-bottle and the can).
Below is how my tray was served to me (minus the cheese bread, which was dropped on the tray exactly as you see it). I moved the mint around so you could be sure to see it! I had the olive tapenade chicken dish and agree that someone needs to throw the chicken a life preserver, because it's drowning in olive-water.
I ate my meal at a normal pace and when finished, presented the cookie to the FA and asked if it could be warmed up, since it was now cold. ***Amazing how something that can taste so good hot can taste so bad cold. The FA looked puzzled, but said she would bring me another one, which was lukewarm at best. Honestly, she was rushing around so much I thought she was going to collapse. Only one other pass-through the cabin after collecting trays to see if drink refills were needed.
Really disappointed to be rushed like this on a flight long enough to pace the meal normally.
7/23/2015
AA 1646
TUL-DFW
5:49-6:59 pm
Seat 4E
B738
Very similar experience as on 7/19, just in the opposite direction.
-PDB of water
-In flight, bar service with refills offered and two passes of the snack basket
7/23/2015
AA 2439
DFW-DCA
7:55-11:56 pm
Seat 4B
B738
So this in-flight experience was about 180 degrees from my awesome 767 flight a few days earlier.
-PDB of H2O or OJ
-Preorder recognized and confirmed on the ground.
Once we were in the air, the flight attendant in first raced through the service like her life depended on it. I fly DCA/ORD route a lot and this felt twice as harried as that service ever does.
Being near the left-front I could see many of the preparations, and thought I was going to have my first experience with having the nuts served with dinner, however they were quickly passed out along with our drinks (the mini-bottle and the can).
Below is how my tray was served to me (minus the cheese bread, which was dropped on the tray exactly as you see it). I moved the mint around so you could be sure to see it! I had the olive tapenade chicken dish and agree that someone needs to throw the chicken a life preserver, because it's drowning in olive-water.
I ate my meal at a normal pace and when finished, presented the cookie to the FA and asked if it could be warmed up, since it was now cold. ***Amazing how something that can taste so good hot can taste so bad cold. The FA looked puzzled, but said she would bring me another one, which was lukewarm at best. Honestly, she was rushing around so much I thought she was going to collapse. Only one other pass-through the cabin after collecting trays to see if drink refills were needed.
Really disappointed to be rushed like this on a flight long enough to pace the meal normally.
Jul 29, 2015, 4:29 pm
#1502
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
So, I decided to take some AA flights to boost my AS account. A mileage run down to Panama City starts 8/1. Here are the meals offered (dang, that's a lot of 737-800s):
DEN-ORD (737-800)
ORD-MIA (767-300)
MIA-PTY (737-800)
PTY-MIA (737-800)
MIA-ORD (737-800)
(Same as MIA-PTY)
ORD-DFW (MD-80)
DFW-DEN (737-800)
(Refreshments)
Not sure if these are tried-and-true or brand-new, but they are all new to me. I'll post a report when I get home.
DEN-ORD (737-800)
- Steel Cut Oatmeal
With brown sugar and gourmet dried fruit - Cheddar Cheese Omelette
With turkey bacon and roasted red pepper served with herbed potatoes and chicken apple sausage
ORD-MIA (767-300)
- Roasted Vegetable Ravioli
With roasted vegetables and tomatoes in a light cream sauce - Grilled Chicken
Served chilled with cobb salad and creamy cilantro dressing
MIA-PTY (737-800)
- Spinach and Kale Manicotti
With chunky tomato sauce - Beef Filet
With herbed butter and lobster mac and cheese
PTY-MIA (737-800)
- French Toast
With walnuts and raisins - Cheese Omelette
Served with chorizo sausage
MIA-ORD (737-800)
(Same as MIA-PTY)
ORD-DFW (MD-80)
- Herbes de Provence Chicken Breast
With mushroom risotto and haricots verts - Black Bean, Cotija Cheese and Green Chile Sweet Corn Tamale
With tomatillo sauce and Spanish rice
DFW-DEN (737-800)
(Refreshments)
Not sure if these are tried-and-true or brand-new, but they are all new to me. I'll post a report when I get home.
Jul 29, 2015, 4:31 pm
#1503
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,562
These are the options that have come up for my JFK - LAX flight in J:
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
Dinner menus on the same day show four choices, which include a beef and chicken dish. I thought lunch and dinner were supposed to both offer 4 choices in F.
Jul 29, 2015, 4:43 pm
#1504
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
That is pretty veggie-heavy.
Jul 29, 2015, 6:52 pm
#1505
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DE
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott, Hilton, Avis, Hertz
Posts: 57
That looks severely unappetizing and it seems that this chicken will be lingering post 8/1. It's hard to imagine the multitude of ways a meal can be served even when it's as basic as an AA domestic F meal. This has to be the lAAziest tray I've ever seen. Only 1 FA serving F on a 738? That's odd as they now have 4 staffed and 2 usually stay up front. That flight is still plenty long enough for a relaxed service though.
Jul 29, 2015, 7:16 pm
#1506
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
So, I decided to take some AA flights to boost my AS account. A mileage run down to Panama City starts 8/1. Here are the meals offered (dang, that's a lot of 737-800s):
DEN-ORD (737-800)
ORD-MIA (767-300)
MIA-PTY (737-800)
PTY-MIA (737-800)
MIA-ORD (737-800)
(Same as MIA-PTY)
ORD-DFW (MD-80)
DFW-DEN (737-800)
(Refreshments)
Not sure if these are tried-and-true or brand-new, but they are all new to me. I'll post a report when I get home.
DEN-ORD (737-800)
- Steel Cut Oatmeal
With brown sugar and gourmet dried fruit - Cheddar Cheese Omelette
With turkey bacon and roasted red pepper served with herbed potatoes and chicken apple sausage
ORD-MIA (767-300)
- Roasted Vegetable Ravioli
With roasted vegetables and tomatoes in a light cream sauce - Grilled Chicken
Served chilled with cobb salad and creamy cilantro dressing
MIA-PTY (737-800)
- Spinach and Kale Manicotti
With chunky tomato sauce - Beef Filet
With herbed butter and lobster mac and cheese
PTY-MIA (737-800)
- French Toast
With walnuts and raisins - Cheese Omelette
Served with chorizo sausage
MIA-ORD (737-800)
(Same as MIA-PTY)
ORD-DFW (MD-80)
- Herbes de Provence Chicken Breast
With mushroom risotto and haricots verts - Black Bean, Cotija Cheese and Green Chile Sweet Corn Tamale
With tomatillo sauce and Spanish rice
DFW-DEN (737-800)
(Refreshments)
Not sure if these are tried-and-true or brand-new, but they are all new to me. I'll post a report when I get home.
Jul 29, 2015, 7:17 pm
#1507
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
I've actually enjoyed this dish, but agree that it sometimes can get too watery. Even though it sounds like it will survive post 8/1, let's hope it's at least better presented. I have it on an upcoming flight, with a slightly revised description, so we shall see.
Jul 29, 2015, 10:46 pm
#1508
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LA
Programs: AA, DL, UA
Posts: 543
Ok i have no clue what menu that was but it isnt the new menu. I am booked on JFK-LAX 8/1. Here is the menu (its actually pretty incredible IMO). Keep in mind you can always check the menu for your flight 30 days prior just by pretending to book F/J on domestics as it will have you choose meals after seats.
http://gyazo.com/7a74808f006b3697d4dfbcf4e7dfa64c
JFK-SFO dinner (8pm)
http://gyazo.com/e44bed69e6e9202bd54733a40e90635d
LAX-JFK dinner 5pm arrive 1:23a
http://gyazo.com/7a74808f006b3697d4dfbcf4e7dfa64c
JFK-SFO dinner (8pm)
http://gyazo.com/e44bed69e6e9202bd54733a40e90635d
LAX-JFK dinner 5pm arrive 1:23a
Looks like even domestic first is better. Can't wait to try it out with my upcoming PTY MR's.
One of the sample images below (apologize in advance -- not sure how to resize this monster)http://andystravelblog.img.boardinga...eak-Peek-5.jpg
Last edited by JY1024; Jul 30, 2015 at 9:49 pm Reason: Removed img tag from oversized picture
Jul 29, 2015, 10:54 pm
#1509
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: AA Ex Plat United Premier Silver Hilton Diamond Marriott Gold
Posts: 104
http://gyazo.com/9701133dbc0f0d5177dd3df51e39e798
For the 8pm was identical so im not seeing that as being the case at all??
Jul 29, 2015, 11:07 pm
#1510
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: AA Ex Plat United Premier Silver Hilton Diamond Marriott Gold
Posts: 104
These are the options that have come up for my JFK - LAX flight in J:
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
Jul 30, 2015, 11:47 am
#1511
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,562
Jul 30, 2015, 12:20 pm
#1512
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,703
Jul 30, 2015, 2:12 pm
#1513
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: AA Ex Plat United Premier Silver Hilton Diamond Marriott Gold
Posts: 104
Jul 30, 2015, 3:44 pm
#1514
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
It is AA3 departing JFK at 12:45pm on 4th AUG.
It's a shame we can't order 'meat meals' like vegetarian passengers can order a special meal
Given the options, I think I will be passing on eating on this flight.
It's a shame we can't order 'meat meals' like vegetarian passengers can order a special meal
Given the options, I think I will be passing on eating on this flight.
Jul 30, 2015, 4:26 pm
#1515
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,490