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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1726
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
Wife flew AA DFW-LAX and said that the FA tore apart the Aircraft (basically) looking for something, so my wife on the way to restroom asked the FA if everything ok. The FA sighed and said that everything was find but she was trying to find the linens which should have been pre-placed but on her (the FAs) last four flights they were placed in shrink wrap in various closets or galley carts and she was trying to think like the caterer to figure where on this aircraft he placed them. She added before my Wife entered the restroom that AA paid for them and she would like to get some value out of AA's investment rather than let another flight go "linenless".
My Wife said that Linens were never found and thus never offered, but the FA did attempt to find them.
My Wife said that Linens were never found and thus never offered, but the FA did attempt to find them.
#1727
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
Wife flew AA DFW-LAX and said that the FA tore apart the Aircraft (basically) looking for something, so my wife on the way to restroom asked the FA if everything ok. The FA sighed and said that everything was find but she was trying to find the linens which should have been pre-placed but on her (the FAs) last four flights they were placed in shrink wrap in various closets or galley carts and she was trying to think like the caterer to figure where on this aircraft he placed them. She added before my Wife entered the restroom that AA paid for them and she would like to get some value out of AA's investment rather than let another flight go "linenless".
My Wife said that Linens were never found and thus never offered, but the FA did attempt to find them.
My Wife said that Linens were never found and thus never offered, but the FA did attempt to find them.
#1728
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,347
AA 1081 ORD-LAX August 2015
August 2015
American Airlines First Class
AA 1081 Chicago to Los Angeles
Breakfast
Choice of Brushetta Omelet or French Toast with cranberry apple compote
Fresh Fruit
Choice of Biscuits or Apricot oatmeal rolls
There is fresh linen on this flight
There is no pre-arrival snack basket and cookie service anymore!
American Airlines First Class
AA 1081 Chicago to Los Angeles
Breakfast
Choice of Brushetta Omelet or French Toast with cranberry apple compote
Fresh Fruit
Choice of Biscuits or Apricot oatmeal rolls
There is fresh linen on this flight
There is no pre-arrival snack basket and cookie service anymore!
#1729
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: AA Ex Plat United Premier Silver Hilton Diamond Marriott Gold
Posts: 104
AA 1057/1000 BOS-DFW-TPA
Excited to try new catering (cant get worse right?)
Shocked. happily surprised on both flights. FA on DFW-TPA was a bit of a ...well you know but fortunately meals were both fantastic.
BOS-DFW 5a departure Quiche. Top looked burned but inside eggs were nice and soft and tasted great. Potatoes were extremely well seasoned and still firm very good as well. Had linens on both flights
DFW-TPA 1155a departure
FA was downright not nice. Odd since she was fairly young. Had the salad (asian salad sorta) with pecan crusted chilled chicken on the side and a raspberry vinaigrette. Chicken was well seasoned and chilled-cold, on the side. I get its on the side so vegetarians can have the salad but would it be that much trouble to heat it? other entree is pasta so i assume that was heated....
Regardless very surprised at how edible the food was. Some of the best domestic food ive had in a long while. Seems AA may have finally gotten their meals to a respectable level. Nothing swimming in weird mystery liquid
Excited to try new catering (cant get worse right?)
Shocked. happily surprised on both flights. FA on DFW-TPA was a bit of a ...well you know but fortunately meals were both fantastic.
BOS-DFW 5a departure Quiche. Top looked burned but inside eggs were nice and soft and tasted great. Potatoes were extremely well seasoned and still firm very good as well. Had linens on both flights
DFW-TPA 1155a departure
FA was downright not nice. Odd since she was fairly young. Had the salad (asian salad sorta) with pecan crusted chilled chicken on the side and a raspberry vinaigrette. Chicken was well seasoned and chilled-cold, on the side. I get its on the side so vegetarians can have the salad but would it be that much trouble to heat it? other entree is pasta so i assume that was heated....
Regardless very surprised at how edible the food was. Some of the best domestic food ive had in a long while. Seems AA may have finally gotten their meals to a respectable level. Nothing swimming in weird mystery liquid
#1730
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
So basically, what I'm gathering from mine and others' experiences such as this one, linens are not being preset, and catering may not be providing them at all, or is going so far as to letting the FAs scavenger hunt to find them. How was pmAA able to get it right every time just out of curiosity?
#1731
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: 5,913
My first experience with the August domestic catering enhancements. Pleasantly surprised, particularly for a route as short as DCA-ORD. We had pre-ordered the filet with lobster mac and cheese. Even the wedge salad was a significant improvement.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
#1732
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
AA132 DFW-PDX last night.
#1733
Join Date: May 2006
Location: STL
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,429
#1734
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
#1735
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hawaii
Programs: AA-Plat DL-Plat (did status match on DL before losing EXP on AA)
Posts: 288
Followup - Shrimp Cake on HNL-DFW
Well, I had a chance to 'enhance' the bad photos I took, and I'm at a real computer instead of an android device that changes the words i type making for interesting english - so let me correct my post to say -
the entree was way overcooked - the dish (not the fish) was WAY overcooked...
(to the end of my OP) - I'm sure this is not how the dish is supposed to be.
This is the 'spicy shrimp cake'
The pic actually looks better than it tasted:
And here's the pic of the crab-app (I really had to lighten this, you can see how big the plate is by the normal small salad plate in the top left). The plate they used for the app should be for a nice-sized real salad, and the app could have fit in the tiny dish they are using for a "salad". I really long for the great dinner salad the real AA used to serve before 9/1. Now, you never know what you are going to get for a dinner "salad", except that you do know it will be tiny.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/...c02032c3_b.jpg
the entree was way overcooked - the dish (not the fish) was WAY overcooked...
(to the end of my OP) - I'm sure this is not how the dish is supposed to be.
This is the 'spicy shrimp cake'
The pic actually looks better than it tasted:
And here's the pic of the crab-app (I really had to lighten this, you can see how big the plate is by the normal small salad plate in the top left). The plate they used for the app should be for a nice-sized real salad, and the app could have fit in the tiny dish they are using for a "salad". I really long for the great dinner salad the real AA used to serve before 9/1. Now, you never know what you are going to get for a dinner "salad", except that you do know it will be tiny.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/...c02032c3_b.jpg
Did hnl-dfw on the "late" flight, pre ordered the shrimp cake.
Bottom line, it was pretty bad. Tried to take picture but reading lights on the tied 767 didn't work and my phone wasn't flashing either.
Part of the problem, the fish was WAY overcooked, not surprising as this was some of the slowest service I've ever had displeasure of getting. Well over an hour into the flight before any nuts (no refills) and they changed the bring one tray with everything onit:
First the crab appt and "salad" with the appetizer on a plate bigger than the new normal entrée dish. A tiny piece of what tasted like sickeningly sweet dried banana with tiny spoonful of crab salad,. The crab was good bit the bottom part not. The "salad" was awful too, a tomato with some tasteless cheese. Tiny on a tiny plate.
Finished and they cleared and then waited for the shrimp came. More than 2 hours into the flight it came all dried out, salty, and just plain bad. Rice was crispy from over heating. I'm site this is not how the dish is supposed to be.
Bottom line, it was pretty bad. Tried to take picture but reading lights on the tied 767 didn't work and my phone wasn't flashing either.
Part of the problem, the fish was WAY overcooked, not surprising as this was some of the slowest service I've ever had displeasure of getting. Well over an hour into the flight before any nuts (no refills) and they changed the bring one tray with everything onit:
First the crab appt and "salad" with the appetizer on a plate bigger than the new normal entrée dish. A tiny piece of what tasted like sickeningly sweet dried banana with tiny spoonful of crab salad,. The crab was good bit the bottom part not. The "salad" was awful too, a tomato with some tasteless cheese. Tiny on a tiny plate.
Finished and they cleared and then waited for the shrimp came. More than 2 hours into the flight it came all dried out, salty, and just plain bad. Rice was crispy from over heating. I'm site this is not how the dish is supposed to be.
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 19, 2015 at 10:06 pm Reason: Deleted IMG tags from overly large image distorting page rendering
#1736
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 19, 2015 at 10:07 pm Reason: Deleted repeated oversize image
#1737
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,600
#1739
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
#1740
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
I think we should submit it to a college lab for dissection. It could be a new species...
My best guess is they tried (and miserably failed) to do some sort of Vietnamese rice vermicelli dish. However, without proper biological inspection it's impossible to say.
My best guess is they tried (and miserably failed) to do some sort of Vietnamese rice vermicelli dish. However, without proper biological inspection it's impossible to say.