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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1741
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SEA
Programs: DL Plat, AS MVPG, Bonvoy Plat/LT Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,263
Lunch on today's 2262 SEA-DFW:
Small wedge salad with blue cheese
Caprese appetizer
Cheese lasagna
Cheesecake
Despite the cheese overload, this was one of the better meals I've had on a plane.
The other choice was Asian (chicken or beef, I forget) salad, which was all that was left for the last row.
Small wedge salad with blue cheese
Caprese appetizer
Cheese lasagna
Cheesecake
Despite the cheese overload, this was one of the better meals I've had on a plane.
The other choice was Asian (chicken or beef, I forget) salad, which was all that was left for the last row.
#1742
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
Tanscon F and Transatlantic J no good food
Flew yesterday LAX-JFK F. Breakfast. Great service and I did like the yogurt. Nothing customizable. They just served a parfair. Omelette was the same junk with nasty herbed potatoes served on all domestic routes. I don't know how anyone says they can eat that omelette. The scent of the potatoes ruin my appetite. JFK-MAD completely inedible beef filet along with an unknown block of nastiness (some sort of potato cake ) Domestic size salad . Had the fruit plate for breakfast as I was not about to have another omelette with stinky potatoes. Yogurt and granola was good but fruit was soggy. No linens on pre arrival meal. Good service on both flights but the food went way too far down hill. I used to look forward to eating on transcontinental and international flights. I would never buy an AA J ticket again
#1743
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Some content about MH international meals has been removed, as that is well off topic for this thread.
~Moderator
~Moderator
#1744
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
Flew yesterday LAX-JFK F. Breakfast. Great service and I did like the yogurt. Nothing customizable. They just served a parfair. Omelette was the same junk with nasty herbed potatoes served on all domestic routes. I don't know how anyone says they can eat that omelette. The scent of the potatoes ruin my appetite. JFK-MAD completely inedible beef filet along with an unknown block of nastiness (some sort of potato cake ) Domestic size salad . Had the fruit plate for breakfast as I was not about to have another omelette with stinky potatoes. Yogurt and granola was good but fruit was soggy. No linens on pre arrival meal. Good service on both flights but the food went way too far down hill. I used to look forward to eating on transcontinental and international flights. I would never buy an AA J ticket again
#1745
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
If you're paying for J/F, why not give JetBlue Mint a try on transcon service? Yeah there's no flagship lounge (which isn't much of a loss) but I've heard very good things about the food at least. FWIW, the domestic F breakfast I've enjoyed most in the past year has been on Alaska. They have a couple of breakfast scrambles that have been good - a greek one and I think a chorizo and pinto bean one - both of which the eggs still had decent texture.
Is the AA omelette the same as the one US serves in F, for those that have tried both? I've found it to be ok - not good, but I've at least been willing to eat it on US F.
Is the AA omelette the same as the one US serves in F, for those that have tried both? I've found it to be ok - not good, but I've at least been willing to eat it on US F.
#1746
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 you're paying for J/F, why not give JetBlue Mint a try on transcon service? Yeah there's no flagship lounge (which isn't much of a loss) but I've heard very good things about the food at least. FWIW, the domestic F breakfast I've enjoyed most in the past year has been on Alaska. They have a couple of breakfast scrambles that have been good - a greek one and I think a chorizo and pinto bean one - both of which the eggs still had decent texture.
Actually, if we're speaking on a technical basis it's the US omelette that AA now serves in F. DL serves a very similar one in domestic F. They're all bad.
#1747
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
Flew yesterday LAX-JFK F. Breakfast. Great service and I did like the yogurt. Nothing customizable. They just served a parfair. Omelette was the same junk with nasty herbed potatoes served on all domestic routes. I don't know how anyone says they can eat that omelette. The scent of the potatoes ruin my appetite. JFK-MAD completely inedible beef filet along with an unknown block of nastiness (some sort of potato cake ) Domestic size salad . Had the fruit plate for breakfast as I was not about to have another omelette with stinky potatoes. Yogurt and granola was good but fruit was soggy. No linens on pre arrival meal. Good service on both flights but the food went way too far down hill. I used to look forward to eating on transcontinental and international flights. I would never buy an AA J ticket again
#1748
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I don't have any issues with the omelette.....I'm getting a little tired of the quiche though! I really miss the breakfast quesadilla with the salsa ramekin.
#1749
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
#1750
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
#1751
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,536
My choice for the week after next is between two dishes that receive very good reviews on this thread: the lentil chili (which frankly, is not intuitively tempting me but seems to be getting better reviews than anything else) and the beef fillet with lobster mac&cheese, (which tempts me more although I usually stay clear of steaks for fear of receiving overcooked leather!) which also receives very good reviews despite being deemed small by many. Anyone wants to offer a tie breaker (especially if having tried both?) Many thanks!
#1752
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
My choice for the week after next is between two dishes that receive very good reviews on this thread: the lentil chili (which frankly, is not intuitively tempting me but seems to be getting better reviews than anything else) and the beef fillet with lobster mac&cheese, (which tempts me more although I usually stay clear of steaks for fear of receiving overcooked leather!) which also receives very good reviews despite being deemed small by many. Anyone wants to offer a tie breaker (especially if having tried both?) Many thanks!
I'm personally not a big fan of lentils or chili, however I really would have no problem ordering the lentil chili again on a future flight. I would probably order the beef filet in a scenario wherein I'm on a shorter flight and I have a Centurion Lounge on one or both ends, a good restaurant, etc. just so that if I find it to be a grave disappointment I'm not going to be left hungry. I would probably not order it on MIA-SEA or something like that where I would be stuck without food for the better part of 7 hours should it not be to my taste.
#1753
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,536
I would probably order the beef filet in a scenario wherein I'm on a shorter flight and I have a Centurion Lounge on one or both ends, a good restaurant, etc. just so that if I find it to be a grave disappointment I'm not going to be left hungry. I would probably not order it on MIA-SEA or something like that where I would be stuck without food for the better part of 7 hours should it not be to my taste.
#1754
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold, DL PM, , Hilton Diamond (from being in a bed), SPG Plat, MR Plat
Posts: 922
Any recommendations between Sea bass and Beef Oscar on JFK-SFO in business? Thanks
#1755
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Can't vouch for the sea bass but the beef was 'ok'. The dish itself looks good presentation wise but the beef was beyond overcooked. Literally looked like meat loaf cutting into it, and this was in F. I'd probably go for the sea bass. I've had substantially better luck with fish on planes compared to beef.