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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Apr 5, 2015, 7:34 am
#661
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 579
Do you suppose those linens might become tray liners when the paper ones are used up? (In the meantime, they're (partially) killing two birds with one stone?)
Apr 5, 2015, 7:55 pm
#662
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
I have no idea what AA management is thinking, but when I see something like that I wonder what the long term plan is.
Do you suppose those linens might become tray liners when the paper ones are used up? (In the meantime, they're (partially) killing two birds with one stone?)
Do you suppose those linens might become tray liners when the paper ones are used up? (In the meantime, they're (partially) killing two birds with one stone?)
Apr 5, 2015, 11:20 pm
#663
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
One-card menus also new?
Another thing that's new, or at least new to me, is a single-card menu for a transcon. No wine list, no printing on the back of the card. This is for an A321T transcon in J.
Apr 6, 2015, 12:31 am
#664
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
(I miss the old international first class dishes with the AA logo always placed top and center in front of the passenger.)
All those e-mails paid off. They're re-investing in the food to improve it back close to the pre-9/1 standards.
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....tarting-may-1/
Entree Salads are returning along with proper plated snacks. The light bite shrink-wrapped sandwiches will be dying a merciful death.
May 1st is just the start. More coming.
Hallelujah.
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....tarting-may-1/
Entree Salads are returning along with proper plated snacks. The light bite shrink-wrapped sandwiches will be dying a merciful death.
May 1st is just the start. More coming.
Hallelujah.
Apr 6, 2015, 1:25 am
#665
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Still no linens on EWR-DFW this weekend :/
Apr 6, 2015, 2:36 am
#666
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
SEA-DFW. Linens placed under the trey. Same Crappy food. Deviled eggs were ok, pasta sauce was bland. Seat mates chicken looked better but he said it sucked. The salads are the worst part. Instead of a nice salad they serve some weird mix of olives and cucumbers?? it tastes awful and there is a flavorless sauce on it. Not sure whats up with the May 1 changes but to me it would really take some big changes to fix the food on American to taste fresh like it used to. Now...the chocolate mouse cake after...outstanding and up to quality of some of the cakes if had in Int'l 1st on other carriers with a fresh raspberry and chocolate shavings.
Apr 6, 2015, 4:04 am
#667
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SAN
Programs: AA-EXP; US-Silver; Marriott-Platinum; Starwood-Platinum; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 1,260
US: Phoenix (PHX) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
I have my first trip on US in F coming up to PVR (before May 1). Anyone fly this route recently? Any feedback on meals, service, etc?
Apr 6, 2015, 4:55 am
#668
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Apr 6, 2015, 7:35 am
#670
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,248
Flew AA 199 JFK-ORD last night. Partial PDB's offered w/full open bar (the reason I say partial is the FA served everyone except for myself and seatmate in 6EF). When meal orders were taken, she apologized profusely for not bringing the drink without any prompting from me. I figured that there is another V&T waiting for me out there so no biggie.
No linens of this evening's flight and the meal choices were different than what was offered online. Choices were spinach tortellini or thai chicken. I went with the chicken and it was really tasty. It was served with what I think was supposed to be a caesar salad but the crouton was as large as the salad bowl I had a hard time getting to the lettuce. For dessert it was chocolate cheesecake - so much better than the cookie! Top offs of drinks were offered throughout the flight. There was a catering snafu before takeoff as they didn't load the bev cart with red wine. I think that may have also impacted the PDB service as they were scrambling in the galley to get that sorted out plus it was a VERY tight turn (late inbound + packed to the rafetrs).
No linens of this evening's flight and the meal choices were different than what was offered online. Choices were spinach tortellini or thai chicken. I went with the chicken and it was really tasty. It was served with what I think was supposed to be a caesar salad but the crouton was as large as the salad bowl I had a hard time getting to the lettuce. For dessert it was chocolate cheesecake - so much better than the cookie! Top offs of drinks were offered throughout the flight. There was a catering snafu before takeoff as they didn't load the bev cart with red wine. I think that may have also impacted the PDB service as they were scrambling in the galley to get that sorted out plus it was a VERY tight turn (late inbound + packed to the rafetrs).
Apr 6, 2015, 11:26 am
#671
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Last edited by JY1024; Apr 6, 2015 at 7:43 pm Reason: Removed image tags
Apr 6, 2015, 2:48 pm
#672
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,296
Yes, both before and after the 9/1 changes the transcon redeyes had one-page menus. The liquor is the same as the daytime flights (e.g. Gloria Ferrer is the current bubbly). I can't see how the abbreviated printed menu saves that much money, but in my experience, few and far between take any portion of the meal during the redeyes, so it may really be something that few notice.
Apr 6, 2015, 3:21 pm
#673
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Yes, both before and after the 9/1 changes the transcon redeyes had one-page menus. The liquor is the same as the daytime flights (e.g. Gloria Ferrer is the current bubbly). I can't see how the abbreviated printed menu saves that much money, but in my experience, few and far between take any portion of the meal during the redeyes, so it may really be something that few notice.
Apr 6, 2015, 5:19 pm
#674
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,774
inflight meal on LAX-BOS redeye (first class)....?
I am eye-ing LAX-BOS redeye flight leaving 9:30pm on AA 737-800. I think that aircraft is the new 737-800 with PTV because economy seats start at row 8. But I am not sure about the meal service for the redeye for the first class.
I am just wondering if I should eat before I board the plane, or there will be some type of meal (or snack like burgers/salad) served in this flight from LAX-BOS. What about pre-arrival breakfast?
I understand this is not the same aircraft as the LAX-JFK, but I wonder if AA provides similar service in first class since this is also a major cross-country flight between LA and Boston.
I am just wondering if I should eat before I board the plane, or there will be some type of meal (or snack like burgers/salad) served in this flight from LAX-BOS. What about pre-arrival breakfast?
I understand this is not the same aircraft as the LAX-JFK, but I wonder if AA provides similar service in first class since this is also a major cross-country flight between LA and Boston.
Apr 6, 2015, 5:43 pm
#675
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,317
Wow, do you normally wait till 1015 pm or 1030 pm to eat dinner? That's the earliest they can get a meal to you with take off, etc. Eat dinner somewhere good at normal meal time before you leave. I'd be starving before 1030 waiting for some reheated tv dinner to appear.
My hunch is people want to be left alone to sleep so they may serve a quick snack before you land as a light breakfast. I doubt you'll get burgers and salads at 1030 at night. But I'm sure I'll be corrected here if i'm wrong.
My hunch is people want to be left alone to sleep so they may serve a quick snack before you land as a light breakfast. I doubt you'll get burgers and salads at 1030 at night. But I'm sure I'll be corrected here if i'm wrong.