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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#796
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
The omlette looks halfway palatable. Better than those cheese crepe-like things I had a bunch of times a few months back.
#797
Moderator, Amtrak & Spirit Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EWR :rolleyes:
Programs: AC 50K, AS MVP, AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, UA Silver, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 9,613
#798
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,585
DCA-DFW - May 2, 2015 - Quite Lackluster
(originally booked DCA-CLT-OMA, cleared US complementary upgrade as AA gold, CLT-OMA canceled, and was rebooked DCA-DFW-OMA with upgrades intact ^)
DCA-DFW
AA 251
4:52P-7:23P
May 2, 2015
Dinner
PBD: None whatsoever
Nuts: Present and plentiful.
Linens: Nowhere to be found (meh, I don't much care about linens vs. liners)
Mains: 1) artichoke ravioli 2) chicken picatta (with rice and wax beans)
served with rolls and small salad with greens and feta
Dessert: Warm chocolate chip cookie.
Noticed absolutely no improvement in the entrees from what was being served earlier this year/last fall. The chicken was small, rubbery, and of questionable origins. The sauce was vile. The pretzel roll was the best part of the main course.
The cookie, however, did seem to be improved. It was warm, gooey and good
As an aside - my DFW-OMA flight had a whole two people (including myself) in F on an MD-88.
DCA-DFW
AA 251
4:52P-7:23P
May 2, 2015
Dinner
PBD: None whatsoever
Nuts: Present and plentiful.
Linens: Nowhere to be found (meh, I don't much care about linens vs. liners)
Mains: 1) artichoke ravioli 2) chicken picatta (with rice and wax beans)
served with rolls and small salad with greens and feta
Dessert: Warm chocolate chip cookie.
Noticed absolutely no improvement in the entrees from what was being served earlier this year/last fall. The chicken was small, rubbery, and of questionable origins. The sauce was vile. The pretzel roll was the best part of the main course.
The cookie, however, did seem to be improved. It was warm, gooey and good
As an aside - my DFW-OMA flight had a whole two people (including myself) in F on an MD-88.
#799
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,490
AA 1023 DFW-PHX 5/2
PDB of pax choice
Warm nuts after take off (though still in the square dishes-thought the ramekins were coming back?)
Then choice of plated fruit/cheese/cracker plate or what appeared to be an antipasto plate along w/rolled napkin & flatware passed by the FA.
No sweet (cookie, etc) & no mints prior to landing.
Took the same flight 2 weeks earlier & nothing like this
PDB of pax choice
Warm nuts after take off (though still in the square dishes-thought the ramekins were coming back?)
Then choice of plated fruit/cheese/cracker plate or what appeared to be an antipasto plate along w/rolled napkin & flatware passed by the FA.
No sweet (cookie, etc) & no mints prior to landing.
Took the same flight 2 weeks earlier & nothing like this
#800
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
AA 1023 DFW-PHX 5/2
PDB of pax choice
Warm nuts after take off (though still in the square dishes-thought the ramekins were coming back?)
Then choice of plated fruit/cheese/cracker plate or what appeared to be an antipasto plate along w/rolled napkin & flatware passed by the FA.
No sweet (cookie, etc) & no mints prior to landing.
Took the same flight 2 weeks earlier & nothing like this
PDB of pax choice
Warm nuts after take off (though still in the square dishes-thought the ramekins were coming back?)
Then choice of plated fruit/cheese/cracker plate or what appeared to be an antipasto plate along w/rolled napkin & flatware passed by the FA.
No sweet (cookie, etc) & no mints prior to landing.
Took the same flight 2 weeks earlier & nothing like this
#802
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
New entrees are going to be rolled out over time; it's not an instantaneous switch.
#803
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Meal pages updated:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInforma...mium-cabin.jsp
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInforma...mium-cabin.jsp
#804
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Alexandria, Longboat Key
Programs: UA Gold Marriott Gold AA Gold Choice Gold Wyndham PLAT IHG PLAT Avis President's Club Amtrak Select
Posts: 2,263
#805
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,490
Meal pages updated:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInforma...mium-cabin.jsp
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInforma...mium-cabin.jsp
#807
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
No linens nor "cucumber infused water" on JFK-LAX this weekend...
#808
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
#809
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Yes, definitely much more to come on this overhaul of meals, new stuff still to come in May and many changes planned and on the way.
#810
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180