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2015 Combined AA/US Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (Consolidated)

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Old Feb 22, 2015, 6:28 pm
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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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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
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2015 Combined AA/US Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (Consolidated)

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Old May 16, 2015, 7:27 am
  #901  
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I'm amazed how the crews on NYC-Chicago flights don't take advantage of the ground time to square away meal choices and drinks. By the time they wait to do that in the air they are practically rushing to get everything done.....it's even worse when you have new FAs as they barely seem to get the basics done with no drink refills.
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Old May 16, 2015, 7:41 am
  #902  
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Originally Posted by Col Ronson
LGA-ORD Pre-booked


This one looks surprisingly nice. Obviously a bigger salad would be nice, but, the chicken looks delicious.
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Old May 16, 2015, 10:42 am
  #903  
 
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Agree that it looks even better than previously posted improvements.

Any word on whether demoted transcons will see a return to higher standard? I have SFO-MIA next Friday and am still seeing the preselect options are beef with demi glace sauce and vegetable manicotti. LGA-ORD sounds like it gets better treatment.



Originally Posted by JonNYC
This one looks surprisingly nice. Obviously a bigger salad would be nice, but, the chicken looks delicious.

Last edited by snorkmaster; May 16, 2015 at 11:22 am
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Old May 16, 2015, 11:11 am
  #904  
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Originally Posted by snorkmaster
Agree that it looks even better than previously posted improvements.

Any word on whether demoted transcons will see a return to higher standard? I I have SFO-MIA next Friday and am still seeing the preselect options are beef with demi glace sauce and vegetable manicotti. LGA-ORD sounds like it gets better treatment.
No announcements have been made to reintroduce transcon meal service.
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Old May 16, 2015, 2:10 pm
  #905  
 
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Originally Posted by cmd320
No announcements have been made to reintroduce transcon meal service.
To be clear, the premium transcons still have quite good meal service (JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO, MIA-LAX).
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Old May 16, 2015, 2:30 pm
  #906  
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Originally Posted by SJC AA
To be clear, the premium transcons still have quite good meal service (JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO, MIA-LAX).
Right, its the standard transcons that are very questionable.
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Old May 16, 2015, 9:29 pm
  #907  
 
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Originally Posted by AANYC1981
I'm amazed how the crews on NYC-Chicago flights don't take advantage of the ground time to square away meal choices and drinks. By the time they wait to do that in the air they are practically rushing to get everything done.....it's even worse when you have new FAs as they barely seem to get the basics done with no drink refills.
Yeah i noticed only veteran crews take the time to take meal choices while on the ground. the FA servicing F could not have been more than 30 years old. And he took his time with the meal orders too, like he didn't realize half of us pre-booked our meals which obviously wasted more time on a relatively short flight.


And yes, the chicken was delicious. I'm fairly certain most of the people in F on this LGA-ORD sector were paid F and why not, the meal service was great i would gladly pay for it. I think it was only $380 one way which wasn't too awful.
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Old May 17, 2015, 10:52 pm
  #908  
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LAX (Bus Gate 44)-Denver
AA 5984 (Compass)
E175
5:55P-9:00P
May 17, 2015
Dinner


Mercifully, those disgusting Mesa CR9s and their plastic cups have been eliminated from 2 of the 5 daily LAX-DEN flights. Brand new E75 tonight with an excellent LAX-based crew. Open bar PDBs and attentive service throughout the flight. Although no nut service as we went from cocktails directly to dinner service.



For dinner, a choice of "rosemary chicken" or "BBQ beef, shrimp and chicken" Huh? Uncertain as to what to expect anymore, we decided to go with one of each. Chicken was a skimpy meal of uninspiring but nonetheless real chicken with tasteless couscous. But the romaine was fresh and crisp. Didn't test the scary looking hermetically sealed roll.





But the strangest one was the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink BBQ beef, shrimp and chicken. Jeez, was catering cleaning out the pantry today? Beef, shrimp, chicken, asparagus, tomatoes, lettuce, cole slaw and corn, side of beans, potato chips, caramel cheesecake and a blueberry breakfast cake. Cole slaw/corn mix and caramel cheesecake were quite good. The BBQ sauce masked a lot of sins but we still gave up on the rest after a few bites.





And the daily double dessert.

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Old May 18, 2015, 12:39 am
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Originally Posted by SFO777
LAX (Bus Gate 44)-Denver
AA 5984 (Compass)
E175
5:55P-9:00P
May 17, 2015
Dinner


Mercifully, those disgusting Mesa CR9s and their plastic cups have been eliminated from 2 of the 5 daily LAX-DEN flights. Brand new E75 tonight with an excellent LAX-based crew. Open bar PDBs and attentive service throughout the flight. Although no nut service as we went from cocktails directly to dinner service.

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-S...IMG_2337-L.jpg

For dinner, a choice of "rosemary chicken" or "BBQ beef, shrimp and chicken" Huh? Uncertain as to what to expect anymore, we decided to go with one of each. Chicken was a skimpy meal of uninspiring but nonetheless real chicken with tasteless couscous. But the romaine was fresh and crisp. Didn't test the scary looking hermetically sealed roll.

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-S...IMG_2340-L.jpg

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-S...IMG_2342-L.jpg

But the strangest one was the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink BBQ beef, shrimp and chicken. Jeez, was catering cleaning out the pantry today? Beef, shrimp, chicken, asparagus, tomatoes, lettuce, cole slaw and corn, side of beans, potato chips, caramel cheesecake and a blueberry breakfast cake. Cole slaw/corn mix and caramel cheesecake were quite good. The BBQ sauce masked a lot of sins but we still gave up on the rest after a few bites.

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-S...IMG_2338-L.jpg

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-S...IMG_2345-L.jpg

And the daily double dessert.

http://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/AA-S...IMG_2344-L.jpg

I was on the flight going against you (DEN-LAX leaving at 6:55 DEN time)...and same meal was offered or a Rosemary Chicken...glad to see i went right with the Rosemary Chicken.

Last edited by JY1024; May 18, 2015 at 2:41 pm Reason: removed img tags from quoted post
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Old May 18, 2015, 1:20 am
  #910  
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PDBs were served from the tray. Water/OJ, though FA was open to requests.

FA took orders front-back and the choices while on the ground.

Cheddar Cheese Omelette

With turkey bacon and roasted red pepper served with herbed potatoes and chicken apple sausage

or

Steel Cut Oatmeal

With brown sugar and gourmet dried fruit


Skipped the meal since I'd already had my breakfast at Trtas
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Old May 18, 2015, 1:23 pm
  #911  
 
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One follow-up - I haven't ordered a special meal on American in decades and haven't come across any comments here. Might I fare better with one of those on SFO-MIA or is it likely to be the same grade as the two entrees below? (I recognize this ranks high on the list of first world problems. Thank you for indulging me.)


Originally Posted by snorkmaster
Any word on whether demoted transcons will see a return to higher standard? I have SFO-MIA next Friday and am still seeing the preselect options are beef with demi glace sauce and vegetable manicotti. LGA-ORD sounds like it gets better treatment.
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Old May 18, 2015, 1:54 pm
  #912  
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Special meals are not offered on SFO-MIA.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInform...cial-meals.jsp
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Old May 18, 2015, 2:13 pm
  #913  
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AA1494 DFW-MCO
Boeing 737-800
First 'Snack'

Warm mixed nuts, seems as though the new china is holding up well...


A plasticy tasting, stale, burned cookie:


This was all that was catered for F. No snack basket, no snack plates, not even a packet of snack mix. Upon request, FAs offered snacks from Y, though in comparison to what this flight used to receive, this was gravely disappointing.

For those who have forgotten what the snack service used include, you can see a sample from the 2013 meals thread here.
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Old May 18, 2015, 8:08 pm
  #914  
 
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Originally Posted by cmd320
AA1494 DFW-MCO
Boeing 737-800
First 'Snack'

Warm mixed nuts, seems as though the new china is holding up well...


A plasticy tasting, stale, burned cookie:


This was all that was catered for F. No snack basket, no snack plates, not even a packet of snack mix. Upon request, FAs offered snacks from Y, though in comparison to what this flight used to receive, this was gravely disappointing.

For those who have forgotten what the snack service used include, you can see a sample from the 2013 meals thread here.
But your flight was after 8p, which is outside of meal and snack windows. pmAA used to offer the same things on 'refreshment' flights before the merger. Warm nuts and a cookie are an upgrade over that snack basket for me.
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Old May 18, 2015, 8:10 pm
  #915  
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Originally Posted by denCSA
But your flight was after 8p, which is outside of meal and snack windows. pmAA used to offer the same things on 'refreshment' flights before the merger. Warm nuts and a cookie are an upgrade for me over that snack basket for me.
The cutoff used to be 9 PM though, not 8 PM. The 8:25 PM DFW-RDU for instance used to get a snack (two choices of smaller meal items) but now it's just nuts and a cookie.
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