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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1096
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
This was the menu choices a couple of days ago MIA-BGI. FEBO and I was in 2A and got the last chicken. Seat buddy had the veggie lasagne. The chicken was surprisingly edible - white skinless chicken breast fillet. Broccoli was atrociously over-cooked and Polenta was pretty ordinary but edible. Dessert was ice-cream.
Long delay at gate in MIA due to maintenance issues so several PDB served -open bar.
Long delay at gate in MIA due to maintenance issues so several PDB served -open bar.
#1097
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA ExecPlat;UA Gold;DL Gold;Hyatt Diamond;Hilton Diamond;Marriott Gold;Hertz PC;Natl ExecElite
Posts: 80
#1098
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 579
Better or worse, that's actually what a cheese blintz is supposed to look like.
Cheese blintzes are a pre-9/1 legacy AA meal... They're not new. It would probably help if the FA's described them properly though, so people knew what they were ordering.
Cheese blintzes are a pre-9/1 legacy AA meal... They're not new. It would probably help if the FA's described them properly though, so people knew what they were ordering.
#1099
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Never had them before on AA, where served on the transcon flights? I wish they would bring back the Eggs Benedict which was good, or some of the pnUS meals like French Toast with real vermont maple syurp, or my #1 fave was the Chroizo/egg Quesidellia!
#1100
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 579
I'm not sure how far back they go, but they were one of the options I had on a mid-con last March. It was only my second mainline breakfast flight on AA in 2014, but I was impressed to see two hot entrees for breakfast, after so many years flying mainly United.
#1101
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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Posts: 30,543
Minus the sausages (which have frankly nothing to do on that plate of food), I actually like it quite a lot better than many of the other AA F hot breakfast options.
#1102
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 579
That doesn't make my preference any more important than anyone else's, and cmd320 has a great point about them being plated together and the fat from the sausage not being a great addition to the blintzes, but that said I am glad they serve sausage with it. The saltiness of the sausage helps cut the sweetness of the blintzes. The same goes for the French Toast Frittata.
Last edited by BWISkyGuy; Jun 15, 2015 at 8:50 am
#1103
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, AA, DL, WN, HHonors Diamond, Marriott
Posts: 76
I have two flights coming up in July:
DFW-ORD:
-Chilled chicken salad w/ pears, roasted beets, and goat cheese
-Kale and Spinach ravioli w/ Mediterranean tomato sauce
ORD-DFW:
-Lemon Thyme chicken served chilled with quinoa and arugula salad
-Spinach and cheese tortellini with roasted alfredo garlic sauce and sun blushed tomatoes
Any recommendations on a choice for each flight? I've read the pasta dishes tends to be safer choice. Thanks
DFW-ORD:
-Chilled chicken salad w/ pears, roasted beets, and goat cheese
-Kale and Spinach ravioli w/ Mediterranean tomato sauce
ORD-DFW:
-Lemon Thyme chicken served chilled with quinoa and arugula salad
-Spinach and cheese tortellini with roasted alfredo garlic sauce and sun blushed tomatoes
Any recommendations on a choice for each flight? I've read the pasta dishes tends to be safer choice. Thanks
Last edited by kr777; Jun 15, 2015 at 10:22 am Reason: Grammar
#1104
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I have two flights coming up in July:
DFW-ORD:
-Chilled chicken salad w/ pears, roasted beets, and goat cheese
-Kale and Spinach ravioli w/ Mediterranean tomato sauce
ORD-DFW:
-Lemon Thyme chicken served chilled with quinoa and arugula salad
-Spinach and cheese tortellini with roasted alfredo garlic sauce and sun blushed tomatoes
Any recommendations on a choice for each flight? I've read the pasta dishes tends to be safer choice. Thanks
DFW-ORD:
-Chilled chicken salad w/ pears, roasted beets, and goat cheese
-Kale and Spinach ravioli w/ Mediterranean tomato sauce
ORD-DFW:
-Lemon Thyme chicken served chilled with quinoa and arugula salad
-Spinach and cheese tortellini with roasted alfredo garlic sauce and sun blushed tomatoes
Any recommendations on a choice for each flight? I've read the pasta dishes tends to be safer choice. Thanks
#1105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
I have two flights coming up in July:
DFW-ORD:
-Chilled chicken salad w/ pears, roasted beets, and goat cheese
-Kale and Spinach ravioli w/ Mediterranean tomato sauce
ORD-DFW:
-Lemon Thyme chicken served chilled with quinoa and arugula salad
-Spinach and cheese tortellini with roasted alfredo garlic sauce and sun blushed tomatoes
Any recommendations on a choice for each flight? I've read the pasta dishes tends to be safer choice. Thanks
DFW-ORD:
-Chilled chicken salad w/ pears, roasted beets, and goat cheese
-Kale and Spinach ravioli w/ Mediterranean tomato sauce
ORD-DFW:
-Lemon Thyme chicken served chilled with quinoa and arugula salad
-Spinach and cheese tortellini with roasted alfredo garlic sauce and sun blushed tomatoes
Any recommendations on a choice for each flight? I've read the pasta dishes tends to be safer choice. Thanks
http://theforwardcabin.boardingarea....se-tortellini/
#1106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
Got a DFW-LAX dinner flight coming up next month with the following choices:
1. Cheese Lasagna
Topped with a Chunky Red Tomato Sauce
2. Chicken with Tomato and Olive Tapenade
With polenta and broccoli
Thinking the safe choice is the cheese lasagna since I'm not really a polenta person.
1. Cheese Lasagna
Topped with a Chunky Red Tomato Sauce
2. Chicken with Tomato and Olive Tapenade
With polenta and broccoli
Thinking the safe choice is the cheese lasagna since I'm not really a polenta person.
#1107
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
Got a DFW-LAX dinner flight coming up next month with the following choices:
1. Cheese Lasagna
Topped with a Chunky Red Tomato Sauce
2. Chicken with Tomato and Olive Tapenade
With polenta and broccoli
Thinking the safe choice is the cheese lasagna since I'm not really a polenta person.
1. Cheese Lasagna
Topped with a Chunky Red Tomato Sauce
2. Chicken with Tomato and Olive Tapenade
With polenta and broccoli
Thinking the safe choice is the cheese lasagna since I'm not really a polenta person.
#1108
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
Is there anyone who can comment on why AA has decided to start serving the same meals on flights in both directions? Historically menus were different based on the direction of the flight so that you wouldn't end up eating the same thing in both directions.
#1109
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
Because Parker.
#1110
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, AA, DL, WN, HHonors Diamond, Marriott
Posts: 76
Are you on the 787? I'm taking the 787 next month from ORD-DFW and got the same choices....I'm going with the spinach and cheese tortellini since I've had an "arugula" salad on AS back in March and in my opinion, arugula = lawn clippings.....no thanks. Here's a review I found of the tortellini dish:
http://theforwardcabin.boardingarea....se-tortellini/
http://theforwardcabin.boardingarea....se-tortellini/