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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1141
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Also coming; much better wines in international F and improvement in wine in international J. Upgrade in bubble department as well.
#1142
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This "publicly admitting" thing is just so asinine.
#1143
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I just don't get the whole rescind quality to only reintroduce "enhanced" pmAA meal service. How stupid do they think I am? It's getting to be too little too late as I've already shifted my flying and caring less about EXP status.
#1144
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Exactly. Dougie though has proven time and again that he'll cut again and again, the most he can get away with. Why he and his regime thought they could get away with the 9/1 changes (especially in light of product improvements at every other major in the US) is just mind-boggling. Makes zero sense - but then again he's the rich CEO of an airline, and I'm not, so what would I know.
#1145
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
Flight times? If it's during a meal time, it will likely be a choice of a marginal-at-best pasta, or a grotesque protein. If it's outside of a meal time, you'll get a minimalist snack basket.
Yes, they think you're extremely stupid. Doug and his 'team' had to trash the airline and make it look AAwful in order to justify their meaningless existence because in reality the airline was turned around and performing the best it ever has under Horton's team. Quickly trash it and roll out fake 'improvements' and they come out looking as though they're turning something around. Investors, board members, and even many customers have short-term memories which is a major factor in their perceived stupidity.
Yes, they think you're extremely stupid. Doug and his 'team' had to trash the airline and make it look AAwful in order to justify their meaningless existence because in reality the airline was turned around and performing the best it ever has under Horton's team. Quickly trash it and roll out fake 'improvements' and they come out looking as though they're turning something around. Investors, board members, and even many customers have short-term memories which is a major factor in their perceived stupidity.
#1146
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Should mention that the non-transcon domestic new first class food starts August, not July as I originally stated.
Also, new food items for flagship lounges etc. Whole buncha' new stuff, almost too much to keep track of.
Also, new food items for flagship lounges etc. Whole buncha' new stuff, almost too much to keep track of.
#1147
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
Thanks as always for the updates. I know many of us very much appreciate your posts.
#1148
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Here's far more detail than I was able to provide:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....t-this-summer/
#1149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,238
Thanks and yes, I do know that-- but always, always nice to hear.
Here's far more detail than I was able to provide:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....t-this-summer/
Here's far more detail than I was able to provide:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....t-this-summer/
And Gary's stuff almost makes me look forward to eating airline food. Almost.
#1150
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,160
Just to clarify, do you mean JFK-LAX/SFO and MIA-LAX as transcon, or all transcons (2200mi and above)?
#1152
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
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#1153
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
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Posts: 1,107
I still see pictures of the pita and hummus. Ive seen that around domestic and Int'l. Pita is dried up, hummus is hard as a rock. Hopefully yhey execute this stuff better.
#1154
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BOS, Latin America
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 712
This is great news. The fact that they got up in front of a bunch of bloggers and press folks to show the changes is meaningful.
Mistakes happen.
Mistakes happen.
#1155
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
Thanks and yes, I do know that-- but always, always nice to hear.
Here's far more detail than I was able to provide:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....t-this-summer/
Here's far more detail than I was able to provide:
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....t-this-summer/
Anyway, these dishes certainly look like an improvement. We'll see if they actually measure up.
Glad they're attempting to improve the Flagship Lounge food, but these dishes seem a bit uninspired compared to what United, for example, is offering in its LHR Global First Lounge.