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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Jun 23, 2015, 5:23 am
#1156
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I do appreciate these updates on the new menus. I'm not really loving the new menu selections though. I'm not the biggest seafood person and don't want it next to or on my beef. I also don't like chicken on the bone....oh well
Jun 23, 2015, 10:35 am
#1157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,586
Still showing only the Tumeric Paneer and the Asian Salad on my JFK-LAX F. No third option. Otherwise LAX-JFK F now:
Classic Caesar Salad and Corn Chowder
Served with an optional grilled chicken skewer
Quinoa and Barley Pilaf
With grilled artichokes
Lobster Risotto
With tuile, shaved Brussels sprouts, lemon oil and Parmesan
Still no beef dish!
Classic Caesar Salad and Corn Chowder
Served with an optional grilled chicken skewer
Quinoa and Barley Pilaf
With grilled artichokes
Lobster Risotto
With tuile, shaved Brussels sprouts, lemon oil and Parmesan
Still no beef dish!
Jun 23, 2015, 10:35 am
#1158
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
OTOH UA is essentially killing off GFLs slowly but surely, only reason they can be bothered to keep SF and ORD is that LH uses them too, I am sure. LHR is an aberration as we speak, vastly superior to any of the remaining US ones. More to the point, UA's lounges are F and GS only, as is typical for *A, so a very different volume of users than what you see in the FLs. AA would have to think three times before setting up something like that for EXPs flying in Y, with all due respect. With some of the crowds I have come across at JFK or LHR in the FL they would also struggle to deliver in the current setup.
To me, the changes hint at the fact they're providing better stuff without dumping access privileges, which all in all is a good thing IMO.
Jun 23, 2015, 10:46 am
#1159
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Interesting. The regular domestic F entrees seem to have removed the vegetable from the entree dish. This was one of my biggest complaints about the current entrees: the vegetables go from frozen to desperately overcooked, causing a bunch of water to form on the bottom of the plate. Especially true on a recent dinner flight with the chicken, broccoli, and polenta dish; the chicken was literally floating in broccoli water. It was pretty disgusting.
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.
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.
I've seen all the new flagship nibbles and, for sure, they are "fancier" and more befitting the regal gullets that enter those vaunted doors
On a serious note; the new FL food -is- much nicer and more what one would expect in an international "flagship" lounge. And, as I mentioned, DFW will have a temporary FL very soon sporting that new food.
So much lounge news in the pipeline (as hinted at by todays email on the subject) that I think AA is finally getting serious in this department. Very, very late to the game, but here it comes, thankfully.
Jun 23, 2015, 12:10 pm
#1160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
These flights also get a choice of fruit and cheese plate, which in my experience has been pretty good.
Jun 23, 2015, 12:28 pm
#1161
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
Not the best comparison, in a way, since LHR's FL also offers a different setup from the FLs in the US. Not that it couldn't use a refresh the rest of the day too, but the breakfast made-to-order dishes they have at LHR in concert with one of T3's nicer establishments are a vast improvement on anything that is served, and probably planning to be served, at JFK for breakfast, for example.
OTOH UA is essentially killing off GFLs slowly but surely, only reason they can be bothered to keep SF and ORD is that LH uses them too, I am sure. LHR is an aberration as we speak, vastly superior to any of the remaining US ones. More to the point, UA's lounges are F and GS only, as is typical for *A, so a very different volume of users than what you see in the FLs. AA would have to think three times before setting up something like that for EXPs flying in Y, with all due respect. With some of the crowds I have come across at JFK or LHR in the FL they would also struggle to deliver in the current setup.
To me, the changes hint at the fact they're providing better stuff without dumping access privileges, which all in all is a good thing IMO.
OTOH UA is essentially killing off GFLs slowly but surely, only reason they can be bothered to keep SF and ORD is that LH uses them too, I am sure. LHR is an aberration as we speak, vastly superior to any of the remaining US ones. More to the point, UA's lounges are F and GS only, as is typical for *A, so a very different volume of users than what you see in the FLs. AA would have to think three times before setting up something like that for EXPs flying in Y, with all due respect. With some of the crowds I have come across at JFK or LHR in the FL they would also struggle to deliver in the current setup.
To me, the changes hint at the fact they're providing better stuff without dumping access privileges, which all in all is a good thing IMO.
I agree-- the flagship lounge offerings were bizarrely ham 'n egger compared to pretty much -all- of the competition.
I've seen all the new flagship nibbles and, for sure, they are "fancier" and more befitting the regal gullets that enter those vaunted doors
On a serious note; the new FL food -is- much nicer and more what one would expect in an international "flagship" lounge. And, as I mentioned, DFW will have a temporary FL very soon sporting that new food.
So much lounge news in the pipeline (as hinted at by todays email on the subject) that I think AA is finally getting serious in this department. Very, very late to the game, but here it comes, thankfully.
I've seen all the new flagship nibbles and, for sure, they are "fancier" and more befitting the regal gullets that enter those vaunted doors
On a serious note; the new FL food -is- much nicer and more what one would expect in an international "flagship" lounge. And, as I mentioned, DFW will have a temporary FL very soon sporting that new food.
So much lounge news in the pipeline (as hinted at by todays email on the subject) that I think AA is finally getting serious in this department. Very, very late to the game, but here it comes, thankfully.
Jun 23, 2015, 1:24 pm
#1162
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
I agree-- the flagship lounge offerings were bizarrely ham 'n egger compared to pretty much -all- of the competition.
I've seen all the new flagship nibbles and, for sure, they are "fancier" and more befitting the regal gullets that enter those vaunted doors
On a serious note; the new FL food -is- much nicer and more what one would expect in an international "flagship" lounge. And, as I mentioned, DFW will have a temporary FL very soon sporting that new food.
So much lounge news in the pipeline (as hinted at by todays email on the subject) that I think AA is finally getting serious in this department. Very, very late to the game, but here it comes, thankfully.
I've seen all the new flagship nibbles and, for sure, they are "fancier" and more befitting the regal gullets that enter those vaunted doors
On a serious note; the new FL food -is- much nicer and more what one would expect in an international "flagship" lounge. And, as I mentioned, DFW will have a temporary FL very soon sporting that new food.
So much lounge news in the pipeline (as hinted at by todays email on the subject) that I think AA is finally getting serious in this department. Very, very late to the game, but here it comes, thankfully.
Jun 26, 2015, 7:43 am
#1163
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Currently onboard PHL-LAS overflying Hopkins... What a sad sight.
Anyway, I am feasting on the cheese blintzes and I have to concur with the other posters. It is downright terrible and the cheese has more of a slushy sour cream (cottage cheese maybe) taste to it than cream/ricotta cheese or whatever cheese they had intended for it to be.
This entree has to go, not only the taste is off, the quantity is on the low end of the scale. I'll eat it all up as I am starving and there is no other option for me for the next 4+ hours. Definitely leaving this EXP on a $500 one way F fare disappointed in this area.
For those who might be wondering, this will not change my purchasing patterns, the airline delivered on all counts except the meal and lack of power ports. I also have to say the US crew are consistently very good, this is definitely one area I like about US.
Anyway, I am feasting on the cheese blintzes and I have to concur with the other posters. It is downright terrible and the cheese has more of a slushy sour cream (cottage cheese maybe) taste to it than cream/ricotta cheese or whatever cheese they had intended for it to be.
This entree has to go, not only the taste is off, the quantity is on the low end of the scale. I'll eat it all up as I am starving and there is no other option for me for the next 4+ hours. Definitely leaving this EXP on a $500 one way F fare disappointed in this area.
For those who might be wondering, this will not change my purchasing patterns, the airline delivered on all counts except the meal and lack of power ports. I also have to say the US crew are consistently very good, this is definitely one area I like about US.
Jun 26, 2015, 7:48 am
#1164
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Jun 26, 2015, 7:54 am
#1165
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
^ Hopkins became a ray of sunshine the minute I took my first bite of the blintzes.
Jun 30, 2015, 9:25 am
#1166
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 712
Meal Choice
Which of these should I choose?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Jun 30, 2015, 9:55 am
#1167
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
Which of these should I choose?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Jun 30, 2015, 10:31 am
#1168
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
Which of these should I choose?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Jun 30, 2015, 11:38 am
#1169
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Which of these should I choose?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Cremini Mushroom Ravioli or
Teriyaki Beef.
According to what I have previously read, the Ravioli is described at Vomit (and looks like it from the photo) and the Teriyaki Beef as shoe leather. Anyone had either of these lately or should I just forego?
Jun 30, 2015, 11:39 am
#1170
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Well the new Michelin menu kicks in tomorrow at least for transcons right? I hope it's as good as advertised! Let's think positive thoughts!
