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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1231
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
I believe that's consistent with pmAA catering for most flights leaving after designated meal hours.
pmAA's system worked like this:
Shorter flights:
5am - 8pm: meal service
8pm - 4:59am: warmed nuts, cookie
Longer midcons (DFW/ORD-west coast; DFW-northeast for example):
5am - 8pm: meal service
8pm - 9pm: light snack
9pm-4:59am: warmed nuts, cookie
Current system:
All flights except for premium transcons (which are JFK-LAX/SFO; MIA-LAX):
5am - 8pm: meal service*
8pm - 4:59am: warmed nuts, cookie**
Previous to (I think) 5/1/2015, Lite Bites were served on flights that now get warmed nuts/cookies only. This was essentially a return to pmAA service specifically for non-meal/non-snack flights. As PHX-SEA obviously is a shorter flight, that's what you get.
Hope that makes sense! If someone can publish the specific matrix chart AA uses to designate meal service, that'd be great! Also, correct me if I'm wrong.
*shorter flights under 1,299 miles (IIRC) get warmed nuts/a cookie for flights between 1:30-4pm.
**flights above 2,200 miles get a light breakfast box prior to arrival
pmAA's system worked like this:
Shorter flights:
5am - 8pm: meal service
8pm - 4:59am: warmed nuts, cookie
Longer midcons (DFW/ORD-west coast; DFW-northeast for example):
5am - 8pm: meal service
8pm - 9pm: light snack
9pm-4:59am: warmed nuts, cookie
Current system:
All flights except for premium transcons (which are JFK-LAX/SFO; MIA-LAX):
5am - 8pm: meal service*
8pm - 4:59am: warmed nuts, cookie**
Previous to (I think) 5/1/2015, Lite Bites were served on flights that now get warmed nuts/cookies only. This was essentially a return to pmAA service specifically for non-meal/non-snack flights. As PHX-SEA obviously is a shorter flight, that's what you get.
Hope that makes sense! If someone can publish the specific matrix chart AA uses to designate meal service, that'd be great! Also, correct me if I'm wrong.
*shorter flights under 1,299 miles (IIRC) get warmed nuts/a cookie for flights between 1:30-4pm.
**flights above 2,200 miles get a light breakfast box prior to arrival
#1232
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
So, I flew from PHX to SEA on the 8:10pm departure. I had expected to have the snack basket and Lite Bites sandwiches. All we had were the hot mixed nuts and a warmed chocolate chip cookie. The FA was super nice and really monitored for drink refills. They just didn't give her anything to work with.
Was this a catering error?
Was this a catering error?
#1233
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,161
Quick question, but as JFK-LAS is over 2,200 miles, are sundaes served as a dessert? I don't fly JFK-LAS, but am asking purely out of curiosity, as well as to get more anecdotal data on what we should expect (because the website clearly states 2,200 miles and above get sundaes, but of course, this isn't necessarily consistent).
#1234
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Quick question, but as JFK-LAS is over 2,200 miles, are sundaes served as a dessert? I don't fly JFK-LAS, but am asking purely out of curiosity, as well as to get more anecdotal data on what we should expect (because the website clearly states 2,200 miles and above get sundaes, but of course, this isn't necessarily consistent).
#1235
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
Yeah? When did that come into effect? It's been a few months since I was on a transcon redeye (non premium route). So it's no longer the snack basket after departure and the breakfast box prior to arrival?
#1236
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
I believe 5/1. I've been on several redeyes and there's no longer a snack basket. It's the tapas and then breakfast box prior to arrival.
#1237
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
I have an upcoming 8:45p STL-PHX flight. Am I correct in understanding that the only food service now is warm nuts (and maybe a cookie, but otherwise not even a snack basket)?
#1238
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
#1239
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
Very annoying. I already know I'll be working late that day and most likely won't arrive at STL until about 30-45 mins before departure. I guess I'll either have to hope I arrive early enough to grab something at the AC or Chili's or else just snack until I get to PHX. It's not the end of the world, but I really hope AA revisits its meal window policy soon... I won't hold my breath, though.
I usually don't eat dinner until 8pm or later anyway, even when I'm not working late. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, "I'm not force-feeding myself a steak at 4:30!" Well, at least not until I'm in my 80s and living in Florida at Del Boca Vista.
I usually don't eat dinner until 8pm or later anyway, even when I'm not working late. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, "I'm not force-feeding myself a steak at 4:30!" Well, at least not until I'm in my 80s and living in Florida at Del Boca Vista.
#1240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Very annoying. I already know I'll be working late that day and most likely won't arrive at STL until about 30-45 mins before departure. I guess I'll either have to hope I arrive early enough to grab something at the AC or Chili's or else just snack until I get to PHX. It's not the end of the world, but I really hope AA revisits its meal window policy soon... I won't hold my breath, though.
I usually don't eat dinner until 8pm or later anyway, even when I'm not working late. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, "I'm not force-feeding myself a steak at 4:30!" Well, at least not until I'm in my 80s and living in Florida at Del Boca Vista.
I usually don't eat dinner until 8pm or later anyway, even when I'm not working late. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, "I'm not force-feeding myself a steak at 4:30!" Well, at least not until I'm in my 80s and living in Florida at Del Boca Vista.
#1241
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
Since you are in one of the best BBQ cities in the US, stop off and get some BBQ at the airport before boarding your flight.
#1242
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
#1243
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
Well, I just "experienced" the F Dinner Service on SEA-PHX departing at 6pm. It was some type of "pot roast" and was absolutely disgusting! Frankly, I would much rather have a fruit, cheese, and deli plate of some sort or a larger salad with a chicken breast. The warm nuts and the cookie were the best thing about the "meal". The salad was also okay.
#1244
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SAN
Programs: AA-EXP; US-Silver; Marriott-Platinum; Starwood-Platinum; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 1,260
Looking at all these photos I still see the cheap McDonalds paper liners and none of them have the linen promised to be reinstated?? Funny thing is - on all my US flight they have given us the blue linens but none on the AA flight.
#1245
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
I've yet to encounter one of these mythical linens post 9/1. I have not flown a US meal flight yet though.