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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1456
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
Ick! I would be disgusted too, especially with the braids and the bad service.
Please report this to AA.
Please report this to AA.
AA 1237 DFW-FLL Today
No PDB
No hot towels
Warm nuts & drinks served from a cart in aisle.
Lunch served the same way-choice of some kind of pasta or the pear & beet salad. Pre-orders not acknowledged or confirmed-if you pre-ordered, you were simply handed the tray w/whatever the catering order said you were supposed to get. I had pre-ordered the salad & while I usually like crisp pears, these went way beyond that & straight into 'hard as a rock' territory.
Watched while the FA took the bread out of the oven & out of the foil tray used to warm the rolls up & piled them on top of the cart where she left them, uncovered, while she put the rest of the cart together. Needless to say, we ended up w/hockey pucks by the time they were offered.
Warmed over cookies served while lunch trays were still out & people were still eating.
I apparently committed a sin against humanity by trying to keep my napkin to use w/the cookie-FA insisted I put it back on the tray & then walked away w/both my tray & the tray of cookies w/o ever giving me one.
No surprise, no mints before landing.
Never saw the FA's again once they cleared lunch.
One of the FA's serving was an older black lady w/a mass of braids that hung almost to her waist-watched while they swung into the lunch tray of the pax in front of me-ick.
Way to go for great, Dougie
No PDB
No hot towels
Warm nuts & drinks served from a cart in aisle.
Lunch served the same way-choice of some kind of pasta or the pear & beet salad. Pre-orders not acknowledged or confirmed-if you pre-ordered, you were simply handed the tray w/whatever the catering order said you were supposed to get. I had pre-ordered the salad & while I usually like crisp pears, these went way beyond that & straight into 'hard as a rock' territory.
Watched while the FA took the bread out of the oven & out of the foil tray used to warm the rolls up & piled them on top of the cart where she left them, uncovered, while she put the rest of the cart together. Needless to say, we ended up w/hockey pucks by the time they were offered.
Warmed over cookies served while lunch trays were still out & people were still eating.
I apparently committed a sin against humanity by trying to keep my napkin to use w/the cookie-FA insisted I put it back on the tray & then walked away w/both my tray & the tray of cookies w/o ever giving me one.
No surprise, no mints before landing.
Never saw the FA's again once they cleared lunch.
One of the FA's serving was an older black lady w/a mass of braids that hung almost to her waist-watched while they swung into the lunch tray of the pax in front of me-ick.
Way to go for great, Dougie
#1457
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Last time I did a transcon, the ice cream served after the redeye "Flagship Supper" in F was Three Twins (very good). I think this type of ice cream was specific to transcon redeye service, though.
Don't know much about domestic ice cream anymore. I guess B&J is transcon and int'l-only.
June INT'L Ice Cream Desserts:
CLT-MAD had B&J Heath Bar Crunch ice cream.
DUB-JFK had the B&J custom ice cream sundae.
Don't know much about domestic ice cream anymore. I guess B&J is transcon and int'l-only.
June INT'L Ice Cream Desserts:
CLT-MAD had B&J Heath Bar Crunch ice cream.
DUB-JFK had the B&J custom ice cream sundae.
Last edited by brewdog11; Jul 26, 2015 at 7:28 pm
#1458
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
AA 1237 DFW-FLL Today
No PDB
No hot towels
Warm nuts & drinks served from a cart in aisle.
Lunch served the same way-choice of some kind of pasta or the pear & beet salad. Pre-orders not acknowledged or confirmed-if you pre-ordered, you were simply handed the tray w/whatever the catering order said you were supposed to get. I had pre-ordered the salad & while I usually like crisp pears, these went way beyond that & straight into 'hard as a rock' territory.
Watched while the FA took the bread out of the oven & out of the foil tray used to warm the rolls up & piled them on top of the cart where she left them, uncovered, while she put the rest of the cart together. Needless to say, we ended up w/hockey pucks by the time they were offered.
Warmed over cookies served while lunch trays were still out & people were still eating.
I apparently committed a sin against humanity by trying to keep my napkin to use w/the cookie-FA insisted I put it back on the tray & then walked away w/both my tray & the tray of cookies w/o ever giving me one.
No surprise, no mints before landing.
Never saw the FA's again once they cleared lunch.
One of the FA's serving was an older black lady w/a mass of braids that hung almost to her waist-watched while they swung into the lunch tray of the pax in front of me-ick.
Way to go for great, Dougie
No PDB
No hot towels
Warm nuts & drinks served from a cart in aisle.
Lunch served the same way-choice of some kind of pasta or the pear & beet salad. Pre-orders not acknowledged or confirmed-if you pre-ordered, you were simply handed the tray w/whatever the catering order said you were supposed to get. I had pre-ordered the salad & while I usually like crisp pears, these went way beyond that & straight into 'hard as a rock' territory.
Watched while the FA took the bread out of the oven & out of the foil tray used to warm the rolls up & piled them on top of the cart where she left them, uncovered, while she put the rest of the cart together. Needless to say, we ended up w/hockey pucks by the time they were offered.
Warmed over cookies served while lunch trays were still out & people were still eating.
I apparently committed a sin against humanity by trying to keep my napkin to use w/the cookie-FA insisted I put it back on the tray & then walked away w/both my tray & the tray of cookies w/o ever giving me one.
No surprise, no mints before landing.
Never saw the FA's again once they cleared lunch.
One of the FA's serving was an older black lady w/a mass of braids that hung almost to her waist-watched while they swung into the lunch tray of the pax in front of me-ick.
Way to go for great, Dougie
#1459
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,975
Looking forward to the 8/1 catering changes. DFW-SNA today was a choice of the chicken swimming in olives or cheese lasagna. Usually don't choose the pasta but did today. It was unobjectionable but pretty bland.
The price one pays for a bigger seat. If I had not been upgraded I could have enjoyed a decent sandwich or salad in Y.
Also, is it just me or are the mixed nuts consistently 90%+ cashews these days? I have no problem with cashews but variety would be nice.
The price one pays for a bigger seat. If I had not been upgraded I could have enjoyed a decent sandwich or salad in Y.
Also, is it just me or are the mixed nuts consistently 90%+ cashews these days? I have no problem with cashews but variety would be nice.
#1460
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
i love cashews, i hate almonds. i wish they had more pistachios though, but i know most people hate em.
#1461
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
I feel victorious whenever I find the lone pecan in the mix.
It seems that the mix is cashew-heavy, but I haven't noticed any drastic changes in the ratio.
It seems that the mix is cashew-heavy, but I haven't noticed any drastic changes in the ratio.
#1462
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
I guess you got the Napkin Fascist. That FA probably has my face on a dartboard somewhere and would've ejected me mid-flight.
#1463
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
Employee accountability and morale starts from the top. If standards are not upheld there, what incentive does the employee have to follow procedures consistently?
Unfortunately it seems as though the olive-drowned chicken dish will be surviving. I have it for pre-order selection on an upcoming flight, however the pasta option is different. It's described as a jumbo ravioli with a lemon-Alfredo sauce or something like that. Sounds a little frightening.
Looking forward to the 8/1 catering changes. DFW-SNA today was a choice of the chicken swimming in olives or cheese lasagna. Usually don't choose the pasta but did today. It was unobjectionable but pretty bland.
The price one pays for a bigger seat. If I had not been upgraded I could have enjoyed a decent sandwich or salad in Y.
Also, is it just me or are the mixed nuts consistently 90%+ cashews these days? I have no problem with cashews but variety would be nice.
The price one pays for a bigger seat. If I had not been upgraded I could have enjoyed a decent sandwich or salad in Y.
Also, is it just me or are the mixed nuts consistently 90%+ cashews these days? I have no problem with cashews but variety would be nice.
#1464
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,600
#1465
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,416
A request...
When quoting posts in this thread, please do NOT automatically quote all the pictures! Not only do the quoted pictures take up a lot of real estate, but they also take longer to load, which slows down the browser experience, especially for our members on tablet/mobile devices.
If you're asking a question about a specific picture/food item, sure - feel free to quote that specific image. But please don't quote 15 pictures just to make a comment about how one of the food items looks like dog food.
Thanks everyone for your cooperation!
/Moderator
If you're asking a question about a specific picture/food item, sure - feel free to quote that specific image. But please don't quote 15 pictures just to make a comment about how one of the food items looks like dog food.
Thanks everyone for your cooperation!
/Moderator
#1466
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
These are the options that have come up for my JFK - LAX flight in J:
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
#1467
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,600
These are the options that have come up for my JFK - LAX flight in J:
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
Last edited by SFO777; Jul 27, 2015 at 8:30 am
#1468
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
These are the options that have come up for my JFK - LAX flight in J:
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
- ceasar salad with sweet potato soup (and option of grilled shrimp)
- Quinoa and barley pilaf with kale, artichokes, red pepper sauce.
- lobster risotto with shaved brussels sprouts and parmesan crisp.
Any suggestions? Not a great menu for the carnivores amongst us!
#1469
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
I'd do a special meal if you were a vegetarian. However, I do think this may be a pre-order error of some kind.
#1470
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Here Today, There Tomorrow
Programs: 2.96MM DL DM, Hyatt Globalist, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, HH Lifetime Diamond, Marriott TE
Posts: 1,318
Flying OGG-DFW late August. Entree choices of Spinach Ravioli or something called Spicy Prawn Cake. That's it for a 7 hour 30 minute flight. Is this the "new" menu?