Jan 1, 2016, 11:58 pm
Last edit by: Genius1
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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 2016 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.
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.
2016 Combined AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
Apr 21, 2016, 9:27 am
#946
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
I've never seen this either. Fortunately, I like Kettle chips at 6 AM. (Not being sarcastic).
Apr 21, 2016, 9:41 am
#947
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: PHL, DFW & FLL/PBI
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 192
I recall the Lite Bites being offered and had a few very chilled bananas from it but that had to be like a year ago the last time I saw it.
Apr 21, 2016, 10:04 am
#948
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 have this mental image of the AC AAngels being forced to plate slices of pound cake out of the plexiglass box. Kind of like at a hotel when you see someone from F&B picking food off the breakfast buffet, plating it, putting a silver cover on it, and running it upstairs as a $30 room service order.
Apr 21, 2016, 11:09 am
#949
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
I believe it's offered on flights that otherwise would qualify for the snack plates if they were in the afternoon or evening. For example, morning flights like DCA-Florida which are all in the 800ish mile range (except MIA which at 920 miles receives meal service). Now that I think about it, it has been several months since I've seen this basket. Maybe none of my flights have fallen into this category either.
Apr 21, 2016, 12:38 pm
#950
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,198
Apr 21, 2016, 1:52 pm
#951
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT
Posts: 759
Apr 21, 2016, 3:08 pm
#952
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: PHL, DFW & FLL/PBI
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 192
Yes, scooped out with a plastic cup.
Apr 21, 2016, 7:30 pm
#953
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
As a frequent flyer on the DFW-DEN and vv AM flights, I see that dreaded snack basket too much. You get the nice plated snacks on the PM flights. I hope this is what he is referring to for the replacement!
Apr 21, 2016, 9:10 pm
#954
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K
Posts: 1,078
Apologies if I missed it but what is the official policy on the pre-arrival mint service? I see it so sporadically on AA flights domestically, I'm not sure if it's a provisioning issue or a crew issue (like PDBs). Also never understood why it seems to be the only remaining item of the inflight service that never received updated branding - the packaging still uses the old AA red and blue font / style.
Apr 22, 2016, 8:28 am
#955
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
Apologies if I missed it but what is the official policy on the pre-arrival mint service? I see it so sporadically on AA flights domestically, I'm not sure if it's a provisioning issue or a crew issue (like PDBs). Also never understood why it seems to be the only remaining item of the inflight service that never received updated branding - the packaging still uses the old AA red and blue font / style.
It appears a decision was made to not waste whatever massive supply they have and to continue using it out. I have no idea when it will be finished (new order or package design). The ones I see in the club are not logoed, but generic branded now.
Rasheed
Apr 22, 2016, 7:50 pm
#956
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,967
Does the 820pm DFW-BOS have a meal? It shows a meal in GDS systems, but there is no option to select one on AA.com. It seems like it would be part of the same exception as other 8pm westbound departures and is certainly long enough.
Apr 22, 2016, 7:56 pm
#957
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
The only exceptions to the 8pm cutoff are transcon and long-haul international flights; DFW-BOS is neither. And this flight indeed shows as getting "Refreshments" on aa.com.
Apr 24, 2016, 5:02 pm
#958
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 866
Have a flight in Flagship First between SFO and JFK coming up, trying to decide between these two "snack" entrees:
-Wagyu Meatloaf , With roasted garlic mashed potatoes and candied onions
-Shrimp Sliders, With Asian aļoli
Anyone here had both, or any recommendations?
-Wagyu Meatloaf , With roasted garlic mashed potatoes and candied onions
-Shrimp Sliders, With Asian aļoli
Anyone here had both, or any recommendations?
Apr 24, 2016, 5:24 pm
#959
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
The meatloaf I've had before and it was pretty good. Never had the Sliders but saw a picture on one of these threads and...yeah it didn't look so nice.
Apr 24, 2016, 5:51 pm
#960
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Seattle/Denver, USA
Programs: W/P1.9MM & Charter+ DL Diamond 2.15MM, AA EXP 1.95MM, AS MVP .6MM, O/P .9MM, A/C & S/C
Posts: 402
Red eye snacks
Waygu good for a snack, but I didn't care for the sliders-too dry and tasteless.