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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Jun 2, 2016, 2:07 am
#1171
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
Live from AA2001 PHL-FLL....the most disjointed service flow I've ever seen in first class. Hot towels distributed to the first four rows from a plastic sleeve then immediately picked up....ten minutes goes by and hot towel routine repeated for the last four rows. Drink orders taken for the last four rows and delivered. Then warm nut ramekins delivered for the last four rows. Ten minutes goes by....first four rows' drink orders taken and delivered and then ramekins appear (cold by this point). Ten minutes goes by then meals are manifested front to back, no preorders acknowledged. 15 minutes goes by, last four rows trays are delivered then bread for those rows. Another 10 minutes....my row (2) trays are delivered then 1DF. Bread offered to 1DF. Then FA starts to clear trays from the last four rows when I flag him to ask for some bread, he acts shocked. Then other people in my row ask as well. He clears the back four rows and then finally delivers the last two trays to 1AC. This whole thing takes approx 1.5 hours. Cookies delivered back to front just now, poor people in 1AB just barely started eating. No refills on drinks offered at all (suppose that's why the can was left with me at the start).
Jun 2, 2016, 7:04 am
#1172
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,993
What goes around, comes around - I have a LAX-JFK "Lunch" flight in First next month and these are the very options I have:
I am not a fan of AA pasta (what type of pasta would you like with your cheese?), so it's from the other two.
I have seen some posts for/agin the crab cakes and not much on the sliders.
Do any have observations/opinions on these?
I have seen some posts for/agin the crab cakes and not much on the sliders.
Do any have observations/opinions on these?
Last edited by serfty; Jun 3, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Jun 2, 2016, 7:26 am
#1174
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
Jun 3, 2016, 6:28 am
#1175
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,928
SMF - ORD
11:55 pm departure redeye flight (lands just after 6 am)
737 (old school version)
3 1/2 hour flight (4+ hours gate to gate)
Flight was oversold, but I had to use upgrade stickers to get into first. My seat was changed at the gate for an opup for a military family transiting together. I think half of the first passengers were opups. Most were surprised to be in first as other members of their party went to the back. Anyway, back to the food:
PDB - none
Drink service with mixed nuts
Followed by warmed cookie.
Then NOTHING else for the duration of the flight. I thought 3+ hours would get a snack or light cold breakfast from other redeye reports.
The flight attendants were busy chatting away in the front galley for most of the ride.
11:55 pm departure redeye flight (lands just after 6 am)
737 (old school version)
3 1/2 hour flight (4+ hours gate to gate)
Flight was oversold, but I had to use upgrade stickers to get into first. My seat was changed at the gate for an opup for a military family transiting together. I think half of the first passengers were opups. Most were surprised to be in first as other members of their party went to the back. Anyway, back to the food:
PDB - none
Drink service with mixed nuts
Followed by warmed cookie.
Then NOTHING else for the duration of the flight. I thought 3+ hours would get a snack or light cold breakfast from other redeye reports.
The flight attendants were busy chatting away in the front galley for most of the ride.
Jun 3, 2016, 7:27 am
#1177
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
SMF - ORD
11:55 pm departure redeye flight (lands just after 6 am)
737 (old school version)
3 1/2 hour flight (4+ hours gate to gate)
Flight was oversold, but I had to use upgrade stickers to get into first. My seat was changed at the gate for an opup for a military family transiting together. I think half of the first passengers were opups. Most were surprised to be in first as other members of their party went to the back. Anyway, back to the food:
PDB - none
Drink service with mixed nuts
Followed by warmed cookie.
Then NOTHING else for the duration of the flight. I thought 3+ hours would get a snack or light cold breakfast from other redeye reports.
The flight attendants were busy chatting away in the front galley for most of the ride.
11:55 pm departure redeye flight (lands just after 6 am)
737 (old school version)
3 1/2 hour flight (4+ hours gate to gate)
Flight was oversold, but I had to use upgrade stickers to get into first. My seat was changed at the gate for an opup for a military family transiting together. I think half of the first passengers were opups. Most were surprised to be in first as other members of their party went to the back. Anyway, back to the food:
PDB - none
Drink service with mixed nuts
Followed by warmed cookie.
Then NOTHING else for the duration of the flight. I thought 3+ hours would get a snack or light cold breakfast from other redeye reports.
The flight attendants were busy chatting away in the front galley for most of the ride.
This actually isn't a change at all and was exactly the same on pmAA for midcon redeyes.
Hope that helps.
Jun 3, 2016, 8:36 am
#1178
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 42
Hello,
My parents are flying business class from CUN to BOS. Their 2 meal options are Seared Whitefish and Mexican Lasagna. They aren't wild about either choice but I'm wondering if anyone has anything to say about either choice. Thanks in advance!
My parents are flying business class from CUN to BOS. Their 2 meal options are Seared Whitefish and Mexican Lasagna. They aren't wild about either choice but I'm wondering if anyone has anything to say about either choice. Thanks in advance!
Jun 3, 2016, 8:44 am
#1179
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
Personally I'd probably go with the lasagna personally. The term 'whitefish' is open to too broad of an interpretation for me, though I'm petty picky about my seafood.
Jun 3, 2016, 9:19 am
#1180
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP, EY Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*, Global Entry
Posts: 245
http://aacdn.s3.amazonaws.com/galley...0523153916.pdf
Cant say much about the fish, never had it, but the lasagna is generally regarded as good. However the description of "Mexican Lasagna" on the meal choice is a bit odd and might represent a variation on the normal choice.
Then again, airline food has never been considered great, even with improvements over the past couple years. Worst case, bring snacks or a sandwich.
Jun 3, 2016, 12:35 pm
#1181
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,928
Ah, got it. Thank you. I think I was comparing it to a flight from SoCal to ORD (as SMF to ORD is a new route starting yesterday).
Jun 3, 2016, 1:58 pm
#1182
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
To the best of my knowledge, 2200+ mile flights that aren't premium transcons will receive the continental breakfast box in addition to the after-departure hummus/fruit plate. These flights (some aren't operated as such, but gives an example of scope) are:
SEA/PDX/SMF/SAN - MIA/JFK/PHL
LAX - RDU/PHL/BOS/DCA
SFO - MIA/CLT/PHL
PHX - BOS
Note: LAX-CLT, despite being a "transcon" by definition of going from the west to east coast, falls under 2200 miles, so gets midcon service.
So, anything from the west coast to ORD/DFW gets treated as a midcon.
Also, just to clarify: LAX/SFO-JFK; LAX-MIA gets the premium transcon service treatment; therefore, a full 'supper' meal then a prearrival smoothie/snack item, IIRC, for red-eyes.
ANY red-eye flight under 2200 miles (classified as midcon) but over the minimum 900 miles will get warmed nuts and cookies. That's it. I believe all other red-eyes under 900 miles (which is relatively rare) gets nothing but a snack basket; someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Hope this clears things up!
Last edited by MrAndy1369; Jun 3, 2016 at 2:07 pm Reason: clarification
Jun 3, 2016, 2:31 pm
#1183
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
I think Famous Familia Pizza or a sack of Burger King burgers sounds better.
Jun 3, 2016, 8:57 pm
#1185
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK - BHD
Programs: BMI Diamond Club refugee: BA-Br; HH-D
Posts: 912
Any advice on breakfast choice please?...
Hi
I am completely lost with AA catering since I am UK-based and rarely fly on domestic flights in the US. But I have a ORD-DCA coming up next week and since it is a 0925 dep, I get to choose my breakfast. The options are:
Broccoli, Pepper Jack and Red Pepper Strata with Roasted Red Skins potatoes and Chicken Apple Sausage
OR
Dried Cranberry & Orange Waffle Bread Pudding with Apple Cinnamon Compote
Personal preference for sweet/savoury aside, does anyone have any ideas if one of these options is best avoided?
Many thanks in advance!
I am completely lost with AA catering since I am UK-based and rarely fly on domestic flights in the US. But I have a ORD-DCA coming up next week and since it is a 0925 dep, I get to choose my breakfast. The options are:
Broccoli, Pepper Jack and Red Pepper Strata with Roasted Red Skins potatoes and Chicken Apple Sausage
OR
Dried Cranberry & Orange Waffle Bread Pudding with Apple Cinnamon Compote
Personal preference for sweet/savoury aside, does anyone have any ideas if one of these options is best avoided?
Many thanks in advance!