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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1291
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: san clemente ca
Programs: AA,DL
Posts: 374
Sound advice, My friend was on AA Belize to LA and catering Issues caused no food and the plane sat on the tarmac for a long time. So what would of been a pretty quick flight 3-1/2 hr ended up being 6 plus hr's and no food.. now my friend swears AA is the worst airline ever.
#1292
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Is there meal service on the DFW-HNL flights at this point? I asked AA and they told me to call customer service. I had called customer service and they weren't sure. Have a 5 year old traveling with me and want to make sure I have enough for him to eat on an 8 hour flight. Thanks for your help with this.
~Moderator
#1294
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), HHonors Diamond
Posts: 443
Blown away by the service
03JUL
MCO-DFW AA 2505
Here's first and in a good way.......
Flying MCO-DFW last night. We boarded and as we were boarding the F class F/A came though with the dreaded tray, but WAIT. On the tray was OJ and water, but she also had a jack and coke, vodka tonic, gin and tonic pre-mixed and said "if there isn't something here you want, let me know and I'll get it for you."
Meals were choice of Grilled Chicken with couscous or Eggplant Parm. The chicken was OK, nothing special, but edible. During the entire flight she didn't stop moving. I asked how long she had been flying and she said three years.
So I mention to her mid flight what an outstanding job she's doing and thank you for going above and beyond as it is appreciated and I'll write into AA for you. She brings me a drink refill and a thank you note that reads......"Thank you for your kind words Mr. XXXX. And thank you for flying American. Safe Travels!"
Just goes to show you IF a F/A wants to truly provide a premium experience on a mid-con flight it can be done if they really want to put forth the effort! Kudos to Chasity on 2505 yesterday, outstanding job!
MCO-DFW AA 2505
Here's first and in a good way.......
Flying MCO-DFW last night. We boarded and as we were boarding the F class F/A came though with the dreaded tray, but WAIT. On the tray was OJ and water, but she also had a jack and coke, vodka tonic, gin and tonic pre-mixed and said "if there isn't something here you want, let me know and I'll get it for you."
Meals were choice of Grilled Chicken with couscous or Eggplant Parm. The chicken was OK, nothing special, but edible. During the entire flight she didn't stop moving. I asked how long she had been flying and she said three years.
So I mention to her mid flight what an outstanding job she's doing and thank you for going above and beyond as it is appreciated and I'll write into AA for you. She brings me a drink refill and a thank you note that reads......"Thank you for your kind words Mr. XXXX. And thank you for flying American. Safe Travels!"
Just goes to show you IF a F/A wants to truly provide a premium experience on a mid-con flight it can be done if they really want to put forth the effort! Kudos to Chasity on 2505 yesterday, outstanding job!
#1295
Formerly known as billinaz
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Goodyear,AZ for now then FL Spacecoast
Programs: US Airways Dividend Miles, American AAdvantage, Avis Preferred, Budget Rapid Rez, Hilton Honors
Posts: 1,145
Are the meals served in F at the end of August somewhere to be found?
#1296
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: PHL, DFW & FLL/PBI
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire, National Exec Elite, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 192
July 10, 2016
AA 1684
PHL-DFW
0723
A321
PDB
Quiche florentine with roasted potatoes
OR
Steel-cut oatmeal
Great customer service from Sherrie. Never stopped moving, sat down just for turbulence only, and was up and down the aisle constantly. Never chatted with other FAs who seemed to be hustling in main cabin as well. AAplause cert to Sherrie.
AA 1684
PHL-DFW
0723
A321
PDB
Quiche florentine with roasted potatoes
OR
Steel-cut oatmeal
Great customer service from Sherrie. Never stopped moving, sat down just for turbulence only, and was up and down the aisle constantly. Never chatted with other FAs who seemed to be hustling in main cabin as well. AAplause cert to Sherrie.
#1297
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 866
Upcoming dinner flight CLT-SFO and choices are eggplant parmesan or chicken with couscous and roasted vegetables...any recommendations based on recent experience?
#1298
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,451
I had the chicken with couscous earlier this month and it was edible by my airline food standards. The chicken was a little tough and dry, but by no means the worst chicken I've had on an airplane.
#1299
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Upcoming JFK-LAX. Dinner choices are Grilled Beef Filet; Pork Osso Buco; Panko-Crusted Mahi Mahi; and Turmeric Paneer. I did the Mahi Mahi last month.
Any recommendations?
Any recommendations?
#1300
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
One thing I'm confused about. On the guides (the PDFs from AA's hub website with specific meal instructions by market), most photos of nuts in the ramekin specifically come with instructions to "DO NOT WARM." This doesn't make sense, given that nuts are warmed. Why would the instructions say not to warm nuts, yet nuts are warmed?
Here's an example.
Here's an example.
#1301
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
One thing I'm confused about. On the guides (the PDFs from AA's hub website with specific meal instructions by market), most photos of nuts in the ramekin specifically come with instructions to "DO NOT WARM." This doesn't make sense, given that nuts are warmed. Why would the instructions say not to warm nuts, yet nuts are warmed?
Here's an example.
Here's an example.
#1302
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
One thing I'm confused about. On the guides (the PDFs from AA's hub website with specific meal instructions by market), most photos of nuts in the ramekin specifically come with instructions to "DO NOT WARM." This doesn't make sense, given that nuts are warmed. Why would the instructions say not to warm nuts, yet nuts are warmed?
Here's an example.
Here's an example.
#1303
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
LAX-JFK
321T
Dinner (5PM departure)
Of course gate UPGs (13 people cleared at gate) resulted me being in the last row as EXP, so the chicken I wanted to order was not available by the time they got to my row.
Duck appetizers which I did not touch (hate duck!)
Aparagus pasta (pretty good!)
Cheese for dessert with wine and water
321T
Dinner (5PM departure)
Of course gate UPGs (13 people cleared at gate) resulted me being in the last row as EXP, so the chicken I wanted to order was not available by the time they got to my row.
Duck appetizers which I did not touch (hate duck!)
Aparagus pasta (pretty good!)
Cheese for dessert with wine and water
#1304
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
Nice to see butter ramekins and mains in full size dishware in domestic J. I thought those had disappeared but present nicely in this setup.
#1305
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Seconded. I went with the chicken on 07/02 CLT-PDX, and it was ok but a bit dry.