Last edit by: JY1024
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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 2017 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.
2017 Combined AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
#151
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
2/14/2017
AA 1164
DFW-LGA
LAA 321B
"Dinner"
Ovens were inoperative. We took a 30 minute delay waiting for catering to deliver these sandwiches, which were nothing more than the usual BOB coach fare. And no nuts. Not even cold ones. "Hot" towels were barely damp and cool to the touch. Fortunately the setups were left onboard. The salmon appetizer was quite tasty. And good ice cream for dessert. I guess they don't need an oven for that.
Going for great.
AA 1164
DFW-LGA
LAA 321B
"Dinner"
Ovens were inoperative. We took a 30 minute delay waiting for catering to deliver these sandwiches, which were nothing more than the usual BOB coach fare. And no nuts. Not even cold ones. "Hot" towels were barely damp and cool to the touch. Fortunately the setups were left onboard. The salmon appetizer was quite tasty. And good ice cream for dessert. I guess they don't need an oven for that.
Going for great.
#152
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA LAX
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 116
It's getting to the point that I almost prefer the coach wrap offerings over some of the "meals" in F. I never booked F for the quality of the food necessarily but lately I'm leaning towards MCE and saving the $250+ extra for a little extra legroom and this "dining experience".
Last edited by MauiOC; Feb 15, 2017 at 9:12 pm Reason: taking out photo in quote
#153
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,158
It's getting to the point that I almost prefer the coach wrap offerings over some of the "meals" in F. I never booked F for the quality of the food necessarily but lately I'm leaning towards MCE and saving the $250+ extra for a little extra legroom and this "dining experience".
In full seriousness, does EXPs get this sandwich style meal in Y for free, or only snacks?
#154
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
If the flight has 'fresh food' (sandwich, etc.), the EXP can get that plus a premium beverage at no charge when seated in Y.
Rasheed
Rasheed
#155
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
I've never been charged for sandwich in Y. The chicken wrap from BOB is actually pretty decent. I've also asked if I could get one instead of the meal in F and also never been given a no-go. So you do have options
#156
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
#157
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
#158
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 652
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,724
Delta is doing this as well. The above mentioned article is in addition to what was already added back to their longer Hawaii flights.
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,499
My pre ordered mahi mahi (still showing as such on the menu) on JFK-LAX F had become salmon without anyone mentioning anything and quite frankly, lukewarm breaded salmon is pretty ghastly. Not happy. On the other hand the burrata starter was very nice and i like the specialty coconut and cocoa almond sundae.
#161
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
By now you should know though, Discount Dougie only follows DL when DL cuts service elements or adds fees
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
#163
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Anytime! I think I read some of the BOS-SFO on DL will even be running on the 75S with flat beds too.....don't quote me on that though Sorry.....back on topic now.
Last edited by AANYC1981; Feb 17, 2017 at 6:26 am
#164
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
They certainly need to to keep up with B6. Anyone who would take standard crap domestic equipment when B6 is flying flat beds with superior service is out of their mind.
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,724
I agree though that if European airlines can have a decent meal service it's pathetic that the same can't be offered in the US. Especially with flights reaching 6+ hours domestically. I'm also of the opinion though that every flight should have some kind of meal in the premium cabin regardless of flight length. If QR can serve me a light meal in J on a 60 minute flight there's no reason why AA shouldn't be able to.