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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#46
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 83
The DFW-Hawaii routes now a complimentary meal in economy (I don't think all parts of AA.com have been updated accordingly). Don't expect much though, perhaps just a wrap and bag a chips (certainly below the level of an AA international Y meal, and that's not saying much).
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
#47
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Well, some of us are burning through SWUs that are expiring and trying to be the least profitable passenger in the cabin. Returning the favor for the ambivalent service, nasty grub, and deplorable aircraft. Sorry, but I'm not paying top dollar for Discount Doug's operation any time soon.
#48
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,988
Well, some of us are burning through SWUs that are expiring and trying to be the least profitable passenger in the cabin. Returning the favor for the ambivalent service, nasty grub, and deplorable aircraft. Sorry, but I'm not paying top dollar for Discount Doug's operation any time soon.
#49
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 217
I saw that choice. Glad we went with the chicken, but at least it was 2 pieces of poop
#50
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 217
JFK-LAX
A321T
Dinner
Beef carpaccio starter was good. Not a fan of the Fuji Apple dressing for the salad though.
My main was a spaghetti squash dish and had very little flavor. I would not recommend this dish. My brother had the chicken which he said was good.
Really nice service flow from the J FA's. Everytime one FA came through with a meal service element, the other FA was right behind with the beverage cart which made getting refills very easy for all.
A321T
Dinner
Beef carpaccio starter was good. Not a fan of the Fuji Apple dressing for the salad though.
My main was a spaghetti squash dish and had very little flavor. I would not recommend this dish. My brother had the chicken which he said was good.
Really nice service flow from the J FA's. Everytime one FA came through with a meal service element, the other FA was right behind with the beverage cart which made getting refills very easy for all.
#51
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
#52
#53
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
-FlyerBeek
#54
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Yellow Springs
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 1,523
Last edited by flymonthly; Jan 20, 2017 at 8:02 am
#55
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,180
#56
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
#57
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP / HH Diamond
Posts: 592
AA1728: MCO-PHL 12:20p
A321 (lUS)
"Snack"
We got Biscoff. That's it. No nuts, no (warmed-on-board) cookie. Flight mileage should be at the 861 range. Another passenger asked the flight attendant, and he said there is nothing. She asked if she could pay for something from the coach, he indicated there was nothing to buy. Eventually, our snack of Biscoff was augmented with... Y pretzel packs.
Not sure if this was a mis-cater or a FA that was hoping no-one would notice. He did an almost-full PDB (no coffee, no club soda to many who were requesting) but was proactive at refills in the air.
A321 (lUS)
"Snack"
We got Biscoff. That's it. No nuts, no (warmed-on-board) cookie. Flight mileage should be at the 861 range. Another passenger asked the flight attendant, and he said there is nothing. She asked if she could pay for something from the coach, he indicated there was nothing to buy. Eventually, our snack of Biscoff was augmented with... Y pretzel packs.
Not sure if this was a mis-cater or a FA that was hoping no-one would notice. He did an almost-full PDB (no coffee, no club soda to many who were requesting) but was proactive at refills in the air.
#59
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,204