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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#677
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco area
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott T
Posts: 455
SFO-JFK C
No pictures but here is the menu for redeye flight. AA has come a long way since the dreary days of warm nuts + a nasty pasta dish on transcon red eyes.
#678
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
#679
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
Looks good...I'm taking the LAX-JFK in C later this month and my choices were different than these...I pre-ordered the beef quesadilla. This is my first red-eye in C on this route...do most passengers sleep through the pre-arrival snack (scone and fruit smoothie) or is it served as the lights are turned back on in preparation for arrival?
#680
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Looks good...I'm taking the LAX-JFK in C later this month and my choices were different than these...I pre-ordered the beef quesadilla. This is my first red-eye in C on this route...do most passengers sleep through the pre-arrival snack (scone and fruit smoothie) or is it served as the lights are turned back on in preparation for arrival?
In my experience during the past year or so, the pre-arrival snack is served earlier than you think. Personally, I'd just keep sleeping.
#681
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
This looks just like the standard transcon redeye menu, also used on Hawaii flights from DFW.
SIDE NOTE: maybe now they'll remove the references to where the cookies are warned. Of course it's a holdover from when they were actually baked on board, but now the phrase "warmed on board" just sounds silly (where else would they warm them?). Just put "warm chocolate chip cookies." Seriously, calling their culinary team a bunch of interns is an insult to interns. Because even as an intern, I wouldn't make writing mistakes like this.
SIDE NOTE: maybe now they'll remove the references to where the cookies are warned. Of course it's a holdover from when they were actually baked on board, but now the phrase "warmed on board" just sounds silly (where else would they warm them?). Just put "warm chocolate chip cookies." Seriously, calling their culinary team a bunch of interns is an insult to interns. Because even as an intern, I wouldn't make writing mistakes like this.
#682
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 139
The whole fam is flying first class from the mainland to HI. We have passed the 30 day mark, and I was looking forward to logging in and "requesting my choice" of food.
And the choice is cereal or nothing, in one direction. Other direction departs at 8:30 am and one of the two breakfast choices is crab cakes with quinoa.
Eight paid first class tickets. I am really going to feel out of place with the extravagance of cereal or nothing on board. Bravo AA, you make it all worthwhile...
And the choice is cereal or nothing, in one direction. Other direction departs at 8:30 am and one of the two breakfast choices is crab cakes with quinoa.
Eight paid first class tickets. I am really going to feel out of place with the extravagance of cereal or nothing on board. Bravo AA, you make it all worthwhile...
Last edited by Travlur; Jul 9, 2017 at 3:20 pm
#683
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
The whole fam is flying first class from the mainland to HI. We have passed the 30 day mark, and I was looking forward to logging in and "requesting my choice" of food.
And the choice is cereal or nothing, in one direction. Other direction departs at 8:30 am and one of the two breakfast choices is crab cakes with quinoa.
Eight paid first class tickets. I am really going to feel out of place with the extravagance of cereal or nothing on board. Bravo AA, you make it all worthwhile...
And the choice is cereal or nothing, in one direction. Other direction departs at 8:30 am and one of the two breakfast choices is crab cakes with quinoa.
Eight paid first class tickets. I am really going to feel out of place with the extravagance of cereal or nothing on board. Bravo AA, you make it all worthwhile...
#685
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
The red-eye is an ugly one, too short to really do much as most people are going to want to (try to) sleep. It's either a snack option at 11pm or breakfast at 2am Hawaii time... neither very attractive.
#686
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
Exactly. We were told the new menus were matte and black.
I thought AA baked cookies for transcontinental flights (JFK-LAX/SFO; MIA-LAX), and warmed them onboard for all other domestic flights?
I thought AA baked cookies for transcontinental flights (JFK-LAX/SFO; MIA-LAX), and warmed them onboard for all other domestic flights?
#688
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: NYC/BOS
Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 54
Last year, I flew JFK-LAX in F, 12pm departure, and the menu said "Warmed onboard". The return trip LAX-JFK, in J, 7am departure said "Freshly baked on board".
#689
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 462
It is a snack option on the the KOA-LAX leg. This flight is double-catered from LAX so do not expect too much. As noted by SFO777, this is a short flight which normally gets in 1/2 to and hour earlier than scheduled due to the tailwinds. I do not believe we have ever experienced anyone in first opting for the snack (Uno Personal Pizza).
#690
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
That's a nice looking menu. Looks like they condensed the previous booklet to only be one page. Simple and elegant. At the risk of sounding meta, glad they kept the "traditional" text before the sundae.
I do wonder what happened to the wine menu, though.
I do wonder what happened to the wine menu, though.