Dec 31, 2016, 10:45 pm
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Jan 22, 2017, 1:57 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Jan 28, 2017, 9:23 am
#78
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,977
Any reviews of this?
Vietnamese Salad
With Asian-inspired shiitake mushroom slaw, cabbage and carrots over rice noodles and a side of teriyaki chicken
Vietnamese Salad
With Asian-inspired shiitake mushroom slaw, cabbage and carrots over rice noodles and a side of teriyaki chicken
Jan 28, 2017, 10:06 am
#79
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 866
Most reviews I've read of this one are not positive. My seatmate ordered this on a flight last year and regretted it- said the chicken was bland and he found the combination of flavors strange. I was glad I ordered the pasta which was offered as an alternative.
Jan 28, 2017, 10:13 am
#80
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
Pretty crazy...here we have something that could easily be turned into a sales point: you can actually see your meal when you pre-order. It requires no extra work on AA's part...the photos already exist. They could be posted on the meal reservation page with a prominent disclaimer that occasional catering issues may make mean that the dish a customer reserves may be unavailable.
So what's AA's response: make the info more available, or less?
Less. Welcome to the new AA!
So what's AA's response: make the info more available, or less?
Less. Welcome to the new AA!
Jan 28, 2017, 11:06 am
#81
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP, EY Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*, Global Entry
Posts: 245
Pretty crazy...here we have something that could easily be turned into a sales point: you can actually see your meal when you pre-order. It requires no extra work on AA's part...the photos already exist. They could be posted on the meal reservation page with a prominent disclaimer that occasional catering issues may make mean that the dish a customer reserves may be unavailable.
So what's AA's response: make the info more available, or less?
Less. Welcome to the new AA!
So what's AA's response: make the info more available, or less?
Less. Welcome to the new AA!
Jan 30, 2017, 8:33 am
#82
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,977
The pasta was supposed to be something with spinach but turned out to be an ultra-bland and lukewarm cheese lasagna. Service was extremely slow on the SNA-DFW flight.
No PDBs on either of two flights yesterday. Both arrived 20 minutes late, due to having to re-enter the flight plan (SNA-DFW) and update the maintenance log (DFW-AUS).
Sloppy, sloppy operations. I'm getting sick of it.
Jan 30, 2017, 4:51 pm
#83
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
While I miss the access to them, they clearly aren't a marketing tool. Many of them were photoshopped together. For us, we understood, but the general public would not be pleased with them. It would require an actual photoshoot of the dishes which is not an easy process. Honestly I'd prefer they fix what is already broken with their site than add more complications to the site.
Also, they didn't look photoshopped to me, just staged photos in the most ideal situation - but that's hardly unusual in that menu items outside high-end restaurants are not typically WYSIWYG when it comes to plating and presentation. They do provide a nice idea as to what you're going to get conceptually anyways.
Jan 31, 2017, 5:19 am
#84
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: DCA
Programs: American AAdvantage EXP, World of Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Rewards Titanium, MGM Rewards Gold
Posts: 429
New AM "snack" for Domestic Shorthaul
This morning on AA1594 MSY-DFW (6:00a) we were offered a yogurt tray instead of the snack basket. The offering was shelf stable yogurt (aircraft was overnight at MSY), packet of granola, and a breakfast cake.
Earlier this month, the same flight was the usual snack basket. Was this a mis-cater, or is this the new standard? If the latter, this is a welcome change. I would much rather this than salty snacks this early in the morning.
Earlier this month, the same flight was the usual snack basket. Was this a mis-cater, or is this the new standard? If the latter, this is a welcome change. I would much rather this than salty snacks this early in the morning.
Jan 31, 2017, 8:57 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Feb 1, 2017, 7:19 am
#87
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
LGA-ORD
738
Lunch
Open bar PDB ^
Hot towels, followed by nuts and drink of choice with refills before the meals came out.
Probably my LEAST favorite meal rotation: choice of nicoise salad with salmon on the side or the bland quinoa dish. I went with the quinoa again just to have something warm. The side salad was actually really good and had thinly sliced cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. I ended adding some of the salad dressing to the quinoa to try and add some semblance of flavor.
overall, amazing service from this ORD based crew. When AA gets it right, it really can be an enjoyable travel experience. I meant to give AAplause certs on my way off the plane but was distracted by a phone call
by the way....did American Way get a new font type for it's title on the cover? see it in the photo......looks different/new
738
Lunch
Open bar PDB ^
Hot towels, followed by nuts and drink of choice with refills before the meals came out.
Probably my LEAST favorite meal rotation: choice of nicoise salad with salmon on the side or the bland quinoa dish. I went with the quinoa again just to have something warm. The side salad was actually really good and had thinly sliced cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. I ended adding some of the salad dressing to the quinoa to try and add some semblance of flavor.
overall, amazing service from this ORD based crew. When AA gets it right, it really can be an enjoyable travel experience. I meant to give AAplause certs on my way off the plane but was distracted by a phone call
by the way....did American Way get a new font type for it's title on the cover? see it in the photo......looks different/new
Feb 1, 2017, 8:02 am
#88
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
DEN-DFW
pmUS A321
AM Snack
Despite catering not arriving until half-way though boarding, PDB of choice STILL OFFERED!.
Once in the air, drink of choice and hot towels.
Snack tray was vanilla Chobani yogurt, granola, and the old gas-station unbranded wrapped coffee cake.
DEN-ORD
Boeing 737-800 AVOD BSI
Lunch
PDB of water or OJ.
Mary, the purser, introduced herself to each passenger (me first, for some reason), and confirmed meal and drink choices before take-off for once in the air. She also asked if I wanted a chocolate chip cookie, which I theorized meant the chocolate chip cookie would be served on the tray (I was right).
Once in the air, drink of choice and warm mixed nuts, followed by hot towel.
Don't remember the other choice, but I had the cheese lasagna. It was good and filling as usual. Bread of choice from the bread basket, with butter packet on the tray. Re-fills offered. Also offered was a side salad, with olive oil and vinegar dressing on the side and yes, a chocolate chip cookie on the tray.
Mints offered prior to landing. Upon de-planing, Mary thanked each passenger by name! ^
ORD-DEN
MD-80
Dinner
Chaotic, delayed boarding meant no PDB offered. We still pushed back close to on-time, so I can't complain too much.
Great service today from beautiful Tara.
Pre-order acknowledged after take-off, followed by drink of choice, and hot nuts and hot towel.
Meal choices today were the cheese lasagna or beef filet. For the sake of variety, I chose the beef filet. I regretted that decision. As usual on AA, the beef was very dry and tough. Quinoa was, as usual, flavorless (who the heck likes this stuff?). The asparagus was good, though. There were also a few caramelized onions mixed in the dish.
The side salad was good and featured some sliced red peppers, a cherry tomato, and olive oil and vinegar dressing on the side.
Roll choices were offered from the bread basket, with a butter packet on the tray.
Dessert was a snickerdoodle cookie (delicious and a nice change) offered after the meal. Drinks were re-filled constantly.
Overall, very good service and good product!
Oh, and yes, the American Way magazine was "re-launched" inside and out with a new format and new editor and staff. Quite disappointed, as I really liked Adam Pitluk, the old editor.
pmUS A321
AM Snack
Despite catering not arriving until half-way though boarding, PDB of choice STILL OFFERED!.
Once in the air, drink of choice and hot towels.
Snack tray was vanilla Chobani yogurt, granola, and the old gas-station unbranded wrapped coffee cake.
DEN-ORD
Boeing 737-800 AVOD BSI
Lunch
PDB of water or OJ.
Mary, the purser, introduced herself to each passenger (me first, for some reason), and confirmed meal and drink choices before take-off for once in the air. She also asked if I wanted a chocolate chip cookie, which I theorized meant the chocolate chip cookie would be served on the tray (I was right).
Once in the air, drink of choice and warm mixed nuts, followed by hot towel.
Don't remember the other choice, but I had the cheese lasagna. It was good and filling as usual. Bread of choice from the bread basket, with butter packet on the tray. Re-fills offered. Also offered was a side salad, with olive oil and vinegar dressing on the side and yes, a chocolate chip cookie on the tray.
Mints offered prior to landing. Upon de-planing, Mary thanked each passenger by name! ^
ORD-DEN
MD-80
Dinner
Chaotic, delayed boarding meant no PDB offered. We still pushed back close to on-time, so I can't complain too much.
Great service today from beautiful Tara.
Pre-order acknowledged after take-off, followed by drink of choice, and hot nuts and hot towel.
Meal choices today were the cheese lasagna or beef filet. For the sake of variety, I chose the beef filet. I regretted that decision. As usual on AA, the beef was very dry and tough. Quinoa was, as usual, flavorless (who the heck likes this stuff?). The asparagus was good, though. There were also a few caramelized onions mixed in the dish.
The side salad was good and featured some sliced red peppers, a cherry tomato, and olive oil and vinegar dressing on the side.
Roll choices were offered from the bread basket, with a butter packet on the tray.
Dessert was a snickerdoodle cookie (delicious and a nice change) offered after the meal. Drinks were re-filled constantly.
Overall, very good service and good product!
Oh, and yes, the American Way magazine was "re-launched" inside and out with a new format and new editor and staff. Quite disappointed, as I really liked Adam Pitluk, the old editor.
Feb 1, 2017, 2:16 pm
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
Have a JFK-LAX-JFK in J coming up in a couple of weeks with the following choices....was trying to see photso/feedback for rough ideas if anyone is trying these in the coming weeks or has done in the past.
The chicken and curry options don't sound too bad and are probably a little harder to mess up than say, halibut...
thanks!^
The chicken and curry options don't sound too bad and are probably a little harder to mess up than say, halibut...
thanks!^
Feb 1, 2017, 2:25 pm
#90
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
Have a JFK-LAX-JFK in J coming up in a couple of weeks with the following choices....was trying to see photso/feedback for rough ideas if anyone is trying these in the coming weeks or has done in the past.
The chicken and curry options don't sound too bad and are probably a little harder to mess up than say, halibut...
thanks!^
The chicken and curry options don't sound too bad and are probably a little harder to mess up than say, halibut...
thanks!^
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25431462-post2180.html