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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#886
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
LAX-YVR (April 2017)
Business Class
Lunch
More details in my report here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...t-lounges.html
Business Class
Lunch
More details in my report here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...t-lounges.html
#887
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, JetSmarter, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 102
LAX-YVR (April 2017)
Business Class
Lunch
More details in my report here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...t-lounges.html
Business Class
Lunch
More details in my report here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...t-lounges.html
#888
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,690
I apologize and should say odds are very low you will get upgraded since I do not know when you are traveling and IROPs happen that may cause someone not to make the connection in PHX. This is a very old plane that even the crew makes fun of the old equipment and if I am correct this equipment flys DCA-PHX-OCG. If you look at the seatmap there are very few good seats even in First. I am waiting for the day for someone to offer lie flat from PHX to OCG and think they will take AA market share overnight.
#889
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I'd love to visit OCG!
#890
I apologize and should say odds are very low you will get upgraded since I do not know when you are traveling and IROPs happen that may cause someone not to make the connection in PHX. This is a very old plane that even the crew makes fun of the old equipment and if I am correct this equipment flys DCA-PHX-OCG. If you look at the seatmap there are very few good seats even in First. I am waiting for the day for someone to offer lie flat from PHX to OCG and think they will take AA market share overnight.
But I DO care a out personal space, and F is a LOT better than Y for a 6+hr flight.
#891
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
#892
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It's an old left-over route from US and HP. No competition now or ever. The service is standard domestic Y.
#894
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,033
#895
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,033
#896
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
LAX-YVR (April 2017)
Business Class
Lunch
More details in my report here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...t-lounges.html
Business Class
Lunch
More details in my report here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...t-lounges.html
#897
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 8
Yes, I thought it was a pretty poor offering (even if it wasn't soggy and missing a chunk!). I emailed AA yesterday when I landed and they got back to me today promising to share my concerns with their food and beverage team, "for further review."
#898
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, JetSmarter, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 102
That's all they said to you? Jeez. That's pretty ridiculous. One of the reasons I always book first class is for the meal so I don't have to worry about buying food at the airport. But if the food is inedible, it almost makes first not worth it. That's crazy! Hopefully they say more to you
#899
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
That's all they said to you? Jeez. That's pretty ridiculous. One of the reasons I always book first class is for the meal so I don't have to worry about buying food at the airport. But if the food is inedible, it almost makes first not worth it. That's crazy! Hopefully they say more to you
#900
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
LGA-MSP
E175
Lunch
no PBD despite leaving over 10 minutes early.
choice of "spicy vegetarian wrap" or greek chicken salad.
greek chicken salad was just like you'd find on mainline so no bothering posting a photo (as i already did before) and there was a chocolate mousse cake on the tray for dessert.
E175
Lunch
no PBD despite leaving over 10 minutes early.
choice of "spicy vegetarian wrap" or greek chicken salad.
greek chicken salad was just like you'd find on mainline so no bothering posting a photo (as i already did before) and there was a chocolate mousse cake on the tray for dessert.