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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#766
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#767
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#768
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That is the buffalo chicken dip... Hence the celery and carrot. Personally I prefer the dip, but as reported there is a cheese plate option if you'd prefer something less adventurous.
#769
Join Date: Mar 2013
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I probably must apologies because I am starting to think that my confusion is simply because I'm not from the US- 'buffalo chicken dip' is something I hadn't heard of before so it's probably less weird to your ears!
#770
Join Date: Jan 2010
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But isn't there a slice of blue cheese also in the upper left corner?
I probably must apologies because I am starting to think that my confusion is simply because I'm not from the US- 'buffalo chicken dip' is something I hadn't heard of before so it's probably less weird to your ears!
I probably must apologies because I am starting to think that my confusion is simply because I'm not from the US- 'buffalo chicken dip' is something I hadn't heard of before so it's probably less weird to your ears!
#771
Join Date: Apr 2007
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I find it odd that the snack tray isn't covered by the grey linen like the other meal trays.
Other than that, the snack tray looks good! A big improvement over the old Lite Bites (do AA even serve them anymore?).
Other than that, the snack tray looks good! A big improvement over the old Lite Bites (do AA even serve them anymore?).
#772
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Before I forget to post this again.
SFO-ORD (11:59pm)
Nuts & cookies (no snack basket)
ORD-SFO (8:30pm)
nuts and choice of Cheese or charcuterie
SFO-ORD (11:59pm)
Nuts & cookies (no snack basket)
ORD-SFO (8:30pm)
nuts and choice of Cheese or charcuterie
#773
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
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But isn't there a slice of blue cheese also in the upper left corner?
I probably must apologies because I am starting to think that my confusion is simply because I'm not from the US- 'buffalo chicken dip' is something I hadn't heard of before so it's probably less weird to your ears!
I probably must apologies because I am starting to think that my confusion is simply because I'm not from the US- 'buffalo chicken dip' is something I hadn't heard of before so it's probably less weird to your ears!
I haven't seen the lite bites in well over 2 years now, but not sure when they officially met their demise.
#774
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Flying a CR9 () phx-iah lunch time in a few weeks. Since there are no ovens do they still offer a rather substantial lunch meal?
#775
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are Mesa flights still not serving drinks in real glassware in-flight?
#777
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Buffalo chicken (usually wings) are an American tradition of spicy chicken wings that are usually served with some combination of celery sticks, carrot sticks, bleu cheese or ranch dressing, depending on preference. The theme has broadened to both using the same method for other flavors of hot wings and cool sauces, as well as the traditional Buffalo style influencing dishes besides wings -- like dips, pizzas, calzone, salads, etc..
#778
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#779
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Wing Stop
Buffalo Wild Wings
Hooters
and most chain pizza delivery joints offer wings