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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Aug 1, 2017, 8:44 am
#781
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,994
Luckily, I'll be off to the US in two weeks time so I will definitely have to try somewhere. Though I might try to find it with actually proper wings- spicy chicken wings itself sounds tasty! 
And Hooters? The worst of the worst.
Aug 1, 2017, 10:59 am
#782
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 212
I have the same menu on my upcoming LAX-DFW flight and am having a hard time deciding. I've seen more recent pictures of the salad, with mixed reviews (some seem to love it, some loathe it), but have also seen some images of the enchiladas with awful reviews (although the enchilada images were from over a year ago, it's described in awful terms on a few blogs 'crunchy' 'dry', etc.). I can't find anything more recent on that option.
Aug 1, 2017, 12:42 pm
#783
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Ex Plat, Alaska MVP Gold 75K, Hertz Gold 5*
Posts: 197
If you want proper wings, find a local joint. If you want the best wings go to any of the local joints in Buffalo, NY where it all started. Too many to list, but so easy to find.
Chains are the worst place to buy wings from. Trying to keep the good wings for yourself?
And Hooters? The worst of the worst.
Chains are the worst place to buy wings from. Trying to keep the good wings for yourself?
And Hooters? The worst of the worst.
Aug 1, 2017, 2:24 pm
#784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
) phx-iah lunch time in a few weeks. Since there are no ovens do they still offer a rather substantial lunch meal?
Aug 1, 2017, 2:36 pm
#785
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,973
Aug 1, 2017, 5:50 pm
#786
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: BA Gold, QF Platinum, SQ Silver
Posts: 270
Aug 1, 2017, 6:22 pm
#787
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
DFW-OGG
7/30/17
The meal was good for what it is. The sundae was delightful. I slept through the pre-arrival snack though, so no clue how that was.
7/30/17
The meal was good for what it is. The sundae was delightful. I slept through the pre-arrival snack though, so no clue how that was.
Aug 1, 2017, 6:30 pm
#788
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,136
Aug 1, 2017, 6:38 pm
#789
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Is the consensus that AA's onboard meal service is so terrible, that we assume AA flyers forego the meal entirely and therefore discuss awful chain restaurant chicken wings as substitute for it?
Aug 2, 2017, 5:42 pm
#790
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Raleigh NC
Programs: AA P DL MR UA
Posts: 81
AA8 HNL-DFW 5:30 PM Dinner, FC, 08/01/17
Things got off to a nice start, with a PBD choice of Mimosa, OJ, or water, and the menu looked good (I'd pre-ordered the beef). It helped that I was happy to be on the 777-200 and was looking forward to my lie-flat seat.
Side note: Apparently they ran out of the little heated ramekins as the Hawaiian nut/fruit mix was served in the bottom of an empty wine glass...awkward.
The salad and the shrimp appetizer were quite good, and I'm tempted to track down the creamy wasabi dressing. The purple taro roll was fine, would have been better warm.
The Korean Beef with Broccolini and Herb Roasted Potatoes was pretty sad (maybe because I'd had really good Korean BBQ earlier in the day). The beef was mushy and was "barbecue" only in the sense of being plopped in a puddle of thin, watery BBQ-ish sauce. The potatoes would have been fine if they'd been steamed as much as the beef, but instead they were too uncooked to be edible, at least to me (no herbs to be found, either, but if they'd been cooked a few minutes longer I would have settled for that).
TL;DR: I'd have been ahead with a Lean Cuisine meal, although the salad and app were great.
The sundae was perfect, and the dessert port hit the spot.
Before arrival there was a fruit plate and scone/muffin top offering, with a vanilla yogurt cup. The scone/muffin top was warm and pretty tasty.
AA131, DFW-RDU, 6:49 am, FC, 08/02/17
PBDs were water, juice, coffee. No nuts. The breakfast sandwich of egg, Havarti, and meat was dry, cold in spots, and I gave up after a couple of bites. The cherry tomatoes had a chemical taste, maybe washed in water more chlorinated than usual? This is the meal that will drive me to bringing my own next time, although the BBQ beef was a strong contender.
Side note: Apparently they ran out of the little heated ramekins as the Hawaiian nut/fruit mix was served in the bottom of an empty wine glass...awkward.
The salad and the shrimp appetizer were quite good, and I'm tempted to track down the creamy wasabi dressing. The purple taro roll was fine, would have been better warm.
The Korean Beef with Broccolini and Herb Roasted Potatoes was pretty sad (maybe because I'd had really good Korean BBQ earlier in the day). The beef was mushy and was "barbecue" only in the sense of being plopped in a puddle of thin, watery BBQ-ish sauce. The potatoes would have been fine if they'd been steamed as much as the beef, but instead they were too uncooked to be edible, at least to me (no herbs to be found, either, but if they'd been cooked a few minutes longer I would have settled for that).
TL;DR: I'd have been ahead with a Lean Cuisine meal, although the salad and app were great.
The sundae was perfect, and the dessert port hit the spot.
Before arrival there was a fruit plate and scone/muffin top offering, with a vanilla yogurt cup. The scone/muffin top was warm and pretty tasty.
AA131, DFW-RDU, 6:49 am, FC, 08/02/17
PBDs were water, juice, coffee. No nuts. The breakfast sandwich of egg, Havarti, and meat was dry, cold in spots, and I gave up after a couple of bites. The cherry tomatoes had a chemical taste, maybe washed in water more chlorinated than usual? This is the meal that will drive me to bringing my own next time, although the BBQ beef was a strong contender.
Aug 2, 2017, 8:47 pm
#791
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Wow, 3 main options for HNL-DFW? It recently has just been two.
Aug 3, 2017, 10:27 am
#792
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Looks like DFW-Hawaii and back definitely have 3 different entree choices now. These are my options DFW-HNL over Labor Day:
Grilled Pork Chop
mushroom medley, shiitake bread pudding, haricots verts
Grilled Sea Bass
tropical mango salsa, curry rice, sautéed spinach
Braised Curry Chickpeas
cilantro rice, sautéed red bell pepper
Grilled Pork Chop
mushroom medley, shiitake bread pudding, haricots verts
Grilled Sea Bass
tropical mango salsa, curry rice, sautéed spinach
Braised Curry Chickpeas
cilantro rice, sautéed red bell pepper
Aug 3, 2017, 1:11 pm
#793
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BHM
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 70
ANC-LAX red-eye
I have a flight coming up next week on the red-eye from ANC-LAX. I was wondering if anyone can confirm what exactly is offered in F on that flight, whether it's the plated snack options, or just nuts/cookie? Thanks in advance!
Aug 3, 2017, 1:33 pm
#794
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
When you booked your flight, were you able to pick out your meal you wanted? If not, then it is a pre plated snack and snack basket.
Aug 3, 2017, 5:39 pm
#795
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 652
Looks like DFW-Hawaii and back definitely have 3 different entree choices now. These are my options DFW-HNL over Labor Day:
Grilled Pork Chop
mushroom medley, shiitake bread pudding, haricots verts
Grilled Sea Bass
tropical mango salsa, curry rice, sautéed spinach
Braised Curry Chickpeas
cilantro rice, sautéed red bell pepper
Grilled Pork Chop
mushroom medley, shiitake bread pudding, haricots verts
Grilled Sea Bass
tropical mango salsa, curry rice, sautéed spinach
Braised Curry Chickpeas
cilantro rice, sautéed red bell pepper