AA LAX Catering Issues Late 2017 (Listeria 1 Nov 2017)
Nov 15, 2017, 5:55 pm
#361
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
I called the exp desk yesterday and they had an update from Nov 9 that some routes to a few Asian cities are back to normal catering. But SYD wasn't on that list. I suppose it's anyone's guess and we'll find out tomorrow. If normal catering is resumed and I still get a voucher - I'm good with that!
Nov 15, 2017, 6:46 pm
#362
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,634
According to the AA service manual, carts or trolleys should not be used for serving beverages or food in Business and First classes even on domestic flights. All drinks and meals are to be hand carried from the galley to the passengers.
Nov 16, 2017, 9:24 am
#363
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
I just got off AA 28 a little bit ago. I hate to say this, but this fiasco resulted in a net improvement to AA's meal service in coach. Based on the E-mails and gate communication, I was expecting no meal service at all. However, we had a wide choice of snacks (crisps and cookies) as well as sandwiches and wraps from HMS Host. It beat the previous offering hands down because everything looked and tasted fresh. It makes you wonder why AA doesn't use HMS in the first place. Anyway, I think $50,- was a nice gesture considering they didn't have to, but I do think it is ridiculous that this problem is still not resolved. It's kinda embarrassing, but AA is mostly embarrassing these days. Their inflight meals at the front of the bus have been laughable for months.
Nov 16, 2017, 12:25 pm
#364
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
On AA 27 LAX HND in J. Got an email itinerary from AA yesterday with my original meal selection, then the apology email about catering issues, then the email about the voucher, then the $200 e-voucher. They are serving standard domestic first class meals, steak and lasagna and have a full bar. I asked about the later meal and the attendant didn’t know what they had in the galley.
Nov 16, 2017, 6:54 pm
#365
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,634
It only took Delta two weeks:
2 more airlines stop using LAX caterer hit by listeria
2 more airlines stop using LAX caterer hit by listeria
<snip>
Delta says it still gets cheese and fruit plates and wraps that are prepared in another part of the LAX Gate Gourmet facility but is getting hot meals from another Gate Gourmet facility in California. Delta spokeswoman Catherine Sirna said Tuesday the airline temporarily changed caterers so Gate Gourmet can be more aggressive in improving food safety.
<snip>
Delta says it still gets cheese and fruit plates and wraps that are prepared in another part of the LAX Gate Gourmet facility but is getting hot meals from another Gate Gourmet facility in California. Delta spokeswoman Catherine Sirna said Tuesday the airline temporarily changed caterers so Gate Gourmet can be more aggressive in improving food safety.
<snip>
Nov 16, 2017, 10:45 pm
#366
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
Is this still a thing? My girlfriend got a $50 compensation evoucher for her Y seat LAX to JFK, but I haven't got anything for an F fare LAX - CLT on Saturday. Possibly because I don't use an AA frequent flyer number?
Last edited by EuropeanPete; Nov 16, 2017 at 10:52 pm
Nov 16, 2017, 11:55 pm
#368
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 116
Business class from LAX to Narita on November 14.
First meal was a choice between beef filet with couscous and a vegetarian lasagna.
The filet also came with a side of a cold corn dish that was quite spicy, plus a wedge of lettuce and some tomatoes. Desert was a small lemony thing.
Snack offered mid flight was a fruit and cheese platter.
Final meal was the most depressing: a small ham/cheese sandwich.
FA said they expected the catering situation to resolve in a week.
I received 3 x $200 vouchers good to use within a year.
First meal was a choice between beef filet with couscous and a vegetarian lasagna.
The filet also came with a side of a cold corn dish that was quite spicy, plus a wedge of lettuce and some tomatoes. Desert was a small lemony thing.
Snack offered mid flight was a fruit and cheese platter.
Final meal was the most depressing: a small ham/cheese sandwich.
FA said they expected the catering situation to resolve in a week.
I received 3 x $200 vouchers good to use within a year.
Nov 17, 2017, 1:25 am
#369
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,909
I have an itinerary with 4 pax in mid-con F - only i had AA# attached and only one $50 cert showed up. I'll probably follow up to get the rest...
Nov 17, 2017, 8:01 am
#370
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 622
Traveled on Flt 2600, LAX-MIA yesterday in first.
Ground staff (check in desk and AC attendant) did not know if the flight would be fully catered. They were doubtful. At the gate, the agent thought it should be fully catered but couldn't say for sure. I will add that I saw an LSG truck servicing the Hawaii flight at the gate next to ours, but catering was complete for our flight once we arrived at the gate, so unsure who handled.
On board, pillows, duvets and amenity gifts were all provisioned. PBD was anything you wanted. We had to sit for almost an hour after boarding for a last minute safety check repair.
Once in the air, FA came around taking orders and apologized for the limited options. She said they were just getting established with the new caterer. Choices were steel cut oatmeal or a fruit filled pastry with sausage and "vegetables " which turned out to be asparagus. Bread basket was passed.
Fruit and packaged snacks were available throughout the flight in the galley. Mid flight a warm sweet snack was served, either a chocolate chip cookie or raspberry cheesecake.
Full compliment of alcoholic beverages was available, including garnishes.
Service by the FA was so-so. She did the bare minimum. At one point in the flight another passenger got the snack basket from the galley and went around offering items to the other FC passengers!
Ground staff (check in desk and AC attendant) did not know if the flight would be fully catered. They were doubtful. At the gate, the agent thought it should be fully catered but couldn't say for sure. I will add that I saw an LSG truck servicing the Hawaii flight at the gate next to ours, but catering was complete for our flight once we arrived at the gate, so unsure who handled.
On board, pillows, duvets and amenity gifts were all provisioned. PBD was anything you wanted. We had to sit for almost an hour after boarding for a last minute safety check repair.
Once in the air, FA came around taking orders and apologized for the limited options. She said they were just getting established with the new caterer. Choices were steel cut oatmeal or a fruit filled pastry with sausage and "vegetables " which turned out to be asparagus. Bread basket was passed.
Fruit and packaged snacks were available throughout the flight in the galley. Mid flight a warm sweet snack was served, either a chocolate chip cookie or raspberry cheesecake.
Full compliment of alcoholic beverages was available, including garnishes.
Service by the FA was so-so. She did the bare minimum. At one point in the flight another passenger got the snack basket from the galley and went around offering items to the other FC passengers!
Nov 17, 2017, 8:06 am
#371
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Nov 17, 2017, 9:19 am
#372
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
Traveled on Flt 2600, LAX-MIA yesterday in first.
Ground staff (check in desk and AC attendant) did not know if the flight would be fully catered. They were doubtful. At the gate, the agent thought it should be fully catered but couldn't say for sure. I will add that I saw an LSG truck servicing the Hawaii flight at the gate next to ours, but catering was complete for our flight once we arrived at the gate, so unsure who handled.
On board, pillows, duvets and amenity gifts were all provisioned. PBD was anything you wanted. We had to sit for almost an hour after boarding for a last minute safety check repair.
Once in the air, FA came around taking orders and apologized for the limited options. She said they were just getting established with the new caterer. Choices were steel cut oatmeal or a fruit filled pastry with sausage and "vegetables " which turned out to be asparagus. Bread basket was passed.
Fruit and packaged snacks were available throughout the flight in the galley. Mid flight a warm sweet snack was served, either a chocolate chip cookie or raspberry cheesecake.
Full compliment of alcoholic beverages was available, including garnishes.
Service by the FA was so-so. She did the bare minimum. At one point in the flight another passenger got the snack basket from the galley and went around offering items to the other FC passengers!
Ground staff (check in desk and AC attendant) did not know if the flight would be fully catered. They were doubtful. At the gate, the agent thought it should be fully catered but couldn't say for sure. I will add that I saw an LSG truck servicing the Hawaii flight at the gate next to ours, but catering was complete for our flight once we arrived at the gate, so unsure who handled.
On board, pillows, duvets and amenity gifts were all provisioned. PBD was anything you wanted. We had to sit for almost an hour after boarding for a last minute safety check repair.
Once in the air, FA came around taking orders and apologized for the limited options. She said they were just getting established with the new caterer. Choices were steel cut oatmeal or a fruit filled pastry with sausage and "vegetables " which turned out to be asparagus. Bread basket was passed.
Fruit and packaged snacks were available throughout the flight in the galley. Mid flight a warm sweet snack was served, either a chocolate chip cookie or raspberry cheesecake.
Full compliment of alcoholic beverages was available, including garnishes.
Service by the FA was so-so. She did the bare minimum. At one point in the flight another passenger got the snack basket from the galley and went around offering items to the other FC passengers!
I am trying to figure out if this was breakfast (never heard of a lunch be oatmeal) or lunch ( vegetables/asparagus)?
Have never heard of cookies or asparagus catered for breakfast.
Hope it was tasty, whatever it's called.
Nov 17, 2017, 10:50 am
#373
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
LAX-HND yesterday is definitely not back to normal. I had pre-ordered chicken but our options were beef or lasagna. No menus. No Japanese Meals. Carts in the aisle for service. Terrible wine (1 white/red). Felt like I was on a 12 hour domestic flight. Crew was amazing and utterly embarrassed and apologetic. Have not received any vouchers from AA and was not notified via email like my domestic flight last week. Hit up the Twitter team and their response was basically "sorry your meal choice wasn't available". Amazing. Will try an email to customer service.
Were there 3 of you traveling?
Lunch
Mid flight snack.
Were there 3 of you traveling?
Lunch
Mid flight snack.
Nov 17, 2017, 11:09 am
#374
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
SO it’s apparent that AA is considering “fully catered” to be “Hey there will be food of some sort....deal with it” for long haul J.
Nov 17, 2017, 12:18 pm
#375
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
Just checked my email and a voucher finally showed up. So that's good.