Last edit by: JDiver
AA/US Domestic Dining (including Canada, Mexico, & the Caribbean)
See here for the 2019 domestic meal thread.
Note: this thread is about meals served on domestic AA flights.
Link to Combined 2018 AA International Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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 2018 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.
ARCHIVE: 2018 AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
#227
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
I know the Shreveport Regional Airport is highly distinguished and a major premium revenue generator for AA, but still.
#228
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, AA, DL, WN, HHonors Diamond, Marriott
Posts: 76
AA 1343
DFW-CUN
Business Class- Seat 3A
Airbus A321 (LAA)
Breakfast
Despite sitting for 20 minutes before departure, since everyone was on board, no PDB offered.
Choices were egg sandwich or oatmeal
Egg sandwich with cheese and ham, Cinnamon roll (Had started eating before roll was served)
FA was good but just a little slow at service. It was 45 minutes into the flight before meal served.
DFW-CUN
Business Class- Seat 3A
Airbus A321 (LAA)
Breakfast
Despite sitting for 20 minutes before departure, since everyone was on board, no PDB offered.
Choices were egg sandwich or oatmeal
Egg sandwich with cheese and ham, Cinnamon roll (Had started eating before roll was served)
FA was good but just a little slow at service. It was 45 minutes into the flight before meal served.
#229
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, AA, DL, WN, HHonors Diamond, Marriott
Posts: 76
AA 1321
CUN-DFW
Business Class- Seat 4J
Boeing 767-300
Dinner
Full PDB offered
Choices were described as white fish or stuffed peppers
First round of drinks and nuts
Ultimately chose the "white fish" which I honestly don't know what it was. Rolls were offered
CUN-DFW
Business Class- Seat 4J
Boeing 767-300
Dinner
Full PDB offered
Choices were described as white fish or stuffed peppers
First round of drinks and nuts
Ultimately chose the "white fish" which I honestly don't know what it was. Rolls were offered
#230
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco area
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott T
Posts: 455
Special Meals - ATL & DFW
Based on experience of Lucky from OMAT, I am inclined to try special meals (asian vegetarian) on couple of my upcoming F flights, DFW-SJC and ATL-PHX, It looks like catering at origin point determines the quality of these meals, he had good experience from LHR and JFK, pretty bad from LAX. Has anybody had experience with Asian vegetarian meals out of DFW and ATL?
#231
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 7
Food served during the off times
I have been on two flights in 2018 during the supposed "off" times for meals, and have been served a full meal. I haven't flown within these hours in quite some time, so not sure if this is a 2018 thing, or if anyone else has experienced meal service between 1:30 and 4pm on AA on flights under 1200 miles.
1. Jan 13 ORD to MIA at about 3:10pm (got a meal)
2. Feb 10 MIA to LGA at about 3:33pm (got a meal)
Has something changed? Has this been the case before 2018?
1. Jan 13 ORD to MIA at about 3:10pm (got a meal)
2. Feb 10 MIA to LGA at about 3:33pm (got a meal)
Has something changed? Has this been the case before 2018?
#232
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Just had the “breakfast biscuit” on LGA-MIA and not a fan
#233
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 45
I have been on two flights in 2018 during the supposed "off" times for meals, and have been served a full meal. I haven't flown within these hours in quite some time, so not sure if this is a 2018 thing, or if anyone else has experienced meal service between 1:30 and 4pm on AA on flights under 1200 miles.
1. Jan 13 ORD to MIA at about 3:10pm (got a meal)
2. Feb 10 MIA to LGA at about 3:33pm (got a meal)
Has something changed? Has this been the case before 2018?
1. Jan 13 ORD to MIA at about 3:10pm (got a meal)
2. Feb 10 MIA to LGA at about 3:33pm (got a meal)
Has something changed? Has this been the case before 2018?
#234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I have been on two flights in 2018 during the supposed "off" times for meals, and have been served a full meal. I haven't flown within these hours in quite some time, so not sure if this is a 2018 thing, or if anyone else has experienced meal service between 1:30 and 4pm on AA on flights under 1200 miles.
1. Jan 13 ORD to MIA at about 3:10pm (got a meal)
2. Feb 10 MIA to LGA at about 3:33pm (got a meal)
Has something changed? Has this been the case before 2018?
1. Jan 13 ORD to MIA at about 3:10pm (got a meal)
2. Feb 10 MIA to LGA at about 3:33pm (got a meal)
Has something changed? Has this been the case before 2018?
#235
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum; HHonors Diamond;Emerald Club Executive Elite
Posts: 285
I decided to try some "special" meals. I had the Indian meal which I found tasty. I then ordered the spicy Asian vegetarian, but found it disappointing. There was an appetizer , the side salad with a small peeled whole carrot (nice!) and a piece of asparagus. Main dish was a cold asparagus salad. I thought it was weird to have 2 cold salads and the cold appetizer. I was expecting a warm entree.
#236
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,975
Is this a joke?
Chicken Meatballs? Has anyone had these? I won't touch the peppers, and so am considering the Asian Vegetarian or Kosher options.
#237
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,975
DTW to DFW
AA 301
737-800
Business Class (Domestic F) Dinner
I have had mixed experiences with the "Beef filet" dinner but this was excellent. A decent size cut and done medium rare to medium. Nice grilled onion and well prepared asparagus. Quinoa would not have been my first choice for the starch but it was OK. Only a cookie for dessert.
AA 301
737-800
Business Class (Domestic F) Dinner
I have had mixed experiences with the "Beef filet" dinner but this was excellent. A decent size cut and done medium rare to medium. Nice grilled onion and well prepared asparagus. Quinoa would not have been my first choice for the starch but it was OK. Only a cookie for dessert.
#238
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, UA *S, BA Fanboy
Posts: 414
I had the chicken meatballs recently on a gate upgrade out of FLL, so I didn't have an opportunity to pre-reserve a meal.
I thought the meatballs were pretty good, and I generally find American-style comfort food like this to be boring.
I thought the meatballs were pretty good, and I generally find American-style comfort food like this to be boring.
#239
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
The stuffed peppers description has changed, does anyone know if the dish has changed? Not my favorite, but certainly not bad.