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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,792
Yeah, I can't imagine there'd be any differentiation. Cool thanks though. Voodoo Ranger and Sam Adams, I'll be a happy camper, the former being a legitimately decent beer even on the ground.
#302
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
Since when do they not pass out pretzels anymore in main cabin? I was on the "new" AA Shuttle ORD-LGA (mainline FWIW) tonight in MCE and there were no free snacks offered to anyone. I didn't press it since I got a double on my drink as an EXP without question......just weird. Also there was no special mention of the flight being a Shuttle flight or that beer/wine were free for all in main cabin......is AA just hoping the kettles won't know?
#303
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
#304
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, BOS, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM
Posts: 843
On my past two AA flights which featured meal service, I had something happen which I thought was unusual. I'm a DL regular so not on AA as much as most of you (maybe 1x/month), and I'm not saying the below is bad...
F/A did a service of nuts/drinks before meal, with refills
F/A loaded all meals onto meal trays in a galley cart, stocked beverages/glasses/ice in/on top of the cart, then rolled the cart down the aisle in F handing out meals/serving drinks. FEBO was followed, and pre-orders acknowledged.
I liked being able to get drink refills right away (since everything was on the cart), but I can't think this is the proper procedure is it? Was it the procedure at some point in the past? I've had far more domestic F flights with meals run out of the galley one by one. Routes in question were MIA-LGA and ORD-SAN. Both FA's were relatively middle aged / weren't of the bitter senior variety, service was generally pleasant.
F/A did a service of nuts/drinks before meal, with refills
F/A loaded all meals onto meal trays in a galley cart, stocked beverages/glasses/ice in/on top of the cart, then rolled the cart down the aisle in F handing out meals/serving drinks. FEBO was followed, and pre-orders acknowledged.
I liked being able to get drink refills right away (since everything was on the cart), but I can't think this is the proper procedure is it? Was it the procedure at some point in the past? I've had far more domestic F flights with meals run out of the galley one by one. Routes in question were MIA-LGA and ORD-SAN. Both FA's were relatively middle aged / weren't of the bitter senior variety, service was generally pleasant.
#305
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
On my past two AA flights which featured meal service, I had something happen which I thought was unusual. I'm a DL regular so not on AA as much as most of you (maybe 1x/month), and I'm not saying the below is bad...
F/A did a service of nuts/drinks before meal, with refills
F/A loaded all meals onto meal trays in a galley cart, stocked beverages/glasses/ice in/on top of the cart, then rolled the cart down the aisle in F handing out meals/serving drinks. FEBO was followed, and pre-orders acknowledged.
I liked being able to get drink refills right away (since everything was on the cart), but I can't think this is the proper procedure is it? Was it the procedure at some point in the past? I've had far more domestic F flights with meals run out of the galley one by one. Routes in question were MIA-LGA and ORD-SAN. Both FA's were relatively middle aged / weren't of the bitter senior variety, service was generally pleasant.
F/A did a service of nuts/drinks before meal, with refills
F/A loaded all meals onto meal trays in a galley cart, stocked beverages/glasses/ice in/on top of the cart, then rolled the cart down the aisle in F handing out meals/serving drinks. FEBO was followed, and pre-orders acknowledged.
I liked being able to get drink refills right away (since everything was on the cart), but I can't think this is the proper procedure is it? Was it the procedure at some point in the past? I've had far more domestic F flights with meals run out of the galley one by one. Routes in question were MIA-LGA and ORD-SAN. Both FA's were relatively middle aged / weren't of the bitter senior variety, service was generally pleasant.
#306
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: United Global Services, Ritz-Carlton Rewards Platinum, SPG Ambassador 100 Night
Posts: 7
AA1573: SAT-ORD: 8am
Breakfast
ERJ-175
First Class, 3A
Chose Lox and Bagel for my breakfast choice and recieved a cinnamon roll, fruit plate, a solid rock hard bagel (no suprises there). However, the Lox I was given was just some Salmon that someone shredded up. Very dissapointing, although I will say that normally Bagel and Lox is very good on AA RJs.
Breakfast
ERJ-175
First Class, 3A
Chose Lox and Bagel for my breakfast choice and recieved a cinnamon roll, fruit plate, a solid rock hard bagel (no suprises there). However, the Lox I was given was just some Salmon that someone shredded up. Very dissapointing, although I will say that normally Bagel and Lox is very good on AA RJs.
#307
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
MIA-LGA
LAA 738
Dinner
Choice of beef short ribs with the twice baked potato or mushroom tortellini in cacio e pepe sauce. Having had the beef recently and was underwhelmed by the potato I went with the pasta and it was delish. Highly recommend this pasta dish:
LAA 738
Dinner
Choice of beef short ribs with the twice baked potato or mushroom tortellini in cacio e pepe sauce. Having had the beef recently and was underwhelmed by the potato I went with the pasta and it was delish. Highly recommend this pasta dish:
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
Thanks! My wife and I have five F flights between us in the next two weeks and these are the meal options on all five of them! Was humming and hawing about whether short rib would end up being better or if we should do the tortellini. I wish AA would mix things up a bit more...
#309
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 224
Avml & cheese plate
Fll to ORD on 738
#310
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 224
Both were great. AVML was just as good as the trans Atlantic.
#311
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 38
Just completed a round trip CHS - DFW - SLC
Outbound, Hindu meal was quite good. Rogan Josh, Chick pea curry of some sort, basmati rice. Wife's Vietnamese Salad was serviceable.
Return, wife won with the stuffed poblano while I found the chicken meatballs retched.
Outbound, Hindu meal was quite good. Rogan Josh, Chick pea curry of some sort, basmati rice. Wife's Vietnamese Salad was serviceable.
Return, wife won with the stuffed poblano while I found the chicken meatballs retched.
#312
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
AA2437 ATL-LAX today, PDB of choice the menu options were lasagna or the greek salad, both of which I've eaten far too many times and neither of which I was super excited about. So took this opportunity to try out the AVML for the first time based on some of the good reviews here and on OMAT. Turned out to be a good choice, I was pleased and had some jealous looks from other passengers as they brought it out (it smells pretty good and everyone gets to smell it!) the FA even asked me what type of meal it was because she thought it looked good as well. The app of fruit and the side salad were good (I'm so over quinoa at this point) and the main was both flavorful and filling. My only worry is that looking at the thread what I got seems to be "The AVML Meal" and since I don't see them rotating the special meals any more frequently than the regular menus (aka once a decade) I'll probably use this option as a way of mixing up things rather than get it every flight. Crew was good, with frequent passes to check on everyone as well. They also did something during meal orders that I've only seen a few times, but appreciate, in that rather than attempt to describe the meals to pax they showed them the galley sheet with the pictures and descriptions - which I find much more useful than "pasta with red sauce or salad with chicken", incidentally the FA on my connecting eagle flight did the same thing so as well; hoping this becomes more common.
#313
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 557
Partner just had the past on JFK-MIA and she ate about two of them - gluey-like sauce with rubbery pasta -- I tried and it was truly awful, so just shows the inconsistencies. I had the short rib - it was very average - potato was gritty - didn't finish it. The FA on my side who was very good made a comment when he picked up our trays that almost everyone returned their meals mainly untouched.
#314
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
That's a shame because if cooked properly this pasta dish can be excellent. The potato with the short rib dish is just so bad......very dry, bland and yuck.
#315
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
The potatoes which came with my steak on the other hand were pretty bad and that is saying something because I love potatoes.