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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#436
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: OH
Programs: AA EXP; HHonors Gold; IHG Platinum
Posts: 122
Recently flew to PDX and selected the Asian Vegetarian meal from DFW. Chinese style noodles (quite tasty with just the right amount of heat) covered with a boiled (steamed?) cabbage leaf and steamed broccoli. Not sure of the inspiration for this. Uninspiring limp salad. Fruit for dessert.
#437
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,212
Admittedly, I do not know the inner workings of aircraft design/ownership, but it seems that at least on some of the E175s that fly for DELTA there are ovens or some sort of warming device, because I have been served heated meals on DELTA's E175s.
Did DELTA ask the Express carriers to add ovens or are there ovens, but American does not ask the Express Carriers to use them or do the airlines own the planes in which case DELTA ordered the planes with ovens and American did not?
Did DELTA ask the Express carriers to add ovens or are there ovens, but American does not ask the Express Carriers to use them or do the airlines own the planes in which case DELTA ordered the planes with ovens and American did not?
#438
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: OH
Programs: AA EXP; HHonors Gold; IHG Platinum
Posts: 122
On a recent (5/19) flight from PDX to ORD had a quite tasty Hindu meal. Two types of curry with saffron rice. Hummus with crackers (flight attendant offered an extra pack of crackers), and baklava for dessert. Salad was meh.
#439
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
EWR-DFW
LAA 738
Breakfast
Full PDB offered and constant water refills in-flight which was much appreciated
This is the ham, egg and cheese flatbread which was pretty good
LAA 738
Breakfast
Full PDB offered and constant water refills in-flight which was much appreciated
This is the ham, egg and cheese flatbread which was pretty good
#440
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Is that whole-fat vanilla yogurt I see, so you can drown the tasteless fruit and make it edible?
#441
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
#442
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 597
DCA-ORD Breakfast in F?
Taking the 759a flight DCA-ORD, and wondering if it's still one of those "special" markets where a full
breakfast is offered in F, even though it's barely 600 miles.
If so, what's for breakfast?
breakfast is offered in F, even though it's barely 600 miles.
If so, what's for breakfast?
#444
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 15
PHL-MBJ
Hoping for some thoughts on the:
Split Buttermilk Biscuit topped with scrambled eggs and chicken chorizo cream gravy
I have the choice between the biscuit breakfast and a continental fruit plate.. seems the biscuit and eggs would be more satisfying. Anyone else had this?
Regards,
Bruce
Hoping for some thoughts on the:
Split Buttermilk Biscuit topped with scrambled eggs and chicken chorizo cream gravy
I have the choice between the biscuit breakfast and a continental fruit plate.. seems the biscuit and eggs would be more satisfying. Anyone else had this?
Regards,
Bruce
#445
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
PHL-MBJ
Hoping for some thoughts on the:
Split Buttermilk Biscuit topped with scrambled eggs and chicken chorizo cream gravy
I have the choice between the biscuit breakfast and a continental fruit plate.. seems the biscuit and eggs would be more satisfying. Anyone else had this?
Regards,
Bruce
Hoping for some thoughts on the:
Split Buttermilk Biscuit topped with scrambled eggs and chicken chorizo cream gravy
I have the choice between the biscuit breakfast and a continental fruit plate.. seems the biscuit and eggs would be more satisfying. Anyone else had this?
Regards,
Bruce
#447
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,027
#448
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
And NB: charge your devices, the Caribbean flights always seem to get the oldest and gnarliest PMUS A320/1s...
#449
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
PHL-MBJ
Hoping for some thoughts on the:
Split Buttermilk Biscuit topped with scrambled eggs and chicken chorizo cream gravy
I have the choice between the biscuit breakfast and a continental fruit plate.. seems the biscuit and eggs would be more satisfying. Anyone else had this?
Regards,
Bruce
Hoping for some thoughts on the:
Split Buttermilk Biscuit topped with scrambled eggs and chicken chorizo cream gravy
I have the choice between the biscuit breakfast and a continental fruit plate.. seems the biscuit and eggs would be more satisfying. Anyone else had this?
Regards,
Bruce
#450
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 15
Taste is just okay on the chorizo biscuit and sometimes, but not often times IME, the biscuits taste very starchy and are not properly cooked (think doughy). Unsolicited opinion, but PHL is by far the worst AA hub. The ACs are pretty filthy and overcrowded and the Centurion Lounge is also frequently overcrowded so I would just go with the fruit plate onboard selection and grab something from Au Bon Pain to supplement if you know you'll be hungry...
And NB: charge your devices, the Caribbean flights always seem to get the oldest and gnarliest PMUS A320/1s...
And NB: charge your devices, the Caribbean flights always seem to get the oldest and gnarliest PMUS A320/1s...
LOL Guessing you've had and not been happy at all.
Just goes to show one man's pleasure is another man's pain. I'm surprised at the varying opinions.