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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#541
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Any suggestions?
Lunch on DCA-DFW
Breakfast on DFW-DCA
Lunch on DCA-DFW
- Ricotta rotolo - with spinach, Parmigiano-Reggiano, mozzarella, basil and marinara sauce
- Vietnamese salad - with Asian-inspired shiitake mushroom slaw, cabbage and carrots over rice noodles and a side of teriyaki chicken
Breakfast on DFW-DCA
- Steel cut oatmeal - brown sugar, various fruit garnishes
- Montamoré Cheese Omelette - with kale pesto, paprika potatoes and Italian chicken sausage
#543
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 7
We are traveling from ORD-DFW-HNL at the end of the month. These are the menu choices..
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelet
With Peppadews,Herbed Potatoes and Italian Parmesan Chicken Sausage.
Lunch on AA#5 :
Island Surf and Turf: Grilled Shrimp,Beef Fillet, roasted fingerling potatoes.
Chow Mein Stir Fried Noodles: Vegetarian Potstickers,vegetables.
Pineapple Chicken: Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans.
My husband says the omelet can be gritty with the fontina cheese.. For now I have chosen The Surf and Turf, but was wondering if anyone has had the Pineapple Chicken? My 19 and 12 year olds opted for the Chow Mein.
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelet
With Peppadews,Herbed Potatoes and Italian Parmesan Chicken Sausage.
Lunch on AA#5 :
Island Surf and Turf: Grilled Shrimp,Beef Fillet, roasted fingerling potatoes.
Chow Mein Stir Fried Noodles: Vegetarian Potstickers,vegetables.
Pineapple Chicken: Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans.
My husband says the omelet can be gritty with the fontina cheese.. For now I have chosen The Surf and Turf, but was wondering if anyone has had the Pineapple Chicken? My 19 and 12 year olds opted for the Chow Mein.
#544
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Florida
Programs: AA 2 MM, AA Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 62
I have the following options from which to select lunch on an upcoming flight.
Lunch meals
- Choose later
- Slow-cooked Lamb
liquorice gravy, haricots verts - Five-Spice Pork Belly
sautéed kale, carrot and star anise purée, Sean's cider gravy - Thai Red Curry
shrimp, jasmine rice, bok choy
I was wondering if anyone had these and would recommend one entree selection over another . Thanks.
#545
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
We are traveling from ORD-DFW-HNL at the end of the month. These are the menu choices..
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelet
With Peppadews,Herbed Potatoes and Italian Parmesan Chicken Sausage.
Lunch on AA#5 :
Island Surf and Turf: Grilled Shrimp,Beef Fillet, roasted fingerling potatoes.
Chow Mein Stir Fried Noodles: Vegetarian Potstickers,vegetables.
Pineapple Chicken: Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans.
My husband says the omelet can be gritty with the fontina cheese.. For now I have chosen The Surf and Turf, but was wondering if anyone has had the Pineapple Chicken? My 19 and 12 year olds opted for the Chow Mein.
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelet
With Peppadews,Herbed Potatoes and Italian Parmesan Chicken Sausage.
Lunch on AA#5 :
Island Surf and Turf: Grilled Shrimp,Beef Fillet, roasted fingerling potatoes.
Chow Mein Stir Fried Noodles: Vegetarian Potstickers,vegetables.
Pineapple Chicken: Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans.
My husband says the omelet can be gritty with the fontina cheese.. For now I have chosen The Surf and Turf, but was wondering if anyone has had the Pineapple Chicken? My 19 and 12 year olds opted for the Chow Mein.
Fontina is one of the creamiest cheeses and melts well....not sure how it gets gritty?
I've heard good comments about the Pineapple Chicken.
#546
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
We are traveling from ORD-DFW-HNL at the end of the month. These are the menu choices..
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelet
With Peppadews,Herbed Potatoes and Italian Parmesan Chicken Sausage.
Lunch on AA#5 :
Island Surf and Turf: Grilled Shrimp,Beef Fillet, roasted fingerling potatoes.
Chow Mein Stir Fried Noodles: Vegetarian Potstickers,vegetables.
Pineapple Chicken: Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans.
My husband says the omelet can be gritty with the fontina cheese.. For now I have chosen The Surf and Turf, but was wondering if anyone has had the Pineapple Chicken? My 19 and 12 year olds opted for the Chow Mein.
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelet
With Peppadews,Herbed Potatoes and Italian Parmesan Chicken Sausage.
Lunch on AA#5 :
Island Surf and Turf: Grilled Shrimp,Beef Fillet, roasted fingerling potatoes.
Chow Mein Stir Fried Noodles: Vegetarian Potstickers,vegetables.
Pineapple Chicken: Wasabi Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans.
My husband says the omelet can be gritty with the fontina cheese.. For now I have chosen The Surf and Turf, but was wondering if anyone has had the Pineapple Chicken? My 19 and 12 year olds opted for the Chow Mein.
I did not taste it myself, but it looked like a mess on the plate and considering the wife sent it back almost uneaten that told me all I need to know as the wife is a bit of a human garbage can.
#548
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
Any recommendations? Was thinking about trying the Hindu meal.
- Cheese Lasagna Cheese Lasagna pomodoro sauce
- Beef Filet Beef Filet cipollini onion, asparagus, quinoa
#549
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,977
I had that beef filet combo and liked it. Of course, the experience will depend primarily on how done the beef is, which can vary wildly.
#550
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
The lasagna is generally regarded as a reliable, but heavy and filling dish. It is one of my go-to safe dishes.
#551
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
SFO-JFK redeye - any suggestions?
- Pan Seared Crab Cakes selected for SFO to JFK
With jícama slaw and tomatillo poblano cream sauce - Vegetarian Cremini Bolognese selected for SFO to JFK
spaghetti squash, basil oil, shaved Parmesan - Thai Beef Salad selected for SFO to JFK
coconut-marinated rice noodles, cucumber salad
#553
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: Delta, AA-Gold, Hilton-Gold
Posts: 93
Any suggestions?
Lunch on DCA-DFW
Breakfast on DFW-DCA
Lunch on DCA-DFW
- Ricotta rotolo - with spinach, Parmigiano-Reggiano, mozzarella, basil and marinara sauce
- Vietnamese salad - with Asian-inspired shiitake mushroom slaw, cabbage and carrots over rice noodles and a side of teriyaki chicken
Breakfast on DFW-DCA
- Steel cut oatmeal - brown sugar, various fruit garnishes
- Montamoré Cheese Omelette - with kale pesto, paprika potatoes and Italian chicken sausage
#554
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
SFO-JFK redeye - any suggestions?
- Pan Seared Crab Cakes selected for SFO to JFK
With jícama slaw and tomatillo poblano cream sauce - Vegetarian Cremini Bolognese selected for SFO to JFK
spaghetti squash, basil oil, shaved Parmesan - Thai Beef Salad selected for SFO to JFK
coconut-marinated rice noodles, cucumber salad
Why not try a special meal? Perhaps the Asian Vegetarian or Hindu? You're departing from San Francisco, a major foodie city. Maybe the catering for special meals would be memorable.
#555
The Crab Cakes should be entitled "Bread Cakes"......all filling, no crab. The Thai Beef Salad is okay.....when I had it the beef was sliced thin and cooked rare.
Why not try a special meal? Perhaps the Asian Vegetarian or Hindu? You're departing from San Francisco, a major foodie city. Maybe the catering for special meals would be memorable.
Why not try a special meal? Perhaps the Asian Vegetarian or Hindu? You're departing from San Francisco, a major foodie city. Maybe the catering for special meals would be memorable.