Jan 1, 2018, 1:30 pm
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Jul 18, 2018, 10:36 am
#586
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,217
There weren't any left. I've had F/As give me another meal if First isn't full, but that hasn't happened in many years given First is so rarely not full. The last time was on a MSP-BWI flight on a Saturday afternoon. First had maybe three people but was fully catered, so she offered seconds when I said I was curious how the other meal was.
Jul 20, 2018, 11:51 am
#587
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Advantage
Posts: 3
DH had the chicken meatball thing and it was good, infinitely better than the cheese-stuffed poblano pepper! I was mucho envious.
Jul 20, 2018, 12:06 pm
#588
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Advantage
Posts: 3
Horrid Seared Whitefish
CUN - PHL July 12, 2018
I chose Seared Whitefish over Mexican Lasagna, and the fish was horrible, nearly in-edible. First, parts were visibly dark like cat food tuna. Second, when I picked through it enough, I did find some lighter - think "light" canned tuna - parts. The small amount of it that I actually ate were strongly fishy tasting, dry, and tough-chewy. It was beyond horrible; ghastly! Veggies were ok.
The green salad was nice, crispy mixed greens, and a good vinaigrette, not too vinegary as some are.
There was a salmon mousse cake - I don't like salmon, but I tried a bit of the top layer salmon mousse - ick. I thought the bottom white layer might be better - tasted like cold mashed potatoes.
Rolls were soggy, and the fake butter they use was weird tasting, as I've found most Mexican butter/margarine to be. Do they feed their cows differently, or what?
Dessert was a nice flan.
Service was good, warm nuts nice, drinks good.
I chose Seared Whitefish over Mexican Lasagna, and the fish was horrible, nearly in-edible. First, parts were visibly dark like cat food tuna. Second, when I picked through it enough, I did find some lighter - think "light" canned tuna - parts. The small amount of it that I actually ate were strongly fishy tasting, dry, and tough-chewy. It was beyond horrible; ghastly! Veggies were ok.
The green salad was nice, crispy mixed greens, and a good vinaigrette, not too vinegary as some are.
There was a salmon mousse cake - I don't like salmon, but I tried a bit of the top layer salmon mousse - ick. I thought the bottom white layer might be better - tasted like cold mashed potatoes.
Rolls were soggy, and the fake butter they use was weird tasting, as I've found most Mexican butter/margarine to be. Do they feed their cows differently, or what?
Dessert was a nice flan.
Service was good, warm nuts nice, drinks good.
Jul 20, 2018, 2:03 pm
#589
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 10
Fruit & cheese plate option
How substantial is the F&C option? I'm curious if the fruit & cheese plate option is any different than the snack option they sell in coach?
These are my choices:
These are my choices:
- Grilled Chicken
haricots verts, cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic herb butter - AVAILABLE BY PRE-ORDER ONLY - Fruit and Cheese Plate
fresh grapes and dried fruit with assorted cheeses - Ravioli
stuffed with burrata cheese in tomato garlic sauce with roasted cherry tomatoes
Jul 20, 2018, 10:26 pm
#590
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Jul 20, 2018, 10:30 pm
#591
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
How substantial is the F&C option? I'm curious if the fruit & cheese plate option is any different than the snack option they sell in coach?
These are my choices:
These are my choices:
- Grilled Chicken
haricots verts, cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic herb butter - AVAILABLE BY PRE-ORDER ONLY - Fruit and Cheese Plate
fresh grapes and dried fruit with assorted cheeses - Ravioli
stuffed with burrata cheese in tomato garlic sauce with roasted cherry tomatoes
The Fruit and Cheese Plate is definitely the lighter of the three options. Lots of people who order it truly like it.
Will you be satisfied not having a "hot" meal?
Jul 21, 2018, 12:14 pm
#593
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 57
AA1150/09JUL
EWR-DFW
B737-800
Breakfast
PDB of only warm water with no ice offered - FA advised "still waiting on catering" or alternately "my galley isn't set up yet."
Choice of steel cut oatmeal or cheese omelet with a choice of warmed bagels, chocolate pastries or biscuits
Pre-order acknowledged
Hot towels provided after takeoff
No mints before landing
Lazy tray service with drink and food served all at once
AA1117/09JUL
DFW-SJD
B737-800
Lunch
Full-bar PDB on original aircraft - swapped due to maintenance after boarding and second PDB provided on other aircraft
Warm mixed nuts and drinks served prior to meal service
Choice of stuffed poblano peppers or chicken nicoise salad with choice of warm rolls, mini baguettes or ciabatta bread
Hot towels provided prior to landing instead of before meal service
Pre-order acknowledged
Second "lazy tray" service with warm cookie provided on tray setup with meal
Mints prior to landing
AA533/16JUL
SJD-PHX
A321 (LUS)
Refreshments
Full-bar PDB
Hot towels after takeoff
Warm mixed nuts and beverages provided prior to snack tray
Choice of cheese plate or hummus (one of each only offered to every set of seats which puzzled some people as invariably someone didn't get what they wanted)
Pre-landing mint provided on tray set-up
AA1588/16JUL
PHX-EWR
B737-800
Dinner
Full-bar PDB
Hot towels after takeoff
Warmed mixed nuts and beverages offered prior to dinner
Choice of grilled chicken with haricots vert or burrata-stuffed ravioli with a choice of warm multigrain sticks, sourdough bread or cheese rolls
Dessert of pre-made Oreo and caramel sundae
Pre-order acknowledged
Mints prior to landing
EWR-DFW
B737-800
Breakfast
PDB of only warm water with no ice offered - FA advised "still waiting on catering" or alternately "my galley isn't set up yet."
Choice of steel cut oatmeal or cheese omelet with a choice of warmed bagels, chocolate pastries or biscuits
Pre-order acknowledged
Hot towels provided after takeoff
No mints before landing
Lazy tray service with drink and food served all at once
AA1117/09JUL
DFW-SJD
B737-800
Lunch
Full-bar PDB on original aircraft - swapped due to maintenance after boarding and second PDB provided on other aircraft
Warm mixed nuts and drinks served prior to meal service
Choice of stuffed poblano peppers or chicken nicoise salad with choice of warm rolls, mini baguettes or ciabatta bread
Hot towels provided prior to landing instead of before meal service
Pre-order acknowledged
Second "lazy tray" service with warm cookie provided on tray setup with meal
Mints prior to landing
AA533/16JUL
SJD-PHX
A321 (LUS)
Refreshments
Full-bar PDB
Hot towels after takeoff
Warm mixed nuts and beverages provided prior to snack tray
Choice of cheese plate or hummus (one of each only offered to every set of seats which puzzled some people as invariably someone didn't get what they wanted)
Pre-landing mint provided on tray set-up
AA1588/16JUL
PHX-EWR
B737-800
Dinner
Full-bar PDB
Hot towels after takeoff
Warmed mixed nuts and beverages offered prior to dinner
Choice of grilled chicken with haricots vert or burrata-stuffed ravioli with a choice of warm multigrain sticks, sourdough bread or cheese rolls
Dessert of pre-made Oreo and caramel sundae
Pre-order acknowledged
Mints prior to landing
Jul 21, 2018, 3:10 pm
#594
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Great report, excon2007. It appears you ended your trip on a high note. ^
Jul 21, 2018, 8:20 pm
#596
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Jul 21, 2018, 8:32 pm
#597
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Sadly, par for the course, LOL. But, at least AA's offerings for non-Flagship transcons in F are still pretty decent (and substantial).
Jul 21, 2018, 9:30 pm
#598
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 57
i have to give credit where it’s due, the young lady working the front cabin was efficient if not overly friendly but she was visible, constantly walked through the cabin for four hours and never let a glass go empty. If they put a second FA up there like the other airlines it would be top notch.
Jul 21, 2018, 9:34 pm
#599
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 57
I specifically looked at AA for this trip because the offerings are actually substantial and I appreciate being able to select entrees in advance. UA had the timings I was looking for but paying a premium for four segments and getting snacked the whole way was a non-starter in my book.
Jul 21, 2018, 9:50 pm
#600
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
I specifically looked at AA for this trip because the offerings are actually substantial and I appreciate being able to select entrees in advance. UA had the timings I was looking for but paying a premium for four segments and getting snacked the whole way was a non-starter in my book.