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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#841
#842
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, AA MM, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 122
Rotten and Rancid Meal
I’m currently on 2220 from ORD to DFW. I preordered the fruit and cheese plate (I usually preorder the fruit and cheese for about half my flights).
I know the fruit can sometimes be sad looking but today’s was the most inedible meal I’ve ever been given on an airline. I ate a grape and after noticing it tasted funny I inspected the grapes further and noticed that many of them were rotten and rancid. One also had what was either mold or what kind of looked like a spider egg sack on it. These pictures also show the strawberry looking brown and old as well as the lettuce. The rotten juice from the grapes had pooled around all the cheese as well so I only ended up eating the roll. I’m definitely writing to AA and sending them photos of this meal. I by no means expect a gourmet meal when I fly but I at least want one that is edible and safe to eat.
I know the fruit can sometimes be sad looking but today’s was the most inedible meal I’ve ever been given on an airline. I ate a grape and after noticing it tasted funny I inspected the grapes further and noticed that many of them were rotten and rancid. One also had what was either mold or what kind of looked like a spider egg sack on it. These pictures also show the strawberry looking brown and old as well as the lettuce. The rotten juice from the grapes had pooled around all the cheese as well so I only ended up eating the roll. I’m definitely writing to AA and sending them photos of this meal. I by no means expect a gourmet meal when I fly but I at least want one that is edible and safe to eat.
#843
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, 1MM, Bonsai Plat-Pro, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 380
That's pretty sad looking! probably not the first flight that cheese plate was loaded on ? Going for "GREAT" ???
#844
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,028
that's gross. Definitely tweet AA and send those pics.
Don't they QC/QC their catering?
Unacceptable.
Don't they QC/QC their catering?
Unacceptable.
#845
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Give those grapes a couple more weeks and you could have some wine.
#846
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
LGA-ORD
LAA AVOD 738
PDB of choice!
Lunch: poblano peppers or nicoise salad with chicken.
Very nice service on this flight and I will miss the TVs on these birds
LAA AVOD 738
PDB of choice!
Lunch: poblano peppers or nicoise salad with chicken.
Very nice service on this flight and I will miss the TVs on these birds
#848
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
DBML out or PHX
Daily DBML
Another baked chicken with mashed and green beans out of PHX! Mashed potatoes were very good and chicken was still moist. Another winner. Got the double protein with the grilled vegetable salad. Healthy and quite filling meal compared to the pasta ricotta wheels being served. Fruit was also very fresh!
#849
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
DBML out of ORD
Very interesting meal. Was a ultra dry stringy chicken breast with an orange hue and a grit/creamed corn mixture next to it. Glad I grabbed backup food in the airport...will avoid DBML out of ORD. Guy next to me order a kosher meal which looked good! At least it came with nutrition facts
DBML out of ORD
DBML nutrition facts. Description sounds way better than actual product.
Very interesting meal. Was a ultra dry stringy chicken breast with an orange hue and a grit/creamed corn mixture next to it. Glad I grabbed backup food in the airport...will avoid DBML out of ORD. Guy next to me order a kosher meal which looked good! At least it came with nutrition facts
DBML out of ORD
DBML nutrition facts. Description sounds way better than actual product.
#850
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
DBML out of ORD
Very interesting meal. Was a ultra dry stringy chicken breast with an orange hue and a grit/creamed corn mixture next to it. Glad I grabbed backup food in the airport...will avoid DBML out of ORD. Guy next to me order a kosher meal which looked good! At least it came with nutrition facts
DBML out of ORD
DBML nutrition facts. Description sounds way better than actual product.
Very interesting meal. Was a ultra dry stringy chicken breast with an orange hue and a grit/creamed corn mixture next to it. Glad I grabbed backup food in the airport...will avoid DBML out of ORD. Guy next to me order a kosher meal which looked good! At least it came with nutrition facts
DBML out of ORD
DBML nutrition facts. Description sounds way better than actual product.
Concur. Had same entree out of both CLT and DEN. Not impressed
#851
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,551
makes me wonder, do only DBML meals come with a nutrition facts card? I wish all meals came with one!
#852
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
Didn’t eat the roll or cookies either. Just had the salad and a couple bites of entree.
#853
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
#854
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 581
I wonder if that has anything to do with the specific caterer? I've had one of those on my one special meal catered by Gate Gourmet, but I've not received them on my many LSG-catered special meals. That's a completely anecdotal guess on my part, though.
#855
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: Delta, Hilton Honors
Posts: 1
AA5 DFW-HNL 11:15am
Lunch
772
PE
Recommendations??
Asian Barbecue Beef Sandwich Wrap
with chips and cookie
or
Asian Curried Chickpea Sandwich Wrap
with chips and cookie
Lunch
772
PE
Recommendations??
Asian Barbecue Beef Sandwich Wrap
with chips and cookie
or
Asian Curried Chickpea Sandwich Wrap
with chips and cookie
Last edited by Merlinar; Oct 2, 2018 at 4:29 pm