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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Sep 14, 2018, 8:13 am
#781
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Raleigh NC
Programs: AA P DL MR UA
Posts: 81
PDX-ORD
AA2298
9/10
Breakfast: Hindu meal
Very good experience! They provided the usual fruit plate, bread (foil-wrapped hot bagel) and yogurt. Entree was mashed butternut squash, a multi-bean masala (timbale-like presentation), and something like a cross between french toast and a samosa--crispy, eggy, stuffed with spiced potato, other vegetables, No rice. The flavors worked together really well, slightly sweet squash plus the mildly spiced other two items, and it felt more like breakfast.
AA2298
9/10
Breakfast: Hindu meal
Very good experience! They provided the usual fruit plate, bread (foil-wrapped hot bagel) and yogurt. Entree was mashed butternut squash, a multi-bean masala (timbale-like presentation), and something like a cross between french toast and a samosa--crispy, eggy, stuffed with spiced potato, other vegetables, No rice. The flavors worked together really well, slightly sweet squash plus the mildly spiced other two items, and it felt more like breakfast.
Sep 14, 2018, 5:03 pm
#782
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
HNML
DCA-PHX - HNML
This was a very tasty meal. A green salad and a vegetable appetizer with red bell pepper, cucumber, asparagus, and red onion.
The entree contained a samosa, saag paneer, an okra dish, and rice. The meal had a good amount of flavorful spice. The pitas were warmed by the flight attendant, but weren't very flavorful. Dessert provided here was fruit.
The snickerdoodle cookie tasted the same as always.
AA Snickerdoodle
SMF-DFW - HNML
Looks like this was mostly intended to be the same meal as the last one, but with a couple of little differences. The pita with this version was much more delicious (and was warmed by the flight attendant as well.) The samosa on this flight was filled with more veggie/potato filling. This one also came with a dish of tamarind chutney, which balanced the meal quite will. Finally, the dessert here was cold gulab jaman. It was ok, but wasn't great at such a cold temperature. I was also offered one of the standard cookies for dessert.
AA HNML
This was a very tasty meal. A green salad and a vegetable appetizer with red bell pepper, cucumber, asparagus, and red onion.
The entree contained a samosa, saag paneer, an okra dish, and rice. The meal had a good amount of flavorful spice. The pitas were warmed by the flight attendant, but weren't very flavorful. Dessert provided here was fruit.
The snickerdoodle cookie tasted the same as always.
AA Snickerdoodle
SMF-DFW - HNML
Looks like this was mostly intended to be the same meal as the last one, but with a couple of little differences. The pita with this version was much more delicious (and was warmed by the flight attendant as well.) The samosa on this flight was filled with more veggie/potato filling. This one also came with a dish of tamarind chutney, which balanced the meal quite will. Finally, the dessert here was cold gulab jaman. It was ok, but wasn't great at such a cold temperature. I was also offered one of the standard cookies for dessert.
AA HNML
Sep 14, 2018, 7:26 pm
#783
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco area
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott T
Posts: 455
Tamarind Chutney on AA!!!!! definitely going for great when it comes to special meals.
Sep 14, 2018, 9:46 pm
#784
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
Sep 15, 2018, 12:01 am
#785
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, HHonors Diamond, National Exec, Hertz PC, Nexus
Posts: 410
DCA-PHX - HNML
This was a very tasty meal. A green salad and a vegetable appetizer with red bell pepper, cucumber, asparagus, and red onion.
The entree contained a samosa, saag paneer, an okra dish, and rice. The meal had a good amount of flavorful spice. The pitas were warmed by the flight attendant, but weren't very flavorful. Dessert provided here was fruit.
This was a very tasty meal. A green salad and a vegetable appetizer with red bell pepper, cucumber, asparagus, and red onion.
The entree contained a samosa, saag paneer, an okra dish, and rice. The meal had a good amount of flavorful spice. The pitas were warmed by the flight attendant, but weren't very flavorful. Dessert provided here was fruit.
Sep 15, 2018, 1:40 am
#786
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
DCA-PHX - HNML
This was a very tasty meal. A green salad and a vegetable appetizer with red bell pepper, cucumber, asparagus, and red onion.
The entree contained a samosa, saag paneer, an okra dish, and rice. The meal had a good amount of flavorful spice. The pitas were warmed by the flight attendant, but weren't very flavorful. Dessert provided here was fruit.
The snickerdoodle cookie tasted the same as always.
AA Snickerdoodle
SMF-DFW - HNML
Looks like this was mostly intended to be the same meal as the last one, but with a couple of little differences. The pita with this version was much more delicious (and was warmed by the flight attendant as well.) The samosa on this flight was filled with more veggie/potato filling. This one also came with a dish of tamarind chutney, which balanced the meal quite will. Finally, the dessert here was cold gulab jaman. It was ok, but wasn't great at such a cold temperature. I was also offered one of the standard cookies for dessert.
AA HNML
This was a very tasty meal. A green salad and a vegetable appetizer with red bell pepper, cucumber, asparagus, and red onion.
The entree contained a samosa, saag paneer, an okra dish, and rice. The meal had a good amount of flavorful spice. The pitas were warmed by the flight attendant, but weren't very flavorful. Dessert provided here was fruit.
The snickerdoodle cookie tasted the same as always.
AA Snickerdoodle
SMF-DFW - HNML
Looks like this was mostly intended to be the same meal as the last one, but with a couple of little differences. The pita with this version was much more delicious (and was warmed by the flight attendant as well.) The samosa on this flight was filled with more veggie/potato filling. This one also came with a dish of tamarind chutney, which balanced the meal quite will. Finally, the dessert here was cold gulab jaman. It was ok, but wasn't great at such a cold temperature. I was also offered one of the standard cookies for dessert.
AA HNML
Sep 17, 2018, 10:45 pm
#787
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Looks like refreshed, better & most substantial small plated meals now in domestic rotations for those shorter flights.......a wrap in the afternoon and a cold breakfast sandwich option in the morning among others.
Sep 18, 2018, 1:11 pm
#788
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, Flying Blue-Silver
Posts: 727
PHL-LAS
A-321
First Class - Dinner
September 2018
PDB of choice offered. ^
Once in the air, hot towels were provided.
Lukewarm nuts served with choice of beverage.
Entrée choices were lasagna (which I pre-ordered) or beef filet with quinoa. The lasagna was ample and tasty, per usual.
The entrée was presented on a tray along with two marinated shrimp as the appetizer (they were literally almost frozen, which was disappointing), and a side salad (good looking greens topped with some multi-color pepper strips). Offered choice of bread from the bread basket, alas no butter on the trays.
Following dinner, ice cream was offered.
No mints prior to landing.
Overall, a decent and pretty attentive F/A (drink re-fills were offered regularly) and a satisfactory non-premium F domestic offering.
A-321
First Class - Dinner
September 2018
PDB of choice offered. ^
Once in the air, hot towels were provided.
Lukewarm nuts served with choice of beverage.
Entrée choices were lasagna (which I pre-ordered) or beef filet with quinoa. The lasagna was ample and tasty, per usual.
The entrée was presented on a tray along with two marinated shrimp as the appetizer (they were literally almost frozen, which was disappointing), and a side salad (good looking greens topped with some multi-color pepper strips). Offered choice of bread from the bread basket, alas no butter on the trays.
Following dinner, ice cream was offered.
No mints prior to landing.
Overall, a decent and pretty attentive F/A (drink re-fills were offered regularly) and a satisfactory non-premium F domestic offering.
Sep 18, 2018, 3:57 pm
#789
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Empire State
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 461
Sep 18, 2018, 4:59 pm
#790
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
What are the "eligible domestic first class flights"? My upcoming PHX-SEA flight that leaves around 8:30pm says "refreshments"...does that mean Lite Bites?
Sep 18, 2018, 7:52 pm
#791
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
has anyone had experience with AVML out of BDL? Taking Bdl to lax, 6:55am... hoping for a sundae 
Sep 18, 2018, 9:37 pm
#792
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
DEN-DFW
LAA A321B
AM Lite Bites Menu
I got to experience the new and certainly improved Lite Bites menu first hand this morning!
Great, friendly service from a young crew aboard this 5AM departure.
Pre-departure beverage of choice!
I was pleasantly surprised when the FA took a CHOICE of AM Lite Bite meals prior to take-off, in addition to beverage request.
Once in the air, I received the below pictured turkey sandwich and banana. I thought the sandwich was perfectly adequate, and was certainly an improvement over the old single option. The other option was a fruit plate, which my seat opponent ordered and looked perfectly adequate.
Overall, a great flight aboard a nice aircraft with personal televisions (I know, enjoy while they last).
LAA A321B
AM Lite Bites Menu
I got to experience the new and certainly improved Lite Bites menu first hand this morning!
Great, friendly service from a young crew aboard this 5AM departure.
Pre-departure beverage of choice!
I was pleasantly surprised when the FA took a CHOICE of AM Lite Bite meals prior to take-off, in addition to beverage request.
Once in the air, I received the below pictured turkey sandwich and banana. I thought the sandwich was perfectly adequate, and was certainly an improvement over the old single option. The other option was a fruit plate, which my seat opponent ordered and looked perfectly adequate.
Overall, a great flight aboard a nice aircraft with personal televisions (I know, enjoy while they last).
Sep 19, 2018, 10:59 am
#793
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,003
Honestly, if a flight attendant set that disgusting look of dog food o my tray I would probably hurl into the vomit bag quicker than a flight attendant can read through the faux free ticket citi card offer.
Sep 19, 2018, 11:47 am
#794
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 45
What flights will these be offered on? Time and mileage-wise?
Sep 19, 2018, 1:18 pm
#795
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 45
I just received this tweet from AA regarding the light bites. Am I mistaken or are they wrong? Light bites on flights over 3 hours?!
