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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#977
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
@AANYC1981 can you point me in the direction of said photos?
#978
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,203
#979
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
#980
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,600
PHL-LAX
AA 728
A330-200
3:40p-6:45p
November 14, 2018
Special Diabetic Meal
Thanks to all those FT'ers up thread who recommended the diabetic special meal. I agree that this is a great option compared to regular AA meals.
Talk about overkill, the chicken starter was nearly a complete breast. It was a meh but then again, it didn't matter since I was full from the main. Unless one hasn't eaten in a couple of days. who the heck would want or could eat this when you have a tenderloin waiting for you?
Wow, very nice presentation. The broccoli was perfectly prepared, and the farro was delicious and nicely flavorful.
The tenderloin was excellent and prepared perfectly.
The diabetic dessert is a cheese and fruit plate. I went with the sundae and fessed up that I wasn't really diabetic but ordered the diabetic meal since it got great reviews.
AA 728
A330-200
3:40p-6:45p
November 14, 2018
Special Diabetic Meal
Thanks to all those FT'ers up thread who recommended the diabetic special meal. I agree that this is a great option compared to regular AA meals.
Talk about overkill, the chicken starter was nearly a complete breast. It was a meh but then again, it didn't matter since I was full from the main. Unless one hasn't eaten in a couple of days. who the heck would want or could eat this when you have a tenderloin waiting for you?
Wow, very nice presentation. The broccoli was perfectly prepared, and the farro was delicious and nicely flavorful.
The tenderloin was excellent and prepared perfectly.
The diabetic dessert is a cheese and fruit plate. I went with the sundae and fessed up that I wasn't really diabetic but ordered the diabetic meal since it got great reviews.
#981
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
That meal looks fantastic, SFO777.
Plus, no quinoa!
Plus, no quinoa!
#982
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
If anyone is interested in the new cheeseburger option...
But look closely again and see......
The thing was moving and jumping around the lettuce.
a second attempt didn’t fare very better...
#983
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
You tried to eat it twice?
#984
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,203
Yikes, the UA burger was/is definitely better (though still not great)...
#985
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
Oh, I showed it to the FA and she offered a replacement bowl of condiments. That’s the last picture. I didn’t touch it and just ate a bit of the bun and patty. Greasy, sloppy and not that flavorful...
Nothing compared to CX’s ex-HKG burger. 😂
Nothing compared to CX’s ex-HKG burger. 😂
#987
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
- Grilled Beef Filet Grilled Beef Filet selected for CHOPCHOP767 for ORD to BOS
with cauliflower mash, broccolini and guajillo chili butter - Southwest Lasagna Southwest Lasagna selected for CHOPCHOP767 for ORD to BOS
with poblano corn puree and New Mexico red chili sauce - AVAILABLE BY PRE-ORDER ONLY - Fruit and Cheese Plate AVAILABLE BY PRE-ORDER ONLY - Fruit and Cheese Plate selected for CHOPCHOP767 for ORD to BOS fresh grapes and dried fruit with assorted cheeses
#988
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Explat / UA Silver
Posts: 600
Just had the new beef short rib with mac and cheese - surprisingly decent. Small portion of beef, but otherwise edible.
#989
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
Continued success with the AVML, although SFO777's post above has got me considering DBML, perhaps for breakfast, when AVML risks getting oatmeal.
DFW-CMH
AA1492 (to Columbus? get it? literally no one on the plane other than me even chuckled when they announced it.)
14NOV2018, 10:50-2:10 (1h 47m in air)
Top-left starter was a beautiful red bell pepper filled with some tomato, cucumber, red onion, and asparagus, all very fresh. No insects.
Bottom-left salad was quite good, nice lettuce mix and more asparagus (I'm a fan).
Main was Indian-style rice with a potato-cauliflower dish on the left and a spinach-onion dish on the right. It was easily as good as the dish I had in A321 transcon F recently.
In addition to the plated raspberry-chocolate dessert, I was offered warm cookies. I also took a sourdough roll from the basket.
Considering that this flight had less than 2 hours in the air (it's 926 miles), the service was outstanding. Full PDB, drink served promptly with nuts, then refills; then meals, bread, and more refills; then dessert with yet another refill. Crew got AAplause certificates.
DFW-CMH
AA1492 (to Columbus? get it? literally no one on the plane other than me even chuckled when they announced it.)
14NOV2018, 10:50-2:10 (1h 47m in air)
Top-left starter was a beautiful red bell pepper filled with some tomato, cucumber, red onion, and asparagus, all very fresh. No insects.
Bottom-left salad was quite good, nice lettuce mix and more asparagus (I'm a fan).
Main was Indian-style rice with a potato-cauliflower dish on the left and a spinach-onion dish on the right. It was easily as good as the dish I had in A321 transcon F recently.
Considering that this flight had less than 2 hours in the air (it's 926 miles), the service was outstanding. Full PDB, drink served promptly with nuts, then refills; then meals, bread, and more refills; then dessert with yet another refill. Crew got AAplause certificates.
#990
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
The tenderloin was excellent and prepared perfectly.
I am for sure adding DBML to my rotation, perhaps AVML one way and DBML the return.