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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#1081
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,546
Here's what my steak soup looked look. The soup was definitely weird but at least it meant the steak wasn't dry. Served with the world's saddest "salad" (one piece of Bibb lettuce with radish strips and 3 grapes). Nevertheless, I would order this again, and I never order AA steaks.
AA 473 CLT-DEN
18:20
Grilled Beef Filet Grilled Beef Filet with cauliflower mash, broccolini and guajillo chili butter
Beef was fine, mash was probably the best part of the meal, broccolini was awful and tasted like water, as if it was frozen, heated and then reheated.
18:20
Grilled Beef Filet Grilled Beef Filet with cauliflower mash, broccolini and guajillo chili butter
Beef was fine, mash was probably the best part of the meal, broccolini was awful and tasted like water, as if it was frozen, heated and then reheated.
#1082
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
The problem with things like fillet is that it has so much less to do with how the catering prepared the food as how it was warmed up on board. and even there it has much to do with how long until the FAs can start working,how long they spend taxiing, etc. That's one reason why I hate the idea that they rush out meals so quickly.
#1083
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: DFW/PHL
Programs: US CP, UA *G; SPG Plat, Hilton Gold; Natl Exec, Hertz PC
Posts: 623
#1084
#1085
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Taxi time?Do they start the steaks ion the ovens while they are still on the ground? CLT you are going to be taxiing around a lot, thus the steaks sit int eh over longer. While in PIT you pretty much take right off.
#1086
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,600
Pretty sure that PIT is double catered from DFW which makes it even more impressive if they consistently pull it off.
#1087
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,872
OOps, my question in NEWBIE section should have been posted/asked here.
#1088
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
#1089
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NYC LAX RDU
Programs: US-Plt;Concierge key; American AAirpass; Delta Silver;Starwood - Platinum; Amex Cent
Posts: 710
#1090
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 13
OGG > DFW
Was pleasantly surprised with the Korean Beef Entree on this flight.
AA got the beef right, the potatoes weren't rock hard, and the Japanese Shrimp was excellent.
The salad as usual was mediocre
AA got the beef right, the potatoes weren't rock hard, and the Japanese Shrimp was excellent.
The salad as usual was mediocre
#1091
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
I mostly lurk here just to see what options might be. Wouldn't you know I would get 2 choices I haven't seen talked about much.
11/23/18
DFW-MCO
Lunch
Choices are
Tex Mex Salad -
romaine, roasted corn, black beans, tomato and cotija cheese with a side of grilled Adobo chicken
or
Chow Mein Noodle Bowl
with stir fried vegetables and miso glaze
Of course there is also the cheese plate and various special meals.
Any recommendations?
11/23/18
DFW-MCO
Lunch
Choices are
Tex Mex Salad -
romaine, roasted corn, black beans, tomato and cotija cheese with a side of grilled Adobo chicken
or
Chow Mein Noodle Bowl
with stir fried vegetables and miso glaze
Of course there is also the cheese plate and various special meals.
Any recommendations?
#1092
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 462
Coach Meal ? KOA-DFW
I have my family booked to go home on AA KOA-DFW. AA states that this flight provides a coach meal - does anyone know what the offering is? My guess is nothing worth eating so I may have to prepare a meal for the four of them to take on the flight. Flight leaves Kona around dinner hour.
#1093
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco
Programs: DL DM, 1MM AA PLT 2MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, and...Smiles Diamante
Posts: 2,783
DFW-SFO - pitiful buy on board
I’m glad that American’s caterer scraped all of the dregs of cheese out of the deli case and carefully placed each shred on my “new and improved” sandwich. Or perhaps that’s a generous assessment of what happened. Anyway, here’s to quality control.
Marketing.
#1094
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,490
Am doing PHX-HNL next week & this was one of the choices-wondered if anyone had seen it yet?
Island Surf and Turf Island Surf and Turf selected for txrus for PHX to HNL
Grilled shrimp and beef filet with truffleyaki sauce and roasted fingerling potatoes
Island Surf and Turf Island Surf and Turf selected for txrus for PHX to HNL
Grilled shrimp and beef filet with truffleyaki sauce and roasted fingerling potatoes
Last edited by txrus; Jan 1, 2019 at 10:37 pm
#1095
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
MIA-LGA
73M
Dinner
No PDB at all due to 'late catering'......flight went out over half empty after non-revs were given seats.
Beef filet with cauliflower mash......beef tasted weird but the best part was the mash
73M
Dinner
No PDB at all due to 'late catering'......flight went out over half empty after non-revs were given seats.
Beef filet with cauliflower mash......beef tasted weird but the best part was the mash