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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
Nov 9, 2018, 2:07 pm
#961
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,548
for my flights early next month. On outbound, i've selected the hindu meal since neither brekkie options sounds interesting, On return, I've selected the curry. The chicken option sounds interesting too. Also, wondering how special meals, especially Asian Veg/Muslim/Hindu meals are out of YYZ.
lax-yyz
lax-yyz
- Steel Cut Oatmeal Steel Cut Oatmeal
with fruit toppings - Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelette Smoked Fontina Cheese Omelette
with Peppadews, herbed potatoes and Italian parmesan chicken sausage
- Coconut Curry Coconut Curry
vegetables - Grilled Chicken Grilled Chicken
haricots verts, cherry tomatoes, yellow pepper, olives, Café de Paris butter
LAX yyz (hindu meal). It was oatmeal, pretty much the same as the oatmeal they were serving to other pax.
Yyz lax - coconut curry. Completely bland, nothing coconut curry about it . The cold garlic bread and warm pretzel bread was delish. The Sundae was great as always.
Nov 9, 2018, 8:07 pm
#962
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 105
Raita (yogurt-based) and paneer (cheese) are common food items in Indian vegetarian food, so if you really can't do dairy you're running a bit of a risk ordering AVMLs. My wife has had both paneer and raita as elements of her AVMLs on American. In our experience AVMLs for breakfast are risky on AA and DL. Lunch and dinner are usually safer bets you'll get something that is an Indian veg type meal.
but for now I will simply make an alternative selection for breakfast.My post was not meant as a complaint just a data point for those who may consider ordering this meal for breakfast. I came to this thread before ordering my first AVML breakfast and could find very few reports on the special meals for breakfast so though I was a bit nervous to order this breakfast I wanted to be able to provide a data point for others and find out for myself if it would be a good breakfast option. In my opinion, a plate of unseasonsed canned veggies and a cup of vanilla yogurt just don't qualify as a breakfast or a meal and they certainly don't meet AA's description: "Spicy vegetarian meals with limited use of dairy products." So now I know...
Nov 9, 2018, 11:18 pm
#963
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 224
Time or Miles?
Hope this is the an okay place to post my question. Is there a specific resource than can help clarify the buy on board availability for CLT/ORD & ORD/CLT?
the flight time hovers between 1:59 and 2:03 and about 30% of the time they have snacks for sale but there has been no consistancy and when questioned FAs have been adamant this flight is not supposed to be catered. In flight mag says 2 hours as well as AA.com
the flight time hovers between 1:59 and 2:03 and about 30% of the time they have snacks for sale but there has been no consistancy and when questioned FAs have been adamant this flight is not supposed to be catered. In flight mag says 2 hours as well as AA.com
Nov 10, 2018, 6:34 am
#964
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,200
Has anyone tried the hamburger in F? I hadn't seen this option before. This is on a lunch ORD-SEA flight.
- Asian Chopped Salad Asian Chopped Salad
shredded cabbage, red pepper and mango with a side of sweet chili grilled chicken - Hamburger Hamburger selected
on a brioche bun with colby jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions and chips
Nov 10, 2018, 4:38 pm
#965
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: NYC/BOS
Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 54
What does the 8:30pm ORD-LGA get? Is it just nuts and a cookie or is it nuts + fruit plate/hummus? Thank you!
Nov 10, 2018, 8:29 pm
#966
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Nov 11, 2018, 8:46 am
#967
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 270
RJ meals
I know the RJ’s don’t have ovens so wondering type of meals in 3+ hrs flight?
Nov 11, 2018, 9:34 am
#968
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Hope this is the an okay place to post my question. Is there a specific resource than can help clarify the buy on board availability for CLT/ORD & ORD/CLT?
the flight time hovers between 1:59 and 2:03 and about 30% of the time they have snacks for sale but there has been no consistancy and when questioned FAs have been adamant this flight is not supposed to be catered. In flight mag says 2 hours as well as AA.com
the flight time hovers between 1:59 and 2:03 and about 30% of the time they have snacks for sale but there has been no consistancy and when questioned FAs have been adamant this flight is not supposed to be catered. In flight mag says 2 hours as well as AA.com
Second if you read the wiki you would see this.
Lastly on AA.Com, none of the CLT-ORD flights show a meal they all say Beverage service, I never looked at ORD-CLT.
Nov 11, 2018, 9:35 am
#969
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Nov 11, 2018, 10:08 pm
#970
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 224
Agree it is never a meal in F. My question is in Y for buy on board or EXP free snacks. Many times not even pringles / hummus box are available and I cannot find anywhere if they should or should not. Inflight mag says snacks available on flights over 2 hours and this one is blocked between 1.59 and 2.03 depending on time of day.
Nov 12, 2018, 8:32 am
#971
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 578
Agree it is never a meal in F. My question is in Y for buy on board or EXP free snacks. Many times not even pringles / hummus box are available and I cannot find anywhere if they should or should not. Inflight mag says snacks available on flights over 2 hours and this one is blocked between 1.59 and 2.03 depending on time of day.
Nov 13, 2018, 6:11 pm
#973
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,200
Nov 14, 2018, 2:22 pm
#974
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
AA 2205 LAX-HNL 1950-2350 A-321
Full PDB
Sadly no mai tais on AA but scotch is always good even if it isn't tropical
Choice of a vegetable curry or a pork chop. Pork chop was pretty decent and a really good size. Seafood salad was fairly tasteless meanwhile
Choice of a fruit plate or a pre-built Hawaiian sundae which had macadamia nuts, fruit, hot fudge and whipped cream. As always the best part of hte meal.
Full PDB
Sadly no mai tais on AA but scotch is always good even if it isn't tropical
Choice of a vegetable curry or a pork chop. Pork chop was pretty decent and a really good size. Seafood salad was fairly tasteless meanwhile
Choice of a fruit plate or a pre-built Hawaiian sundae which had macadamia nuts, fruit, hot fudge and whipped cream. As always the best part of hte meal.
Nov 14, 2018, 3:34 pm
#975
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
The photos I’m seeing of the new AA hamburger are not looking too appetizing, but I’ll reserve judgement until I try it in-flight.