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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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)
#706
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
For those of you who order special meals, what do you suggest for Breakfast? This is a "midcon" flight (PHX=EWR). The regular choices are: steel cut oatmeal or some type of omelette. I was just wondering if any of the special meals would be better and, for breakfast, what do you typically get? Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.
#707
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
Yeah, jcatman advised MarioRossi to go with the AVML on premium 3-class flagship Transcon JFK-LAX F. I was curious whether the premium flagship F "special meals" might be "better" in some way (other than plating) than other flights that offer special meals (such as CLT-PHX).
#708
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
For those of you who order special meals, what do you suggest for Breakfast? This is a "midcon" flight (PHX=EWR). The regular choices are: steel cut oatmeal or some type of omelette. I was just wondering if any of the special meals would be better and, for breakfast, what do you typically get? Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30043447-post662.html
#709
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Return flight, SJU-MIA. Choice of Chicken Balls or the infamous Poblano Peppers. Zilch on the special meal request option.
Do I call American Airlines on the telephone for my special meal request?
#710
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, HHonors Diamond, National Exec, Hertz PC, Nexus
Posts: 409
AA2546
DCA-ORD
Depart: 1105 (actually pushed back 1140)
Arrive: 1221 (actual arrival 1235)
Seat 5E
Modified PDB. Due to late arrival of the aircraft, the F/A walked around with waters on a tray after boarding was complete and we were waiting on maintenance to sign off on something. She did say, "can I get you something to drink?", but I didn't hear anyone try to order anything other than water.
Pre-order of Greek salad with chicken acknowledged. The other choice was lasagna. Warm nuts served with a Voodoo Ranger.
Salad was tasty. Exactly what I was expecting. It was decent.
Warm snickerdoodle and chocolate chip cookies offered as we began descent.
AA1165
ORD-SEA
Depart: 1356
Arrive: 1627
Seat 4E
Full PDB offered. I asked for a Voodoo Ranger and was given the whole can
Preorder acknowledged, but the flight attendant said it was 'lasagna', not the Poblano pepper I had preordered. I thought it was a misunderstanding, but sure enough, I was served Lasagna. Super disappointed as I had been looking forward to the peppers. Meal was described as followed when I preordered: "Poblano Peppers, Stuffed with manchego, queso fresco, Monterey Jack and Cotija cheese with piquillo pepper sauce and cilantro rice". The other option during pre-order was the "New School Niçoise Salad", which was catered. My seatmate ordered this.
I've had lasagna on AA before and it was okay, but this lasagna was particularly bland. I dumped a whole packet of pepper on it. Choice of warm chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies offered after trays were cleared. No snack baskets. Flight attendants were moderately attentive.
I wrote AA to point out the catering mishap. No response yet.
DCA-ORD
Depart: 1105 (actually pushed back 1140)
Arrive: 1221 (actual arrival 1235)
Seat 5E
Modified PDB. Due to late arrival of the aircraft, the F/A walked around with waters on a tray after boarding was complete and we were waiting on maintenance to sign off on something. She did say, "can I get you something to drink?", but I didn't hear anyone try to order anything other than water.
Pre-order of Greek salad with chicken acknowledged. The other choice was lasagna. Warm nuts served with a Voodoo Ranger.
Salad was tasty. Exactly what I was expecting. It was decent.
Warm snickerdoodle and chocolate chip cookies offered as we began descent.
AA1165
ORD-SEA
Depart: 1356
Arrive: 1627
Seat 4E
Full PDB offered. I asked for a Voodoo Ranger and was given the whole can
Preorder acknowledged, but the flight attendant said it was 'lasagna', not the Poblano pepper I had preordered. I thought it was a misunderstanding, but sure enough, I was served Lasagna. Super disappointed as I had been looking forward to the peppers. Meal was described as followed when I preordered: "Poblano Peppers, Stuffed with manchego, queso fresco, Monterey Jack and Cotija cheese with piquillo pepper sauce and cilantro rice". The other option during pre-order was the "New School Niçoise Salad", which was catered. My seatmate ordered this.
I've had lasagna on AA before and it was okay, but this lasagna was particularly bland. I dumped a whole packet of pepper on it. Choice of warm chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies offered after trays were cleared. No snack baskets. Flight attendants were moderately attentive.
I wrote AA to point out the catering mishap. No response yet.
#711
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
Later this month, I'm flying MIA-SJU. Choice of Lasagna, Greek Salad or Fruit/Cheese Plate. No special meal option appears.
Return flight, SJU-MIA. Choice of Chicken Balls or the infamous Poblano Peppers. Zilch on the special meal request option.
Do I call American Airlines on the telephone for my special meal request?
Return flight, SJU-MIA. Choice of Chicken Balls or the infamous Poblano Peppers. Zilch on the special meal request option.
Do I call American Airlines on the telephone for my special meal request?
#713
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,440
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...-allergies.jsp
"Special meals are available in First or Business on most flights with meal service in the U.S.
All classes
Special meals are available in all classes on flights to / from:- Asia
- Australia
- Europe
- New Zealand
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF)
- Brasilia, Brazil (BSB)
- Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE)
- Montevideo, Uruguay (MVD)
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GIG)
- Santiago, Chile (SCL)
- Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU)"
#714
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
I wasn't aware PHX-EWR was a mid con flight but if you looked at this post you will see what was served as breakfast
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30043447-post662.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30043447-post662.html
#715
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
SEA-LAX (E175) choices were roast beef wrap or "vegetable platter with salmon" (aka nicoise salad with salmon) went with the wrap...it was food, not great by a long stretch but also not horrid either I suppose.
No PDB but good service throughout the flight once in the air the nuts were as expected cold (boo) the lemon dessert thing was good.
No PDB but good service throughout the flight once in the air the nuts were as expected cold (boo) the lemon dessert thing was good.
#716
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
#717
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 7
MIA/SFO departing at 9:41pm
Considering it’s so late. Does this flight still offer a medal since it’s 6 hours?
#718
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: NYC/LAX/ATL
Programs: JAL Diamond, BAEC Gold, AS 75K, VS Gold, AC 50K, WoH Globalist, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 237
How often does AA change tcon menu? I feel like I have got like three versions of menus rotating all the time. Had the wagyu meatloaf at least 4 times (could be more, but 4 times with photo record) and the lobster roll at least 3 times since last September. I only fly transcon monthly but I'm already tired of the same food. Can't imagine how it feels if you fly more often on this route.
My next flight has the lobster roll menu again. Ugh. Will just dine in Flagship Dining and skip inflight meal.
My next flight has the lobster roll menu again. Ugh. Will just dine in Flagship Dining and skip inflight meal.
#719
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: 6,663
#720
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
How often does AA change tcon menu? I feel like I have got like three versions of menus rotating all the time. Had the wagyu meatloaf at least 4 times (could be more, but 4 times with photo record) and the lobster roll at least 3 times since last September. I only fly transcon monthly but I'm already tired of the same food. Can't imagine how it feels if you fly more often on this route.
My next flight has the lobster roll menu again. Ugh. Will just dine in Flagship Dining and skip inflight meal.
My next flight has the lobster roll menu again. Ugh. Will just dine in Flagship Dining and skip inflight meal.