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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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 19, 2018, 1:25 pm
#796
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PNS
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA
Posts: 700
That doesn't sound right?
Sep 19, 2018, 1:37 pm
#797
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Yea these are usually meant for shorter flights that don't get a full meal service
Sep 19, 2018, 4:13 pm
#798
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,205
I've had this meal, too. It's VERY tasty and not at all disgusting. Last time I told the F/A it was the best meal I've had on a plane in probably 15 years, and that includes J meals on multiple carriers.
Sep 19, 2018, 4:49 pm
#799
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
I think the "disgusting" part of the meal by far would be the two globs green stuff on the right side of the hot dish....the rest is basically rice pilaf, fresh veggies, and fruit...all of which I would eat, but I'd want to trade out those little pita rounds for a couple of pretzel rolls.
Sep 19, 2018, 4:50 pm
#800
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Interesting that they consider 3+ hour flights "short" 
Sep 19, 2018, 5:13 pm
#801
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Agreed! I'm much more inclined to take AA up on a meal with a 3+ hour time slot than I am on my BOS-ORD flights. I get different markets, different margins, different demands, blah blah, but when the lite bites in the AC have been demolished within 30 seconds of them being set down, I'm more than likely peckish in flight after 2.5 hrs of flight than I am at 1.5 hrs of flight.
Sep 19, 2018, 5:16 pm
#802
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,004
I think the "disgusting" part of the meal by far would be the two globs green stuff on the right side of the hot dish....the rest is basically rice pilaf, fresh veggies, and fruit...all of which I would eat, but I'd want to trade out those little pita rounds for a couple of pretzel rolls.
Sep 19, 2018, 7:25 pm
#803
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 45
[QUOTE=PDXPremier;30223202]Interesting that they consider 3+ hour flights "short"
I'm almost certain I must have been given the wrong information since many flights less than three hours offer full meals.
I'm almost certain I must have been given the wrong information since many flights less than three hours offer full meals.
Sep 19, 2018, 10:02 pm
#804
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Hyatt Explorist, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 313
I was on AA 1035 from BDL to LAX on August 31 and preordered the Hindu meal. They didn't even load it on to the flight. FA said something about since the plane got in the night before, it wasn't loaded. Or something along those lines. So there's a chance your preordered AVML may not be loaded. Let's just hope mine was a one off mistake.
Sep 19, 2018, 10:20 pm
#805
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Originally Posted by USFlyerUS
I've had this meal, too. It's VERY tasty and not at all disgusting. Last time I told the F/A it was the best meal I've had on a plane in probably 15 years, and that includes J meals on multiple carriers.
Sep 19, 2018, 10:28 pm
#806
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
I was on AA 1035 from BDL to LAX on August 31 and preordered the Hindu meal. They didn't even load it on to the flight. FA said something about since the plane got in the night before, it wasn't loaded. Or something along those lines. So there's a chance your preordered AVML may not be loaded. Let's just hope mine was a one off mistake.
Ouch, I ordered Hindu meal...will update after flight
Sep 20, 2018, 2:53 am
#807
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
BOS-DFW
OLD Boeing 737-800
Breakfast
PDB of choice! Despite the early hour, my request for a screwdriver was accepted!
Once in the air, my pre-order of the "eggs" was acknowledged. It was actually the egg sandwich, which was pretty disgusting. The biscuit was room temperature. I could have done without the wilted grapes, too. The other fruit was okay. Service was non-existent after the meal service, although I did fall asleep!
Overall, not one of AA's best offerings.
OLD Boeing 737-800
Breakfast
PDB of choice! Despite the early hour, my request for a screwdriver was accepted!
Once in the air, my pre-order of the "eggs" was acknowledged. It was actually the egg sandwich, which was pretty disgusting. The biscuit was room temperature. I could have done without the wilted grapes, too. The other fruit was okay. Service was non-existent after the meal service, although I did fall asleep!
Overall, not one of AA's best offerings.
Last edited by UAPremierGuy; Sep 20, 2018 at 5:40 pm
Sep 20, 2018, 6:12 am
#808
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
Finally got the much-lauded AVML on the 11:45 p.m. LAX-JFK (flagship F) and it was worth the order. Spicy yellow dal, cardamom scented rice, and spinach with some paneer cheese, all really good. My only "gripe" would be that there were no fewer than seventeen whole cardamom pods that I had to move around (and I ended up eating four of them)... but definitely still worth getting.
Sep 20, 2018, 7:20 am
#809
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
[QUOTE=TheFlyGuy1992;30223593]Well if they are following UNITED's move, than these lite bights are the equivalent of UNITED's snack (which are offered on flight upto three hours for Breakfast and Lunch) and over at the UA forums, they would say that you have been snacked.
Sep 20, 2018, 8:48 pm
#810
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA Plat, National EE, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 401
Finally got the much-lauded AVML on the 11:45 p.m. LAX-JFK (flagship F) and it was worth the order. Spicy yellow dal, cardamom scented rice, and spinach with some paneer cheese, all really good. My only "gripe" would be that there were no fewer than seventeen whole cardamom pods that I had to move around (and I ended up eating four of them)... but definitely still worth getting.
you wiped that sucker clean though! Nice work, looked good.