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ARCHIVE: Combined 2019 AA Domestic Meal, Meals, menu / photos / etc. (master thread)

Old Jan 2, 2019, 10:33 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: JDiver
AA/US Domestic Dining (including Canada, Mexico, & the Caribbean)

Link to Combined 2019 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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.

MrAndy1369 originated this thread. Other posts in this topic have been merged here, throwing his post to #4. For members’ easy reference, we have reproduced that guidepost in its entirety. /Moderators

Originally Posted by MrAndy1369
Introduction
Welcome to the 2019 version of the combined AA meals thread, focusing on domestic service. Please post your meal/service experiences, including menus, photos, reports, questions, and service anecdotes.

To help give us a clear picture of your experience, remember to include the route, time, and meal designation (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, refreshments, none). Photos are welcome and very helpful. Those are rudimentary guidelines, but of course, the format/style is up to you.

Format Sample
This is a format you can use when introducing your meal report. This is just a sample format; deviations are expected.

AA1: JFK-LAX: 3pm
Dinner
A321
First Class, 2A

(from here, share the menu and/or experiences and/or photos)

Historical Meal Reports
Throwback mode? Go crazy! For the 2019 International Meals thread, click here.

Enjoy!
[COLOR="Navy"]Welcome to the 2019 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!)
American Eagle flights do not offer pre-ordering of meals.

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.

  • At this time, pre-ordered meals are not available on American Eagle flights.

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.

Thanks to MrAndy1369 for starting the thread and for the guidelines.
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ARCHIVE: Combined 2019 AA Domestic Meal, Meals, menu / photos / etc. (master thread)

Old Jan 28, 2019, 8:50 am
  #61  
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PHX-ORD
788
Dinner

Water/OJ only but a special request was fulfilled

Chicken in mushroom sauce



Strawberry ice cream dessert (seems like a short flight to get a separate dessert, but I'm not complaining)

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Old Jan 28, 2019, 8:19 pm
  #62  
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Originally Posted by AANYC1981
PHX-ORD

Strawberry ice cream dessert (seems like a short flight to get a separate dessert, but I'm not complaining)

It's an exception route, since UA flys this too, on dinner flights I have always gotten a sundae.
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Old Jan 29, 2019, 6:05 pm
  #63  
 
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Originally Posted by FlightNurse
It's an exception route, since UA flys this too, on dinner flights I have always gotten a sundae.
You must be thinking of the ice cream "sludge" (flavored ice cream with mix-ins), which both pmAA and current AA has served on midcon routes over ~1400 miles. Sundaes are only served on 2200+ mile flights.
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Old Jan 29, 2019, 6:57 pm
  #64  
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Originally Posted by MrAndy1369
You must be thinking of the ice cream "sludge" (flavored ice cream with mix-ins), which both pmAA and current AA has served on midcon routes over ~1400 miles. Sundaes are only served on 2200+ mile flights.
Some call it sludge, others do not, far better then what UA or DL serves.
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Old Jan 29, 2019, 8:54 pm
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aa661 phl-las… what to expect

will be on aa661 PHL-LAS (8:59 pm departure) in first.. new to aa - and this will be a cookie/nuts flight, right? Thanks!!
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Old Jan 30, 2019, 7:38 am
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Originally Posted by lonelygod
will be on aa661 PHL-LAS (8:59 pm departure) in first.. new to aa - and this will be a cookie/nuts flight, right? Thanks!!
Took this flight last Autumn. Yes, cookies & nuts only. LUS flight attendant was slinging the drinks and we all managed to actually get some sleep too.
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Old Jan 30, 2019, 8:48 am
  #67  
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decent looking menu for LAX-JFK tomorrow, Lunch:

bbq short rib
asian chicken
grains and greens bowl
osso buco veggie dish (no lamb)

also the breakfast JFK-LAX looks to have gotten better. There are two egg dishes.
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Old Jan 30, 2019, 8:55 am
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Has anyone tried either of these "snack" options for my upcoming JFK-SFO flight? I'm leaning towards the stuffed chicken right now.

- Spinach and Gouda stuffed chicken, asparagus, baby carrot, tomato ragout
- Braised short rib, couscous, sautéed haricots verts, baby carrot, mustard cream sauce
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Old Jan 30, 2019, 9:31 am
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Originally Posted by FlightNurse
Some call it sludge, others do not, far better then what UA or DL serves.
I've never understood the "sludge" moniker, but I don't go home to a royal palace after my flight, as many FTers with opinions on airline catering apparently do...
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Old Jan 30, 2019, 1:21 pm
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Originally Posted by airb330
Took this flight last Autumn. Yes, cookies & nuts only. LUS flight attendant was slinging the drinks and we all managed to actually get some sleep too.
This flight is still nuts and cookie service. But, IME, with late WC flights ex-PHL, while you might be hungry when you land, you will not be thirsty thanks to the FA’s very generous pours
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Old Jan 31, 2019, 7:45 am
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I have an upcoming flight BUF-MIA (1185 mi) on an A319 departing at 6:04AM. At booking it lists a Continental breakfast, with no option to select a meal online. What should I expect? My later flight MIA-MBJ is short (524 mi) so only expecting a snack basket, but I am curious as to what the longer flight might offer for breakfast.
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Old Jan 31, 2019, 7:51 am
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Originally Posted by MathMusic
I have an upcoming flight BUF-MIA (1185 mi) on an A319 departing at 6:04AM. At booking it lists a Continental breakfast, with no option to select a meal online. What should I expect? My later flight MIA-MBJ is short (524 mi) so only expecting a snack basket, but I am curious as to what the longer flight might offer for breakfast.
If you are more than 30 days from departure, the online meal option won't be there yet.

However, assuming it does appear, I wouldn't expect anything other than oatmeal or omlette.
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Old Jan 31, 2019, 7:56 am
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Originally Posted by MathMusic
I have an upcoming flight BUF-MIA (1185 mi) on an A319 departing at 6:04AM. At booking it lists a Continental breakfast, with no option to select a meal online. What should I expect? My later flight MIA-MBJ is short (524 mi) so only expecting a snack basket, but I am curious as to what the longer flight might offer for breakfast.
Continental Breakfast likely to be corn flakes; milk; greek yogurt; sliced fruit or a banana; hot biscuit or cinnamon roll; choice of beverage.
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Old Jan 31, 2019, 8:55 am
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Originally Posted by jcatman
Continental Breakfast likely to be corn flakes; milk; greek yogurt; sliced fruit or a banana; hot biscuit or cinnamon roll; choice of beverage.
Yup- 'Continental Breakfast' is code for Shelf-stable breakfast, common for pretty much any AM originator at an outstation with no catering facility.
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Old Jan 31, 2019, 9:14 am
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Originally Posted by jcatman
Continental Breakfast likely to be corn flakes; milk; greek yogurt; sliced fruit or a banana; hot biscuit or cinnamon roll; choice of beverage.
Originally Posted by captaink
Yup- 'Continental Breakfast' is code for Shelf-stable breakfast, common for pretty much any AM originator at an outstation with no catering facility.
Okay, thanks for the heads up. I think I will plan on stopping at Tim Horton's before the flight then!
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