Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > American Airlines | AAdvantage
Reload this Page >

Combined 2020 AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Jan 1, 2020, 8:30 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: JDiver
AA/US Domestic Dining (including Canada, Mexico, & the Caribbean)

Link to The Official American Airlines Onboard Service Policy Guide, by Gary Leff on January 22, 2020. Comprehensive charts and information.

Link to Combined 2020 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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.

Welcome to the 2020 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.
[COLOR]
Print Wikipost

Combined 2020 AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 4, 2020, 2:00 pm
  #181  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
JFK-MIA
LAA 763
Lunch

Full PDB for me but not the other mask wearing hypochondriacs who dont realize if youre not sick the mask does very little for you 🙄

Zoes dish again because Im so tired of the AA lunch of lasagna or the awful tex/mex chicken salad


AANYC1981 is offline  
Old Mar 4, 2020, 9:50 pm
  #182  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,241
Originally Posted by BlooJoo
Here it is! Wonderful meal.
Wow that actually looks really good, normally I avoid AA pasta as I find it meh at best, I just changed my selection on an upcoming flight to this and looking forward to it now.
ryan182 is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2020, 2:29 am
  #183  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
MIA-LGA
LAA Oasis 738 (I hate these seats!)
Full PDB offered

Short rib and mac and cheese


AANYC1981 is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2020, 7:02 am
  #184  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: ORD, sadly...
Programs: AA Exec Plat
Posts: 599
Originally Posted by PremiumSeat
After dinner, strawberry (yuck! please stick with chocolate or vanilla) ice cream was offered; I declined.
I have to disagree - strawberry has been a welcome change. (I do love vanilla though) :-)
GrumpyYoungMan is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2020, 1:12 pm
  #185  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: CLE
Programs: UA, AA Plat Pro, DL, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 479
About a week and a half ago, I had the kosher breakfast on DFW-MIA. The warmed part was fine, but the rest of the meal was frozen solid. I got the cinnamon bun to thaw to an edible state by putting them in the warm bag the hot portion came in, but the fruit didn't thaw... and frozen oranges are very bitter! Hopefully next time, they take it out a little sooner to thaw?
plinth857 is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2020, 1:41 pm
  #186  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 199
ORD-DFW
AA1106
Lunch

Wife had cheese enchilada, I had asian vegetarian. Both were tasty.

Cheese enchilada

Cheese enchilada

Asian vegetarian

Asian vegetarian

Asian vegetarian

Asian vegetarian
jazzhou and GrumpyYoungMan like this.
jacisme is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2020, 2:00 pm
  #187  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,065
Are nutritional values only stated on special pre-ordered items? I've never seen them before on any food items.
cmd320 likes this.
enviroian is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2020, 6:33 pm
  #188  
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Hyatt Explorist, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 315
I'm flying JFK-LAX in F on a 9:30pm departure. Does anyone have an idea of what I can expect on board?
xjaehyun is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2020, 7:44 pm
  #189  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Originally Posted by xjaehyun
I'm flying JFK-LAX in F on a 9:30pm departure. Does anyone have an idea of what I can expect on board?
If it’s anything less than a full multi-course meal then AA should bury itself out of shame. You should also have access to FFD which may be an even better option.
enviroian likes this.
cmd320 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2020, 6:31 pm
  #190  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai , UAE and Leeds, UK
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum, BA Bronze, And EK silver
Posts: 161
Hi everyone, Sorry if this was covered before:
I am due to travel on First from PHX to CLT which departs at 11.55 pm and arrives at 7:02AM. Will there be any form of meal service? or Will nothing be served what so ever?
Just wondering if its worth cancelling the trip and booking in economy instead!

Cheers
den3aah is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2020, 7:09 pm
  #191  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Originally Posted by den3aah
Hi everyone, Sorry if this was covered before:
I am due to travel on First from PHX to CLT which departs at 11.55 pm and arrives at 7:02AM. Will there be any form of meal service? or Will nothing be served what so ever?
Just wondering if its worth cancelling the trip and booking in economy instead!

Cheers
Youre not going to get any real food, no. Depending on the aircraft type, it may or may not be worth F.
den3aah likes this.
cmd320 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2020, 7:25 pm
  #192  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PNS
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA
Posts: 700
Originally Posted by cmd320
Youre not going to get any real food, no. Depending on the aircraft type, it may or may not be worth F.
+1 agree. You are not going to get anything of substance and most will just want to sleep. Up to you ($$ wise) if you can be comfortable in Y compared to F for sleep or work.
den3aah likes this.
AeRoSpaceman is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2020, 8:21 pm
  #193  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai , UAE and Leeds, UK
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum, BA Bronze, And EK silver
Posts: 161
Thanks guys. The difference between the Y and F was $150. The act is an A321. Perhaps I can try and get an earlier flight on the day via same day changes? Or is it not worth it ?
den3aah is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2020, 8:26 pm
  #194  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,241
Originally Posted by den3aah
Hi everyone, Sorry if this was covered before:
I am due to travel on First from PHX to CLT which departs at 11.55 pm and arrives at 7:02AM. Will there be any form of meal service? or Will nothing be served what so ever?
Just wondering if its worth cancelling the trip and booking in economy instead!

Cheers
I think you'll get some sort of a small snack but really wouldn't book F over Y on this type of flight for a meal. In fact if you're booking AA F over Y solely for the food on any domestic flight...frankly you're just making bad choices all around. By midnight surely you've already eaten and this is a short red-eye where F is "worth it" for the larger seat and space to make it possible to get a few hours of sleep. If you can sleep in an MCE/Exit seat then maybe its not worth the extra money (I can't sleep in domestic F or Y so I just refuse to take these types of flights) but really the food shouldn't be a deciding factor here IMO.

​​​​​​
Originally Posted by den3aah
Thanks guys. The difference between the Y and F was $150. The act is an A321. Perhaps I can try and get an earlier flight on the day via same day changes? Or is it not worth it ?
Personally for $150 on that flight I'd do it without question, again just for the space and because that's really not a big delta, but comes down to how you value $150 vs the extra room and comfort of F vs Y.
ryan182 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2020, 8:30 pm
  #195  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai , UAE and Leeds, UK
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum, BA Bronze, And EK silver
Posts: 161
Originally Posted by cmd320
Youre not going to get any real food, no. Depending on the aircraft type, it may or may not be worth F.
I completely understand. My priority was to get a larger seat and hence better chance of sleeping. I take it that food is actually abysmal generally speaking so Ive lowered my expectations ....

Thanks for the help.

Best wishes


Originally Posted by AeRoSpaceman
+1 agree. You are not going to get anything of substance and most will just want to sleep. Up to you ($$ wise) if you can be comfortable in Y compared to F for sleep or work.
Originally Posted by ryan182
I think you'll get some sort of a small snack but really wouldn't book F over Y on this type of flight for a meal. In fact if you're booking AA F over Y solely for the food on any domestic flight...frankly you're just making bad choices all around. By midnight surely you've already eaten and this is a short red-eye where F is "worth it" for the larger seat and space to make it possible to get a few hours of sleep. If you can sleep in an MCE/Exit seat then maybe its not worth the extra money (I can't sleep in domestic F or Y so I just refuse to take these types of flights) but really the food shouldn't be a deciding factor here IMO.
AeRoSpaceman likes this.
den3aah is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.