Jan 1, 2020, 8:30 pm
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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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.
What to Expect - Regional:
Keep in mind that this list is not entirely inclusive, and there may be certain exceptions and/or abnormalities.
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.
Additional Information:
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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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!)
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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Combined 2020 AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
Jan 12, 2020, 8:46 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,198
Both are good options. I'd probably do the short rib but I've had and like both.
Jan 12, 2020, 5:12 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 307
I had the Beef Short Rib with Wine sauce CLT SEA. I was in a comfort food mood, and it more or less delivered. I appreciate, for the most part, the switch to short rib from steaks -- they understandably have an easier time providing a consistent product with it.
Jan 12, 2020, 8:12 pm
#34
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 224
LGA/ORD
7.3pam Dep. Breakfast pre order: fruit plate & AVML.
Both great fruit was fresh & AVML was indian, spicy, & had a sizable rice dumpling cake with 3 different veg curries. Bread on the side was just pita but warm.
Both great fruit was fresh & AVML was indian, spicy, & had a sizable rice dumpling cake with 3 different veg curries. Bread on the side was just pita but warm.
Jan 13, 2020, 10:16 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,481
I had to go to the Bay Area this past week for a family emergency, and prices were absolutely horrible so I ended up doing IAD-LAX-SJC on AA, and then SFO-IAD on AS.
On the AA IAD-LAX, the service was absolutely horrible. They ran out of BOB meals (not the snacks/snack boxes, but the Zoes meals) just after the exit row. They did a full beverage run after departure, and then I overheard one FA scold another FA for suggesting they do a coffee run after the BOB clean up. That same FA stamped her foot down at the people sitting in the exit row and said "I know the other FA already told you once before to put everything in the overhead, I am not going to tell you again".
On the AA IAD-LAX, the service was absolutely horrible. They ran out of BOB meals (not the snacks/snack boxes, but the Zoes meals) just after the exit row. They did a full beverage run after departure, and then I overheard one FA scold another FA for suggesting they do a coffee run after the BOB clean up. That same FA stamped her foot down at the people sitting in the exit row and said "I know the other FA already told you once before to put everything in the overhead, I am not going to tell you again".
I believe that a second full beverage service is a required service element for AA Y on transcons.
Jan 13, 2020, 11:57 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
Make sure to include a description of said FA. This is totally unacceptable and should be reported to AA Customer Relations.
Jan 14, 2020, 9:06 pm
#37
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
JFK-MIA
767-300
Lunch
MIA based crew
PDB of water/OJ only but special requests were granted.
Another pic of that spicy Calabrian chile pasta.......these menus are getting so old and tired.
767-300
Lunch
MIA based crew
PDB of water/OJ only but special requests were granted.
Another pic of that spicy Calabrian chile pasta.......these menus are getting so old and tired.
Last edited by AANYC1981; Jan 14, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Jan 17, 2020, 1:04 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Dallas, Texas
Programs: AA, Southwest, Hilton, Hyatt
Posts: 237
On the AA IAD-LAX, the service was absolutely horrible. They ran out of BOB meals (not the snacks/snack boxes, but the Zoes meals) just after the exit row. They did a full beverage run after departure, and then I overheard one FA scold another FA for suggesting they do a coffee run after the BOB clean up. That same FA stamped her foot down at the people sitting in the exit row and said "I know the other FA already told you once before to put everything in the overhead, I am not going to tell you again".
Jan 17, 2020, 7:44 pm
#39
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
James Beard Foundation Inspired Menu Selections
Anyone have experience with the "Created and inspired by our partnership with the James Beard Foundation... AA Chef... " (Sarah Grueneberg for my post) meal option?
Opted to select it to be adventurous.
This is the first time I've noticed a James Beard Foundation inspired meal option on flights where it's available.
- AA 179 (JFK-SFO) January 19, 2020
- Artichoke ravioli served with blistered cherry tomato sauce and green olive pistachio pesto
Opted to select it to be adventurous.
This is the first time I've noticed a James Beard Foundation inspired meal option on flights where it's available.
Jan 17, 2020, 7:47 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Several posters have posted about this in Combined 2020 AA Domestic Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
Jan 17, 2020, 8:16 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 106
PIT-PHX. AA 449. January 4th.
Had the option of the southwestern pasta or beef short rib. I decided to try out the diabetic meal instead.
Had the option of the southwestern pasta or beef short rib. I decided to try out the diabetic meal instead.
Jan 18, 2020, 2:36 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,486
Anyone have experience with the "Created and inspired by our partnership with the James Beard Foundation... AA Chef... " (Sarah Grueneberg for my post) meal option?
Opted to select it to be adventurous.
This is the first time I've noticed a James Beard Foundation inspired meal option on flights where it's available.
- AA 179 (JFK-SFO) January 19, 2020
- Artichoke ravioli served with blistered cherry tomato sauce and green olive pistachio pesto
Opted to select it to be adventurous.
This is the first time I've noticed a James Beard Foundation inspired meal option on flights where it's available.
Jan 18, 2020, 2:42 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,486
AA300 JFK-LAX: 8.30pm
Dinner
A321
First Class, 3A
Never saw the “Light Refreshment”, didn’t appear to be offered, which was a shame.
Dinner
A321
First Class, 3A
Never saw the “Light Refreshment”, didn’t appear to be offered, which was a shame.
Jan 18, 2020, 6:47 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
AA 1638 DEN-ORD
1/13/20 14:20
Choice of cheese plate or guacamole bean dip(?). From the sound of it the first half of FC took the cheese plate. This must be where all the cheese cubes went from the ACs as you had cheddar, swiss and another mild white cheese.
AA 1387 ORD-DEN
1/16/20 20:45
Took this same flight a week prior and was served mixed nuts as well as a warm cookie. This time around I was given nothing, so not sure what happened this second time around. FA was non-existent and the Y FA had to come back and do his duties.
1/13/20 14:20
Choice of cheese plate or guacamole bean dip(?). From the sound of it the first half of FC took the cheese plate. This must be where all the cheese cubes went from the ACs as you had cheddar, swiss and another mild white cheese.
AA 1387 ORD-DEN
1/16/20 20:45
Took this same flight a week prior and was served mixed nuts as well as a warm cookie. This time around I was given nothing, so not sure what happened this second time around. FA was non-existent and the Y FA had to come back and do his duties.
Jan 19, 2020, 12:14 pm
#45
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 462
PHX-KOA
Finally loaded the pre-order for the PHX-KOA February flights. Any recommendations? There is no option for a special meal so it will have to be one of the three:
Lunch (PHX to KOA)
- Steamed Sea Bass
With cilantro jasmine rice and ginger soy glaze - Beet Ravioli
sauteed wild mushrooms, asparagus, creamy mushroom sauce - Hoisin Braised Beef Short Rib
ginger polenta, sauteed kale, hoisin sauce
