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PLEASE: DO NOT POST OVERSIZED IMAGES; PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE AND REPEAT IMAGES IN YOUR QUOTED POST.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.
[COLOR]
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)
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,862
He later made a stupid joke when I ordered a Glenlivet and said, "It's Glenlivet 12, right?" I told him that, yes, I assume that's what AA has, as they always do, and he said, "Oh, I think I have Glenlivet 24 tonight" and placed two minis in front of me. I really don't understand the cold treatment pre-departure, followed by the bad comedy act in the air.

(I thought it was funny but I imagine your previous interactions clouded your view of him or maybe his delivery was just bad.)

#62
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,949
Nobody interested in this topic should miss View From the Wing’s super informative and useful The Official American Airlines Onboard Service Policy Guide, by Gary Leff on January 22, 2020. Link
(Added to the Wikipost.)
(Added to the Wikipost.)

#63
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 19,769

#64
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PPro, UA Plat, HHonors Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 30
AA 302 JFK-LAX 1830-2209 A321T
Had the Artichoke ravioli served with blistered cherry tomato sauce and green olive pistachio pesto. Was solid.
Had the Artichoke ravioli served with blistered cherry tomato sauce and green olive pistachio pesto. Was solid.

#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,028
what a lazy clown. I would have reported him. Far too often I have seen the same thing. Pure utter laziness. Its a published benefit dude. Get off your beehind.

#66
Cookies and milk today in domestic FC!
Was offered a cookie AND MILK in FC today PHX-PDX.
Never seen milk with my AA cookies!
Anyone else...???
Never seen milk with my AA cookies!
Anyone else...???

#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,028

#69
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
It appears that the domestic salad entrees are finally being plated on much larger flat plates instead of those casserole dishes. Nice to hear!

#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,390
LAX-DFW
AA 1784
789
8:35a-1:40p
January 24, 2020
Back on AA this weekend only because I had an expiring Business Extra RT certificate. After a pleasant 45 minutes in the QF lounge, back to the real world of "AA service".
Despite pre-ordering the Hindu meal, FA didn't acknowledge and simply asked me which of the regular options I'd like. When I asked about my special Hindu meal, he first said that he didn't have one, then claimed that catering only loaded one vegetarian meal and that was for someone else. After a few rounds of back and forth, he disappeared into the galley, came back and claimed that he found it. Fast forward 10 minutes and this is what I got... oatmeal with a carefully placed HNML post-it on my napkin. LOL. Uh-huh. I walked up my aisle and saw at least two other pax with the same oatmeal. Not sure what games this FA was playing or if this is now the standard non-Kosher "special" regardless of what you order.

I just picked at the fruit and cinnamon bun since I was spending the next 5 hours in the Flagship Lounge. Butter chicken with pita from the Tandoori Bar was tasty.

Four hours later, brisket hash with sweet potatoes, garlic mash potatoes and roasted carrots. Pretty good.

DFW-YUL
AA 3710
E75
7:00p-11:25p
January 24, 2020
OMG, 1,500 miles in an E75. On the other hand, excellent service from a pleasant Eagle FA.
AA 1784
789
8:35a-1:40p
January 24, 2020
Back on AA this weekend only because I had an expiring Business Extra RT certificate. After a pleasant 45 minutes in the QF lounge, back to the real world of "AA service".
Despite pre-ordering the Hindu meal, FA didn't acknowledge and simply asked me which of the regular options I'd like. When I asked about my special Hindu meal, he first said that he didn't have one, then claimed that catering only loaded one vegetarian meal and that was for someone else. After a few rounds of back and forth, he disappeared into the galley, came back and claimed that he found it. Fast forward 10 minutes and this is what I got... oatmeal with a carefully placed HNML post-it on my napkin. LOL. Uh-huh. I walked up my aisle and saw at least two other pax with the same oatmeal. Not sure what games this FA was playing or if this is now the standard non-Kosher "special" regardless of what you order.

I just picked at the fruit and cinnamon bun since I was spending the next 5 hours in the Flagship Lounge. Butter chicken with pita from the Tandoori Bar was tasty.

Four hours later, brisket hash with sweet potatoes, garlic mash potatoes and roasted carrots. Pretty good.

DFW-YUL
AA 3710
E75
7:00p-11:25p
January 24, 2020
OMG, 1,500 miles in an E75. On the other hand, excellent service from a pleasant Eagle FA.

Last edited by SFO777; Jan 27, 20 at 8:08 am

#71
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TUS
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 518
DCA-DFW
AA 1441
738
1:44p-4:28p
January 24, 2020
Finally got around to trying the Zoe's pre-order plate. The mozzarella and hummus were very good. The prosciutto was borderline inedible due to the amount of gristle. The rest was unmemorable. I probably wouldn't order it again.
AA 1441
738
1:44p-4:28p
January 24, 2020
Finally got around to trying the Zoe's pre-order plate. The mozzarella and hummus were very good. The prosciutto was borderline inedible due to the amount of gristle. The rest was unmemorable. I probably wouldn't order it again.


#72
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PNS
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA
Posts: 696
DCA-DFW
AA 1441
738
1:44p-4:28p
January 24, 2020
Finally got around to trying the Zoe's pre-order plate. The mozzarella and hummus were very good. The prosciutto was borderline inedible due to the amount of gristle. The rest was unmemorable. I probably wouldn't order it again.

AA 1441
738
1:44p-4:28p
January 24, 2020
Finally got around to trying the Zoe's pre-order plate. The mozzarella and hummus were very good. The prosciutto was borderline inedible due to the amount of gristle. The rest was unmemorable. I probably wouldn't order it again.


#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,390
And back...
YUL-ORD
AA 2956 operated by SkyWest
CRJ-700
6:30a-8:00a
January 26, 2020
Ancient two row 6 J seat CR7 that may be been United Express at one time.
PDB? Only for the cockpit as it was clearly too much trouble for this gem of an FA to bother with 6 J pax and only 25 minutes sitting at the gate and so much social media to check on her iPhone.


Food in the ORD Flagship Lounge looked much better than the DFW spreads. A little breakfast at 8:30a...

... and lunch at 11:15am

ORD-LAX
AA 2744
A321
12:00p-2:25p
January 26, 2020
For a little variety, I order the Muslim meal. Hummus starter was great. The main? not so much.

Baklava bites were tasty.

Excellent service with frequent drink top-ups, although a little surprised that the curtain stayed open the entire flight.
YUL-ORD
AA 2956 operated by SkyWest
CRJ-700
6:30a-8:00a
January 26, 2020
Ancient two row 6 J seat CR7 that may be been United Express at one time.
PDB? Only for the cockpit as it was clearly too much trouble for this gem of an FA to bother with 6 J pax and only 25 minutes sitting at the gate and so much social media to check on her iPhone.


Food in the ORD Flagship Lounge looked much better than the DFW spreads. A little breakfast at 8:30a...

... and lunch at 11:15am

ORD-LAX
AA 2744
A321
12:00p-2:25p
January 26, 2020
For a little variety, I order the Muslim meal. Hummus starter was great. The main? not so much.

Baklava bites were tasty.

Excellent service with frequent drink top-ups, although a little surprised that the curtain stayed open the entire flight.


#75
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Shouldnt these Skywest CR7s be all 9F by now?
Ive been screwed by these planes with downgrades from FC and couldnt even get my original MCE seat back and was back by the toilet.
Ive been screwed by these planes with downgrades from FC and couldnt even get my original MCE seat back and was back by the toilet.
