American Is Introducing Special Meals On Domestic Flights

Unfortunately a low lactose meal isn't one of the options, so I'll be eating before departure and will avoid the crap they serve on board. I gotta agree with you Ben, there's no AAdvantage to AA's catering. I'm getting tired of the cookies, too. Can't they mix things up a bit?

It’s garbage, and special meals will be special garbage

I'd imagine the special meals would be garbage as well, though I'm definitely interested in what they're actually like, so please report back once you've had a chance. I'm in F for a flight in late Feb, so if it's worth it, I'll definitely request a special meal.

I doubt the special meals will be rotated often; it will be the same asian vegetables every time. This provides a fallback if the main options suck, but nothing more than that.

These meals must be pre-reserved at least 24hrs in advance. That means the option won't be available to most upgraders.

It would actually be a good strategy for AA to have quality meals that you must pre-reserve, and the usual take-it-or-leave-it slop if you don't pre-reserve. This would walk the tightrope AA wants: a quality first class experience for those paying for it, and corner-cutting for the upgraders.

I'm a vegetarian and a multi-year AA EXP who preorders when possible, and...while this all sounds good in theory, one huge problem with AA's implementation: they use the SAME DAMN DISH for a bunch of the special meals, which leads to a horrendous least-common-denominator approach!

For example the AVML, VGML, and VLML are the exact same thing, and frequently overlap with the BLML. Every time I've preordered the AVML in TATL/TPAC business class (whether departing the US or Europe/Asia) it winds up being an inedible pile of flavorless boiled vegetables on somewhat-overcooked rice. Always vegan, never with flavor. I've had to ask FAs on multiple occasions to remove the entree and just bring me a Y meal or one of the mid-flight snacks (e.g. I ate the instant noodles on ICN-DFW). I now just preorder from the standard options, always selecting the veg option. Tastes much better.

Contrast this with Delta (or BA, or anyone else really), where the "special" meals are ACTUALLY different across types...

Pat,

I've always believed that if I pre-order a special meal then I won't get upgraded.

And also that, in premium cabins, the special meals are not as good as the regular premium meals, just presented in a nicer way than the same thing in economy

@Gregg
I’m curious why you can’t eat the non-lactose meal.

Or is it that you need a teeny-tiny bit of lactose, but not too much?

Looks to me like a good spread of categories. But who knows what the quality will be like? I’m not holding my breath.

This is great news as I am Gluten Free and usually have a 50/50 shot at being able to eat on Domestic First Class flights, even when I do have the ability to pre-order.

I did just check for a flight where I used a Systemwide Upgrade (MIA-DCA) on 1/16 and I still don't see any special meal options. I guess I will call...

I'll give my two cents on the special meal options (GFML) offered by AA in Economy, Business, and First:

Economy to and from Paris in 2015 was great
Business to Paris in 2016 was great (chicken w/risotto and omelette)
First from Paris in 2016 was not great, as it was the same meal I had previously received flying from Paris in 2015 in Economy
First to London in 2016 was great and was the same set of dishes as what was received in Business from PHL, just plated differently
Business SFO-JFK was good - same GFML breakfast dish served on the international premium cabin flights

Why is there never a keto or low carb option? A lot of people eat this way...

Totally agree with AR. The biggest irritation has always been that (1) the same VGML is offered regardless of cabin and (2) the options never ever change. I can't tell you how tired I was of receiving the same tasteless VGML snack on the DFW-ICN flight, and how amused I was by the fact that in C and F (when they had F on this flight) it was the same tasteless snack served on a plate. One side perk of being a "free agent" lately has been the comparatively amazing VGML on DL domestic F.

I've had a vegeratian meal on LAX-MIA in August (flight was operated by a 77W, maybe that's why I was able to choose it?).

Meal was absolutely disgusting and made me wish I hadn't ordered it.

American is providing this for some time now. I have been ordering special hindu meal from (almost 4 - 5 months now) for my flight to clt and phl though its only there for domestic longhaul routes (i think more than 2000 or 2200 miles). Actually special meals are far better and huge portions. For hindu meal they are providing Indian non veg meal out of sfo and indian veg meal out of clt and phl (with dessert as 3 gullab jamuns with strawberries)

You instinct is correct. The food is inedible in first both domestically and long haul

RE introducing. Ridiculous that it was ever eliminated to the detriment of so many with dietary restrictions.

This whole food thing is laughable. Twenty years ago in American economy my wife and I ordered Shrimp Coctails, in advance, and they excellent. At that time American had a number of special meals you could order.

I'm really happy that I can finally get a vegan meal on a domestic D fare, but I hope it's actually a vegan one. Although I ordered a VGML (vegan vegetarian meal) on my Finnair flight from MIA to HEL, I was served a meal with honey and dairy in it. Although it didn't happen on my return flight to JFK!! I'm excited about this, because now I can buy a first-class ticket and get the full experience. Can't wait to try it!

Special meals are especially terrible on AA. Even in first class transatlantic. The FA proactively offered something from the standard menu.

Oh no! I see 'Bland' has been left off the new Special Meals list. Since this popular item had comprised 95% of what AA thinks we should eat, is this just an unfortunate oversight?

@ glenn t

No, "Bland" is clearly still on the list.

What is it with people who have the user name "Glenn"?

Special meals?!? I’ve been trying to submit an order for two upcoming (First Class) flights for over a week…the link says it’s temporarily unavailable. Anyone know what gives with that?

anyone having any luck ordering a special meal for domestic flights yet? haven't been able to for my flights...

good news for anyone trying. AA finally fixed the glitch that didn't allow the special meals to be saved after selecting it...finally working! yay!