No BOS-LHR AA metal flights for Summer 2013 (confirmed)
Rumor has it that AA will stop BOS-LHR service this spring. Yes, that makes it inconvenient for those of us who live here to go to London. But, it really hurts travel to Africa which pretty much requires LHR.
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 1, 13 at 6:35 pm..
Reason: consolidate and retain original post title
OP, if you heard a rumor you ought to say where you heard it. There is a big difference between, 'some guy on airliners.net', 'FAs chatting to each other' and 'my good friend works for AA scheduling'. All three sources could be right or wrong, but it makes a difference and is worth noting.
Until more is heard, I see no reason to put any stock in the thread.
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There's no chance they cut it anytime soon. The BA/AA TATL JV dictates that AA fly a certain percentage of TATL seats. There are also (believe it or not) people who connect from one of the hubs to LHR through BOS (those poor people ). I had a couple doing HNL-LAX-BOS-LHR all on AA on one of my LAX-BOS flights (all in Y , and I have a much higher tolerance for Y than the average FTer ). I think BOS-CDG is a goner personally (especially with DL starting it seasonally this summer alongside AF's year round service). The flight didn't seem well patronized the one time I've seen it boarded at BOS (and yes I know the plural of anecdote is not data ).
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There's no chance they cut it anytime soon. The BA/AA TATL JV dictates that AA fly a certain percentage of TATL seats. There are also (believe it or not) people who connect from one of the hubs to LHR through BOS (those poor people ). I had a couple doing HNL-LAX-BOS-LHR all on AA on one of my LAX-BOS flights (all in Y , and I have a much higher tolerance for Y than the average FTer ). I think BOS-CDG is a goner personally (especially with DL starting it seasonally this summer alongside AF's year round service). The flight didn't seem well patronized the one time I've seen it boarded at BOS (and yes I know the plural of anecdote is not data ).
Not to be pedantic but DL isn't "re-starting" BOS-CDG, rather DL metal is resuming service on BOS-CDG. Through the immunized joint venture with AF-KLM DL has service BOS-CDG and is party to capacity planning and marketing decisions just isn't currently involved in operating the flight. Same could be said of AF regarding any DL operated transatlantic flight. Also worth noting DL is adding the second season flight to AMS as best I can tell, 1x daily 332, augmenting 1x 333. Before the merger NW operated yearound 1x 333 and 1x 752.
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AA has horrible BOS-LHR service. It used to be on 777 equip, now its on a 757 from 1980 that smells like grandpa, has no seat back IFE. The ONLY good thing about this route on AA is the J/F class. Personally, this is the BEST route to enjoy J on as you have a cabin of 8 or so at most in the new J seats.
BA still flys a 777 and 747, and has seat back IFE. The only reason I still fly AA is because I can order a proper bloody mary on the AM flight. BA serves canned purred tomato juice. UGH
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AA has horrible BOS-LHR service. It used to be on 777 equip, now its on a 757 from 1980 that smells like grandpa, has no seat back IFE. The ONLY good thing about this route on AA is the J/F class. Personally, this is the BEST route to enjoy J on as you have a cabin of 8 or so at most in the new J seats.
BA still flys a 777 and 747, and has seat back IFE. The only reason I still fly AA is because I can order a proper bloody mary on the AM flight. BA serves canned purred tomato juice. UGH
The tomato juice purrs? Unless you are really under 12 years old, these planes are younger than you are.
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...The ONLY good thing about this route on AA is the J/F class. Personally, this is the BEST route to enjoy J on as you have a cabin of 8 or so at most in the new J seats.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonFlyer1624
AA has horrible BOS-LHR service. It used to be on 777 equip, now its on a 757 from 1980 that smells like grandpa, has no seat back IFE.
AA was still taking delivery of brand new 757s back around 2002. I remember flying on new 757 aircraft OAK-JFK, another route long gone. Maybe they'll rotate one of those in for you.
Seat back IFE is no longer a deal breaker with me as I bring my own portable devices. Stopped relying on airline-supplied entertainment years ago.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom911
Seat back IFE is no longer a deal breaker with me as I bring my own portable devices. Stopped relying on airline-supplied entertainment years ago.
Judging from the number of people watching AA-provided IFE on a transcon in J, or any transatlantic on any airline, the vast majority doesn't. AA seems to have learned this as 100% of the new transcon and longhaul airplanes are IFE-equipped in all seats.
Rumor has it that AA will stop BOS-LHR service this spring. Yes, that makes it inconvenient for those of us who live here to go to London. But, it really hurts travel to Africa which pretty much requires LHR.
I have no idea what plans AA has, but it would seem odd to me to operate BOS-LHR during the winter months and then stop doing so at the start of the busy spring/summer season.
I'm one of those people that have openly speculated about AA stopping TATL service from Boston. It's been sad to watch the decline from the closure of the Flagship Lounge, watching the 777s go, then the final humiliation of the 757s. When the TATL mileage accrual rules were normalized I figured that was the final step to AA handing the route over to BA entirely.
The good news is that we appear to have hit bottom, though I say that with trepidation lest the fates decide to show me how bad things can get. That said, if you're in the cheap seats and you don't have an eVIP handy, BA tends to be the better bet. Plus, BA will get you there a tiny bit earlier on the daytime flight if, like me, you do an overnight transit in LHR... it gives me time for a pint and a curry at the White Horse pub (They'll even pick you up at T5 if you give them a call, then drop you at your hotel when you're done. LHR Sheraton is close http://oldenglishpub.co.uk/)
I'm one of those people that have openly speculated about AA stopping TATL service from Boston. It's been sad to watch the decline from the closure of the Flagship Lounge, watching the 777s go, then the final humiliation of the 757s. When the TATL mileage accrual rules were normalized I figured that was the final step to AA handing the route over to BA entirely.
The AA pilots mistakenly thought the same thing - that the joint venture with BA would spell reductions in TATL service on AA metal, and thankfully, they were incorrect.
When AA had to compete with BA (prior to the grant of ATI for the JBA), AA had to fly 777s to try to attract the high fares. And let's not beat around the bush: Many people prefer BA's seats (especially J) and service to AA's seats and service. Once AA was free to conspire with BA (to violate the antitrust laws with immunity), AA and BA could jointly decide which plane each should use from each gateway. For BOS, that meant plenty of BA 747s and for AA, some 75Ls instead of the 777s. Recall that most of those 777-centric years were years in which AA lost lots of money (as it competed with BA). AA had far too many premium seats on AA metal for the market.
The good news for AA pilots and passengers is that AA now flies more daily flights to London than AA did prior to the JBA. Incidentally, so does BA. It's just that some of those AA flights are 763s and 75Ls instead of all-777s like it was for a short while.
, and I have a much higher tolerance for Y than the average FTer 
).
