BA or AA First
Jul 11, 2017, 7:10 am
#47
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,924
Jul 11, 2017, 8:29 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,198
(Also if it's Ł1k per person then there are only four sectors).
Jul 11, 2017, 8:50 am
#50
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,702
Can you mix and match? So BA one way and AA the other. If I was genuinely undecided, that is what I would do.
But then you have the matter of deciding which way round. On balance I think I'd do AA out and BA back. I prefer the CX F lounge at LHR (which you could use flying AA) to the CCR at T5, but it maybe because it's more of a novelty with it being quite new. I just prefer the more open dining area (which has always been very quiet when I was there, than the dark booths in the CCR, and the food is also better. You can then do the CCR in JFK.
Another novelty factor mentioned already is F on the B747. Yes, it's nice to try but it's really a weak F cabin these days, even by BA standards. Some of the seats are woeful, I usually settle for upper deck on that aircraft and fly J.
But then you have the matter of deciding which way round. On balance I think I'd do AA out and BA back. I prefer the CX F lounge at LHR (which you could use flying AA) to the CCR at T5, but it maybe because it's more of a novelty with it being quite new. I just prefer the more open dining area (which has always been very quiet when I was there, than the dark booths in the CCR, and the food is also better. You can then do the CCR in JFK.
Another novelty factor mentioned already is F on the B747. Yes, it's nice to try but it's really a weak F cabin these days, even by BA standards. Some of the seats are woeful, I usually settle for upper deck on that aircraft and fly J.
Jul 11, 2017, 11:27 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, AA Gold, A3 Gold, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,251
The above bit, if I'm reading as you intended, is not quite right about Flagship lounge access (not talking about dining). This is not accessible to J (unless also OneWorld Emerald) and is not accessible to Sapphire (unless already flying F). In both respects, it's operating like BA's Galleries First (not Galleries Club). I prefer Galleries First to what I've experienced of the Flagship lounge, on almost everything from space to drinks selection to self-service dining options.
The lounge that AA uses for J/Sapphire is the Admirals Club, an often truly swarming place that, from my recollection, makes Galleries Club look like an "oasis of calm."
The lounge that AA uses for J/Sapphire is the Admirals Club, an often truly swarming place that, from my recollection, makes Galleries Club look like an "oasis of calm."
I also suspect you've not been in the new Flagship lounge at JFK from your comments. It has changed quite considerably. I was there last week and would happily use that lounge over any BA lounge in JFK, although there is more traffic than in the CCR (although this may change when BA finish the T7 renovations!)
Jul 11, 2017, 11:35 am
#52
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,660
Incorrect. This changed with the recent relaunch of the Flagship lounge. Flagship lounge is accessible to people flying J and OneWorld Sapphire. It's a recent change: Flagship Lounge Access Rules on AA.com
I also suspect you've not been in the new Flagship lounge at JFK from your comments. It has changed quite considerably. I was there last week and would happily use that lounge over any BA lounge in JFK, although there is more traffic than in the CCR.
I also suspect you've not been in the new Flagship lounge at JFK from your comments. It has changed quite considerably. I was there last week and would happily use that lounge over any BA lounge in JFK, although there is more traffic than in the CCR.
I was last there a few months ago (probably end of February). It was in a new space (or an expanded space from whatever it was), but I don't think it had the dining facility open yet. I was impressed that it was much better than before, and that for the first time they had made an effort on better quality wines and so forth. It sounds like it is worth a re-visit.
Jul 11, 2017, 11:45 am
#53
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, AA Gold, A3 Gold, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,251
Okay, thanks. I'm surprised about the change in access, and would also be surprised if it's not pretty crowded, now handling everyone who is F/J/EMD/SPH.
I was last there a few months ago (probably end of February). It was in a new space (or an expanded space from whatever it was), but I don't think it had the dining facility open yet. I was impressed that it was much better than before, and that for the first time they had made an effort on better quality wines and so forth. It sounds like it is worth a re-visit.
I was last there a few months ago (probably end of February). It was in a new space (or an expanded space from whatever it was), but I don't think it had the dining facility open yet. I was impressed that it was much better than before, and that for the first time they had made an effort on better quality wines and so forth. It sounds like it is worth a re-visit.
I didn't find it that crowded last week and we were in it twice in one day - first thing in the morning following a transcon arrival from LAX. At 7:30 we were the only ones in the lounge and showered etc before heading into Manhattan. We were back again around 8pm for the 10:25pm departure to LHR in J and it was busier, but still lots of room to sit and spread out. Certainly more space / less people that I usually find in Galleries First at LHR however a sample size of 2 visits is hardly very reliable so YMMV!
There is still the Admirals Club and that's accessible to OneWorld Sapphire and those in J which helps with space.
If you were there in Feb then the full space wouldn't have been opened up at that point. It's certainly worth a revisit - if you have access to the Flagship Dining (this is only available to those flying F and AA Concierge Key members) it's worth a shot. I was impressed as have a few others who have posted trip reports etc.
Jul 23, 2018, 4:25 am
#54
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,347
ETA: the same offer to CKs was extended again in 2019
Last edited by ikwia; Mar 31, 2019 at 3:39 pm