Looks like yet another example of AA's consistently inconsistent premium product. I can't think of another major carrier that evidences such variety (speaking of int'l F & J) in:

1) check-in counter (sometimes a fancy segregated check-in area, sometimes not);

2) check-in documents (sometimes a fancy white or silver holder for the boarding pass, sometimes not);

3) invitation to lounge (sometimes provided, sometimes not; sometimes written, sometimes verbal);

4) lounge type (sometimes a Flagship Lounge, sometimes a foreign carrier's lounge, sometimes an Admirals Club);

5) lounge provisioning (sometimes food, sometimes not; sometimes open-bar, sometimes a two-drink "ration," sometimes just a lecture);

6) boarding process (sometimes two jetbridges, most often not; sometimes F & J are called first, other times not);

7) reading materials (sometimes newspapers, sometimes not);

8) pre-departure beverages (sometimes provided, sometimes not; sometimes a big choice; sometimes not);

9) seating configuration/comfort (some widebodies, some not; some 3 class/some 2 class; some sleeper suites/some "coffins"/some conventional seats; seat pitch all over the map; frequent changes to aircraft types/seating configurations on individual routes (I consider myself to be a frequent, knowledgeable int'l traveler, and have never been able to keep AA's variable seating configurations straight. In contrast, I always know what kind of a seating product I'm going to receive when I fly BA, CX, or LA in int'l F or J.)

10) "pre-flighting" of cabin (sometimes performed, sometimes not... with many seats discovered to be inoperative only after becoming airborne)

11) provision of amenity kits (sometimes provided, sometimes not)

12) in-flight food service (frequent, unpredictable cutbacks in food service, particularly with respect to "second" meals; similarly wide fluctuations in amount of "over-catering" performed to ensure adequate choices for all pax);

13) cabin crew quality (ranges from world class professional to hostile and threatening; problematic F/As appear to frequently bid the same flights, making the entire forward cabin a stressful environment);

14) arrival lounges (sometimes provided, sometimes not).

Why does anyone pay list price for a product with such inconsistent quality? I use AA's int'l forward cabin for award redemption/upgrades only, and nearly always fly the competition when on a revenue ticket.

If I knew that AA could deliver a consistently high level of service, I'd be back in a heart beat, but who wants to fork over several thousand bucks to play "air travel roulette?"