Trip Report: comparison of Flagship service to/from USA to/from Tokyo Narita

My just completed business trip to Tokyo gave me the opportunity to directly compare the best quality, full fare service to/from NRT between American Airlines and Continental Airlines. (I am elite on CO, no status at all on AA.) American configures it's 777 with three classes of service (First, Business and Coach) while Continental's 777 has two classes, touting that it's "Business First" compares very favorably to if not exceeding first class service on other carriers.

The first thing to say is there was no clear winner in my mind. Both airlines have plusses and minuses about their service. Because of this, an overall subjective opinion is difficult. Instead, I'll compare specific items that still stand-out in my mind.

777 CONFIGURATION - clear winner AA:
The AA 1st section is configured with loads of room. Every place you turn there is a storage bin for you, making the accessibility of carry-on items a whole lot easier. Kudos also to AA for traditional air vents for each seat and for a bathroom in the front of the cabin - features sorely needed on CO's aircraft.

SEATS - toss up:
AA 1st uses a sleeper seat that reclines to a full 180 degrees, CO uses their Business first winged seat. This one is a tough call. 180 degrees (flat) is more of a cool idea than a great feature. I tried sleeping flat for a while. Not only was it way too uncomfortable for any real sleep (imagine sleeping across 4 chairs - yes it's "flat", but it's not a bed), but I also had the misfortune of having the flat mode cause a small pillbox to fall out of my pocket into the chair cushion. (Wow! What a black hole that is! Two FA's and I could not even figure out where it went, much less sift through the wires, gears and three months of used earplugs - yech! We gave up.) The ideal spot is a ¾ recline, which is what the CO seat is designed to do - as such, the CO seat is far more cushioned and comfortable. The ideal seat would be AA's layout (better spacing, more underseat storage front and back and AA's footrest (where the 180 was really a plus) with CO's actual chair.

ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM - toss up:
AA and CO have the same basic armrest video screen and the same basic 777 entertainment system. CO's system has the interactive features (video games, movie selection by title, shopping, etc) AA's seats each have a Hi-8mm VCP built in. The FA's walk around at the beginning of the flight and offer you a movie from an additional list of recent and classic titles. So while you can watch the system movies as the cycles repeat on all channels, you have this additional movie you can stop and start at will.

MEALS -really tough call / toss up:
It depends on what you like here. AA's meals were generally more opulent, CO's meals were more frequent with larger portions. Both carriers offered Japanese selections with CO's being a bit more authentic and complete courses at each meal.

AA (noon departure) Lunch: warm nuts, appetizer cart (caviar or smoked salmon), salad prepared at your seat with lobster tails, fresh bread & rolls, sorbet, entree selection of chateaubriand, veal with wild mushrooms, shrimp and scallops with risoto, then a fruit and cheese cart, an ice cream sundae cart, and Godiva chocolates. Dinner: a very "unique" mixed salad (lettuce pepper, corn, tomato, oregano cilantro vinaigrette) than no one had more than one bite of, then choice of mushroom leek soup or pineapple chicken with Asian slaw. This service was not as thorough as the first.

CO (evening departure) Dinner: warm nuts, appetizer cart (shrimp with papaya or assorted sushi), salad, fresh bread & rolls, entree selection of grilled veal chop, breast of chicken, grilled salmon, then a fruit and cheese cart, an ice cream sundae / mousse cart. Mid-flight snack (served as a full meal): finger sandwiches or soda noodles and rice, chocolate truffles. Brunch (a third full meal service) fruit plate, entrée of either a mushroom quiche or linguine with red clam sauce and vegetables, lemon tart cake for dessert.

SERVICE / FAs - another tough call here, slight edge to AA
It really depends on what you like, as there seemed to me two different philosophies at work here. AA had two FAs in the 1st class cabin. I knew them and they knew me. They were sweet, pleasant, personable and made the flight a much more friendly and intimate experience. As there were only 2, the services sometimes tended to take a bit longer to complete. CO's cabin was larger, and had an army of FAs to meet any and all of my needs. There were seven hot towel services (as opposed to AA's two). I couldn't take a sip of juice or wine without someone on top of me refilling my glass. The CO people were meticulous, sometimes to the point of silliness. (Every time the CO FA put the salt and pepper shakers on my tray, he made sure they were exactly parallel, and then he turned each one so the name Continental faced me.) The CO FAs were a bit too impersonal though, more like an army of servants than someone giving you personal attention. None of CO's FAs know that I have two boys at home age 3 and 5 but the AA FAs do. The amenity bags were similar, with AA using slightly higher quality stuff (Lip balm, mouthwash as opposed to tic-tacs, toothbrush and toothpaste in a hard plastic case instead of a plastic pouch). AA did make up for the cost by including a note instead of a razor, comb, or shoehorn - with the note explaining that these items are "available on request". Both airlines had complimentary slippers that were nearly identical, with the edge to CO's with a terry finish.
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About the only conclusion I can make is that a business class passenger should definitely book CO over AA because the CO service is comparable to AA's first, but if I had to choose again, I wouldn't base the choice on service.