I rarely fly First, but this Saturday it worked out to be cheaper than coach, so off I went. PDBs on both short hop flights and in the air, with a stiff pour. DCA-CLT-ILM on brand spanking new aircraft. Meanwhile AA insults my intelligence and my ears with their (yes they were great once upon a time) MD80s, which shatter everyone's ear drums within half a mile.

The only fly in the ointment was a new AA policy. No limes. So no G&T, and a not entirely correct rum and coke. On UA I know to bring my own presliced limes, but US never struck me as not following the price changes.

I know what I'm getting with USAir and that's good enough for me. This time I got even more than food enough. AA, although generally alright, has a few edges that remind me of UA. We'll see. It may be called AA in future but US bought AA and AA, as shown by its decrepit aircraft, wasn't exactly sunshine and ponies in the actual business of running an airline successfully.

EDIT: I'm aware I was on an express flight to ILM, but service was exceptional and the aircraft must have been only weeks old. I've done mostly US on international routes and always in Y and I felt I got what I paid for. On UA you pay more for the same or less and you will like it!