Originally Posted by CharlesMD

I don't know how often you fly in F, Pucci, but the employee loads on my flights last week were 3/9 and 2/7 based on the boarding passes I saw in the coat cabinet.

In the Coat Cupboard? What on earth were you doing in there? No, it's probably more information than my hairdresser or I can handle!

I cannot argue your observations, but I cannot argue mine either. I don't actually fly in First any more than I do in any other part of the aircraft, but I see the manifest (I have to, it's my job). It is quite possible that one the flights that you have been travelling that there were managers (can't be lower) who were there on Business. I am surprised at the number as they must have catered the aircraft sufficiently otherwise no one gets to sit there. I am also concerned at various security issues that your post implies. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

I also disagree with your statement that AA's transatlantic F is not as nice as BAs. Sure, AA doesn't have Anya Hindmarch wash bags and the menus are similar. But on AA you get Bose headsets, a wider seat, and excellent food (in my opinion). BAs food is a bit hit or miss and often too creative-- I'll take my smoked salmon, lobster claw salad, and filet mignon any day over the red onion timbale with pepper coulis and Vineet Bhatia's Indian chicken with spiced noodles (how gross was that!). And nothing beat an AA steak.

I was so surprised at this that I actually checked, and you have misquoted me. I did not make any disparaging remarks about the quality of American's food - I said that the product had been downgraded. I stand by that - even the menu that produced confirms that. Once upon a time the Smoked Salmon offering was Caviar (I used to eat as much as they would give me), the salad could have a lobster tail and smoked salmon if you wanted it, and the main course was carved in front of you. Now to you a steak might be a gastronomic experience, to others it may be something that they can eat anywhere anytime. I am unsure what you mean by gross, but presume that this is you telling us that you do not like it. Ok, let me toss another thought to you. AA picks up most of it's food in the First Word. I do not think that parts of the Carribean and Latin America apart, AA picks up First Class food from poorer countries. The meus have to reflect different tastes from around the world with an emphasis on being British. Our hot bacon butties are always devoured - (the flight deck rarely gets a look-n) but you can understand that to some of our passengers these are highly distateful - so I might add does steak. Is it not true that one man's meat is another man's poison?

As to the Bose headsets, I agree with you, and I assure you that I have mentioned this in higher places (well in BA if not here)[b]

While we're at it, could you tell us where they store the pillows for F passengers?