Originally Posted by
Eujeanie
"Yes. If the fare on an AA ticket drops you can call them and ask for a travel credit. It will appear in your AAdvantage account. I don't know if AA can issue travel credits without an AAdvantage account like AS can (I've never needed to with AA)."
We actually do both have AA accounts, but they are long depleted. Will figure it out if and when the time comes. Hopefully it won't.
The travel credit is identified by a ticket number, and does not need to be tied to an AAdvantage account. If you do have an account, the credit will show there but that is just a convenience, not a requirement.
WRT the original question, I prefer the seat on AS. The AA domestic seats wreck my back without some sort of lumbar support that I have to supply myself. I used to have a clear preference for the food on AS but in the last year I found them to be pretty meager. Cheaper mains, no salad and the desserts were weak. If you route through CLT, the AA meal will be more substantial and made to order sundaes will be served. if you route through DFW the first meal will be basic: main, side salad or small app, and dessert, probably a slice of decent cake. The second meal, as it is a longer flight, will have a separate salad and appetizer, warm bread served from a basket, and an ice cream cup or cheese plate. Both will have warm nuts to start. Service is crew-dependent on both airlines.
Also, AA now has free wifi on all flights. It's not blazingly fast but has been reliable on all my recent flights.