Oh Please. If this starts another AA v BA squabble I shall seriously consider leaving. I did not reply to this thread yesterday hoping that it would sink down the first page into oblivion. Was the same thing on JAL or Cathay by any chance.
I actually went and read the thread over at AA Forum where I am probably as welcome as an Involuntary Downgrade. Unlike many, I actually fly AA mostly on one route and mostly long haul. I do not comment on the service as it would only cause trouble. All I will say is that one highly respected member of that Forum who is alas no longer permitted to post wrote me a PM that I will never forget. it was absolutely honest and he did so in response to me writing the following which I will repeat. Please remember the words Airlines and Airways that occur after the word American and British. Having cheap shots at either is exactly that. I am sorry I have a sever Humour Deficiency Syndrome over either considering themselves superior to the other. Both have plus points and both - and I say both - have deficiencies. Sweeping generalisations and provocative wording just get everyone as mad they are supposed to and then the Mods have to fire warning shots. I might add that we are given more than a little slack compared with other Boards who are Moderated with all the lightness of touch of a Sunday School crammer so let's not make their lives any more difficult please.
American Airlines happens to be flying a rather old aircraft by today's standards. It does not have a lot of features that we have become accustomed to drop screens etc. Hardly any European carriers operate them anymore. I always remember that LGW Fleet were DC10s and 1-11 that had been flying for years. The 737s down there came aboard with Dan-Air and some are so old that they have grown whiskers. Some of the state of those lavatories are so disgusting that were they on the ground the Health people from the council would not allow you to eat foor in them. However, as one of the Engineers said to me - we have had them so long that the systems are absolutely in tip top shape service wise. We know them inside out and they are the safest going.
What I think that I felt was an empathy for the poor people due to fly on MD80 knowing that from what was written the Termainals will be remeniscent of T5 with queues everywhere. People will hold on lines holding for hours listening to ads and music trying to rebook their flights. I might add - and this is
to me - they all have 0800 numbers. In country if you want to speak to an airline or car hire company you pay for the call - in fact it is actually cheaper not to use the 08whatever rate but to call the local number that they prefer you not to use. BA is guilty as the rest of them. Do AA charge to use a credit card? Does any US carrier. I don't think so.
People in glass houses and yes - I agree with the real third world airline comment. Having worked to LOS and KAO and had to position on occasion I would sooner have the worst AA flight imaginable than that.