eponymous_coward

Indeed. Problem is, as you state, AS doesn't have a lot of options that don't pass along YQ. BA and FI are probably the two airlines with the most space to Europe in AS's partner network, and they both pass heaping helpings of YQ (and neither of them are great J experiences, though BA will get better as their suite J product rolls out). DE is probably next (also not amazing hard product), then it's whatever dribs and drabs of EI/AY/AA inventory you get as scraps off the table. (AA premium award inventory to AS has been pretty miserable for a while. I'm not optimistic this changes much.)

I'm not sure adding IB is going to dramatically change that. IB is stronger on the East Coast, so often you'll be matching up AS/AA inventory to catch a flight.

I also flew the AY A350 (BKK-HEL) and had a very different experience (would totally fly AY in J on the A350 again). Felt like a bog-standard Cirrus J herringbone.

WillTravel4Food

It's definitely the herringbone J seats. I had the same problem with the AA J seat on the B787-8 (HND-LAX). Of the OW J seats currently in use, my favorite so far has been the JL J-Suite on the B777-300ER. Aside from JL wanting to keep the cabin at a gajillion degrees, I found their hard product to be most comfortable. But back to Europe. I am an exceptionally light sleeper and anything (literally) will keep me from nodding off. I got about as much sleep in DE Y as I did in BA J (B744 upper deck). So flying Y eastbound is all about cost savings.

Xrayman

How do people feel about the BA business class seat from JFK to LHR? We may need to take a red eye overnight. Will we be able to sleep in any semblance of comfort??

Global321

It is a full lie flat.

Klrduks

I think where you may have MVP Ruby I have Million Miler so maybe a space issue? Thanks for the input.

TenForward

Hello FT experts! Wanting to run an odd AS situation by you, hoping for some pointers:

I am looking at an AS mileage booking from SJU-MIA-LAX, all on AA in J. The space is there for each segment (confirmed with BA's site, AS's site, and EF). However, when AS pieces the flights together, the J space from MIA-LAX goes away. AS says they keep getting AA waitlist denials right away when trying to confirm the space, even though they can confirm that the space exists. They are not sure if this is an AS problem, an AA problem, or a oneworld teething problem (although this was the case before and after 3/31/21). As it stands now, the booking is in place but is in coach from MIA-LAX while AS escalates this internally. I even called AA and referenced the booking and AA confirms that the space is there and it should be bookable, but obviously they can't make any changes because it is an AS ticket. The MIA-LAX space is Flagship Business, in case that makes a difference.

Any ideas as to what is going on?

Thanks in advance for your insights - FT never ceases to amaze me!

NoLaGent

^ married segment issue. Can only be overridden internally, so hopefully it works out.

TenForward

Thank you for the incredibly fast response! This was what I suspected, but I was unclear as to where the married segment restriction applies (i.e. is it at the AA level or the AS level)? Should I expect that AS will be able to resolve it in the 7-10 day timeline they set out? If they come back with a denial, any suggestions?

Thanks again!

eponymous_coward

Which seat? There are two types of J seat in BA’s fleet.

(new)
https://www.headforpoints.com/2020/0...s-class-guide/
https://onemileatatime.com/british-a...-class-review/

(old)
https://mrsoaroundtheworld.com/revie...o-los-angeles/

There are REALLY significant differences between the two (old J has you hopping over people to get out or leaves you exposed in an aisle).

True for both.

Xrayman

Thanks. Is this standard for BA to LHR from North America and any other alternative carriers from North America to Rome with lie flat as standard (either direct or with European layover?

Flying Yazata

Not anything drastic, of course, but it's always a good addition and works great for a large number of European destinations, ex-LAX/SFO/ORD.

Yes, the C cabin of AY on the A350-900 has a standard Cirrus seat. It's IMO good/fine. But then again I'm not all too picky. E.g. Thomson Vantage is also okay for me.

I share your opinion on the topic, if only sticking to cabin/seat designs I've so far experienced with OW. The Sky Suite of JL is indeed great.

And that's as I haven't yet had QSuite with QR, since my DOH-LAX-DOH flights for this fall are gone, thanks to QR cancelling my connecting flights. But IMO the QSuite is quite hyped, while the Sky Suite is somewhat underrated in these online communities, inc. YouTube.

Flying for Fun

If the space is there and confirmed on each segment independently, have you tried a multi-city booking? Segment 1, SJU-MIA & Segment 2, MIA-LAX with the same departure date? The segments will be combined in the search results in the Partner Business column. If the MIA-LAX is still showing Y only availability then it is likely an internal issue trying to marry the two together as one SJU-LAX itinerary.

I have booked two AS awards both with AA MIA<->LAX Flagship Business segments, one on an AA/AS mix of carriers & one on an all AA and flew one pre oneworld. I didn't have an issue booking them. However, both awards have/had a stopover before the Flagship segment.

I would be interested in knowing if you replicated your itinerary but put a stopover (24 hours or more) in MIA to another date known to have availability if the J space books properly. I have an idea in mind that may be a workaround until the issues are resolved. What time frame (approximate dates) are you looking at? I would like to see if I can replicate your issue and test my idea for a work around which would be specific to a segment.

eponymous_coward

Yes, all of BA’s flights are lie-flat, but again, they have two very different seats so the seats are not standardized. An aisle seat using BA’s old seat might get you bumped every five minutes because you’re exposed in the aisle.

IB/AY/AA/EI (assuming you want AS partners) have different lie-flat seats than BA. Note that IB isn’t bookable yet. Finding multiple AY/AA J award seats might be like winning a lottery (also AY and AA are not standardized on a single seat). Should be able to go to seatguru.com or the various forums on FT and see what’s on offer? Note that “hey, this equipment is flying this flight months out” is pure fiction at this point; schedules are still being changed until about a month out or so.

Flying for Fun

And you will have the FA hovering over top of you serving the passenger in the coffin seat through a take-out(away) window. My only BA J experience, other than a blocked cramped economy middle, was LHR-SEZ. I will consider trying their new J product if I find another sub $300 revenue long-haul J flight, but it won't be with a similar amount of YQ & 60/70K miles on an award. The soft product will still be an issue .

James

Flying Yazata

But that's where the OWS/OWE staus benefits kick in with those seat selections. It's indeed true, that the standard Club World cabin layout isn't anymore topnotch, but thankfully there's several direct aisle access seats. The amount and location of those depends on the aircraft model. The new Club Suite seat design will of course change it. However for couples the old design is IMO good, except the aisle seats make you sleep somewhat akin to a homeless (albeit on the upper deck of the Queen of the Skies, like my last Club World flight with her was ).

Indeed. With AY there's no idea yet when HEL-MIA and HEL-SFO will resume. MIA has been year round, with some added weekdays for the winter season, and SFO from spring to fall - basically SFO from March to October and then e.g. HAV or PVR (hmm, AS to PVR and then AY to Europe - would be somewhat exotic, eh? ) with that free capacity in the winter. HEL-JFK is anyway going to revert back to the usual Airbus A330-300 next winter. As for IB, I would expect also some swaps between A330-300 and A350-900 for NA. Usually only ORD has been A350-900, unless I remember wrong.