DFW-NRT what to expect
Jan 11, 2008, 1:24 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
I just flew NRT-JFK last week....I was stunned at the presence of an FA on the crew who must have been mid-20's. The one assigned to us though was more in the "ridden on the trail hard, and put away wet" category.
It can be a shock coming from CX/BA/GF biz class to interact with the American FA's. My wife asked when the IFE would start and she scolded her for not hearing the PA announcement about it, which I had caught but was short and kind of confusing.
That said she was super attentive and competent and brought wine/food/etc efficiently, was always on top of everything. Just a slightly different "tone" to it that I can see might rile some people used to a more Asian concept of customer service.
And since the OP is wondering. It's a toss up, but mine was a 77 with the old seats, which was a mini let down (I sleep a lot better on the new ones) but wasn't so bad...
It can be a shock coming from CX/BA/GF biz class to interact with the American FA's. My wife asked when the IFE would start and she scolded her for not hearing the PA announcement about it, which I had caught but was short and kind of confusing.
That said she was super attentive and competent and brought wine/food/etc efficiently, was always on top of everything. Just a slightly different "tone" to it that I can see might rile some people used to a more Asian concept of customer service.
And since the OP is wondering. It's a toss up, but mine was a 77 with the old seats, which was a mini let down (I sleep a lot better on the new ones) but wasn't so bad...
Jan 11, 2008, 2:07 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
Jan 11, 2008, 3:38 pm
#21
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: stl
Programs: AA LT Plat/8.1mm now with 1350 miles left in my account and proud of it.. SPG LT Titanium.
Posts: 3,079
this is my favorite aa f experience. i am flying kix-dfw and i am the only passenger in first. i get on the plane and get settled. the flight attendants are in the forward galley talking. i look into business and they are serving champagne and oj. i wait awhile thinking one of them will tear themselves away from their conversation and offer to hang my coat and offer me champagne. after 5 minutes or so i finally walk up and interrupt them and ask for some champagne. their response " we thought you didn't want any".
after the meal service the rest of the flight may as well been self service.
after the meal service the rest of the flight may as well been self service.
Jan 11, 2008, 7:52 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CMH
Posts: 891
JL vs AA
I just flew ORD-NRT with JL and NRT-ORD with AA during the Christmas holiday. I don't know about business class, but I flew in Y, so entertainment and seats were pretty much the same. But, what a HUGE difference in service and the attitudes of the FAs. JL definitely won in these departments.
I'm not going to touch the difference in the age of the FAs since it's already been discussed here, but there are a few notable examples from that particular flight:
In JL:
- FAs looked so fresh in the beginning, middle, and end of the flight. They smiled when serving the pax.
In AA:
- FAs looked grumpy and tired even before the flight left the gate. They just threw food trays on the tray table.
In JL:
- FAs helped pax put stuff in the overhead bins. Some pax didn't store their belongings properly, FAs climbed and rearranged bags so that the overhead bin could be closed.
In AA:
- FAs ordered people around to make sure the bins could be closed. To some pax who didn't speak English, they tended to yell... as if yelling would make the pax understand English better. I didn't expect them to climb, but asking pax nicely would have been a good thing.
In JL:
- FAs were present for the duration of the flight to pass out snacks and drinks.
In AA:
- FAs were gone after the first meal was served. They came back again for the second meal. I wondered where they were hiding throughout the flight.
So... from my experience, JL is definitely way better than AA in terms of service. I had to choose AA because JL was not available for return. It was award tickets. But, if I pay for the tickets, I will definitely choose JL over AA.
I'm not going to touch the difference in the age of the FAs since it's already been discussed here, but there are a few notable examples from that particular flight:
In JL:
- FAs looked so fresh in the beginning, middle, and end of the flight. They smiled when serving the pax.
In AA:
- FAs looked grumpy and tired even before the flight left the gate. They just threw food trays on the tray table.
In JL:
- FAs helped pax put stuff in the overhead bins. Some pax didn't store their belongings properly, FAs climbed and rearranged bags so that the overhead bin could be closed.
In AA:
- FAs ordered people around to make sure the bins could be closed. To some pax who didn't speak English, they tended to yell... as if yelling would make the pax understand English better. I didn't expect them to climb, but asking pax nicely would have been a good thing.
In JL:
- FAs were present for the duration of the flight to pass out snacks and drinks.
In AA:
- FAs were gone after the first meal was served. They came back again for the second meal. I wondered where they were hiding throughout the flight.
So... from my experience, JL is definitely way better than AA in terms of service. I had to choose AA because JL was not available for return. It was award tickets. But, if I pay for the tickets, I will definitely choose JL over AA.
Jan 11, 2008, 8:40 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: AA EXP BA Gold, TK Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AS 100K, QR PLT, SAS Gold, IHG Spire, AMR
Posts: 5,898
Seems like a pretty objective assessment of recent attitudes and behaviors
Jan 11, 2008, 10:02 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: AA 1MM/Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,215
There is very little comparison between being in biz on the upper deck of a 744 and biz on a 777. That being said, I'd take JL at every opportunity. I'd even think seriously about JL ORD-NRT-PVG versus nonstop ORD-PVG on AA if I had a choice on that kind of routing.
I have had some very, very good individual FAs on AA transpac flights, but not an entire crew. You just cannot replicate the calm, serene cabin of JL on AA - and in my opinion, that's the single biggest differentiator between the two products, especially if comparing NGBC planes on AA.
I have had some very, very good individual FAs on AA transpac flights, but not an entire crew. You just cannot replicate the calm, serene cabin of JL on AA - and in my opinion, that's the single biggest differentiator between the two products, especially if comparing NGBC planes on AA.
Jan 11, 2008, 11:29 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AA Exec Plat MM, UA MM 1K, MR Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 153
Thanks for all the replies.
I have changed my flight to leave from SFO to NRT with JL, could not get seats from ORD. I still have to get from BOS to SFO in a 757, at least I will have the trans Pacific portion in JL.
I have changed my flight to leave from SFO to NRT with JL, could not get seats from ORD. I still have to get from BOS to SFO in a 757, at least I will have the trans Pacific portion in JL.
Jan 12, 2008, 7:12 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA 2MM - UA 1P / Hyatt Diamond - SPG Plat / Hertz 5* - Avis 1st
Posts: 3,886
My wife and daughter took this flight in J to join me for a December-January vacation last month, then used JL to reach BKK. Our returns to the US were on CX. My wife remarked SEVERAL times on the qualitative differences between the AA service and that on JL and then CX. AA service did not strike her as "service" so much as "directions", especially after seeing CX in action.
Jan 12, 2008, 7:16 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA CK EXP 3MM, National EE, Hertz Plat
Posts: 320
Joel
Jan 12, 2008, 8:47 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: AA EXP BA Gold, TK Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AS 100K, QR PLT, SAS Gold, IHG Spire, AMR
Posts: 5,898
My wife and daughter took this flight in J to join me for a December-January vacation last month, then used JL to reach BKK. Our returns to the US were on CX. My wife remarked SEVERAL times on the qualitative differences between the AA service and that on JL and then CX. AA service did not strike her as "service" so much as "directions", especially after seeing CX in action.
Now if we could only get anybody from AA In-flight to read these comments and actually take corrective action, that would be something..., but most likely, if they even read this, they will think, well, we are still better than UA
Jan 12, 2008, 8:49 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: AA EXP BA Gold, TK Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AS 100K, QR PLT, SAS Gold, IHG Spire, AMR
Posts: 5,898
Jan 12, 2008, 8:36 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CMH
Posts: 891
A very good decision! You'll be glad you changed it to JL. Chances are you'll enjoy the flight with JL.