AA98 ORD-LHR departs 9:45p.m. -- Dinner in First?
Jun 27, 2012, 7:37 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,997
I like the late flights to LHR because it increases the likelihood that I'll actually sleep on the flight. (I generally have not problem sleeping on planes, but if the departure is too early, I do have a hard time falling asleep.) So my strategy on these flights is to eat before departure -- preferably at home or at a restaurant, but at the airport or an airport club if necessary -- and then put the eye mask on and try to go to sleep promptly after takeoff. That way, I maximize sleep and it doesn't matter what AA (or BA) serves in F. Of course YMMV; I know there are lots of FTer who would never dream of sitting in international F and sleep through the slop that will be served them.
Jun 28, 2012, 10:09 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SF
Programs: AA, SQ
Posts: 101
I've flown both AA98 and 80 and both times I felt like the usual AA dinner were served. FYI - AA80 was operated by a 767-300 when I took it last month.
Jun 28, 2012, 10:35 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
My understanding is that few passengers in the F cabin on AA's international routes actually pay the quoted F fare. Instead, AA fills the seats with a mix of corporate travelers, etc. flying on heavily discounted negotiated fares, frequent flyer upgraders, award users, etc.
If you are actually an independent traveler forced to pay the standard, publicly disclosed rates, it rarely makes sense to fly AA in a premium cabin when given a reasonable option offered by most foreign-flagged carriers at roughly the same (or cheaper) price.
If you are actually an independent traveler forced to pay the standard, publicly disclosed rates, it rarely makes sense to fly AA in a premium cabin when given a reasonable option offered by most foreign-flagged carriers at roughly the same (or cheaper) price.
Jun 28, 2012, 1:20 pm
#19
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This flight is not long enough for me to eat the food served on board and then sleep. I agree that eating elsewhere is a very good idea.
Jun 28, 2012, 1:53 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA lifetime gold, United Mileage Plus silver, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 503
Eat well before boarding (and dont count on the flagship lounge to fill you up .... )
Jun 29, 2012, 9:02 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP - CK, DL PM, *Wood Plat, Hyatt Plat, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 124
Agree with what has been said - I am trying to move to the earlier flight, esp since this flight is notorisouly late into LHR.
Is AA Flagship First better than Int'l Business on a 767 (aside from the flat vs semi-flat seat)?
Is AA Flagship First better than Int'l Business on a 767 (aside from the flat vs semi-flat seat)?
Jun 29, 2012, 9:13 am
#22
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For me, Flagship F is all about the seat. I couldn't care less about any difference in food or other onboard service. If you don't otherwise have access, being able to access the Flagship lounge before departure is a nice benefit of F.
The key difference, however, between international F and J is that in F you get a much more comfortable seat. That and that alone is what makes it worthwhile for me.
Jun 29, 2012, 9:18 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Programs: HH Gold; AA AAdvantage Mbr; DL Skymiles Silver Medallion; World of Hyatt Mbr; NK Free Spirit Mbr
Posts: 2,531
When I fly, it's almost always for leisure (yes, I DO work, but just don't have to fly with my job), and I AM an airline nerd/enthusiast, so I & others like me enjoy the whole dog & pony show!! Love to compare & contrast the seats, a/c, service, glasses, plates, silverware, etc between carriers & a/c.
Jun 29, 2012, 9:23 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Posts: 124
Thanks all! Looking forward to it.
Jun 29, 2012, 9:27 am
#25
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<<RIGHT HERE!!>> When I fly, it's almost always for leisure (yes, I DO work, but just don't have to fly with my job), and I AM an airline nerd/enthusiast, so I & others like me enjoy the whole dog & pony show!! Love to compare & contrast the seats, a/c, service, glasses, plates, silverware, etc between carriers & a/c.
When I fly, it's almost always for leisure (yes, I DO work, but just don't have to fly with my job), and I AM an airline nerd/enthusiast, so I & others like me enjoy the whole dog & pony show!! Love to compare & contrast the seats, a/c, service, glasses, plates, silverware, etc between carriers & a/c.Tuesday night, this airline enthusiast was flying BOS-NYC-LHR for leisure. I flew BOS-LGA on US, had my wife pick me up at the airport, drove together to London Lennie's an old-school seafood restaurant in Queens, between LGA and JFK, and had a wonderful lobster dinner, and then had her drop me at JFK for my flight to LHR. I got on the plane, passed over a dinner that could not possibly have compared to the lobster dinner I just ate, and went right to sleep. I woke, well rested, just before landing in London. In my mind, that is a great flight, and that is why I like to fly F.
Similarly, I just flew LHR-SIN in F in a QF A380. I slept for 10 hours of the 12-hour flight. Didn't eat a thing except toast and coffee just before landing. It was a wonderful flight. And being well rested helps me enjoy the rest of the trip.
I understand the enthusiasm for the whole dog-and-pony show, but I certainly don't understand the emphasis placed on airline food. Look at the discussions on this board of domestic upgrades. There are many non-EXPs on this board who claim they will not upgrade on flights where there is no meal service. Talk about an irrational economic decision: the decision on whether to spend $50 (or whatever it costs) to upgrade is dependent on whether you get a $5 meal?!?!
Jun 29, 2012, 9:36 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, AA, SQ, UA, AC, WS, MR TIT
Posts: 8,663
I have taken that flight 5 days ago and I can confirm it was a full dinner meal service.
Jun 29, 2012, 1:54 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Not sure what flying for leisure and being an airline enthusiast has to do with it.
Tuesday night, this airline enthusiast was flying BOS-NYC-LHR for leisure. I flew BOS-LGA on US, had my wife pick me up at the airport, drove together to London Lennie's an old-school seafood restaurant in Queens, between LGA and JFK, and had a wonderful lobster dinner, and then had her drop me at JFK for my flight to LHR. I got on the plane, passed over a dinner that could not possibly have compared to the lobster dinner I just ate, and went right to sleep. I woke, well rested, just before landing in London. In my mind, that is a great flight, and that is why I like to fly F.
Similarly, I just flew LHR-SIN in F in a QF A380. I slept for 10 hours of the 12-hour flight. Didn't eat a thing except toast and coffee just before landing. It was a wonderful flight. And being well rested helps me enjoy the rest of the trip.
I understand the enthusiasm for the whole dog-and-pony show, but I certainly don't understand the emphasis placed on airline food. Look at the discussions on this board of domestic upgrades. There are many non-EXPs on this board who claim they will not upgrade on flights where there is no meal service. Talk about an irrational economic decision: the decision on whether to spend $50 (or whatever it costs) to upgrade is dependent on whether you get a $5 meal?!?!
Tuesday night, this airline enthusiast was flying BOS-NYC-LHR for leisure. I flew BOS-LGA on US, had my wife pick me up at the airport, drove together to London Lennie's an old-school seafood restaurant in Queens, between LGA and JFK, and had a wonderful lobster dinner, and then had her drop me at JFK for my flight to LHR. I got on the plane, passed over a dinner that could not possibly have compared to the lobster dinner I just ate, and went right to sleep. I woke, well rested, just before landing in London. In my mind, that is a great flight, and that is why I like to fly F.
Similarly, I just flew LHR-SIN in F in a QF A380. I slept for 10 hours of the 12-hour flight. Didn't eat a thing except toast and coffee just before landing. It was a wonderful flight. And being well rested helps me enjoy the rest of the trip.
I understand the enthusiasm for the whole dog-and-pony show, but I certainly don't understand the emphasis placed on airline food. Look at the discussions on this board of domestic upgrades. There are many non-EXPs on this board who claim they will not upgrade on flights where there is no meal service. Talk about an irrational economic decision: the decision on whether to spend $50 (or whatever it costs) to upgrade is dependent on whether you get a $5 meal?!?!
Jun 29, 2012, 5:09 pm
#28
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(And somewhat fewer in PE or even Y 
)But the way you describe your flying, it does not seem like there's much of a rationale for F over J, particularly on some of the better J products (of which AA is not one).
Jun 29, 2012, 6:47 pm
#29
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
As Western Airlines' Wally Bird used to say, the onnnnly way to fly!
Not sure what flying for leisure and being an airline enthusiast has to do with it.
Tuesday night, this airline enthusiast was flying BOS-NYC-LHR for leisure. I flew BOS-LGA on US, had my wife pick me up at the airport, drove together to London Lennie's an old-school seafood restaurant in Queens, between LGA and JFK, and had a wonderful lobster dinner, and then had her drop me at JFK for my flight to LHR. I got on the plane, passed over a dinner that could not possibly have compared to the lobster dinner I just ate, and went right to sleep. I woke, well rested, just before landing in London. In my mind, that is a great flight, and that is why I like to fly F.
Similarly, I just flew LHR-SIN in F in a QF A380. I slept for 10 hours of the 12-hour flight. Didn't eat a thing except toast and coffee just before landing. It was a wonderful flight. And being well rested helps me enjoy the rest of the trip.
I understand the enthusiasm for the whole dog-and-pony show, but I certainly don't understand the emphasis placed on airline food. Look at the discussions on this board of domestic upgrades. There are many non-EXPs on this board who claim they will not upgrade on flights where there is no meal service. Talk about an irrational economic decision: the decision on whether to spend $50 (or whatever it costs) to upgrade is dependent on whether you get a $5 meal?!?!
Tuesday night, this airline enthusiast was flying BOS-NYC-LHR for leisure. I flew BOS-LGA on US, had my wife pick me up at the airport, drove together to London Lennie's an old-school seafood restaurant in Queens, between LGA and JFK, and had a wonderful lobster dinner, and then had her drop me at JFK for my flight to LHR. I got on the plane, passed over a dinner that could not possibly have compared to the lobster dinner I just ate, and went right to sleep. I woke, well rested, just before landing in London. In my mind, that is a great flight, and that is why I like to fly F.
Similarly, I just flew LHR-SIN in F in a QF A380. I slept for 10 hours of the 12-hour flight. Didn't eat a thing except toast and coffee just before landing. It was a wonderful flight. And being well rested helps me enjoy the rest of the trip.
I understand the enthusiasm for the whole dog-and-pony show, but I certainly don't understand the emphasis placed on airline food. Look at the discussions on this board of domestic upgrades. There are many non-EXPs on this board who claim they will not upgrade on flights where there is no meal service. Talk about an irrational economic decision: the decision on whether to spend $50 (or whatever it costs) to upgrade is dependent on whether you get a $5 meal?!?!
Jun 30, 2012, 8:03 am
#30
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To be fair, there are a lot of people who can do that just as well in J. (And somewhat fewer in PE or even Y )
But the way you describe your flying, it does not seem like there's much of a rationale for F over J, particularly on some of the better J products (of which AA is not one).
(And somewhat fewer in PE or even Y )But the way you describe your flying, it does not seem like there's much of a rationale for F over J, particularly on some of the better J products (of which AA is not one).