Would you fly AA or US internationally to GIG?
Apr 17, 2014, 6:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
Would you fly AA or US internationally to GIG?
I booked a one way with UA miles before US became oneworld for 30k BOS - CLT - GIG and was able to secure some pretty nice seats up front.
AA has release a lot of saver availability and there is a flight BOS - JFK - GIG that gets in about 45 minutes earlier, however, I don't have status and would be near the end of the plane, which isn't that big of an issue for me.
My big question is, is there a dramatic difference in service between AA & US? I know AA is nickle & diming everything, I flew them a couple of times internationally, but I have never flown US outside of my rather poor experience domestically.
Granted that everything stays the same (miles needed, flight times, etc) and that the only difference is the carrier, what does flyertalk recommend?
AA has release a lot of saver availability and there is a flight BOS - JFK - GIG that gets in about 45 minutes earlier, however, I don't have status and would be near the end of the plane, which isn't that big of an issue for me.
My big question is, is there a dramatic difference in service between AA & US? I know AA is nickle & diming everything, I flew them a couple of times internationally, but I have never flown US outside of my rather poor experience domestically.
Granted that everything stays the same (miles needed, flight times, etc) and that the only difference is the carrier, what does flyertalk recommend?
Apr 17, 2014, 7:20 am
#2
Join Date: May 2001
Location: is everything...but...
Programs: dont matter anymore...
Posts: 3,019
I JFK-GIG about 15 times a year.. There's zero difference if you're sitting in the back. If you can snag one of the main cabin extra seats on AA, that's a different story.
Apr 17, 2014, 8:15 am
#3
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
If the ticket is booked with UA miles, how would the AA flights even be an option?
Apr 17, 2014, 8:50 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
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Apr 17, 2014, 9:31 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
AA's intercontinental service and hardware varies a lot by aircraft and cabin of service. A new 77W with lie-flats in Business to London is very different from a 757 in coach MIA-BSB.
There's plenty written in the AA forum on the 763 in coach.
There's plenty written in the AA forum on the 763 in coach.
Apr 17, 2014, 10:04 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
Apr 18, 2014, 12:00 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
How about trying TAM. My Father and I are leaving tomorrow for GRU and we're booked on Aero Mexico to Mexico City then TAM to Sao Paulo in Economy Class. I like how TAM offers AVOD, Complimentary Alcoholic Beverages, 3 choices of meals. There product seems strong.
Apr 18, 2014, 3:14 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,948
How's their lounge?
Apr 20, 2014, 7:19 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,065
I think the question was...if you cancel the US flight that you say you booked with UA miles prior to the alliance switch, your miles will go back to UA.
That means, obviously, that you would have to either buy the AA ticket or use points from AA or an AA partner.
That means, obviously, that you would have to either buy the AA ticket or use points from AA or an AA partner.
Apr 20, 2014, 8:20 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC, GIG
Posts: 334
The same could be said of the AA lounge -- no good lounge options at GIG. Now that free WiFi is available throughout the terminal, the lounge isn't worth visiting.
No question that TAM has a better in-flight product than AA -- top-notch in fact -- but is far worse on the ground.
No question that TAM has a better in-flight product than AA -- top-notch in fact -- but is far worse on the ground.
Apr 23, 2014, 7:48 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA Plat/2MM, DL Silver, UA Silver (via Marr), Marr LTT, HH Gold (via cc), Hyatt Disc
Posts: 1,039
Any comparisons on US vs AA to GIG in J? I usually fly AA, but the US flight looks like it might be a bit less so I'm considering it. I have little/no experience with US J so have no idea whether it's better than, equal to or less than AA's product.
TIA
TIA
Jun 5, 2014, 7:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (ExPlat).DL,UA Hertz (Pres Circle); Avis (First), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 452
US J on the 762 is roughly comparable to AA J on the 763 with the old seats (not the new ones only on one plane operating JFK-ZRH-JFK). If the US plane is a 330, or the AA plane is a 77W, its also a wash.