LUS Airbus A330-200 or -300 / A332 or A333 vs. LAA Boeing Widebodies
Mar 12, 2015, 8:57 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
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We're in the AA/US section of FT, which means that checked luggage will necessarily be making an interline connection when you make a connection in Europe. At LHR, you're frankly assuming a lot when you count on a successful interline baggage connection from BA. As recently as last June BA delayed (or lost) tens of thousands of bags and was unable to return some of them to their owners until literally months later. You might get lucky and have a smooth transfer, but forewarned is forearmed.
Mar 12, 2015, 9:32 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
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We're in the AA/US section of FT, which means that checked luggage will necessarily be making an interline connection when you make a connection in Europe. At LHR, you're frankly assuming a lot when you count on a successful interline baggage connection from BA. As recently as last June BA delayed (or lost) tens of thousands of bags and was unable to return some of them to their owners until literally months later. You might get lucky and have a smooth transfer, but forewarned is forearmed.
Mar 13, 2015, 5:43 am
#49
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Still, I wouldn't focus on that as a reason for having to endure J when F (even if it is AA F) is an option.
Mar 13, 2015, 8:01 am
#50
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: US CP, SPG Plat., HH Gold
Posts: 342
Ohh, I see. I don't really check bags so that's not much of an issue that I ever really consider. I hate having to wait to reclaim them in the US for customs (with Global Entry and carry-on I can be out the door of the FIS in about 90 seconds), so I've just stopped checking them mostly.
Still, I wouldn't focus on that as a reason for having to endure J when F (even if it is AA F) is an option.
Still, I wouldn't focus on that as a reason for having to endure J when F (even if it is AA F) is an option.
As far as connecting in the US or Europe it depends on the airport. The US hubs are a breeze, particularly with global entry. I do not particularly care for MIA or JFK but they are better than LHR, CDG and FRA IMHO.
Mar 14, 2015, 11:11 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
By the way, depending on where you live, if Madrid is your final destination, don't count out Iberia J (if it's available). Very good hard and soft product (I'm pretty sure their retrofit is done for all the planes they use to and from the US--A330 and A340--so it's all lie-flat J [no F]). It would mean connecting in one of their gateways (MIA & ORD are better than JFK).
Mar 14, 2015, 3:27 pm
#52
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 799
By the way, depending on where you live, if Madrid is your final destination, don't count out Iberia J (if it's available). Very good hard and soft product (I'm pretty sure their retrofit is done for all the planes they use to and from the US--A330 and A340--so it's all lie-flat J [no F]). It would mean connecting in one of their gateways (MIA & ORD are better than JFK).
Regular Iberia is slightly better intra Euope.
I love the BA lounges in LHR. My baggage loss rate US-EU transferring at LHR is about 25%. 1 bag lost forever; others returned after a couple of days.
Mar 15, 2015, 4:48 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 524
My view is that if the OP wants some new experiences, take the AA F route.
However, my personal preference is US J. the shorter time, my preference of a US domestic connection vs an LHR terminal shuffle. For an overnight flight, most of the time is sleeping, and i find the US J seat as one of my favorite seats for sleep.
Life is too short to regret. If you want to experience the LHR lounges, and AA F go for it.
However, my personal preference is US J. the shorter time, my preference of a US domestic connection vs an LHR terminal shuffle. For an overnight flight, most of the time is sleeping, and i find the US J seat as one of my favorite seats for sleep.
Life is too short to regret. If you want to experience the LHR lounges, and AA F go for it.
Mar 15, 2015, 9:09 am
#54
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,652
My view is that if the OP wants some new experiences, take the AA F route.
However, my personal preference is US J. the shorter time, my preference of a US domestic connection vs an LHR terminal shuffle. For an overnight flight, most of the time is sleeping, and i find the US J seat as one of my favorite seats for sleep.
Life is too short to regret. If you want to experience the LHR lounges, and AA F go for it.
However, my personal preference is US J. the shorter time, my preference of a US domestic connection vs an LHR terminal shuffle. For an overnight flight, most of the time is sleeping, and i find the US J seat as one of my favorite seats for sleep.
Life is too short to regret. If you want to experience the LHR lounges, and AA F go for it.
Luckily, I will be taking the 772 on the return out of LHR.
The only way I'd considering taking the 772 now on the outbound with a intra-EU connection would be to go out a day earlier and extend my trip, purely a personal preference, not a necessity due to airline scheduling/routing.
Apr 16, 2015, 10:30 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/LHR
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
Similar dilemma as the OP. Flying LAX-CDG on an award ticket booked a few months ago and don't mind forking over the extra miles if it's worth it.
Currently I'm flying LAX-DFW-CLT-CDG with the transatlantic leg on the 332 in J. There is availability on the DFW-CDG flight that same day on the 772 in F. It's been a few years since I've flown AA across the pond and my only point of reference for long haul J seats are the NGBC seats put on the 772's around 2008?
The idea of having one less connection is appealing especially since a few schedule changes have made my connections in DFW and CLT tighter than I would have liked.
It sounds like the seats on both planes are about equal. Is service or the IFE much different?
Thanks!
Currently I'm flying LAX-DFW-CLT-CDG with the transatlantic leg on the 332 in J. There is availability on the DFW-CDG flight that same day on the 772 in F. It's been a few years since I've flown AA across the pond and my only point of reference for long haul J seats are the NGBC seats put on the 772's around 2008?
The idea of having one less connection is appealing especially since a few schedule changes have made my connections in DFW and CLT tighter than I would have liked.
It sounds like the seats on both planes are about equal. Is service or the IFE much different?
Thanks!
Apr 17, 2015, 9:01 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Similar dilemma as the OP. Flying LAX-CDG on an award ticket booked a few months ago and don't mind forking over the extra miles if it's worth it.
Currently I'm flying LAX-DFW-CLT-CDG with the transatlantic leg on the 332 in J. There is availability on the DFW-CDG flight that same day on the 772 in F. It's been a few years since I've flown AA across the pond and my only point of reference for long haul J seats are the NGBC seats put on the 772's around 2008?
The idea of having one less connection is appealing especially since a few schedule changes have made my connections in DFW and CLT tighter than I would have liked.
It sounds like the seats on both planes are about equal. Is service or the IFE much different?
Thanks!
Currently I'm flying LAX-DFW-CLT-CDG with the transatlantic leg on the 332 in J. There is availability on the DFW-CDG flight that same day on the 772 in F. It's been a few years since I've flown AA across the pond and my only point of reference for long haul J seats are the NGBC seats put on the 772's around 2008?
The idea of having one less connection is appealing especially since a few schedule changes have made my connections in DFW and CLT tighter than I would have liked.
It sounds like the seats on both planes are about equal. Is service or the IFE much different?
Thanks!
Apr 18, 2015, 7:12 am
#58
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: AA exp
Posts: 114
Have flown 772 F quite a bit and just recently 330-200 US product. No doubt seat a little better and area more spacious in 772 F along with some frills like PJ's and turn down-service, however the TV in the AVOD system is clearly superior in the 330-200 product and certainly FA were equal if not better.
Aug 3, 2015, 9:57 am
#59
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
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Posts: 778
Slightly different question... 2 of us will be flying ex-US to either FRA or CDG on a J award ticket. AA retrofit 763 or US 332? In general, everything else is equal, although getting to MIA might involve a leg in domestic Y (int'l J awards no longer seem to do DFW/ORD-MIA in domestic F. Can still connect domestic F via CLT in a CR9/319 combo.
Aug 3, 2015, 10:25 am
#60
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Slightly different question... 2 of us will be flying ex-US to either FRA or CDG on a J award ticket. AA retrofit 763 or US 332? In general, everything else is equal, although getting to MIA might involve a leg in domestic Y (int'l J awards no longer seem to do DFW/ORD-MIA in domestic F. Can still connect domestic F via CLT in a CR9/319 combo.