US vs. AA - comparison of First Class
 

I am based in London and fly mostly SH in Europe so my point of comparison is BA Club Europe. In the last week I have flown in First Class 4 times, 3 on US and once on AA (the most recent). All the sectors with US were on Airbus and the AA on a 737. I thought I would share my experiences...

My US experience

On every US flight there was a single person working First, and boy did they work ! Drink offered within 2 minutes of taking my seat, attentive service throughout the flight, and warm friendly demeanour from all 3 of them. They each introduced themselves and on 2 of the 3 flights I was addressed by name.

The seats were wide and comfortable and the lack of IFE was no problem even on JFK-PHX, though the lack of at-seat power could have been problematic for the unprepared :)

Food was edible, and drink refills were freely offered.

I had rather low expectations before taking based on reading reports here on FT but came off each US flight thinking "pretty good experience actually, I'd gladly do that again !". Overall, comparable to a very good BA CE trip, but in a much better seat...

My AA experience

Oh dear, the crew on US1312 yesterday (PHX-JFK op. by AA) really let themselves down.

A Purser and a junior FA working the First cabin (I use the term "working" loosely...).

The door greeting was OK and we took our seats in the front row at 16 minutes past the hour (remember this time for later !).

My seatmate needed to put a bag up so I took my bulky coat out of the overhead. The Purser saw this and said he would hang it once boarding complete. So far so good...

About 15 minutes passed and people were still boarding - it was an almost full flight - but unlike all 3 US flights no sign of a pre-push drink, even though the Purser & FA were in the forward galley chatting for most of that time ...

Another 10 minutes went past and I noticed the purser was now helping a Coach passenger to stow something in the wardrobe so I stood up coat in hand... He fair snarled at me "I'm not ready !!" ...

Another few minutes passed and we were wheels up and established in the climb. Great, now I'll get my vodka and tonic ! Umm no, the priority seems to be to sell $5 headphones - to people in First Class with $300 Bose ones of their own...

So now it's 19 past the NEXT hour i.e. 1 hour and 3 minutes since my tush cosied up to the seat cushion... Suddenly - would I like a drink ? <redacted> yeah.... and all is well for about 10 minutes more as I suck it down. Now the junior FA comes out of his burrow...

OK so I'm a Brit and we hate all that "Hi, my name is Deshonne and I'll be your server today" BS... but this guy was abrupt even by our standards. His literal words to us were "Beef enchilada or chicken salad ?". No introduction, no human warmth, I might as well have been served by Asimo...

When the food came it was edible.

So, now I am at the bottom of my first drink and the Purser magically reappears... "Ah Mr and Mrs 1A and 1B would you like another drink ?". I smiled inwardly at his perfect timing, then... "Ah Mr and Mrs 2A and 2B....." Excuse me ? Did I forgetfully slip on Harry Potter's invisibility cloak ? I actually had to call the guy over to get my second drink in 2 hours.... and even then he gave me attitude...

You know, I don't like to come across as a First World whiner (though I realise I may have done do above !) and to be fair to AA they got me to New York safely, in comfort and ahead of schedule.

But let's all pray that they keep the "American" brand with US Airways service rather than the opposite... !!!!

Well it's good you had some good experiences on US. I'm a FA for US based in CLT and I really do try to hang up coats asap, serve a PDB of passenger's choice, address passengers by name, be friendly and engaging. But I don't always succeed, occasionally on domestic, I won't serve PDBs if we are late. Some LUS FAs will be like the ones you found on AA and hide in the galley for the rest of the flight.

FAs can be really hit and miss especially on US carriers, you'll get good FAs and bad ones. I just hope that you mainly get good FAs on your flights.

Oh, and I don't do all that "Hello I'm blah blah" crap. I am from the UK too :D

AA beats UA...both are fine...with me...

I find the AA 737 to be much more spacious/comfortable in F than the US 321s. I find the service to be comparable, but if I have the choice I will always choose the Boeing. Thoughts?

F seems to be about the same except US FAs are more likely to do a full PDB while AA seats have power outlets and some domestic a/c have IFE.

US vs. AA - comparison of First Class
 

I have never been on an AA flight where headsets were sold to FC pax, they are always given out gratis... Did something change? I have my own headset so I don't pay close attention to this "stuff"...

Most of the time the headsets seemed to be already out and placed at each seat.

As stated previously, headsets are not sold in First. And one flight each hardly make a data stream.

There's nothing to compare with AA and US domestic First / short haul Business with Club Europe in seating and comfort, and I'm not impressed by being served with plastic trays, "China" and undersized plastic utensils and a mini bottle of mediocre wine. 30-31" seat pitch in "Business", er Club Europe, really? What an embarrassment! And not on short flights alone - LON-ATH or IST are flat painful.

Flights on both AA and US - or other U.S. airline - can be quite variable (though my last few have ranged from fair to good), and I'd not rate BA on the several flights I've made over the years on BA - from decent to amateurish at best. One flight to Athens, they not only couldn't get it right, they broke glassware and spilled, dealing with it by leaving several napkins covering the mess mid-aisle to trip or be stepped on by all the aircraft's passengers.

Nonetheless, I'd not dare to judge BA cabin employees by such a small sample as perhaps 4-6 flights annually over the last couple of decades.

I would too. Plus I like, you know, power and occasionally free seat-back IFE.

I'd happily take an MD-80 over the (newer) US A319/A320 too.

HP crews
 

PHX FA are usually very good, did my best to seek out sub-700 flight numbers. This will diffuse out since the FA union is now one.

I've had a refill on PDB on these flights. AA is pretty much water or OJ.

There are obviously exceptions both ways.

I don't think US domestic F service gets enough credit, ignoring things outside of the crew's control, like equipment (I like AA aircraft) and pre-merger standards. While my 'best ever' experience between AA/US has been on AA, I've found US to be more consistent, and consistently a bit better. Sometimes I think I get the same number of unprompted refill offers on, say, a US PHL-BOS as I do on an AA DFW-PHL.

I agree. While the in flight power and a few extra inches of pitch in the 737s are nice, and I've had SOME -rare albeit- fantastic service on AA (but I just got off a set of AA F flights where the crew was exactly as OP has described), I've found US to be much more consistent. Having flown both AA and US pretty equally in the past year, today I wouldn't hesitate flying US over ANY domestic carrier - certainly UA but have no problems flying paid F on US over AA, DL, and even AC. Is it the best? No. Does it match up to Asian standards? No. But then again I'm paying $800-$1,500 for F (ok, in reality it's some YUP fare booking into A) for most destinations in this vast expanse of land - being based in Cali. US works, they dont get enough credit, and they work comfortably well. I'd say they are a solid B+ player most of the time I've flown and I'm more than OK with that. In fact, I'm looking forward to my ATL-PHX-LAX journey this Saturday in paid F - all US obviously - which I deliberately chose over ATL-DFW-LAX ... For what it's worth I'm also a bit over the AA crew attitudes that OP had described, which I kind of picked up too over the past few months (not everyone but the few have really stuck out) - not sure if it is merger related.

I would agree that US wins the consistency game. It does seem that the US FAs work the cabin according to the prescribed service standards in their manuals (hang coats, offer PDBs, make refill rounds once in the air every 15 mins, etc) more often than their AA counterparts. AA, on the other hand, seems to be more polished as an airline, as the pursers always introduce the crew, aircraft have power, IFE, and the FAs wear actual uniforms.

I prefer Airbus aircraft, if only because the interior of US F cabin has become so familiar to me over the years. There are a few 319s and 320s on the East side that are starting to show their age (the 1998-2000 deliveries), but on the most part, US aircraft are much cleaner than AA aircraft that I have been on. Some of AA's 737s remind me of US's old 7-dirty-7s when they were still flying (and neglected).

Oh, and my biggest gripe - my roll aboard doesn't fit straight into the 737 bins. The Airbus bins are slightly deeper.

+1 And I will add md80 over any express aircraft

Far too many MD80 haters in this world

AA service in F has become horribly inconsistent of late. Coats are not taken until practically shoved in the faces of the FAs. No PDB on more than half of my flights (though I will say Eagle FAs do this well). Coats often not returned before landing. First Class gate check tags on the RJs are worthless as those bags never reach the jet bridge first. This said I do appreciate the ability to select my meal before departure and the power ports at all seats.

US ain't flashy but it is predictable and generally consistent. I do like the fact that when you order a cocktail on US the FA brings you a glass half-full of mixer and two, count 'em two, minis for you to mix it yourself. Makes it easier on them and on me. :D

Personally, I like the AS hard product better (more recline, better headrest, power ports, and the overall design of the trays/storage). However, I will agree that the onboard service on US is geberally better and more attentive than AA.

I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that AA's SOP for years have indicated full PDB service, but it rarely happens. If it does, it is a tray of Water or OJ.

I hope that Hector's team will push harder to have the service on the AA side match US's.

PDB is something I miss about UA and have always appreciated.

Agreed...
 

What hacks me off is when hard core AA flyers TRASH US Air & yet they either have not flown them in 10 years, or have NEVER flown them. Once the US/HP merger was completed & ALL the bugs got worked out, US airways became a decent airline as far as the First Class product goes (-:

The forward bins are smaller on the 737-800 due to the curvature of the fuselage. Go back a bin or try putting your bag in handle first/wheels last, and you should have better success.

There are a handful of super star FAs on both AA and US. The absolute best I've had on AA was on a short SFO-LAX from a wonderful veteran FA named Margaret. Top notch all around. I've also met Margaret's 'twin' on another short US flight DFW-PHX -- she started off with a special announcement for just the F cabin and then ran up and down the aisle the entire flight. My dinky, skinny little coffee cup never went dry that entire flight.

I took my first flight ever on US metal 2 weeks ago. ORD-PHL on an A321 in F. The plane was disgusting. Torn seats and carpet, missing and hanging trim pieces on the walls, peeling paint (or whatever that top coating is) in the overhead bins, and third world lavs. I found the seat pitch to be less than AA first and the seats were very uncomfortable compared to the AA 737 F seats. The best word to describe it is "grim". I can't imagine how it was in back, especially without MCE available. Unless and until the legacy US planes are brought up to AA standards (which are not that high to begin with), I am done with US metal.

Cabin crew was okay. Not any different from AA F crews.

I've never been on a worn US a321 and I'm on them almost weekly. I will take a US A321 in coach over any AA MCE every time. US A321 have, in my opinion, the best coach seats of any domestic plane flown by any airline.....10A-C, 9D-E, row 22, etc.....

As far as Flight attendants - both US/AA have gr8 and terrible ones....in my experience, CLT based crews are consistently the best in the US system followed by PHX.....I can't point to a crew base with AA that is as consistently good as the US crews in CLT and PHX, but I can tell you that MIA crews are the worst!

I am surprised that Douggies crew hasn't whipped AA FA's over their lack of serving a PDB.....It's been over a year - I have seen NO improvement from AA on this.

Lastly, I am curious to see how many FA's ultimately serve 16 seat F cabins when fully combined.....AA usually has 2 on the 737 while US has 1 on the A321.....however, I can't really tell much of a difference in service because the US F FAs on the a321 usually bust their a** to get everything done....so, if you think not getting a PDB in AA F is bad now, wait until they drop the extra attendant in F...which I fully expect to happen....sorry for the ramble.

As a "hard core" AA flyer - I've found the crews on the few US flights I 've taken to be very friendly. They always greet everyone, offer PDBs, etc. But I've also found some of them to very slow with the service, especially full meals. They obvioiusly aren't used to it.

But I can't say I've been on ANY US Aircraft that I would call nice. I was on an A321 last night which had LED lights (so I'm assuming is somewhat new), but the seats are old and janky, and I don't care for the small galley and lack of closet up front. It just looks trashy how they have the plane configured.

US air cabins are all absolute trash, and you can tell they have/had no interest in investing in their hard product to make it comfortable or offer any ammenities while on board.
That being said, I'll take an AA plane any day over US AIR, despite how friendly the US AIr crews might be.

Living in PHX, over the years of flying US Airways, we feel that we get a pretty consistent service with a smile, sometimes good service and not so much of a smile, but rarely anything we would consider lazy.

I had an absolutely brutal flight on a US redeye from SAN-CLT recently. The 321 F seat was the single most uncomfortable premium cabin seat I have had for decades, not even a pillow to be had, and service was inattentive, to put it mildly. At least the blankets were recognizable as such, though, as opposed to on the early morning connection that followed, where they resembled tissue paper. I would take the AA planes (and were, it possible, pre-Doug meals) anyday.

Agree that the meal service is slower, but that is usually due to the fact that there is only 1 flight attendant serving F. That, and as you say, they probably aren't used to the new sequence of warmed nuts, etc.

I'm really, really trying to understand how you can say that all US cabins are absolute trash? What does the size of the galley have to do with your experience? All US cabins had have had their seats recovered within the last five years, in both classes, and bulkhead walls were all replaced too. I appreciate the simplicity of the F cabin and the proximity to the FAs, many of whom I talk to and have gotten to know. I think the cabin described is likely a bad apple and isn't characteristic of at least 90% of US's fleet.

I prefer US F seats to AA seats, and find it really annoying that there isn't a place to put a drink built into the AA F seat armrest without popping out the drink trays. I guess AA knew their FAs weren't going to be offering PDBs when they ordered the planes :D Each 737 I've gotten on (even the new ones with BSI and AVOD) have just been filthy (perhaps this too has been bad luck). Crust and crumbs in all the seats, corners, and ground into the carpets, scuffs on the bulkheads from people's shoes (not AA's fault).

I think it's what we're just used to. Frankly, I get on an AA 737, and think "this is janky." That, and dirty. Very dirty.

You can thank AA for the lack of pillows. PMUS had pillows on every seat in F, which were cut to "align" with PMAA.

Wait until you get two AA FAs that are talking away instead of getting meals ready to serve. I agree the one US FA seems to bust their butt to get the service done completely.

Got it. Thanks for the tip!

I have yet to fly F on US AIR as of yet but have flown coach about 8 times with US pm. I was treated well on two flights but the other six it was downright hostile when trying to get a complimentary beverage or snack. One literally through a hummus box at me when I tried to explain that EXP was Emerald. Might be a mute point now that they MUST have been trained EXP was CP. I'm flying to PVR in F on US next week so we shall see!

IMO, domestic F on AA/US/DL/UA is just all the same homogenized garbage at this point. Poor legroom, poor seat comfort, poor food, poor beverage options (with the exception of liquor), and generally apathetic and uninterested with sometimes flat out rude and disrespectful service.

US domestic premium air travel is an industry that is clearly lacking competition at this point, and the product offerings clearly reflect that. To me, the only airline with an acceptable F product for domestic flights outside of premium transcons at this point is Virgin America.

Well, the OP flys BA Club Europe a lot. Wait 'til you see their sorry 30-31" excuse for "Business" seat pitch, sitting in what is essentially a coach seat with the middle seat blocked. F in AA / US beats the slats out of that, or AA or US economy.

That's true. The stage length of those flights though is on average considerably less than that of domestic US flights. BA uses mid-haul A321s and intercontinental aircraft of flights similar in length to MIA-SEA, JFK-SAN, BOS-LAX, MCO-LAX, MIA-SFO, etc.

It is refreshing to see some honesty about AA in this thread.

Coming from the US side, I have a lot more experience with them, but I have flown a handful of AA flights in first as well.

On the AA side the first class cabin does seem larger, with a bit more leg room. Although I have not used it, I like that there is power in the seats. The IFE was nice when I was in MCE once, but with the ipad it really doesn't matter to me, but for many that is a benefit. Oh, and thank you AA for the warmed nuts! I am happy to give AA credit where it is due.

I agree with many on here that US is getting the short end of the stick when it isn't always deserved.

I flew 125k miles (and 119 segments I think) last year and I don't know if there was one time I didn't get a full PDB. There was one time a few months ago where we didn't, which I thought was strange, but then about 3 minutes before the door closed the 2 other FA's came up and started asking and the 3 FA got out the PDB in record time. I thought it was a great, subtle way for them to stress the importance of it to the 1st FA who hadn't done it, as well as pitch in and make sure the FC cabin got something before getting in the air.

I have read so many comments on this from the AA side when they say they do think it should be done, but understand if it is a late boarding, etc. On the US side that doesn't seem to matter. Late boarding or not, it just gets done. Yes, they stop traffic several times for a minute or two at a time. All that seems to do is allow things to move along a little bit, so that you don't have people just standing in the aisles not moving. It doesn't seem to slow down boarding at all.

I am honestly surprised that there has not been a bigger uproar over this. From what I have read this is something that is supposed to happen on AA, yet from what I have seen, and more importantly from what I have read, it doesn't seem to happen on a regular basis. Also, the fact that if there is PDB it is usually water or OJ only, and there hasn't been a revolt from AA people shocks me. If I want an apple juice or soda or some sort of alcoholic drink for my PDB, why shouldn't I get it?

In my experience with the US side, you have a lot of good FA's. You also have some bad and some great. Overall, I would say the vast majority of my experiences are good. They are friendly, often calling by name (which I really don't care about, but I recognize they are making an effort to be friendly), attentive, timely in service and overall have a good attitude. To me this is a big asset of the airline. You can spend money on all sorts of things for the cabin, but you can't just throw money at bad service and turn it into good service (as if AA would do that!)

Unfortunately on the AA side I have not been as lucky. I wouldn't say they were bad, more indifferent. Now my sample size is smaller, so I am willing to wait and see. It seems like it really should shake out about the same, having some great, a lot of good, and some bad FA's. Let's hope I see more great one's in my future flights.

Since I have flown so many segments, I am on a lot of planes. Overall the US fleet is newer and in good shape. Yes, there are exceptions. Most of the 321's are newer. I have been on a few over the last few months, however, that really were showing a lot of wear. But anyone who says they are all horrible has not been on many flights, I would say. The AA planes I have been on have not been new or great, just average. I would agree with the poster who mentioned about no place to set a drink without opening up the little tray. One point for US on that.

One thing that did surprise me on the AA planes (737) were how small the bathrooms were. Apparently you can make those lavs smaller!

For those who want to think that AA is fabulous and US is horrible, I am not trying to change your mind, just sharing my experiences. Less people from the AA side flying on US metal means easier upgrades for me! :)

I would love to see the little more leg room and in seat power from AA, the PDB, newer planes and slightly larger bathroom from US and the great FA's from both side moving forward.

I received a PDB on almost all of my 60+ US F flights over the last year, except when I boarded late or the flight was delayed.

I've been in AA F 4 times in the last few months. Zero PDBs offered.

I agree AA sucks on the PDBs. It's extremely rare. I have ASKED and gotten it but never upright offered except on a few occasions. I disagree on the aircraft. AA has much newer and better equipment - hands down. It's a crapshoot on US if there is internet, almost never has power, and the seats look like coach-extra type seating.

Um...crap shoot on US if there is internet? US has internet on 90% of its flights - I don't think AA is anywhere close to that.....as a flyer of both, US has been way ahead of AA on this...

Again, I'm just trying to understand the viewpoint here. The average age of the PMUS fleet is younger than the PMAA fleet. 90% of the fleet has wifi, with the exception of the A330s, the (now being retired) 757s, and small express aircraft (http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayi...ights/2508223/).

Totally agree with you on the power. The East aircraft all had power that was disconnected in 2008.

PMUS aircraft have wider, full sized seatbacks (with the exception of the narrower 321 seats) that help block sound and create the aesthetic of a larger seat. The AA 737s, 319s, and 321s all have narrower seat backs that allow sound to travel between each row and make the seats look, as you would say, "coach extra."

On the whole, all things considered, cmd320 sums it up nicely. Void any real need to compete, the race to the bottom is on.

I disagree. Only the 767s I've been on do not have wifi - otherwise I've had wifi on every AA flight. US (the 8 I've flown) only two times has the wifi been installed or worked. Maybe a fluke but that has been my experience. But I did read that AA has more wifi aircraft than US