Old Dec 20, 2015, 10:41 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
AA 73 & 72 LAX / Los Angeles <--> SYD / Sydney (as of 17 Dec 2015)
Was operated with Boeing 77W / 777-323ER to 8 Nov 2017
Changed to Boeing 787-9 in November 2017.
Including lounge, connections information

Initial schedule:

LAX-SYD: 17 Dec 2015 AA 73 Flight duration 15:05
Lv LAX 21:50 Dec 17 PST / 05:50 18 Dec GMT
Ar SYD 07:55 Dec 19 AEDT / 20:55 18 Dec GMT (same day)
SYD-LAX: 19 Dec 2015 AA 72 Flight duration 13:50
Lv SYD 12:00 Dec 19 AEDT / 01:00 19 Dec GMT
Ar LAX 06:50 Dec 19 PST / 14:50 19 Dec GMT
Inaugural flight AA73, operated by Boeing 777-323ER ("77W") N720AN:
2015-12-17 - AA73 - Los Angeles (LAX) STD 21:50 PST ATD 22:15 - Sydney (SYD) STA 07:55 AEDT ATA 07:30 AEDT


AA 73 Ar SYD 19 Dec 2015 - Seth Jaworski c/o Australian Aviation


From Source Aust BT
American Airlines will shift its Sydney-Los Angeles flights to a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from November 8, 2017. The advanced jet replaces the larger Boeing 777-300ER and will see first class dropped from the trans-Pacific route, although business travellers on a budget will appreciate the introduction of American Airlines' new premium economy seating on the Boeing 787.

Link to Australian Aviation article

Older archived thread relating to announcement of new LAX-SYD-LAX flight (June 9, 2015) here.

Lounges: by oneworld status, or by class of service - and Admirals Club members flying out on AA (or an AA marketed flight) get to use the QANTAS Business Lounge.

Qantas First Lounge - spa, restaurant: First or oneworld Emerald passengers

Qantas Business Lounge: Business, oneworld Sapphire pax and Admirals Club members

On arrival
Link to Airport info SYDNEY (SYD) - amenities, transfers, transport to FlyerTalk Oceania Forum SYD master thread with extensive wiki.

Connections:

International- no need to collect baggage if allowed by your airline(s), follow flight connections signs to immigration, flight connections desk. If you are not allowed to through check your bags you must process immigration, collect bags, process customs, proceed to the airline Check in areas and process security to get back airside.

Domestic: the domestic terminals 2 and 3 are 2.5 miles / 4 km away. Figure on a half hour at least to transfer, and if you use landside road transfers during high traffic times, longer (airside plan minimum half an hour). Talking about peak times, it can take two hours with queues waiting to board shuttle busses.

If traveling on via Qantas once you're landside after the Duty Free gantlet, follow the signs and go right. You'll eventually arrive at the baggage check facility, process security and take an airside shuttle that will end up with you're being at Gate 15 airside in the QF domestic terminal. It's called "Qantas seamless transfer".

If traveling with other airlines see Here

Link to SYD airport maps, etc.

Link to SYD airport FAQ.

If you wish to overnight close to international terminal 1, see here for a Rydges Sydney Airport stay report and tips.

Historical note: Pan American World Airways was the first American airline offering commercial passenger service to Australia, beginning Feb 1947 to SYD (with several stops), adding MEL in 1958. United acquired Pan Am's Pacific routes, operating them as of Feb 1986.

American Airlines initially operated to Sydney (and later also Melbourne between August 1970 through to March 1974. AA reestablished service with a DC-10 LAX-HNL-SYD return 4x weekly in Feb 1990, but ended that service March 1992.

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AA LAX-SYD-LAX AA73 / AA72 (17 Dec 2015)

Old Dec 18, 2015, 6:00 pm
  #16  
 
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I was fortunate enough to be on Flight 73 on the inaugural date of Dec. 17th, 2015 and wanted to share my experience. Since this entire trip was a bit of an indulgence for me, I decided to go ahead and purchase “Kardashian Kare” aka Five Star Service. On the day of the flight, I was dropped off at Flagship Check-In at about 6:50 PM where I was met by my designated greeter Brenda (Five Star coordinates with your car service so that they‘re there when you drive up). After introducing herself, she accompanied me into the facility where I was issued a new boarding pass and my single piece of luggage was checked in quite expeditiously. She then escorted me through security and to the Flagship Lounge. After ensuring that I was settled, she told me she would be back at an appropriate time to escort me to the gate when the festivities were to start. By now it was just about 7:15 PM so I had a bit of time to kill. Brenda came back in about thirty minutes and took me to the gate where I had my picture taken with a baby roo. There was a buffet of Australian themed food and a DJ playing some music and incorporating a didgeridoo into the mix. There were also lots of freebies for all passengers including neck pillows, key chains, etc. After a bit Brenda and I decided to go back to the FL rather than wait for the boarding call. While there she introduced me to Charles who is the Elite Services Manager for Premium Customer Services at LAX. Charles informed me that they were not going to charge me for the Five Star Service since American Airlines intended to incorporate Five Star Service into their F service to Sydney. I thought this was a very nice gesture on AA’s part and thanked him for the goodwill. Brenda then took me back to the gate to hear speeches but we were fortunate enough to get there after they had finished. Shortly thereafter, we decided to board and Brenda escorted me to my seat (1A) and introduced me to Bertie who would be the purser for the flight. Strangely enough, the captain never came out and introduced himself to the first-class passengers so I presume he had more important things to worry about. I must say this is the first time I have been on an international flight on a 77W or 777 where the captain did not come out and greet the FC passengers. Soon after, another FA came by and offered water, champagne, or OJ. Bertie came by again with pajamas and amenity kits. Pushback from the gate was about 40 minutes late but we were soon airborne and on our way to Oz. I was really not very hungry at all so I decided to have the wedge salad with blue cheese and the pan seared scallops. After Bertie cleared my tray of dinner detritus she asked if I would like my bed made up. Of course I said yes and the next thing I knew when I came to is that there was just about three hours left to Sydney. Bertie is an extremely personable and competent flight attendant. When I told her that the entire crew had autographed my first class menu on the DFW to HKG inaugural flight, she took my menu and had the same thing done to it for this flight. That was very cool on her part and I really appreciated the effort. She was constantly checking on her passengers asking if we were comfortable and if there was anything she could get us. Breakfast was served about an hour before arrival in Sidney with more choices than I remember on other international flights. I opted for the pancakes and they were actually quite good. Touchdown in SYD was just about 7:16 AM and we were treated to a pretty cool water cannon salute by the Sydney Airport Fire Service.
At Sydney, both 1L and 2L were used for deplaning which is super convenient for those in first-class. Arrival formalities were cleared fairly quickly and I was soon on my way to the Sydney Harbor Marriott. In my estimation, this flight will be one of AA’s premier international flights and I think they’re off to a good start with this inaugural effort.

Last edited by marnold3; Dec 18, 2015 at 6:07 pm
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 6:07 pm
  #17  
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"I must say this is the first time I have been on an international flight on a 77W or 777 where the captain did not come out and greet the FC passengers."

I was on 4 in November and it didn't happen once.
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 6:11 pm
  #18  
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Originally Posted by JDiver
At ~5:30-6:00 SYD hot towels came, followed by a decent breakfast quickly served. Forms were eventually handed out, several FAs cleared the cabin but I saw J arm rests up (should be down).

Landing was uneventful. Lots of photoggers rampside and we got a "wet welcome" from the water arc from two fire wagons.

An uneventful flight, personable FAs providing completely mediocre service. And this was the inaugural flight, which they kept mentioning - but nothing special on the soft side, I'm afraid. Chalk it up to an entrenched, non-customer centered management (corporate culture trickles down, not up.)
Originally Posted by marnold3
Arrival formalities were cleared fairly quickly and I was soon on my way to the Sydney Harbor Marriott. In my estimation, this flight will be one of AAs premier international flights and I think theyre off to a good start with this inaugural effort.
Apparently this is where AA is differentiating between F and J .
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 6:40 pm
  #19  
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Based on the two reports here it certainly sounds like a tale of two flights between F and J...
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 6:56 pm
  #20  
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A tale of two different passengers in two different cabins on the same flight.
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 8:11 pm
  #21  
 
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Originally Posted by JDiver

At ~4:30 SYD the deadheading and active FAs formed a clot around the galleys, chattering quite audibly.
You make mention of the 'deadheading' FAs but I am interested to know what flight they would return on as 'active' FAs because surely the crew to staff AA72 SYD-LAX on Sat Dec 19 arrived in SYD some days earlier.
My understanding of the UAL schedules is that the crews have ~ 48 hours in SYD before returning to the US.
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 10:29 pm
  #22  
 
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Originally Posted by Aspen
You make mention of the 'deadheading' FAs but I am interested to know what flight they would return on as 'active' FAs because surely the crew to staff AA72 SYD-LAX on Sat Dec 19 arrived in SYD some days earlier.
My understanding of the UAL schedules is that the crews have ~ 48 hours in SYD before returning to the US.
That's what I would have thought as well, AA sending a crew to SYD on a QF flight 2-3 days before.
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 10:41 pm
  #23  
 
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Originally Posted by cmd320
Based on the two reports here it certainly sounds like a tale of two flights between F and J...
Originally Posted by CPRich
A tale of two different passengers in two different cabins on the same flight.
Hmm.. I believe there were some Sr. AA/QF Execs flying F on this flight. Not making any assumptions but...
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 10:49 pm
  #24  
 
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Originally Posted by JDiver
Believe it or not, some of us keep busy initially on westbound transpac redeyes and sleep on destination time.

Understood.. Kind of

An uneventful flight, personable FAs providing completely mediocre service. And this was the inaugural flight, which they kept mentioning - but nothing special on the soft side, I'm afraid. Chalk it up to an entrenched, non-customer centered management (corporate culture trickles down, not up.)

I've taken the QF A380 from DFW and LAX, and though the J hard product is not as good as AA 77W, the soft product beats the slats out of AA.
Well, too bad that something as simple as getting good PR from an inaugural key expansion flight seems to be so difficult for AA to accomplish.

Hope you have a good visit down under JDiver! Thanks for the initial trip report!
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 11:21 pm
  #25  
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Originally Posted by marnold3
Strangely enough, the captain never came out and introduced himself to the first-class passengers so I presume he had more important things to worry about. I must say this is the first time I have been on an international flight on a 77W or 777 where the captain did not come out and greet the FC passengers.

Soon after, another FA came by and offered water, champagne, or OJ.

In my estimation, this flight will be one of AAs premier international flights and I think theyre off to a good start with this inaugural effort.
I don't fly AA international F that often but over 25 years of flying AA, I don't ever recall the captain coming out to introduce themselves - why would they? Why would I want them to? Clearly, they do have "more important things to worry about".

Was the PDB actually (a) champagne and (b) served in a glass? Or was it some unidentified sparkling wine served in plastic? Nothing screams "THIS IS NOT FIRST CLASS" more than those dreadful plastic glasses AA insists on using.

We're flying LAX-MEL next month in QF J. We could have taken the LAX-SYD AA flight and then used SWUs to upgrade - obviously subject to availability but it's a RTW ticket that's changeable at will and we're time-rich these days (if cash-poor...) so probably not too impossible to find a day with upgrade space. We opted not to and to stick to QF J direct to MEL. From your description - and certainly from JDiver's comments - it sounds like we made the right call. Very disappointing that AA continued its usual mediocre service standards on this brand-new high-profile route.
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 11:37 pm
  #26  
 
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Originally Posted by tt7
I don't fly AA international F that often but over 25 years of flying AA, I don't ever recall the captain coming out to introduce themselves - why would they? Why would I want them to? Clearly, they do have "more important things to worry about".

Was the PDB actually (a) champagne and (b) served in a glass? Or was it some unidentified sparkling wine served in plastic? Nothing screams "THIS IS NOT FIRST CLASS" more than those dreadful plastic glasses AA insists on using.

We're flying LAX-MEL next month in QF J. We could have taken the LAX-SYD AA flight and then used SWUs to upgrade - obviously subject to availability but it's a RTW ticket that's changeable at will and we're time-rich these days (if cash-poor...) so probably not too impossible to find a day with upgrade space. We opted not to and to stick to QF J direct to MEL. From your description - and certainly from JDiver's comments - it sounds like we made the right call. Very disappointing that AA continued its usual mediocre service standards on this brand-new high-profile route.
I believe (my memory is a little hazy on this) the PDB was served in a stemmed glass (not plastic). I had water and am unable to comment on the bubbly stuff. I thought the service in F was great and certainly not mediocre. I am unable to comment on the service in J.
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Old Dec 18, 2015, 11:59 pm
  #27  
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I took this flight as well. FA service was average. Hector Adler was at LAX although i'm not sure if he was on the flight.

There was a family of 4 in F. I slept for 9 hours after the first meal service. I'll post pics when i get back to america with reliable wifi.
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Old Dec 19, 2015, 12:05 am
  #28  
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Originally Posted by tt7
Very disappointing that AA continued its usual mediocre service standards on this brand-new high-profile route.
The staff on board are the same as on other routes and the items used will be the same - I am surprised that some would have expected AA to offer anything other than its normal service quality
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Old Dec 19, 2015, 12:17 am
  #29  
 
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Originally Posted by Col Ronson

...There was a family of 4 in F....
There were eight guys in F. This does not necessarily preclude a family of four but I highly doubt it.
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Old Dec 19, 2015, 3:35 am
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble
The staff on board are the same as on other routes and the items used will be the same - I am surprised that some would have expected AA to offer anything other than its normal service quality
AA actually hyped the "many improvements" that would be added for the LAX-SYD flight, so whilst I didn't have many expectations other than a couple of decent Australian wines, pyjamas in J - and it's what I got.

I'm glad they served a sparkler in proper stemware in F, but in J it was plastic and iirc not tasting like anything other than a sweetish bubbly plonk. (Once in the air, it was Charles Ellner Grande Rserve Brut Champagne, served in a stemless generic wine glass.)
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