AA buys two new LHR slot pairs from SAS for $75M
Apr 28, 2017, 12:24 am
#31
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Which 772s, Zodiac or / and BE Aerospace seats?Most of us believe the 787-8 J is better than BA CW even without the stabilizers added to the Zodiac seats, and that the 787-9 BE Aerospace seats are better than BA CW. (I'd argue the 763 horizontal flat all aisle access seat is better than the BA weight bench plus ottoman awkward aisle access seats.)
Apr 28, 2017, 1:53 am
#32
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Ha! Fair point. I was referring to Concept D—I've not encountered an AA Super Diamond in the wild yet.
And I would disagree with most of you then. 
I truly despise the Concept D seats, and book around them whenever possible. I'll take NGNCW over Concept D seven days a week and twice on a Sunday.
Maybe the 789 seats are good, but they're not flown to LHR at the moment, and the point to which I was replying is business between the US and LHR, not just AA vs BA. BA are worse than many airlines from LHR.
My point, for whatever it's worth, is that I would cede AA's 77W hard product is tops from LHR to the US—I'll amend that to say that the Super Diamonds may also be as good (though unless the 789 gets scheduled out of LHR then it'll be a crap shoot between Super Diamond and Concept D, which is a risk I'll avoid if I can)—though aside from that I'll say that there are other products better than AA to London. DL's 763 may be narrow, but I'd rather that than any AA product other than the 77W (caveat for Super Diamond). I've not flown Polaris yet, but I've heard that it's a bit cramped but otherwise private and comfortable, which compared to Concept D or AA's IFE-less Vantage sounds like a winner to me.
Everyone values things differently, and certainly AA are back in the mix whereas they were behind DL, UA, VS, BA, etc. etc. for years, I just don't think they are streets ahead of anyone outside of the 77W (and possibly Super Diamond).
Most of us believe the 787-8 J is better than BA CW even without the stabilizers added to the Zodiac seats
I truly despise the Concept D seats, and book around them whenever possible. I'll take NGNCW over Concept D seven days a week and twice on a Sunday.
the 787-9 BE Aerospace seats are better than BA CW. (I'd argue the 763 horizontal flat all aisle access seat is better than the BA weight bench plus ottoman awkward aisle access seats.)
My point, for whatever it's worth, is that I would cede AA's 77W hard product is tops from LHR to the US—I'll amend that to say that the Super Diamonds may also be as good (though unless the 789 gets scheduled out of LHR then it'll be a crap shoot between Super Diamond and Concept D, which is a risk I'll avoid if I can)—though aside from that I'll say that there are other products better than AA to London. DL's 763 may be narrow, but I'd rather that than any AA product other than the 77W (caveat for Super Diamond). I've not flown Polaris yet, but I've heard that it's a bit cramped but otherwise private and comfortable, which compared to Concept D or AA's IFE-less Vantage sounds like a winner to me.
Everyone values things differently, and certainly AA are back in the mix whereas they were behind DL, UA, VS, BA, etc. etc. for years, I just don't think they are streets ahead of anyone outside of the 77W (and possibly Super Diamond).
at the moment AA J hard product to LHR is much superior to BA CW hard product.
Apr 28, 2017, 4:42 am
#34
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I do. I think that their newer hard product is superior to CW and that their F/As have been very friendly so far. Moreover, I have sometimes European connections leaving from T3 which is another argument for AA.
Finally, in some cases I have recommended F&F that can't make up their mind between both candidates and don't hold OW status to fly on AA as AA (currently) doesn't charge for seat reservations in C whereas BA charges their C passenger quite handsomely.
The question is if they are going to keep it for the winter months. I would imagine that the flights to LAX, SFO, LAS and PHX sell rather well during the summer months.
Finally, in some cases I have recommended F&F that can't make up their mind between both candidates and don't hold OW status to fly on AA as AA (currently) doesn't charge for seat reservations in C whereas BA charges their C passenger quite handsomely.
The question is if they are going to keep it for the winter months. I would imagine that the flights to LAX, SFO, LAS and PHX sell rather well during the summer months.
Apr 28, 2017, 6:10 am
#35
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Apr 28, 2017, 7:43 am
#36
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It looks like LIT-LHR is finally coming to fruition. So glad to hear that it will be offered twice daily!
This must be why AA special-ordered the A380. Hopefully FL construction is well-underway.
This must be why AA special-ordered the A380. Hopefully FL construction is well-underway.
Apr 28, 2017, 7:52 am
#37
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But seriously - AA paid now for merchandise that will be delivered in 3 years. Sounds like SK made a good deal...
Apr 28, 2017, 7:57 am
#39
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Apr 28, 2017, 8:02 am
#40
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Apr 28, 2017, 8:19 am
#41
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One issue with PHX, and the LUS side of the operation, is the FAs are only qualified on the aircraft that base flies. LAA, FAs are qualified on the whole fleet. So to add a widebody out of PHX, crew would need to be deadheaded in from CLT/PHL or PHX would need all of their FAs trained on the widebody.
There are many instances of aircraft operating out of a hub with no base for said aircraft.
Apr 28, 2017, 8:39 am
#42
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Apr 28, 2017, 8:54 am
#43
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This does not necessarily mean that there will be additional flights between LHR and USA. There are lots of possible scenarios, but one example might be that AA operates an additional LHR-JFK rotation and BA drops a LHR-JFK rotation and uses the free slot to operate a different route to anywhere.
Apr 28, 2017, 9:18 am
#44
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AA indeed has the best hard product between LHR and the US.
Apr 28, 2017, 9:44 am
#45
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Nope. Keep in mind an A330 shows up in Phoenix for Hawaii, which has to come from somewhere. My assumption is that it comes from CLT on a turn. So AA could also fund the crews for PHX similarly, with the crew rotating CLT-PHX the day before, and then go into CLT direct from LHR, with the LHR-PHX crew being funded in reverse.
There are many instances of aircraft operating out of a hub with no base for said aircraft.
There are many instances of aircraft operating out of a hub with no base for said aircraft.