BA J Frequent Flyers - Opinion on AA Transatlantic J
May 23, 2017, 9:16 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
So vastly different to my experience. The screens on BA 747 are complete junk and the content limited. The AA IFE screen quality, size, and content (including live tv and extensive flight maps) just seems vastly superior.
May 24, 2017, 5:56 am
#18
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,476
I believe the chances are you will now get a refurbished beast, but last time I did the JFK-LHR on a 747 sadly I didn't - although as it was a night flight it didn't really matter and the upper deck seating and the private feel of the cabin probably did beat anything AA could offer.
It comes down to whether you want to take the chance, and perhaps also your flight time.
May 24, 2017, 9:31 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: NYNY
Programs: Marriott Ambassador & LT Titanium, UA Silver, AA PLT
Posts: 842
The seats on the AA 777-200 is far superior to the BA 747-400. The upper deck is a cool novelty, but I wouldn't make a habit of flying BA just for that. If you're EXP/Emerald, BA's First Class lounge in T3 is far superior to the AA First Class lounge - not even close. That doesn't really matter, since if you're emerald, you can choose either lounge, no matter who you're flying. On-board food & beverage - I didn't think either is very good, so I'll say it's a toss-up.
Club Europe makes me long for US domestic F
Club Europe makes me long for US domestic F
May 24, 2017, 9:34 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,730
At T3, you would be better served skipping the AA and BA lounges altogether and heading straight for the CX lounge.
May 24, 2017, 9:50 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NYC LAX RDU
Programs: US-Plt;Concierge key; American AAirpass; Delta Silver;Starwood - Platinum; Amex Cent
Posts: 710
The seats on the AA 777-200 is far superior to the BA 747-400. The upper deck is a cool novelty, but I wouldn't make a habit of flying BA just for that. If you're EXP/Emerald, BA's First Class lounge in T3 is far superior to the AA First Class lounge - not even close. That doesn't really matter, since if you're emerald, you can choose either lounge, no matter who you're flying. On-board food & beverage - I didn't think either is very good, so I'll say it's a toss-up.
Club Europe makes me long for US domestic F
Club Europe makes me long for US domestic F
May 24, 2017, 10:40 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,227
Unfortunately I'm "stuck" on a BA 777 for an upcoming trip; I'm connecting from Europe, and transferring to AA for the TATL would mean I get home ~3 hours later given the schedules. I'll suffer on BA...
May 24, 2017, 11:31 am
#23
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,170
If you like soda, they serve it from dinky little 8oz cans (you get the glass... but still, make sure to ask for multiple). Crew can be really annoying sometimes, enforcing things like having your seat belt visible at the slightest amount of turbulence, window shade up during landing (will wake you up to make sure) and having the stupid monitor stowed away which means you can't watch anything.
Now I am quite easily pleased and my findings were based on several flights now from LAX not JFK. I like the seating on AA, I thought that meals were really pretty good and well presented. I intensely dislike Champagne being served in a tumbler and indeed the wines as well. A shame as the selection was good. Where I think that BA wins hands down is service delivery - there seems to be no personality aboard with the LAX International crews. They serve by rote - they are not unpleasant in the least but there is no ambiance. This may not apply at all to JFK flights - remember too that dining is before departure so that people can maximise sleep. This may suit you or not.
Altogether, there is little to choose but truth to tell American feels like a downgraded First Class product whilst BA feels like an upgraded Economy product. I hope that helps.
May 24, 2017, 1:07 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
This does depend on what 747 configuration you get. The re-furbished planes, with more J seats, have an excellent IFE. The older cabins have the rather sad offering you refer to, and it really does not stack up well for response speed, content and view-ability against anything in the AA range, I suspect even including the tablets on the 767s.
I believe the chances are you will now get a refurbished beast, but last time I did the JFK-LHR on a 747 sadly I didn't - although as it was a night flight it didn't really matter and the upper deck seating and the private feel of the cabin probably did beat anything AA could offer.
It comes down to whether you want to take the chance, and perhaps also your flight time.
I believe the chances are you will now get a refurbished beast, but last time I did the JFK-LHR on a 747 sadly I didn't - although as it was a night flight it didn't really matter and the upper deck seating and the private feel of the cabin probably did beat anything AA could offer.
It comes down to whether you want to take the chance, and perhaps also your flight time.
I can deal wth sluggish interface, what I don't like is poor image quality and small screen size.
May 24, 2017, 3:01 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,354
Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like I've made the right choice to try AA out.
Anyone have seat seat suggestions for the outbound 772 or 773 on the return (for a couple)? And someone mentioned the meal on the overnight leg is served prior to departure, can you expand?
Anyone have seat seat suggestions for the outbound 772 or 773 on the return (for a couple)? And someone mentioned the meal on the overnight leg is served prior to departure, can you expand?
May 24, 2017, 3:08 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,730
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...eat-seats.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...eat-seats.html
For the 773, referred to as 77W by AA, look http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...aster-thd.html
May 24, 2017, 3:25 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: NYNY
Programs: Marriott Ambassador & LT Titanium, UA Silver, AA PLT
Posts: 842
May 24, 2017, 3:39 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Providence RI
Programs: American Exec Plat, Hyatt Refugeeist, Marriot Gold, Air Canada Cattle Class, Korean Air Morning Plat
Posts: 988
Hard product
Soft product
There's obvious a lot of variance here, but on average I've had better luck with BA's crews. They seem to at least take the concept of service seriously and have minimum quality standards, whereas on AA I've met far too many of the "we're primarily here for your safety" types.
[B]
Soft product
There's obvious a lot of variance here, but on average I've had better luck with BA's crews. They seem to at least take the concept of service seriously and have minimum quality standards, whereas on AA I've met far too many of the "we're primarily here for your safety" types.
[B]