Is first class worth it from SFO to MIA?
Jan 10, 2018, 1:45 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Your experience with domestic first class on other carriers is more or less exactly what you'll get with AA. On the 321 & 738 you'll have a larger seat, slightly more legroom, free booze, and a meal that can vary from mediocre to inedible. Whether that's worth the cost is up to you 
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Jan 10, 2018, 3:05 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
When traveling on domestic transcon for business, I will pay $150 - $200 more for F when there is lunch or dinner meal service. In addition to free food and beverage and more comfortable seat, even discounted F fares earn more miles.
For leisure transcon travel, I will only sit up front on transcon redeyes - even on a 737 or A32X, try to always book saaver first awards - even if it means an extra stop.
This is one of the primary reasons AS has become my first choice for domestic travel; status is relatively easy, GGUs are easy to "earn" and burn, possible to use GGUs with credit card companion pass.
For leisure transcon travel, I will only sit up front on transcon redeyes - even on a 737 or A32X, try to always book saaver first awards - even if it means an extra stop.
This is one of the primary reasons AS has become my first choice for domestic travel; status is relatively easy, GGUs are easy to "earn" and burn, possible to use GGUs with credit card companion pass.
Jan 10, 2018, 3:08 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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Not worth a connection IMHO.
Jan 10, 2018, 3:11 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 166
Yeah, if it were international I'd consider a connection to get better F service but not on a domestic transcon. Unfortunately both flights are probably breakfast (one leaves at 8 and the other 845), which is typically disgusting, but the extra comfort will be welcome and I'll eat at the airport before heading out from SFO (Lark St. Grill is a pretty good restaurant in Terminal 2).
Jan 10, 2018, 5:39 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
For $250 I'd say that you made the right choice. Otherwise, only if it was the A321T with the lay flat "F" seats (equal to international J).
Jan 10, 2018, 8:27 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,959
The F fare is often a little more than 2X Y. In addition to the benefits already mentioned, you get 2X EQM and a much more comfortable ride. It makes sense if you're aiming for status, but if this is a one off trip on AA maybe not so much. For $250 on a transcon I would say it's worth it.
Jan 10, 2018, 10:03 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Yeah, if it were international I'd consider a connection to get better F service but not on a domestic transcon. Unfortunately both flights are probably breakfast (one leaves at 8 and the other 845), which is typically disgusting, but the extra comfort will be welcome and I'll eat at the airport before heading out from SFO (Lark St. Grill is a pretty good restaurant in Terminal 2).
You're in F for the extra legroom and the better seat. Even lazy FA's cannot take that away from you.
Jan 10, 2018, 10:13 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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Posts: 38,599
I don't drink at all on airplanes, so that's no benefit at all. And I'm kind of a food snob so I will often bring my own on the plane rather than suffer through the mediocre meals. It's a different story on international flights in J or F, but the only domestic airline that has decent food in F is (was) Virgin. So sad they're gone.
I decided to go with an exit row in main cabin extra both directions. I do appreciate the comfort of F especially on the return flight, but I think in this case I can live without it.
Thanks everyone.
I decided to go with an exit row in main cabin extra both directions. I do appreciate the comfort of F especially on the return flight, but I think in this case I can live without it.
Thanks everyone.
I can't agree with those who suggest a connection to have part of the trip in possibly more comfort. More chances of irrops, not to mention making a 6 hour flight turn into 9 hours of first gate to last gate travel time.
As for 2x the price, it depends what the prices are. $300 v $600? I'd likely pay the $600 (and the added earnings). $600 v $1200? I'd bring my own food in a narrower seat.
Jan 10, 2018, 10:15 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Well one way to think about it is that AA sells 500-mile upgrades for $40 and it would take 6 of them to upgrade this flight (if one had status and IF - haha - it cleared), so the differential to buy up is $10 and that gets you all the extra miles, etc.
Jan 10, 2018, 10:52 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Milwaukee
Programs: AA Pl, KL Platinum for Life
Posts: 384
I used to like the warm nuts until I saw the FA using her bare hands to fill the nut ramekins and then wipe the spillage off the top of the cart and sweep it into a nut ramekin she then served. Her service was vile and nasty as well. I was sitting in 1C and the FA was doing this on top of a cart she pushed in front of the door.
Jan 11, 2018, 1:40 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: OZ Diamond, Jiffypark Manhattan Gold
Posts: 4,485
Paying double, probably isn't worth it, but it all depends on your wants/needs and finances right?
I flew SEA-MIA red eye on a 737...it was tolerable...not good but tolerable.
The return flight though is MIA-SEA leaving at like 2100...it's absolutely miserable. The one I flew was full, of course there's no food, the b-o-b isn't great, it's long as hell, cramped and crowded.
I flew SEA-MIA red eye on a 737...it was tolerable...not good but tolerable.
The return flight though is MIA-SEA leaving at like 2100...it's absolutely miserable. The one I flew was full, of course there's no food, the b-o-b isn't great, it's long as hell, cramped and crowded.
Jan 11, 2018, 7:16 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk...ifference.html
You can get mint seat for $449 O/W on FLL-SFO.
