American Eagle by Compas SEA - LAX - why?
Aug 12, 2018, 7:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Sky Team Silver, Star Alliance Silver
Posts: 159
American Eagle by Compas SEA - LAX - why?
I fell into the old trap and now find myself on a commuter carrier after booking on the AA website. It begs the question: Why would AA farm out a 3-hour flight between two major west coast cities to Compass? This is hardly a commuter flight. Had I been flying to Boise or Portland, I might have been more alert. But Seattle to Los Angeles on Embraer metal?
Coulda flown Delta....
Coulda flown Delta....
Aug 12, 2018, 8:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 307
As someone based in SEA, I prefer this to the mix of the A319s and E175s they had on the route before. Yeah, I miss the hot meal on the A319, but my upgrade clears more reliably on the E175 (or, when purchasing paid business, there's actually inventory available on the 175...), the meals are reasonably substantial (more so than what AS last served me on that route), and I've found the Compass crews to be great.
The biggest downsides have been a) they seem to schedule it tighter than the current airport situations at LAX and SEA allow, so there are often delays and b) the remote terminal at LAX (and, increasingly, the bus gates at SEA).
The biggest downsides have been a) they seem to schedule it tighter than the current airport situations at LAX and SEA allow, so there are often delays and b) the remote terminal at LAX (and, increasingly, the bus gates at SEA).
Aug 12, 2018, 8:42 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Sky Team Silver, Star Alliance Silver
Posts: 159
I’m 6’5” tall (2 meters) and will do just about anything to avoid a commuter airline. The cabin is cramped, the carry-ons don’t fit, the food is inferior, and the pilots are inexperienced.
Again, I understand the contracted model for commuter carriers, but I don’t understand why a medium-haul flight like SEA-LAX would be farmed out.
I admit to being frustrated with myself for not catching this. Live and learn.
Again, I understand the contracted model for commuter carriers, but I don’t understand why a medium-haul flight like SEA-LAX would be farmed out.
I admit to being frustrated with myself for not catching this. Live and learn.
Aug 12, 2018, 9:25 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
I’m 6’5” tall (2 meters) and will do just about anything to avoid a commuter airline. The cabin is cramped, the carry-ons don’t fit, the food is inferior, and the pilots are inexperienced.
Again, I understand the contracted model for commuter carriers, but I don’t understand why a medium-haul flight like SEA-LAX would be farmed out.
I admit to being frustrated with myself for not catching this. Live and learn.
Again, I understand the contracted model for commuter carriers, but I don’t understand why a medium-haul flight like SEA-LAX would be farmed out.
I admit to being frustrated with myself for not catching this. Live and learn.
Aug 12, 2018, 9:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SFO/STS
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond
Posts: 396
As someone based in SEA, I prefer this to the mix of the A319s and E175s they had on the route before. Yeah, I miss the hot meal on the A319, but my upgrade clears more reliably on the E175 (or, when purchasing paid business, there's actually inventory available on the 175...), the meals are reasonably substantial (more so than what AS last served me on that route), and I've found the Compass crews to be great.
The biggest downsides have been a) they seem to schedule it tighter than the current airport situations at LAX and SEA allow, so there are often delays and b) the remote terminal at LAX (and, increasingly, the bus gates at SEA).
The biggest downsides have been a) they seem to schedule it tighter than the current airport situations at LAX and SEA allow, so there are often delays and b) the remote terminal at LAX (and, increasingly, the bus gates at SEA).
Aug 12, 2018, 9:43 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
I’m 6’5” tall (2 meters) and will do just about anything to avoid a commuter airline. The cabin is cramped, the carry-ons don’t fit, the food is inferior, and the pilots are inexperienced.
Again, I understand the contracted model for commuter carriers, but I don’t understand why a medium-haul flight like SEA-LAX would be farmed out.
I admit to being frustrated with myself for not catching this. Live and learn.
Again, I understand the contracted model for commuter carriers, but I don’t understand why a medium-haul flight like SEA-LAX would be farmed out.
I admit to being frustrated with myself for not catching this. Live and learn.
Now, if you had accidentally booked onto a CRJ, then I would certainly understand your despair.
Aug 12, 2018, 9:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
'Yo, Buzzz. Fly the route, then perform the critique.
I've found Compass crews to be consistently professional, well-trained and genuinely interested in providing a good customer experience.
As for the aircraft, the E175 interior can be a lot more comfortable than many of AA's older 737's.
I've found Compass crews to be consistently professional, well-trained and genuinely interested in providing a good customer experience.
As for the aircraft, the E175 interior can be a lot more comfortable than many of AA's older 737's.
Aug 12, 2018, 10:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Planet Earth(most days)
Programs: Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 1,544
This isn't a fair statement to make with regards to the E175. That aircraft, regardless of where you sit, is more comfortable than any mainline bird. You won't have a middle seat and if you sit up front, you have your choice of sitting by yourself. 1A and 4A are the best seats in the industry on the domestic side. And considering LAX-SEA isn't a hub to hub AA route, I'm just glad they aren't flying the CR9 or E145 between those cities. With AA, between LAX-BOI and LAX-SEA are comparable in terms of aircraft utilization. In fact, this is a newish route within the AA route structure. And this is coming from someone who is 6'5", FWIW
Aug 12, 2018, 10:53 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I fell into the old trap and now find myself on a commuter carrier after booking on the AA website. It begs the question: Why would AA farm out a 3-hour flight between two major west coast cities to Compass? This is hardly a commuter flight. Had I been flying to Boise or Portland, I might have been more alert. But Seattle to Los Angeles on Embraer metal?
Coulda flown Delta....
Coulda flown Delta....
Aug 12, 2018, 11:21 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
AA was a recent entry into the already crowded SEA-LAX market. They don't have the loyal customer base that AS or DL have. Therefore, they use smaller planes. I'm old enough to remember flying on DC-9-10's -- the E175's are about the same size and seat width.
Aug 13, 2018, 1:45 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
What is DL flying on this route nowadays? I flew DL on this route a few years ago and it, too, was on an E175 operated by Compass (which I quite enjoyed, especially with the hot soup that DL offered on this aircraft/route).