Best routing PHX>BCN for biz class experience?
Aug 25, 2018, 3:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
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Best routing PHX>BCN for biz class experience?
Thanks in advance. What do you all think the best routing for PHX>BCN would for the best business class experience? PHX>CLT>BCN on AA metal on A330 aircraft or PHX>LHR>BCN where you fly BA 747 metal from PHX to LHR and connect to BCN. I heard the passport lines at BA this summer can be long and also the short hop to LHR>BCN is not that great. Edited to add Yes I could can also thru connect in ORD, PHL, CLT, MIA if better
Last edited by Centurion; Aug 25, 2018 at 7:03 pm
Aug 25, 2018, 4:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Raleigh, NC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 219
You have a few options. I would avoid BA as I feel their business class is subpar. You can fly through ORD (788), PHL or CLT (a330), JFK or MIA (772).
Personally I'd go through JFK for the best lounge experience. Not sure how the lounge situation is in ORD or MIA, but it's def no good in PHL and CLT.
Personally I don't mine the 772 J seat.
Edit - Forgot to mention, PHL, CLT and ORD are all seasonal. So keep that in mind.
Personally I'd go through JFK for the best lounge experience. Not sure how the lounge situation is in ORD or MIA, but it's def no good in PHL and CLT.
Personally I don't mine the 772 J seat.
Edit - Forgot to mention, PHL, CLT and ORD are all seasonal. So keep that in mind.
Aug 25, 2018, 4:10 pm
#3
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Hi,
The reported long lines at immigration at LHR are generally for arriving pax terminating at LHR, as you are connecting to BCN you will only have a security check at LHR ( immigration will be done at BCN)
Business from LHR-BCN is not that great ( middle seat will be free and you will get free food and drink and more attentive service)
What aircraft will you be on from PHX to CLT (if it is a short haul jet then it will be domestic first class rather than the flat beds
Regards
TBS
The reported long lines at immigration at LHR are generally for arriving pax terminating at LHR, as you are connecting to BCN you will only have a security check at LHR ( immigration will be done at BCN)
Business from LHR-BCN is not that great ( middle seat will be free and you will get free food and drink and more attentive service)
What aircraft will you be on from PHX to CLT (if it is a short haul jet then it will be domestic first class rather than the flat beds
Regards
TBS
Aug 25, 2018, 8:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
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I'd go through ORD because I'd rather the shorter (3.5hr not 5hr, and longer on the return) domestic F than the better lounge. Definitely not MIA though. Plus I'm a fan of Dreamliners in general, not that I've flown the 788.
Being PHX based I've flown the BA product several times and wouldn't do it with AA metal available. I will admit the evening departure and longest lay-flat time is nice, but the AA business class is nicer and you will get into BCN earlier.
Being PHX based I've flown the BA product several times and wouldn't do it with AA metal available. I will admit the evening departure and longest lay-flat time is nice, but the AA business class is nicer and you will get into BCN earlier.
Aug 25, 2018, 10:51 pm
#7
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MIA is the longest routing, but also gives you the most sleep time on the TATL, which might be worth something, and you do have a Flagship Lounge, whereas in CLT you don't. Though I definitely wouldn't route through MIA on the return as immigration can be a cluster. I'd probably avoid ORD on the return as well since i think you have to change terminals on international arrivals, right?
Vis-a-vis ORD, am I correct in saying the 788 J seats still mostly have the "rocking" issue whereas the 772s generally don't? And are they narrower/shorter than the 772 seats (assuming you get the Zodiacs, you could luck out and get the SuperDiamonds I suppose).
Seems like lots of pros and cons for this decision!
Vis-a-vis ORD, am I correct in saying the 788 J seats still mostly have the "rocking" issue whereas the 772s generally don't? And are they narrower/shorter than the 772 seats (assuming you get the Zodiacs, you could luck out and get the SuperDiamonds I suppose).
Seems like lots of pros and cons for this decision!
Sep 5, 2018, 5:27 pm
#9
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Most, if not all, of the TATLs from the East Coast to BCN have poor timings to get much sleep, even worse if your body clock is on west coast time. If you don't want to sleep much, only to arrive at 8 a.m. to BCN with a whole day ahead of you, then go with any of the AA options.
Take the 747 to LHR and get a seat upstairs in the bubble. 62A/K have direct aisle access from the window seats.
Sometimes people obsess about the "product", when really many others just want to arrive having gotten a decent sleep...
Take the 747 to LHR and get a seat upstairs in the bubble. 62A/K have direct aisle access from the window seats.
Sometimes people obsess about the "product", when really many others just want to arrive having gotten a decent sleep...
Sep 5, 2018, 8:18 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Raleigh, NC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 219
The best flight from the US to BCN in terms of sleeping in my opinion is actually the Level flight from LAX. 2140 departure 1810 arrival. Granted you only have premium economy on this flight and you bedn to get to LAX.
Sep 5, 2018, 9:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco area
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Thanks in advance. What do you all think the best routing for PHX>BCN would for the best business class experience? PHX>CLT>BCN on AA metal on A330 aircraft or PHX>LHR>BCN where you fly BA 747 metal from PHX to LHR and connect to BCN. I heard the passport lines at BA this summer can be long and also the short hop to LHR>BCN is not that great. Edited to add Yes I could can also thru connect in ORD, PHL, CLT, MIA if better
Sep 6, 2018, 11:02 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2013
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I've branched out into Skyteam and still think Oneworld still wins with the AA 789 and JL 777 (not applicable to BCN) seats. However, my wife was more comfortable on the DL A330, which is what you'd have if you flew PHX-JFK-BCN, so I guess it's a personal thing. But any other Skyteam option is going to result in two stops from Phoenix which is only worth it if the price is right, or if one of those stops is LAX (only an hour hop from Phoenix but then a much longer flight in your lay-flat segment).
Sep 7, 2018, 9:21 am
#14
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DL's A330 is similar to AA's Cirrus/SuperDiamond seats. It's a good product. PHX-ATL-BCN would be a better routing, but looks like they use the 764 on that, which isn't great (though roughly on-par with AA's 763s).