MitzEclipse

Hi all
wasn't sure which forum to post this so trying here - Mods, pls move where appropriate.

I am looking for recommendations from FTers which is the better route/airline to take. I don't have status on AA or UA so trying to determine which one to buy - price is almost exactly the same for the dates I'm looking at so not a factor. I've never flown AA transatlantic so don't know what to expect

Who has better:
- Hard product? both Boeing 787s. I'll be in Economy. Reading reviews it appears even the seats are the same?
- Service/food? although not having my hopes up (usually fly SWISS but SWISS prices are literally double)
- Which is easiest transfer in PHL or SFO from International to Domestic / less transit time / number of people / etc (example i know LAX transit is terrible having to exit airside so not going via LAX this time)
- Best to recover in case of IROPS (both routes have a 4 or 5 hour layover so ample time)

Timing wise, the AA flight has the slight edge as the PHX departure time is only at 10a whereas the UA flight is at 7a - too early of a start but looking for better reasons to pick.

Thanks all

wrp96

No matter what, either at PHL or SFO, after you've gone through US immigration you will have exited airside and have to go back through security. If you want to avoid this issue, then you're best bet would be an international flight into PHX itself (like the LHR-PHX flights). In economy, I wouldn't say either is better than the other, although I think UA might have a slightly better on time rate currently than AA but that doesn't say much. Neither will provide food in economy on the domestic segments - the PHL-PHX segment is a long time compared to the SFO-PHX segment.

guv1976

If you were in Business, I would recommend the SFO connection on UA: that would maximize your time in a lie-flat seat, and minimize your time on a narrow-body aircraft.

In Economy, though, I think that I'd prefer the PHL connection on AA, so that I could get off the plane sooner and stretch my legs.

If you can afford it, I would spring for the extra-leg-room seats on either carrier; on long flights, they can make a world of difference.

PHL

Compare the cost of AA Premium Economy to UA Premium Plus (this is a level higher than Main Cabin Extra on AA and Economy Plus on UA). It's a long flight either way, but some people prefer just getting it all over with and taking the long(er) haul to SFO and then the quick hop down to PHX. If you're in a premium economy seat, it makes the trip more bearable.

If you're set on coach, then I'd still probably go for the UA routing and pay a little more for Economy Plus on UA and/or an exit row with the superior leg room.

aztimm

deleted

guv1976

Both the AARP discount and the Chase/BA Visa card discount only apply to roundtrip travel originating in the U.S. So no help for someone originating in ZRH (whether traveling one way or roundtrip).

FlyingEgghead

No, those discounts are for round trips originating in the US, whereas OP seems to be originating in ZRH.

lhrsfo

I strongly prefer taking a long and short flight rather than two longish ones.

Otherwise, the two are much of a muchness, with neither treating non-elites with any form of respect.

enviroian

All other things being equal I would fly UA so I could enjoy soup at SFO Soup Company. When I used to live in PHX I would connect at SFO to get this soup sometimes rather than fly nonstop from phx to my destination.