ryanbriar

The soup course…duh!

For me, it is worth an SWU or a reasonable up-fare amount for the extra space, FFD, less competition for the lav and typically more tailored service. The web special fares at 78k etc. make it a no brainer too.

ijgordon

Yes, exactly. But also referring to BA (compared to most other top carrier’s F).

Yeah looking at some of the menus in the BA thread this is probably fair although I sense it still lags the likes of LH/LX and especially AF (hence the “business plus” reference). The lack of ground service is another area BA lacks. But the fare is several $000 lower than the others.

ijgordon

Ah, not sure I was aware of that - good point. So really no reason to take AA metal over BA.

Well, for true F I’d probably need to take LX, LH or AF. But those are more $$$ and only one is nonstop.

AA does not serve my destination nonstop from NYC although a few other airlines do (not all with F). I don’t really care to fly OneWorld but it’s a good deal for F and thus an opportunity to try FFD, but given the BA terminal move I’ll assume BA F will have access anyway (or something hopefully comparable).

ryanbriar

Yes, you will experience the “most exclusive” lounge per the press release. FFD will likely be morphed into this.

arabiamark

Yes there was a bad moon rising in the bathroom.

scubadu

Ah, good point. You may be right. However, choosing to use the words "business plus" as a euphemism for F, is perhaps not the best choice given that AA now actually has a specific product, literally called, "business plus."

Regards

ijgordon

Had no idea, sorry. I can almost assure I’m not the first person to call BA F that on FlyerTalk.

ijgordon

ConCorde Room, no?

Antarius

We got what you were saying. They were making a joke

dwugson

There's no point in going F between JFK and LHR on either airline if you want to sleep. Other than pyjamas (only available in XL on my last AA flight) both are equally good although AA has the habit of waking you up an hour before to collect your headsets. Even if you leave them out for collection they still announce it. So, probably BA is better from that aspect.
As far as the return is concerned, I would lean towards BA however I would base my choice on the terminal of your incoming flight. In terms of lounges, the Cathay F lounge in T3 is equally as nice as the CCR and terminal change is a hassle at Heathrow. However in terms of service I would lean towards BA, the last crew on my AA F flight was uncaring and nasty.
Sorry not to provide you with the definitive answer!

Blumie

Irrespective of the airline, the flight is just too short, especially eastbound, for a decent night's sleep. Now that I live in New Orleans, I route through DFW rather than JFK. And when I did live in NYC, I looked for reasons to be in LA before flying to London.

ijgordon

Well, I don't think there's "no point", as the actual benefits will be (1) better pre-flight dining, and (2) larger seat/bed which can make it easier to get comfortable and fall asleep faster. Whether that is worth the price difference (which can be highly variable) of F over J is really what it comes down to. It is a shame that BA doesn't provide five-star ground service for arriving or connecting F passengers like AF or to a lesser extent LH/LX, although it sounds like entering the UK and then using the First area to clear security in T5 may be better than going through FCC (is there even a FastTrack there?). And then I hear about a (landside?) Concorde Breakfast room, which I suppose I'll have to research more in the BA forum -- though on this front it comes down to where can I get a shower on the 2+ hr layover with the least hassle/wait - CCR, BA Arrivals Lounge, elsewhere?

In any event, I think if I do take F eastbound it will be BA metal, not AA, and most certainly BA westbound.

carlosdca

What I've read and said in the past is that BA F is "one of the best business class product out there".

Antarius

On AA, I'd argue that the seat is worse. It rocks slightly on the swivel which makes it like sitting on an uneven chair/bed.

Given that AA's best J product by far is on the 77W, I'd take that for a good night's sleep 10 times out of 10 over F. On a recent trip, round trip J was 110k miles and F was 112k. My gf and I chose J.
Better pre-flight dining, yes. But you can possibly buy FFD access or eat elsewhere vastly superior for less than the cost differential.

Blumie

The CCR breakfast room -- which offers made-to-order breakfast rather than a breakfast buffet -- is inside the landside BA Arrivals Lounge, so if you just have a 2 hour connection it makes no sense to go there rather than the airside CCR lounge, which also offers made-to-order breakfast rather than a breakfast buffet (although I quite like the breakfast buffet in the BA F lounge!). Either way you'll have the ability to take a reasonably hassleless shower, though there sometimes can be a wait at either location.