BCN-LAX
 

Just wanted to get some opinions as i cant decide... All 4 are in J and within $30 of each other so money isnt an issue here:

1) BCN-LHR on BA & LHR-LAX on BA 777
2) BCN- LHR on BA & LHR-LAX on BA A380
3) BCN- PHL on AA 788 & PHL-LAX on AA 788
4) BCN- LHR on BA, LHR-DFW on AA 78P & DFW-LAX on AA A321

I like the idea of trying the new 787 plane but not the narrowbody recliner seats to follow but its a short flight. Also this would be 3 total flights.

Going through PHL would be cool to see the new lounge and have lie flats the whole way.

However maybe I am overthinking it and BA J is a notch above AA and I just need to go with options 1 or 2 (if deciding between 1 & 2 I am guessing the Suites on the 777 would be the far better choice over BA's current J seats on the A380 although I could hit the BA forum for more on that.

Thanks :)

I would vote for either option #1 or option #3. What is the connection time in LHR? What is the connection time in PHL and I assume the PHL-LAX flight is in J class? Until the vast majority of the BA A380 fleet gets new club seats, you're going to be pretty disappointed. So a "no" on #2. Am not in any way a fan of a double connect when a reasonable single connection is available. So a "no" on #4.

Thanks for the quick reply and helpful insights. Appreciate it.

Yes all flights on J so even the BA hop to LHR as well as the PHL-LAX.

The 3 total flights I agree is a bit of a bummer. Just was thinking the new plane would be cool.

I think you are spot on though 77W Suites with BA or avoid LHR and have 2 total flights both with lie flats.

Connect time in PHL is kind of perfect- 3 hours & 20 min. Time to not rush at all and check out the new FL.

The connection time in LHR on option 1 can be multiple options b/c then I can choose which flight to leave BCN from and which to leave LHR from. I believe it can be 90 min to 4.5 hours just how I set it up.

I didnt realize most of the A380's are still that horrible 2-4-2 set up.

Im not a big fan of PHL as a connecting airport. I believe you should have FL access since you're coming off international J, but not certain. I do like the BA First Lounge in the "Galleries South" complex, and am comfortable with that option. Knowing your postings, I think you'd like it too.

Yes, the old Club seats on the A380 are not up to standard these days. They were first rate 10/15 years ago, but not today.

Oh, the one downside on Option #1. BCN-LHR is not wonderful. If you've spent time flying F/J intra Europe, then you know that BA Club Europe service features a coach class seat with a divider between the seats. Its much worse than AA's domestic first in terms of hard product. But the flight will likely have a meal and even short hop intra-Europe flight are often quite good servicewise. I flew MUC-LHR last month in BA J class and the choices were salmon salad or butter chicken. The butter chicken was excellent.

Two and a half hours in BA Club Europe with 30" seat pitch? Pass. I would take BCN-PHL-LAX with lie-flats on both legs (and hope that PHL-LAX does not subsequently change to a narrow body).

The food is exactly why I was thinking BA and dealing with the essentially coach class seats to LHR.

I would def. get into FL at PHL. However, I dont think I would get into the BA F lounge. I am down to Gold with AA.

Ya I was thinking about that. I think the reason I am consdiering is b/c just to fly something other than AA and try BA J. I have only flown them 2 x compared to so many AA flights.

That is true. BA Galleries first is for First class , 1W Emeralds, and top level elites on BA. You would have access to the Galleries lounge owing to your J class ticket.

I have found the BA international crews to be pretty efficient and good at what they do. Setting aside the one FA who opted to do his service au naturale, Ive never had a bad experience with BA crews on Trans-atlantic.

You were on that flight?? Thats crazy.

Uh, no but its pretty well publicized. Wish I was. Love good drama. Better than most movies.

I vote for #1. The short hop on BA intra-Europe J is totally fine and doable, and i love flying LHR-LAX or the reverse. I’m not a big fan of doing a long haul followed by a second long haul or a transcon. When i used to fly AUH-LHR-JFK regularly, I would try to build in a layover in London, or at least enough time to take the train to London for a meal, to break up the back-to-back longhauls.

I would vote for #1 - you get more time in the 777 with the LHR-LAX route. I'm doing LAX-BCN at the end of Oct and picked LHR as the connection point to get more time with the nighttime flight.

#3 Lie flats in all flights although PHL FL is NOT very nice, you'll survive.

I agree with others that options 1 or 3 are best. I’d give an edge to option 3 as transiting in PHL is very easy. I’d push to option 1 if I gained favorable time on departing BCN.

without a doubt, you should take the routing that allows you to overfly the East Coast and land at your destination. I’ve been flying from the West Coast to Europe for 25 years and have done connections in most East Coast cities as well as DFW from time to time, and I always regret it. you’re basically getting increasingly exhausted as the journey goes on and it’s nice especially if you have global entry to just pop through CBPin LAX and head home. I fly mostly through Heathrow and I give the BA club suites an edge over AA. And avoid the A380 for sure.