Compare AA first to AS first
 

We used to fly AA a lot, but not since we moved to the Pacific Northwest (more than 20 years ago), where Alaska is king.

Headed to Florida (FLL specifically) from PDX and AA has the most flights, best times, best prices

Just how bad is First on AA? (I did search using "first class" but nothing truly relevant came up).

We'd be connecting in DFW or CLT, depending on the times we choose.

I know Alaska isn't world class, but it's comfortable, and the food is good.

Will we be really disappointed in AA or will it be "fine"?

I'm also interested in this FEBO thing....should we sit in the last row or will the middle be ok? Most of our projected flights are odd numbered. I'm concerned that if there is a schedule change we might be on the wrong end, so the middle seems safest.

1. For all our complaining, I think AA's domestic first/biz offering is pretty darn good (assuming we are talking here about recliner seats in a two-cabin setup, which is what you'll have on your routes). It's certainly better than UA, and although pre-Covid DL was a league ahead, it's a toss-up these days. You'll very likely get a pre-departure beverage (unless there's a delay), the food is fine, the refills are plentiful, and other than crummy wine, the drink selections are good. Wifi is fast, outlets work, seats are reasonably comfortable.

2. Forget FEBO, just pre-order your meals. I'm a bulkhead guy anyhow (I don't like people reclining into me, and I don't miss the underseat storage), so Row 1 has the added benefit of getting served and cleared first.

I don't think there's a meaningful difference, except that Alaska includes lounge access with domestic first class and AA doesn't. On many AA flights you can preorder your meal which renders the whole FEBO question moot. The food on all these airlines is pretty bad I think; AA's is probably marginally worse than Alaska but not enough to pay more $$ for, I don't think...

That's interesting. We also prefer row 1 for the reasons you mentioned. So if you preorder food you get served "not last" on an odd numbered flight? How is the legroom in AA in row one?

Yes, preorder food means you get what you pre-ordered (barring catering screw-ups which, this is AA so...) Every AA domestic flight I recall in recent years has been served from front to rear. I don't know in what direction they take orders post-FEBO because, again, with preorder, it doesn't matter. But the actual delivery of meals is always forward to aft now.

The big difference will likely be in legroom. AA domestic F is not quite as bad as DL but it is less generous than AS. Isn't 40" still standard in AS? AA has gone to 37" on most domestic narrowbodies.

Thanks, Mike. I have our flights on hold until Midnight tonight (which is less than 24 hours, but whatever).

We have a very real choice of returning through DFW or CLT...first segment through CLT is beverage only (between lunch and dinner), then dinner, whereas connecting thru DFW is 2 meals. Same total flight time, same price. I've never been through CLT.

if it’s up to me, everything else being equal, I’d fly thru DFW every time.

You're not missing anything (except congested concourses and aggravation)

Thanks, you all have been VERY helpful.

Alaska only includes lounge access with flights in F that are over 2200 miles, they made that change a year or so ago.

+1

I'd go for connection at DFW as you'd get full meals on both flights and DFW is a good mid point to divide up the long travel journey. Also from my experience of flying Alaska and AA, I'd say AA's meals are more generous (nuts, appetizer, warm bread, salad, main and dessert, and the portions are decent), while Alaska's meals are a bit more creative but definitely Weight Watchers portion controlled.

OK, thanks, I wasn't aware...

FEBO is a thing of the past. There are very limited instances when FAs do this. 98%+ of the time it is front-to-back, at least in my experience.

And even when they do FEBO or something else (occasional rogue FAs do it by status), food comes out front to back 100% of the time.

2,000 miles actually.

Alaska Lounge airport lounge policies and rules - Alaska Airlines

Alaska never heard of hanging a sport coat. It’s a strictly leisure airline. AA never fails to hang my coat when I’m sitting in F. Sitting in AS F at this exact moment in fact. No PBD. AA usually serves a PDB. Food on both is subpar; in my opinion AA is slightly better but YMMV.

All in all, I don’t think you’ll notice any difference (unless you’d like you’re coat hung in the closet), although it’s always crew dependent and error bars are large.

Even with pre-order, still better to take a seat further towards the front, or at least avoid the last row. Have been lucky enough to be upgraded on a few dinner flights so far this year, but only the last row was available. Missed out on the chocolate lava cake once, and last time they ran out of sourdough rolls by the time they got to my seat.

please feed back to Alaska Listens. A full-bar PDB is the service standard for a couple of months now.

If you don't value the nonstop premium I'd go with AA via DFW. Alaska is a pretty good midcon airline in F but the transcon service is basically the same as midcon, which is weak. Certainly not better than AA.

from Jan 2024 to 31 Mar 2026 I’ve logged 58 flights in F on Alaska, and 25 in F on AA — a mix of west coast, mid-con, and TCON on both; also three AA TATL trips in Business

when you’re directly comparing narrow-body mainline fleets, or regional affiliate 76-seaters, there’s no substantial difference between ‘em … opinions re food choices on any given flight are completely subjective; opinions of service reflect how the counter staff and GAs and FAs are performing their duties on any given day

for PDX<>FLL, I’d choose on the basis of a balance between cost and schedule

that said, the convenience of a nonstop, if AS has one, would be a significant consideration on the schedule side of the equation, because AA connections at both CLT and DFW can get hosed *very* quickly

I fly AS more often and if I'm in Y, they have a much better BOB product line with pre-order guaranteeing you can get what you want regardless of where you're sitting. On AA in F, I prefer their catering over AS because...
1. They have more "comfort" food options like the always reliable beef rib.
2. They still serve salads with meals unlike AS which frequently has been subbing it out for a glob of humus.
3. AA offers a choice of bread from a bread basket whereas you only have one bread option on AS.
4. Ice cream sundaes on longer transcons with AA whereas AS serves small cups of pre-packaged ice cream that typically includes "weird" flavors I would never choose on the ground.

Mmm, I hope the flight I'm on serves polenta and kale! :D

Actually, neither AA nor AS has a non-stop from PDX to FLL, AS's only non stop is through SEA (also SAN I believe) at an ungodly hour, the AA options are much more tolerable (and no I don't want to fly to MIA).

In any event I did buy the tickets on AA through DFW and I'm sure they will be fine (1 hr 15 min connection). And I'll still get my AS miles (dried up all our AA miles a long time ago).

Another quick question about AA since I'm really not familiar with them anymore...on AS, if your ticket price drops, they give you the difference in the form of a credit, does AA do the same?

I really appreciate all the info here.

Not automatically, you have to cancel and rebook.

I've flown both AA and AS domestic F often over the past few years and the above is about all you need to know. There are small differences in the food, wine, seat pitch, etc., but the point about service on AA versus AS being entirely dependent on how an airline staff person's day is going is spot on.

Yes. If the fare on an AA ticket drops you can call them and ask for a travel credit. It will appear in your AAdvantage account. I don't know if AA can issue travel credits without an AAdvantage account like AS can. I don't have an AS account and they simply email me a travel credit voucher. I've never needed to do this with AA since I've had an account with them since long before electronic vouchers became a thing..

"Yes. If the fare on an AA ticket drops you can call them and ask for a travel credit. It will appear in your AAdvantage account. I don't know if AA can issue travel credits without an AAdvantage account like AS can (I've never needed to with AA)."

We actually do both have AA accounts, but they are long depleted. Will figure it out if and when the time comes. Hopefully it won't.

The travel credit is identified by a ticket number, and does not need to be tied to an AAdvantage account. If you do have an account, the credit will show there but that is just a convenience, not a requirement.

WRT the original question, I prefer the seat on AS. The AA domestic seats wreck my back without some sort of lumbar support that I have to supply myself. I used to have a clear preference for the food on AS but in the last year I found them to be pretty meager. Cheaper mains, no salad and the desserts were weak. If you route through CLT, the AA meal will be more substantial and made to order sundaes will be served. if you route through DFW the first meal will be basic: main, side salad or small app, and dessert, probably a slice of decent cake. The second meal, as it is a longer flight, will have a separate salad and appetizer, warm bread served from a basket, and an ice cream cup or cheese plate. Both will have warm nuts to start. Service is crew-dependent on both airlines.

Also, AA now has free wifi on all flights. It's not blazingly fast but has been reliable on all my recent flights.

When AAdvantage went to spend-based accrual rather than mileage-based accrual, I switched to QRPC. OneWorld elite members and premium cabin flyers (I think) in all programs other than AAdvantage gain complimentary access to Admirals Clubs.


And, of course, better chance of quick availability of a replacement aircraft at DFW in the event of aircraft mechanical issues.


Well, it's only a 30-40 minute drive between MIA and FLL, which, speaking only for myself, I'd much rather do as a nonstop plus the drive compared to a connection anywhere, which will make your journey hours longer.

While cancelling and rebooking is the only "self-service" option, I prefer to call in and ask for a re-fare. This method preserves your PNR #, seat selection, and meal selection if made. (Assuming the agent does it correctly.) If you did the cancel and rebook yourself, you'd need to put the second PNR on hold, cancel the first and await the email with your credit voucher/ticket number to apply to the new PNR, and then you'd get a new credit for the difference emailed to you when then second is ticketed. You'd also have to reselect your seats in the second PNR as you already are sitting in them in the first PNR. If you cancel the first before at least holding the second, you risk the possibility that your new fare will not be available when you reticket, although that is not too likely if the fare has dropped.

As far as the connection time just be aware with AA if you misconnect (especially with two of you), the chances of getting the front cabin on the next flight will be very low. And the compensation AA will offer for the downgrade is generally considered woefully low by those receiving it.

It's actually 2,000 miles now (I think it changed due to HA merger):

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ai...cies-and-rules

AS does fly PDX-FLL nonstop but only on Sat and only seasonally through Apr 18.

SEA-FLL daily year-round.

SAN-FLL daily seasonally through May 12.

Not flying on Saturdays, so that's out. I'm happy with my AA choices, especially after seeing the latest AS meal choices for our upcoming flight to MSY, boy they sure are cheaping out.

We have had one plane tech out at DFW, and subbed another in a 1/2 hour.

But we also have had numerous multi-hour delays due to WX delays, WX ground stops, and severe (1+ hour) gate congestion.

I dislike DFW and avoid it when possible, but TATL from ABQ it is next to impossible to avoid on an AA booked ticket.

Technically, AA hasn't used FEBO in over 10 years. In theory, eastbound and southbound flights are supposed to take orders front to back while westbound and northbound flights are supposed to take orders back to front. In practice, 90% of flights take orders front to back.

Very frequent AA and AS flyer. I book F so all my observations are based on that.

AA F: predepartures are hit or miss and if they do happen it's water or juice in most instances, food is mostly inedible, drink list is uninspiring. FA service depends on FA, no consistency. Their hand towel is prepackages cold version that has nice smell and I prefer. IRROPs are handled better than on AS but its likely because I am CK on AA and just a First class passenger on AS. Lounge agents with AA can be helpful and lounge agents at AS lounges just send you to the customer service desk.

AS F: predepartures are a lot more consistent and now they offer full bar in most instances, food is better but smaller quantities for the main tray. AS does offer snack basket on longer flights where I haven't seen it on AA after the main tray in a really long time even on their longest domestic flights. They do serve hot towels on meal flights and its just wet cloths. AS cheese plate is my go to which is the opposite with AA where it's inedible processed chunks. Drink list on AS is lot more interesting. FA service always depends on a person but I see more friendly FA on AS by a long shot. AS lounges offer far superior food and drinks compared to Admirals lounges.

Overall I am much more excited to get on AS F but need to have the right expectations and hope for no IRROPs in the process.

I think the selection of alcoholic beverages is a little bit better on Alaska, if I remember correctly, they have some pretty good canned cocktails, an espresso vodka, and also a better Irish cream than Baileys. I haven't flown Alaska in a few months but the last time that I flew, I made my own espresso martini using the espresso vodka and the Irish cream. Alaska does have some more strict limits on serving specific amounts of alcohol in a specific time peroid, while it's rare to get cutoff on AA.

Have been on a few AS regional flights operated by OO out of STS and found the canned old fashioned to be decent for a pre-mixed canned cocktail. And, yes, quite strong. Also the snack basket on these short AS flights is more interesting than anything on AA.

The biggest difference is legroom. AS you have 4 more inches of pitch and a foot rest up front. If the schedules are the same, I'd take AS just for the legroom. Everything else is the pretty much the same.

In Row 1 on AS there is no footrest. There is also less legroom than in other rows, since you don't have the seat in front of you to stretch your legs out. This is not usually an issue for us because we are not tall people, but I have been victim in F on AS of having someone practically reclined into my lap (so much so it was truly difficult to get up to use the restroom), so we take the tradeoff and prefer the bulkhead.

The tickets are already on purchased on AA through DFW and I'm ok with that. My return will not be available for a week or so (it's for next year) so I'll check both airlines again with correct dates...timing is the most important issue because we will be getting off a cruise in FLL and AS only has an evening flight, so a PITA to fill the day. AA has a much better schedule.

Just be aware that if your flights are a year away, you will almost certainly have multiple schedule changes on AA between now and departure time.
That being said, AA is usually pretty good about being flexible if you need to reroute due to their schedule changes.