LHR-PHL: AA A330 over BA 777/787 in J?
Dec 8, 2015, 1:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
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LHR-PHL: AA A330 over BA 777/787 in J?
I have an upcoming trip to PHL. After some research, it seems the flights available with our travel provider are A330 on AA or 777/787 on BA. I know BA well but have never flown AA. It seems that the hard product on AA A330 is the cirrus seat in J, which in my view is far superior to J on BA 777 let alone 787. The 787 flight arrives at PHL far too late for my needs anyway. What do you experts think?
Dec 8, 2015, 1:25 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sussex
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Posts: 536
I really enjoyed my trip DUB-PHL back in October with AA on the A330. Clean, smart, functional seat, IFE and plenty of space. Great that no-one to step over. Catering was also excellent, and ammenity pack was more like BA F than BA J.
Only downside was that I then connected to an old ex US Air 737 PHL-LAS with no seat power, no IFE and no record of my pre-selected meal.
Only downside was that I then connected to an old ex US Air 737 PHL-LAS with no seat power, no IFE and no record of my pre-selected meal.
Dec 8, 2015, 1:37 am
#3
formerly rxfleming
Join Date: Jan 2009
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OP, take the A330 option. No contest.
Dec 8, 2015, 1:42 am
#4
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,212
Other than offering the benefit of direct access to the aisle, AA’s A330 and 77W seats are poles apart. The A330 is fine enough on day flights although on-board catering is hit or miss
I reviewed the A330 seat last month - see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25661730-post28.html
I reviewed the A330 seat last month - see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25661730-post28.html
Dec 8, 2015, 3:21 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Dec 8, 2015, 3:35 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Had the pleasure of an AA 330, DUB-CLT, in September [TR here] and looking forward to repeating the experience DUB-PHL next month.
In J, with a window seat in the 1-2-1 configuration, I place the hard product well above BA J, despite the slight inconvenience of the 'foot-slot' that Prospero mentions in his seat review linked above. I found the seat more comfortable, and shelf and storage space significantly better. Soft product seems about as variable as BA's, so what happens 'on the day' will always be an open question and, inevitably, subject to personal preferences.
Unless there's a massive price difference in BA's favour, I intend to use AA's 330 for our future TATL travel wherever/whenever possible.
In J, with a window seat in the 1-2-1 configuration, I place the hard product well above BA J, despite the slight inconvenience of the 'foot-slot' that Prospero mentions in his seat review linked above. I found the seat more comfortable, and shelf and storage space significantly better. Soft product seems about as variable as BA's, so what happens 'on the day' will always be an open question and, inevitably, subject to personal preferences.
Unless there's a massive price difference in BA's favour, I intend to use AA's 330 for our future TATL travel wherever/whenever possible.
Dec 8, 2015, 3:42 am
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA EXP
Posts: 1,140
Based on various reports I'd read, I decided to give the AA A330 a go on my upcoming PHL-MAN flight in a couple of weeks and so I'm looking forward to trying something new.
Interestingly, it looks like my connecting domestic flight MCO-PHL is also on the A330 - is this a rarity or do they use this aircraft layout for domestic flights too?
Interestingly, it looks like my connecting domestic flight MCO-PHL is also on the A330 - is this a rarity or do they use this aircraft layout for domestic flights too?
Dec 8, 2015, 3:58 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2005
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The cabin on the A330 doesn't have the contemporary smartness of AA's 77W and feels rather dated by comparison but IMHO it's still preferable to the BA alternatives.
Dec 8, 2015, 4:11 am
#13
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AFAIK that is new but it looks like 1 of the several daily PHL-MCO-PHL flights will be operated by a A330. ^
Dec 8, 2015, 5:06 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2007
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I have an upcoming trip to PHL. After some research, it seems the flights available with our travel provider are A330 on AA or 777/787 on BA. I know BA well but have never flown AA. It seems that the hard product on AA A330 is the cirrus seat in J, which in my view is far superior to J on BA 777 let alone 787. The 787 flight arrives at PHL far too late for my needs anyway. What do you experts think?
Dec 8, 2015, 5:19 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2009
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The only downside when this happens is that the former US international planes do not have wifi.