BA F or AA F
Jun 28, 2016, 11:48 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
While BA F has its detractors, the AA counterpart never feels like a true F product to me. You'll be perfectly comfortable but possibly a little underwhelmed.
Jun 28, 2016, 12:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Betwixt SEA and LHR
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, AS Gold MVP, IC RA, IHG Spire Elite, HH Diamond, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,354
AA F is even more removed from a First Class product than BA's F.
Food is identical in TATL AA F and J - just you get a soup course and a slightly different (terrible) wine list. 77w F seat is interesting, but nothing to write home about, and the couple of times I've tried it was irritatingly prone to swinging round without my wanting it to.
Food is identical in TATL AA F and J - just you get a soup course and a slightly different (terrible) wine list. 77w F seat is interesting, but nothing to write home about, and the couple of times I've tried it was irritatingly prone to swinging round without my wanting it to.
Jun 28, 2016, 12:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,019
I found the food in AA F to be bland, dull and definitely not what I'd expect from F (even on BA!). The wine selection wasn't as good as BAs but I liked the seat (no idea how the thing works, the crew would just swivel me in and out of position as required). I like the amenity kit much more than BAs (which is so bad I leave the BA one on the plane).
The staff were lovely once we'd all got over the shock of them having someone English (me) in the cabin. I'm pretty low maintenance but they realised it was my first time with AA (I'd missed my BA F connection so BA rebooked me in AA F) and they really looked after me. It does seem to be mainly Americans travelling in F. What I really liked is that several of the crew came up to me at JFK (while I was waiting for my bag) and wished me a nice holiday. Nice touch.
Do you get an amuse-bouche in AA F? I can't remember.
The staff were lovely once we'd all got over the shock of them having someone English (me) in the cabin. I'm pretty low maintenance but they realised it was my first time with AA (I'd missed my BA F connection so BA rebooked me in AA F) and they really looked after me. It does seem to be mainly Americans travelling in F. What I really liked is that several of the crew came up to me at JFK (while I was waiting for my bag) and wished me a nice holiday. Nice touch.
Do you get an amuse-bouche in AA F? I can't remember.
Jun 28, 2016, 12:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,105
In decreasing order of desirability:
BA F > AA F > AA 77W J > BA CW > AA new 772 J >> AA old 772 J
AA F seat is nice but the service is mediocre and the ambience (noise, light, etc) poor. Food is the J food which is boring but competent and the wines are cheap.
BA F > AA F > AA 77W J > BA CW > AA new 772 J >> AA old 772 J
AA F seat is nice but the service is mediocre and the ambience (noise, light, etc) poor. Food is the J food which is boring but competent and the wines are cheap.
Jun 28, 2016, 1:44 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
AA F cabin has only 8 seats.
Catering is passable, wines poor.
Crews are very uneven; usually more senior staff, but many are professionals, some not.
Catering is passable, wines poor.
Crews are very uneven; usually more senior staff, but many are professionals, some not.
Jun 28, 2016, 2:04 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: BA LifetimeGold GGL/CCR
Posts: 1,140
I would definitely go for AA F flying to JFK after all the enhancements in BA F. Negative: you leave from T3. Positive: you arrive at T8 at JFK (in general fast immigration and convenient if you have AA connection flights). Plenty of food on board and certainly enough water. CC is in general very friendly in F. Seats are good. IFE is less prone to issues on AA. Headset is much better on AA (real noise cancellation). Less people in AA F cabin. It's personal but AA is making efforts to deliver a good customer service to F pax and with BA you feel that everything is going downhill and as a customer you feel that negative vibe when flying BA.
Jun 28, 2016, 2:07 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
I would definitely go for AA F flying to JFK after all the enhancements in BA F. Negative: you leave from T3. Positive: you arrive at T8 at JFK (in general fast immigration and convenient if you have AA connection flights). Plenty of food on board and certainly enough water. CC is in general very friendly in F. Seats are good. IFE is less prone to issues on AA. Headset is much better on AA (real noise cancellation). Less people in AA F cabin. It's personnal but AA is making efforts to deliver a good customer service fro F pax and with BA you feel that everything is going downhill.
Jun 28, 2016, 2:35 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, AA Gold, A3 Gold, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,251
Jun 28, 2016, 2:39 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,019
The crew told me they were embarrassed that passengers in F had to pay for wifi. They thought it should be free.
Personally I don't want wifi. Flying is the one time I can get some peace and quiet without being disturbed. Last thing I want is to be bloody contactable!
