SteveinA2

What is wrong with group boarding?
Works great on DL and AA

South London Bon Viveur

A few years ago I would have said "I hope not". As the posts above show, there has been something of an about turn, and many people, myself included, would say "I wish". The only area where I prefer BA is the crew, where I just find them a bit more personable. In every other respect, both Y and J travel, AA are leading the way.

corporate-wage-slave

Airlines all over the world do some form of group boarding. That includes BA's previous boarding arrangement in a way, it's just been repackaged and made clearer via a numbering system. Its importance to me as a regular traveller is close to zero, but many other FTers used to hate BA's previous boarding process and the same FTers are (generally) giving a thumbs up for the new Group Boarding system. Which in a way is better than the AA version since there are usually 3 lanes rather than AA's 2 lanes, and someone checking the Groups at the top of the lane, which is where the AA system can get congested. United, for example, tends to have all 5 lanes separately lined up, which is great if you have the space for it.

Now I'm aware I'm just diving into one specific point in your post, and perhaps in danger of missing your wider argument, but nevertheless let me welcome you to Flyertalk and also welcome you to the BA forum Winzz, it's good to see you here and thank you for starting the debate.

Dave_C

If United start to pull their finger out and get the Polaris hard product properly rolled out then I suspect that order will change. Delta moving their Airbus business class product to more of the London flights is certainly a welcome improvement from a majority 767 operation.

quemalo

This is the kind of dream I don't want to wake from.

Andriyko

How exactly is AA doing that for passengers that do not have status? Yes, OW EMDs do get a free drink and snack (if something is available as they sometimes run out of stuff). So, it is good if you're a top tier elite but does nothing for everyone else. AA offers different perks than BA rather than an overwhelmingly better experience in economy. BA grants lounge access to BAEC elites on all flights while AA excludes its own on domestic flights. BA waives a heavy bag charge for OW SPHs while AA does not. AA has basic economy fares where passengers do not have access to overhead bins (BA allows standard cabin luggage on all fares). On Transatlantic AA is 10 abreast while BA (so far) is 9 abreast. AA offers wine and beer only, and only with dinner, and only on some flights. BA offers all drinks for free throughout the flight.
So, yes, AA may offer something to OW EMDs that BA does not, but I don't see how AA is leading the way in economy in general (apart from densifying the economy cabin by removing 9-abreast MCE).

wrp96

If you are going to discuss economy, well at least on shorthaul you can still get a non-alcoholic drink for free on AA and a small snack, where on BA you are lucky if you can get your free cup of tap water by the time you land.

T8191

Economy? <shiver>

Certainly as BA Gold/OWE the pax experience in J is fine, whether TATL or Domestic. And we love the 1-2-1 config in J on TATL. The Domestic J perhaps less than stellar, but infinitely better to BA’s CE, with actual legroom!

Andriyko

Yes, I am aware of that. I just don't understand how is that 'leading'... Or why we even compare airlines that operate in different parts of the world and do not operate the same shorthaul routes. At least on longhaul (where BA has a better offering) BA and AA operate the same routes.

And since the comparison is about the perks rather than the actual product, with Theoretical Seating, both EMDs and SPHs have a chance of having a seat next to them empty on BA - something that AA does not do.

atlantic1

T8191

I love the AA upgrade scheme ... walk over the little people.

At least on BA the system is (fairly) honest ... no upgrades unless WE need to do it.

BearX220

Making unstatused pax pay for advance seat selection is a better case of walking all over the little people.

Austin787

That would be an insult to Smisek.

Honestly, I wish we can answer yes to the thread title.
1) AA has all aisle access in J
2) AA has real short haul J seats with extra legroom
3) AA does not charge to reserve J seats in advance. AA also makes some Y seats available with no charge in advance.
4) AA allows you to pre-order J meals

T8191

Want privileges, get status, surely? Or just accept the seat you’re given? Anyway, BA seats are free at T-24h, or T-7d as Bronze. I’ve never paid for seat allocation in my life, and been upgraded just once!

StuckinITH

There's a very renowned member of BA that hates this AA upgrade scheme. I got to enjoy this for more than 10 years on USAirways: on 95% of my domestic US flights I was upgraded to First Class one week before my flight.

Then, again, the nice 1-2-1 configuration on the Airbus 333 also comes from USAirways. I believe it was the first airline in the US to have that configuration. My wife and I could get windows and have direct aisle access. Perfect combination!

Now, that I'm back in the US in a city with no AA, I'm stuck having to fly with UA and sadly my international flights in Business are on a 2-4-2 configuration. Makes me feel that I'm still flying BA.