AA vs BA in Y - comparision.
May 29, 2018, 6:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
AA vs BA in Y - comparision.
As a loyal BA customer, i have been using BA for the past 6 years for my bi annual trips to the US. This past month, due to price, i decided to fly out with AA and come back with BA. Oh my goodness. I do not know why i had been avoiding AA for so long!
They are a far far superior airline to the BA in this class. The fact that you can change your seats from the moment you book, the seats are more comfortable with what felt like more room, the IFA is decades ahead of the BA system,, the food was actually delicious and we had 2 meals and the whole flight was a far more pleasurable experience.
Coming back i was reminded how BA was worse. The seats are cramped (i am 5'1 and was sat next to someone of average height and weight and felt like i was sat on top of him), they are uncomfortable, the IFA was glitchy, the food was terrible (they have bought back crackers but spreadable cheese? LOL), i wasnt given breakfast....
i dont know if the 4 extra centimeters on the cabin bag is worth me going on BA anymore as the price is the same and AA is far better as a Y passenger.
I think BA just lost a loyal customer.
They are a far far superior airline to the BA in this class. The fact that you can change your seats from the moment you book, the seats are more comfortable with what felt like more room, the IFA is decades ahead of the BA system,, the food was actually delicious and we had 2 meals and the whole flight was a far more pleasurable experience.
Coming back i was reminded how BA was worse. The seats are cramped (i am 5'1 and was sat next to someone of average height and weight and felt like i was sat on top of him), they are uncomfortable, the IFA was glitchy, the food was terrible (they have bought back crackers but spreadable cheese? LOL), i wasnt given breakfast....
i dont know if the 4 extra centimeters on the cabin bag is worth me going on BA anymore as the price is the same and AA is far better as a Y passenger.
I think BA just lost a loyal customer.
May 29, 2018, 6:49 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Silver, UA 1K, DL Platinum
Posts: 696
There's no doubt that AA long-haul are much improved.
Consistency is the challenge with BA as with all airlines. You mention the inflight entertainment. That can actually be really good on BA or completely shocking depending on the exact aircraft. Assuming you flew via London AA use their best planes so you will do ok but if you fly e.g. to Edinburgh on an AA 757 you might have a different experience (overhead monitors I think).
BA has improved too recently albeit from a low base and from mistakes of their own making (those Mars Bar second meals). Breakfast in Y or W is still abysmal.
Still, I remember when I started flying seriously how hard I used to try to avoid AA yet stay in policy. BA Club World was the bees knees and you either had their pre-flight dining or cubes of cheese in the Admirals Club. Those days are a distant memory now.
Consistency is the challenge with BA as with all airlines. You mention the inflight entertainment. That can actually be really good on BA or completely shocking depending on the exact aircraft. Assuming you flew via London AA use their best planes so you will do ok but if you fly e.g. to Edinburgh on an AA 757 you might have a different experience (overhead monitors I think).
BA has improved too recently albeit from a low base and from mistakes of their own making (those Mars Bar second meals). Breakfast in Y or W is still abysmal.
Still, I remember when I started flying seriously how hard I used to try to avoid AA yet stay in policy. BA Club World was the bees knees and you either had their pre-flight dining or cubes of cheese in the Admirals Club. Those days are a distant memory now.
May 30, 2018, 5:29 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BAEC Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 450
First thing that that struck me on boarding the 757 is that it was OLD! Nasty threadbare cloth seats that could do with a good steam clean, power sockets didn’t work and a TV in the roof that looked like it had come from a repressed memory of a 1980s school coach trip I’d forgotten about! (I swear it was a CRT TV).
Now being a glutton for punishment I flew EDI-JFK last month, as it gave a decent connection and arrival time on to ORF. The planes have been refurbished with leather seats, the TV in the sky has now been updated to something with 21st century resolution and you can now stream content to your phone / tablet (seemed a pared down selection of what AA offer on seat back in their wide-bodies). Was more than adequate for the short hop in my opinion. As a BA Silver I could book 10A at no cost for unlimited legroom - not so much of an issue for me at 5’6(and a half) but I tend to get claustrophobic in window seats when there’s two seats to get to the aisle. Food was fine for Y but the trays are tiny, ended up storing the water, cheese and crackers on my lap just to get some room to manoeuvre!
May 30, 2018, 5:46 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
Whatever you do don't fly the AA 757 GLA-PHL.
My god. Worst bird I have ever been on. Amazed it has a certificate of air worthiness! Bloody expensive route too!
My god. Worst bird I have ever been on. Amazed it has a certificate of air worthiness! Bloody expensive route too!
May 30, 2018, 5:53 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,714
The big benefit of flying AA Y vs. BA if you've elite status is the extra legroom seats in MCE. They outweigh pretty much any other possible factor.
May 30, 2018, 6:01 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Silver, UA 1K, DL Platinum
Posts: 696
Glad to hear the Edinburgh 757 has had a makeover because I’ll be on it in September. Unfortunately with kids so the nice exit rows at the front are out. Of the question.
Interestingly in the revised 77W config there are twin MCE seats in the middle of the plane that are not exits so I’m giving those a spin on the way back (from London).
The other huge boon of AA for me has been Pre-Check, Flagship Lounge, T3 lounges (CX). AA Y with status is not half bad
Interestingly in the revised 77W config there are twin MCE seats in the middle of the plane that are not exits so I’m giving those a spin on the way back (from London).
The other huge boon of AA for me has been Pre-Check, Flagship Lounge, T3 lounges (CX). AA Y with status is not half bad
May 30, 2018, 6:32 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 61
May 30, 2018, 7:33 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA LTGold; LH Senator; HHGold; Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 1,370
As always it depends what you value. Status can certainly change things as you get generally book the bulkhead, or get MCE on AA. Im surprised about the OPs comments on space though, as AA is now a 10 across operation all their 777s. Upstairs on a BA380 is an all-round better proposition.
MCE is a good perk on AA, and I like the individual air vents.
The food is much of a muchness; AA dispense large sodas but are a bit mean with liquor (having said that I didn't pay last time and I'm not sure why).
Overall now I just pick the best price and schedule and don't really mind either, whereas I'd avoid AA until recently. But I don't know how one could conclude either to be a "Far better Airline" over the other.
MCE is a good perk on AA, and I like the individual air vents.
The food is much of a muchness; AA dispense large sodas but are a bit mean with liquor (having said that I didn't pay last time and I'm not sure why).
Overall now I just pick the best price and schedule and don't really mind either, whereas I'd avoid AA until recently. But I don't know how one could conclude either to be a "Far better Airline" over the other.
May 30, 2018, 8:03 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
May 30, 2018, 8:21 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Rather than comparing AA to BA, better to list out what is important to you, including of course, cost & schedule
1. Seat (width & pitch).
2. Selection and when selected.
3. Food
4. Liquor
5. Entertainment / WiFi
AA makes no bones about the fact that it puts its better aircraft on more profitable routes. You can expect a better experience JFK-LHR than PHL-GLA. Whether that makes it worth flying to GLA with a connection at LON is a matter or personal preference.
For most, this all begins and ends with cost & convenience.
1. Seat (width & pitch).
2. Selection and when selected.
3. Food
4. Liquor
5. Entertainment / WiFi
AA makes no bones about the fact that it puts its better aircraft on more profitable routes. You can expect a better experience JFK-LHR than PHL-GLA. Whether that makes it worth flying to GLA with a connection at LON is a matter or personal preference.
For most, this all begins and ends with cost & convenience.
May 30, 2018, 8:30 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
May 30, 2018, 8:44 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 289
Flying AA in Y inside the US is great too. With OW status it seems you can get the extra-legroom Y seats for free, which are sort of halfway between BA Y and W longhaul, and better seat pitch than ET/CW seats (apart from exit/bulkhead of course).