Business on AA's 777 herringbone or BA 747 upperdeck hoping for an upgrade to F?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,587
Business on AA's 777 herringbone or BA 747 upperdeck hoping for an upgrade to F?
What would you choose for an overnight TATL from MIA?
I would normally favour AA's seat to CW, but the UD is not too bad and - if avios availability opens up - an upgrade to First would be nice.
I would normally favour AA's seat to CW, but the UD is not too bad and - if avios availability opens up - an upgrade to First would be nice.
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,362
Avios F availability from MIA is almost non-existent, so I wouldn't book with that in mind. I currently have a booking in CW from MIA in a couple of weeks that is F9 A9 I9 E9 G9 O9 with just one seat currently pre-selected in F, and there is still no Z class available.
As for AA Biz vs BA B744 UD, you seem like you know the seat and airlines well enough to be able to make that decision based on your personal preference. Apart from the flight I just mentioned which was booked on BA due to the late timing, I would take AA, their main drawbacks of long noisy service, brightly lit cabins etc are more critical on the super-short overnights from the US Northeast but at least MIA is long enough that you should get some sleep anyway despite their attempts to stop you. If you are able to sleep fine in the CW seat and want the lights off quiet of the UD then go with BA.
As for AA Biz vs BA B744 UD, you seem like you know the seat and airlines well enough to be able to make that decision based on your personal preference. Apart from the flight I just mentioned which was booked on BA due to the late timing, I would take AA, their main drawbacks of long noisy service, brightly lit cabins etc are more critical on the super-short overnights from the US Northeast but at least MIA is long enough that you should get some sleep anyway despite their attempts to stop you. If you are able to sleep fine in the CW seat and want the lights off quiet of the UD then go with BA.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,587
#5
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,150
I've found if you have eye shades and don't choose a seat by the galley, AA is actually better for shut-eye out of MIA - ask for the Express Meal and it will come very quickly and then you can rest; and they ask whether you want to be woken for breakfast or not (NO!)...
I'd take AA if it's the 777-300 you;'re talking about here - especially if you can get Row 3 in the mini-cabin
I'd take AA if it's the 777-300 you;'re talking about here - especially if you can get Row 3 in the mini-cabin
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, ZSL Silver
Posts: 2,539
Ah of course, A380. The last time I took this flight in CW it was a 744 (though I did it in F on the A380 in December). I know what you mean about the seat; I often sleep on my front and width is better on AA. Having said that, the privacy is great in a CW window seat (especially if you can grab 53A/K) and you will have longer to sleep if you can drift off.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Sixt Gold
Posts: 417
Overnight I would go all the way AA as I prefer their seat and the aisle access. If it was a day flight, I would have preferred CW due to better service and f&b.
but, as always, a very personal point of view.
As per the upgrade, I would not bet on it honestly...
but, as always, a very personal point of view.
As per the upgrade, I would not bet on it honestly...
#9
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NY, NY
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K
Posts: 124
Same equipment flies JFK-LHR, and on that route I strongly prefer the AA J seats over BA CW. I personally don't think the difference between J on AA's 77W and F on BA's 744 is that large, and you have the risk of being stuck in CW.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
Thats my mantra, Im not a hater of the CW seat though
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore - the hot, little red dot
Programs: BA, SQ
Posts: 861
It's a close call but an UD window seat with direct access just edges it over AAs.
However it's how quick they can get dinner out for you to sleep is the key factor for me and AA can deliver on that front.
However it's how quick they can get dinner out for you to sleep is the key factor for me and AA can deliver on that front.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 175
Maybe I've just had a string of poor crews on AA (or unusually efficient ones on BA), but my impression is that BAs express meal both arrives quite quickly and also arrives faster than an AA meal. For regular (not express) meal service, I suspect AA is faster. However, this is all just impressions. Next time Im on appropriate flights, Ill need to channel C-W-S and time the service on a stopwatch to get a proper comparison.