AA or BA for Business?
Jun 20, 2019, 2:59 am
#47
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Worth pointing out to the OP that this is a very frequent question on FT and that there are therefore a lot of existing threads on that so I'd recommend also searching for those for a lot more details on the advantages of both airlines.
Jun 20, 2019, 3:02 am
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Southampton UK
Posts: 48
Jun 20, 2019, 3:05 am
#49
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,212
Here’s a great / useful / interesting / etc thread to get you started...
Combined 2019 AA International Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
Combined 2019 AA International Meal / Meals - menu / photos / etc. (master thread)
Jun 20, 2019, 3:26 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,520
Ahah, don't worry: not much magic to it - I know there are more sophisticated ways, but to be honest, when I do searches for old thread, I just use Google myself! Here are a few examples (just from the first page of answers but there are many more):
Comparison of AA and BA business class long haul (merged)
British Airways or American Airlines business class to Vegas?
Is AA or BA better now for TATL Business Class?
BA or AA to MIA/DFW in J?
BA 788 vs AA 788 business class seats
Comparison of AA and BA business class long haul (merged)
British Airways or American Airlines business class to Vegas?
Is AA or BA better now for TATL Business Class?
BA or AA to MIA/DFW in J?
BA 788 vs AA 788 business class seats
Jun 20, 2019, 3:29 am
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Southampton UK
Posts: 48
Ahah, don't worry: not much magic to it - I know there are more sophisticated ways, but to be honest, when I do searches for old thread, I just use Google myself! Here are a few examples (just from the first page of answers but there are many more):
Comparison of AA and BA business class long haul (merged)
British Airways or American Airlines business class to Vegas?
Is AA or BA better now for TATL Business Class?
BA or AA to MIA/DFW in J?
BA 788 vs AA 788 business class seats
Comparison of AA and BA business class long haul (merged)
British Airways or American Airlines business class to Vegas?
Is AA or BA better now for TATL Business Class?
BA or AA to MIA/DFW in J?
BA 788 vs AA 788 business class seats
Jun 20, 2019, 7:08 am
#52
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
Jun 20, 2019, 8:33 am
#53
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Dallas, US
Programs: BAEC G, Bonvoy T, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 271
Your routing opens up quite a few options, with a variety of aircraft types, cabin arrangements, and seat types.
If you are travelling between now and the end of October, these are the flights to choose from
LHR-ORD
AA47 Boeing 789
AA99 Boeing 788
BA295 Boeing 744 (86J)
BA297 Airbus A380
MIA-LHR
AA38 Boeing 77W
BA206 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA208 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA210 Boeing 744 (56J)
Personally, I’d go for the BA295 on the outbound. The 747 upper deck offers an experience unmatched by other aircraft. The quality of natural light you get on day flights is fantastic.
Inbound, I’d probably settle for the flight that best suits my schedule, aware that with BA’s 56J aircraft there’s a chance of an unrefurbished cabin. Not such a big deal on an overnight flight though.
But overall there are no bad choices here.
If you are travelling between now and the end of October, these are the flights to choose from
LHR-ORD
AA47 Boeing 789
AA99 Boeing 788
BA295 Boeing 744 (86J)
BA297 Airbus A380
MIA-LHR
AA38 Boeing 77W
BA206 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA208 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA210 Boeing 744 (56J)
Personally, I’d go for the BA295 on the outbound. The 747 upper deck offers an experience unmatched by other aircraft. The quality of natural light you get on day flights is fantastic.
Inbound, I’d probably settle for the flight that best suits my schedule, aware that with BA’s 56J aircraft there’s a chance of an unrefurbished cabin. Not such a big deal on an overnight flight though.
But overall there are no bad choices here.
I normally fly to ORD on BA and when flew from Mia I did it with a layover at MAD, IB business cabin is pretty nice.
Jun 20, 2019, 11:33 am
#54
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,233
doing AA and BA quite regularly in longhaul biz i'd prefer the AA 789 and 77W flights above any BA flight.
that said if it were me i'd choose:
to ORD: AA789, BA A380
from MIA: AA 77W, BA 747
the seats on AA are just vastly more comfy and the IFE on par with the newer BA systems. food is better...but the service can be a mixed bag on AA. usually to ORD it is fine because the crew are nice, its usually the JFK and LAX routes that stock surly AA attendants
BA, well while i generally have great service, i'll say one of the worst flights was a LHR-MIA on BA in J with a mixed fleet crew. overall though, i lean more towards BA because of timings and a generally more consistent service overall than i find on AA--despite the seat being inferior to the 789 and 77W on AA.
that said if it were me i'd choose:
to ORD: AA789, BA A380
from MIA: AA 77W, BA 747
the seats on AA are just vastly more comfy and the IFE on par with the newer BA systems. food is better...but the service can be a mixed bag on AA. usually to ORD it is fine because the crew are nice, its usually the JFK and LAX routes that stock surly AA attendants
BA, well while i generally have great service, i'll say one of the worst flights was a LHR-MIA on BA in J with a mixed fleet crew. overall though, i lean more towards BA because of timings and a generally more consistent service overall than i find on AA--despite the seat being inferior to the 789 and 77W on AA.
Jun 20, 2019, 11:57 am
#55
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
As a fairly regular BA Club flyer we are flying to PHX from LHR next week on AA Business and we're both really looking forward to it. Looks far superior to BA product at the moment.
We were scheduled to be flying home from JFK on the UD 747 but I fell victim to the aircraft changes and am now flying back on 777. Thankfully its a short overnight hop so won't matter too much!
We were scheduled to be flying home from JFK on the UD 747 but I fell victim to the aircraft changes and am now flying back on 777. Thankfully its a short overnight hop so won't matter too much!
I would say AA hard product in J is comparable to BA F. All seats are private and all aisle access. Also 788 and 789 cabins are small and feels more private.
Jun 20, 2019, 12:26 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
As much of an AA fanboy as I am, even for me this is stretching things slightly. Yes, the AA J product is very good, it does not have the space that BA F does, particularly when it comes to openness for where your legs go. Of course, I am excepting BA 747 F seats 1A/K from the comparison, since they are dire F seats.
Jun 20, 2019, 9:49 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
As much of an AA fanboy as I am, even for me this is stretching things slightly. Yes, the AA J product is very good, it does not have the space that BA F does, particularly when it comes to openness for where your legs go. Of course, I am excepting BA 747 F seats 1A/K from the comparison, since they are dire F seats.
Jun 20, 2019, 10:18 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Your routing opens up quite a few options, with a variety of aircraft types, cabin arrangements, and seat types.
If you are travelling between now and the end of October, these are the flights to choose from
LHR-ORD
AA47 Boeing 789
AA99 Boeing 788
BA295 Boeing 744 (86J)
BA297 Airbus A380
MIA-LHR
AA38 Boeing 77W
BA206 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA208 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA210 Boeing 744 (56J)
Personally, I’d go for the BA295 on the outbound. The 747 upper deck offers an experience unmatched by other aircraft. The quality of natural light you get on day flights is fantastic.
Inbound, I’d probably settle for the flight that best suits my schedule, aware that with BA’s 56J aircraft there’s a chance of an unrefurbished cabin. Not such a big deal on an overnight flight though.
But overall there are no bad choices here.
If you are travelling between now and the end of October, these are the flights to choose from
LHR-ORD
AA47 Boeing 789
AA99 Boeing 788
BA295 Boeing 744 (86J)
BA297 Airbus A380
MIA-LHR
AA38 Boeing 77W
BA206 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA208 Boeing 744 (56J)
BA210 Boeing 744 (56J)
Personally, I’d go for the BA295 on the outbound. The 747 upper deck offers an experience unmatched by other aircraft. The quality of natural light you get on day flights is fantastic.
Inbound, I’d probably settle for the flight that best suits my schedule, aware that with BA’s 56J aircraft there’s a chance of an unrefurbished cabin. Not such a big deal on an overnight flight though.
But overall there are no bad choices here.
Hope other airlines follow.
Jun 21, 2019, 2:12 am
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Southampton UK
Posts: 48
Ahah, don't worry: not much magic to it - I know there are more sophisticated ways, but to be honest, when I do searches for old thread, I just use Google myself! Here are a few examples (just from the first page of answers but there are many more):
Comparison of AA and BA business class long haul (merged)
British Airways or American Airlines business class to Vegas?
Is AA or BA better now for TATL Business Class?
BA or AA to MIA/DFW in J?
BA 788 vs AA 788 business class seats
Comparison of AA and BA business class long haul (merged)
British Airways or American Airlines business class to Vegas?
Is AA or BA better now for TATL Business Class?
BA or AA to MIA/DFW in J?
BA 788 vs AA 788 business class seats
Jun 21, 2019, 6:15 am
#60
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,040
OK, I've hit a snag here. AA don't release their flights until 11 months ahead. BA release at 355 days so for our trip means I can a both ways BA trip on Monday 24th June [our travel dates are o/b 22 May i/b 12 Jun] or if I want to mix AA and BA as has been suggested then I will have to wait until Friday 12th July when AA comes on line. I want use Avios to upgrade so wanted to strike early and unless I decide to do AA both ways I maybe have to settle for BA both ways. Dilemma!!! Looks like AA both ways to me.....
MileSAAver / SAAver award reduction / scarcity discussion
More award availability restricted by married segments / connections
Your original post simply asked which was better, AA or BA, you didn't add in the need for award inventory availability. I had assumed you were buying cash tickets.
Not trying to burst your bubble, but just know that needing AA to release inventory complicates the recommendation. At the end of the day, if you are dependent on award tickets, this whole discussion may be moot, as you'll be constrained by what is available.
Regards