AA Domestic First vs. BA Club Europe
 

Which would you rather fly on for short haul in J?

This has been done to death so many times. It's a little like the Airbus vs. Boeing argument, or the PC vs Mac.

They are different products as they operate in different parts of the world, where the competition offers a broadly similar products. AA wouldn't move to convertible seating as no-one else in the US does, and v.v. for BA.

Hmm, tough call. For the AA comparison I am talking about 'normal' domestic F, not transcon or AFS. For BA I am talking mainline - not our friends at GB.

AA wins hands down on seating (obviously) - while their MD-80's are in no way luxurious they still offer far, far better seating than CE.

BA wins on food - just about. BA's breakfast is better, but I really don't care for the CE salad and find some of the other offerings indifferent. AA's food is pretty rubbish on the whole and I still don't get the whole sundaes fun. BA's booze offering is MILES ahead - the crud that passes for red wine on American makes the Dourthe No1 taste like nectar.

BA also win on general service - both consistency and quality. While there are some great crews on AA, there is also a lot of mediocrity and more hostility than you would want.

Of course, if you look at pricing it makes interesting. Domestic F is - generally - priced a long way above fullY, whereas the gap between J and Y on BA is much smaller (rarely over GBP100 r/t.)

If the choice of flights was a dinner flight on a FRA-LHR distance, I am very happy with BA. A LHR-DME/IST/LCA would be more pleasant on the AA product - CE seating isn't that much fun on those length sectors. CX's regional business class would be much nicer on either option.

But in the end, all comparisons are odious. ;)

Awwwwwwwwwwwww..........I was looking forward to another "Celebrity Death Match"!

Can't we go over well trodden ground just once more (the initial treatment for cx syndrome isn't working)!

I believe newcx did that and ended up in a padded cell asking himself questions about elevator acceleration speeds, ice cream storage on AA domestic flights and fat content in Raid the Larder Cadbury's chocolate.....watch out or you too may be playing hide and seek with the men in white coats. Call the clinic ;)

Totally agree with you Fraser, ^ but then again who knows what it takes to satisfy some people. Even though you and I may not understand it, maybe apudme fancies a padded cell and men in white coats.... :p ;)

I think you may be getting confused with The Hoist.

:confused: :confused: :confused:
Now I am confused Dave. Is this something that innocent little me is supposed to understand?

[QUOTE=Swanhunter]
Of course, if you look at pricing it makes interesting. Domestic F is - generally - priced a long way above fullY, whereas the gap between J and Y on BA is much smaller (rarely over GBP100 r/t.)

This was certainly true in the US until recently but with competition we now have a variety of A and YUP fares available to those who want to travel and have a somewhat flexible schedule. Recently, I traveled on a 7 day advance purchase YUP, booked into A class on AA from JFK to SFO for $527 ow. This was on the 2 class B763 and the service was very nice -Breakfast and a Fruit/Cheese and Cookie service later. CO offer these prices ex EWR, initially because of competition from ATA.

European carriers (the major ones at least BEA, AF, LH etc.) used to offer a short haul F product until the early 1970s. I don't know what their load factors were but the introduction of 'Club Europe' with convertible seating gave the airlines many more options - at the expense of the premium passenger.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Wouldn't they mainly be wearing other things there.

QF have the same ice-cream as dessert thing, btw.

Oh and QF domestic business is probably the best of both worlds, decent food, nice wine and a pretty good seat (2-2 on 738's for instance).

[QUOTE=AJLondon
Even though you and I may not understand it, maybe apudme fancies a padded cell and men in white coats....[/QUOTE]


I know Manacle is certainly missing the revenue. ;) :D :D

I don't think you could compare Manacle to the Hoist. :eek: :eek: :eek:

So that was the real reason behind the Sandwich Incident.
Bless.

Nah, that was me just feeling a bit down and lonely and a long way from home. I just lost it for about an hour, it happened again in AKL a couple of weeks later.

Only 48 hours to go and I will be home.

And on BA at least you ALWAYS get some food.

Last month I bought a walk up F ticket for $1000.00 (one way) from ORD to JFK. Flight left at 8:00pm - no food in sight !!!