AA or BA for travel to LHR
 

Both have flights that leave at about the same times and costs are about $10 difference. I have an AA account, but not a BA. I could stand to earn some BA miles if they have better onboard stuff. Someone said they have tv's in every seat which on a long flight can make the time go by more quickly. Was wondering if AA had such a thing?

Both AA and BA have seat back Tv's in economy.

I would stick with AA if you are after miles. You can only join the BA Executiv e Club by flying on certain fare types and I don't think a BA discount economy ticket is valid.

You'll also only earn 25% mileage if it is a discount BA ticket.

If miles count, it's AA
 

BA charges exhorbitant numbers of mile for travel beyond Europe. It's main advantage is World Traveler Plus which provides reasonable legroom (unlike AA or BA economy) normally for a small premium over economy.

You may want to give BA a try if you are planning on making more transatlantic flights. While the economy seats and IFE may be similar, I think you will find a much better level of service on BA.

In the past I flew AA and DL until I tried BA. Now, BA gets all my business. Two years ago I was flying in economy. Now I use points and status to fly in First and Club World's flat bed seats. Be careful, BA can be addictive.

In spite of the BAEC signup restrictions, the OP could still fly BA and credit to another program (either another oneworld program, such as QF or CX, or AS). The miles earned, however, would be at the same rate (as low as 25 percent) as if they were credited to BAEC.

Mike

Correct, so mileage accrual on discount Y is moot.

I'd collect the 100% AA miles on AA rather than 25% BA miles when credited to another carrier. Probably won't get any miles on BA if the fare is discount economy...

Remember AA and BA don't credit miles on each other for the transtlantic flights. For instance, you can't request AA miles for a BA flight, SFO-LHR-
SFO and vice versa, can't request BA miles for an AA flight, LHR-SFO-LHR.

But, you can certainly earn AA miles for AA flight numbers..

Agreed - as in flight product goes BA is the clear winner

BA may be better for front of the bus, but if you are truly back of the bus with no status, there's no comparison.

There's the substantial difference in mile accrual.

That carry-on that AA lets you carry on? BA makes you check it. Their carry-on allowance for the back of the bus is 6 kg (about 13 lbs) and they enforce it.

You pay FAR more to redeem an economy transatlantic award on BA metal using BA miles than you pay to redeem an economy transatlantic award on AA metal using AA miles. Basically, AA charges you fees and taxes. BA charges you fees, taxes, plus a payment to BA.

Agreed. In Y, there is not much between them - perhaps friendliness of crew, but thats it.

It'll be a matter of personal taste, preference and priorities.

But in the situation of the OP ($10 difference between AA and BA fares), if I were to ask myself the question "Would you give up 75% of your miles to get the BA service?", the answer would be an unhesitating "Yes".

[Edited to add:] I have, in the recent past, been threatened by other FT'ers with having my mouth washed out with soap for daring to suggest that the pursuit of miles might not be the absolute number one priority when making travel choices. So I now don flameproof clothing and wait. :D

The only difference in Y between the 2 airlines when crossing the pond is the booze charge. BA =0 AA =$4-5 per. THAT's IT! That's assuming you fly on AA 777, which you will do when flying from MIA to LHR.

If somebody tells you otherwise, they are full of it.

Now you will have to make the decision whether you want to earn 25% of miles that also require more to fly for free or 100% on about 95% of the cheap fares codes, (Tickets between North America and Europe, India, Asia and Latin America booked in O and Transatlantic tickets booked in Q are not eligible for mileage credit.) and are easier and in many cases require less to use.

If you're planning any other AA travel in the next year, you might consider flying AA across the pond and signing up for the gold challenge. Flying RT MIA-ORD-LHR will get you the 5,000 required points (different than miles) while flying RT MIA-LHR will leave you a bit short.

With AA gold status, you'd be able to reserve exit rows. Once you have access to exit rows, you'll choose AA everytime you're in Y.

You might also consider getting the BA credit card (just doing that will let you get an EC account) and finding a way to get another 10,000 miles. Then you could book WT+ and upgrade to CW, which is very nice and a great deal for 25,000 miles and a WT+ fare.

BA 'cuz they use T4 for most of their USA flights to/from LHR.

T3 is an unpleasent experience, IMHO.

If the OP is flying nonstop from LHR-MIA, they will be flying from T3 on AA or BA.