AA or BA for travel to LHR
Feb 17, 2006 | 9:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Ft.Lauderdale,FL
Posts: 74
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?
Feb 17, 2006 | 9:59 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Australia
Programs: QF LTS, Marriott LTP, ALL GOLD
Posts: 2,442
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.
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.
Feb 17, 2006 | 10:25 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP 5MM
Posts: 399
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.
Feb 17, 2006 | 10:25 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,867
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 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.
Feb 17, 2006 | 10:33 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Reno, Nevada
Posts: 7,368
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
Mike
Last edited by nako; Feb 17, 2006 at 10:39 am
Feb 17, 2006 | 10:34 am
#6
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 12,544
Originally Posted by AN_Boy
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.
Feb 17, 2006 | 9:11 pm
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 1,987
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..
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..
Feb 20, 2006 | 6:55 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K, American EXP & 3 Million Miler, Hyatt Globalist & Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,387
Originally Posted by Kibison
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 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.
Feb 20, 2006 | 8:27 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Programs: NW Silver Elite, Marriott Gold, UA 0P
Posts: 106
Originally Posted by jawa912
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?
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.
Feb 20, 2006 | 8:37 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Australia
Programs: QF LTS, Marriott LTP, ALL GOLD
Posts: 2,442
Originally Posted by bugger_not_plz
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.
There's the substantial difference in mile accrual.
Feb 20, 2006 | 9:13 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,752
Originally Posted by AN_Boy
Agreed. In Y, there is not much between them - perhaps friendliness of crew, but thats it.
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.
Feb 20, 2006 | 9:34 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Siesta Key
Programs: AA EXP-1.6MM, Hilton Diamond, ManU & Chicago Bears #1 Fan
Posts: 9,697
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 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.
Feb 20, 2006 | 9:44 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 4,843
Originally Posted by jawa912
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?
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.