LAN Business or AA First Class?
 

I am deciding which service is better and from my research LAN Business is still better because of better entertainment (big screens) better food and service and they still have a lie flat bed? I know the AA Business isn't good but is First Class a big upgrade?

AA First has a better seat than Lan J - their Flagship Suite. Meal service is an enhanced version of what you get J. There are no pajamas or bedding, etc. as you would get on most international F service with non-U.S. airlines. I certainly wouldn't pay extra or use extra miles to fly AA F over LA J.

AA Flagship Suite
 

I vote for AA Flagship. I flew LAN J this year AKL-SYD, obviously the AA F cabin & seating (large space) is far superior

Of course AA F is limited to just those routes served by 777 equipment. Many (most) of AA's routes to South America are in smaller aircraft with Y/J configurations only. On the basis of J vs. J, I'd go with Lan. In Lan J vs. AA F, AA without blinking an eye. I am less a fan of LA's J seat than other posters.

Does AA have 777 service to anywhere in South America beyond EZE and GRU?

If not, then the question/comparison may be nonstop in F on AA vs. connecting flights in J on LA. I like both the F suites on AA and the flatseats and IFE on LAN, but nonstops over connecting flights are always an easy choice.....:)

I'd vote for LAN Business.

I really like the LAN J seat, food and attentive service. Yes the AA 777 suite is larger, but in reality I don't feel lacking at all with the LAN J seat. The AA 777 F is definitely not worth the extra miles/$$ , and I'd probably still take LAN J if the cost were the same.

I had a terrible experience in LIM recently due to AA's lack of service at the airport. Basically there is no AA staff willing to help passengers prior to a couple hours before the flight to issue BPs or accept bags, so as a business class passenger I had to sit on the cold floor outside security for several hours when I should have been in the lounge. There is no way to avoid a long LIM layover when flying CUZ-LIM on LAN in the afternoon connecting to the AA LIM-MIA redeye, and AA offers no solution to passengers on what I imagine is an extremely common connection. In addition to LAN's excellent service I will avoid flying AA metal to South America if at all possible in the future for this reason alone and would probably take LAN Y over AA J if given the choice.

Well yes, GIG (served with a stop in GRU) and MVD from EZE.

On that last note, EZE-MVD must be one of the shortest 777 routes in the world (142 mi/237 km.) I was surprised to go on AA.com and discover that you can buy a stand-alone (5th Freedom I presume) ticket and fly it for US$160 (full Y) $315 (D) or $404 (F) one way.

Not anymore. Since July, the GRU-GIG segment is being flown by a 763, but the tag-on is bound to disappear anyway in one month when the new nonstop JFK-GIG comes online.

To sum it up: AA First gives you more space and a better presentation of the food; LAN Business is more comfortable because soft bedding and large pillows are supplied for sleeping, LAN wine is better. If all else is equal I would take an extra pillow and fly AA first; if AA First is more expensive or less convenient than LAN Business due connections or timing, I would prefer LAN Business. AA Business is completely different due to the angled seating. LAN Business is preferable to AA Business under almost any imaginable scenario.

Unless you are traveling with someone else, it's an easy decision for me.

AA F = no seatmate;
Lan = possibility/likelihood of a seatmate;
Any seatmate = annoying.

So I would opt for AA F.

Again, the AA F suite is only available to Brazil (GRU and temporarily one-stop to RIG), Argentina (EZE only), and seasonally one-stop to Uruguay (MVD), For trips to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia etc., and other cities in Brazil and Argentina, there's no choice in the matter.

Does LAN serve dinner in J JFKLIM (2245 departure)? I know that sounds like a silly question, but I saw a trip report somewhere and the pax only received a snack service due later hour departure. Same thing happened to me on JL. When my GRUJFK upgrade to F didn't clear on AA, I cancelled at the gate and walked over to JL. To my shock, we were airborne on JL in J when I learned there was only snack service. My bad.

Just to try it out I booked a day trip a few years ago EZE-MVD in AA F and loved it. Especially when we had to circle EZE for hours due to bad weather so I got to really kick back and take it in. No meal service or IFE, of course, but the hard product was very nice.

If it's comparing J to J, LAN hands down. If you're willing to spend the extra cash or miles, I'd fly AA F.

You either mean RIO or GIG, since RIG is Rio Grande. Like I said before, the 77E service to GIG was discontinued in July, so F is no longer available at GIG.

Glad I'm not the only one. I flew SCL-MIA on LAN on the way back from the last Cow Do and was underwhelmed by pretty much every aspect of their J experience. Didn't find the seat particularly comfortable despite the abundant space (still think the IB seat is the most comfortable I've had in OW J) and found little quirks like not being to adjust the seat with the tray table out to be a little irritating. The only positive note was the good food and wine in the SCL lounge even if the lounge itself wasn't up to much.

I'd definitely go for AA F and if it was J v J would go on convenience factor and/or likely award availability. Would choose LA more for the novelty factor and the hope that my last experience was a one off.