WIll be posting a link to this thread in the EI, AA, BA and QF (since I am a QF member) fora, since I wish to get as wide a cross-section of opinion as possible.

(That is one of the problems with this format of BB, cross-posting isn't possible).

Will be in London in October 2004, and whilst there will need to pop over to JFK for 3-4 days. No restrictions as to when regarding specific flights, so am totally flexible as to who I fly with and which carriers - obviously, it will need to be on oneworld.

As an aviation enthusiast, I think the best part of the flights are taking off and landing - the g-forces just do something to me, I love it!
(Of course the SC's earnt from the additional sectors don't go unnoticed either! )

So, bearing in mind all of the above, I am tempted to fly on EI from LHR to JFK, since it will mean flying to DUB and transferring onto a flight from DUB to JFK - which if I choose the right flight will go via SNN.

Only thing is that it is ages since I have flown on EI, and I can't recall what they are like.

AA is attractive, because of their propensity to upgrade anyone as long as there is a 'Y' in the day. BUT, if no upgrade is forthcoming, then I do NOT want to be in Y on AA on any sector - I do NOT want to pay for drinks.

So I suppose it will come down to EI or BA, with an emphasis on in-flight service.

I look forward to your sageful advice.

Dave

We always use BA, chiefly because
(a) we're used to it
(b) we often fly JFK-LHR on a red eye, in which case going thru Ireland is less fun (from memory, gives less time to sleep) and BA has seemed to be a little cheaper than AA when i've checked
(c) for the daytime LHR-JFK flight, food and IFE is sufficiently good even in WT (occasionally WT+) (and we usually take books)

Dave, watch it - EI leave from Gates 85 and 86 at LHR, IIRC..the furthest Gates from the Lounges (having done it on my honeymoon trip) and EI is notorious for being late (both of our flights LHR/DUB and DUB/LHR were late - the latter was 2.5 hours late).

I'd second aura's suggestion..I'd only fly BA - although you won't get auto-op upped to WT+ anymore

Can't offer any advice on EI, but just a thought. Won't the new CX service have started by then?

Consider also IB via MAD (but not for long) and AY via HEL...

If you were talking about J and you appreciate wines I believe that the AY J wine list is one of the best out there.

Care to explain?

BA in C and F for sure. Great lounges, spa, top seats, etc.

EI has excellent trans-Atlantic J service with great food and the irish whiskey flows like water....I imagine this would also be true in Y. The EI crews are young and very friendly, quite a change from normal Oneworld trans-Atlantic standard.

Dave, given your requirements, and the changes to the QF points earning on BA and AA after 1 Jan, I would seriously consider AY via HEL.

The downside, for a QP regular, is that the AY flight LHR-HEL departs from T1, so no F lounge. But as a SG you will have access to the BA Exec Lounge even when flying AY and the bar is open! Nice little AY lounge in HEL.

AY were very good to me and the family in Y. Food and service were quite acceptible.

Oh yes, the A319/320 LHR-HEL will likely show the takeoff and landing on the drop-down screens from a camera in the front undercarriage - great to see if you have seen before. I am not sure if AY do this on the MD11 aircraft they use HEL-JFK. And you get to fly on another aircraft type not common in Australia - the MD11.

Can anyone confirm that this special wine list is offered on HEL-JFK service? I have heard it is only on the HEL-BKK and HEL-NRT flights and not on the regular AY network (including North American flights).

I would actually put in a good word for AA. Their schedule LHR-JFK is outstanding in both directions (especially since the recent reinstatement of 8 PM LHR-JFK departure, allowing one to work a full day in London and still go to bed in NYC by midnight). I find that the 6:30 & 8 PM westbound and 7-9 PM departures eastbound departures are very good for jet lag on the long weekends in Eastern time, though this might just be my own internal body clock. The J product might be inferior, but the Y product is very good. While paying for drinks is a bit of a disappointment, if one is in Y don't underestimate a) MRTC, and b) elites on AA can pre-select exit row seats. To me, this is more than enough compensation for the occasional $5 for a drink.

If NYC is the final destination, I also don't see why one would want to connect unnecessarily through DUB or anywhere else just for a free drink.

You could wait for CX to start service....

[This message has been edited by chalf (edited Dec 13, 2003).]