Weekend in Johannesburg via American and British Airways "First Class”
Mar 15, 2022, 10:16 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, BA, QR
Posts: 362
Nice trip report so far, thanks SFO777. Like others I like your old way of reporting. I also go to your website sometimes so see some of your old reports and like the way they have been presented.
Mar 15, 2022, 4:29 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX/NYC/LA
Programs: AA Plt, Marriott Gold, National EE, Hertz PC, El Mambero De Mucci, PWP Aide to Generalissimo Godot
Posts: 4,893
It really is unfortunate how quickly AA's International F has fallen behind. I remember being excited when they ordered the 77W and how great the F seats seemed at the time. It's nearly 10 years later though and even B6 has a better TATL premium product than AA.
Mar 15, 2022, 5:46 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 509
BA gets grief, but they are ahead of AA just because of the superior service on board.
Mar 15, 2022, 6:04 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,590
So true. On board our three long haul BA flights, BA service was phenomenally good with three of the best cabin crews I’ve experienced in ages. BA’s downfall is its utter rubbish ground service and embarrassing airport. The Concorde Room is a joke with terrible food. They took a year to renovate the lounge but forgot to add power outlets on the terrace. No doubt some bean counter nixed the expense.
Last edited by SFO777; Mar 15, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Mar 16, 2022, 5:04 am
#36
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,740
So true. On board our three long haul BA flights, BA service was phenomenally good with three of the best cabin crews I’ve experienced in ages. BA’s downfall is its utter rubbish ground service and embarrassing airport. The Concorde Room is a joke with terrible food. They took a year to renovate the lounge but forgot to add power outlets on the terrace. No doubt some bean counter nixed the expense.
Still little better in any of their lounges.
Last time i was in Flagship Dining at JFK, there were zero power points anywhere near me. Had to go into the normal Flagship lounge to plug something in (or to carry a power bank).
I've personally found AA crews to be slightly better than BA. It's a case of having zero expectations in any travel class, and unless you're on some BA flights where they're digging down to new levels, you're never really disappointed.
Is there a photo of a dessert menu at JFK?
Last edited by xenole; Mar 16, 2022 at 5:20 am
Mar 16, 2022, 6:00 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,590
Come to think of it, I'm not even sure that there was a wine list. The menu was at our seats when we boarded. No separate wine list and there were no wines listed in the menu. It wouldn't surprise me if they just didn't bother. Why would you want to publicize a list of $15 swiil?
In the JFK FFD, while there are no power outlets at tables, there are multiple power outlets in all the booths. Not conveniently located mind you as one has to nearly crawl under the booth table to access them. 
Sorry, looks like I forgot to take a pic of the dessert menu.
Sorry, looks like I forgot to take a pic of the dessert menu.
Mar 16, 2022, 4:53 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX/NYC/LA
Programs: AA Plt, Marriott Gold, National EE, Hertz PC, El Mambero De Mucci, PWP Aide to Generalissimo Godot
Posts: 4,893
So true. On board our three long haul BA flights, BA service was phenomenally good with three of the best cabin crews I’ve experienced in ages. BA’s downfall is its utter rubbish ground service and embarrassing airport. The Concorde Room is a joke with terrible food. They took a year to renovate the lounge but forgot to add power outlets on the terrace. No doubt some bean counter nixed the expense.
The unfortunate part is that I'm in PHX, so stuck with AA there and I mostly fly to LAX, NYC, MIA, and Latin America. AA has me by the balls and it's not like B6 flies Mint to SDQ either.
Mar 19, 2022, 12:42 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,590
Sorry for the delay with the TR.
Having trouble with Apple Photos on my nearly 5 year old MacBookPro. Just picked up a new MacBookPro which should solve a lot of my recent issues. In the interim, instagram chapters...
• Heading into London on Heathrow Express
• The sweetest and most patient Heathrow Express agent calmly explains to DFW_CK that he screwed up
• Exploring London including Hyde Park
• Fabulous lunch at Michelin star Trishna in Marlyebone Village
• British Airways T5 First Class Check-in and the Concorde Room
• Pathetic Concorde Room Dining offerings
• Our review of British cuisine in the overrated Concorde Room
• BA redeems itself.... Our excellent A380 First Class flight to Johannesburg
• JNB arrival, passport control and exit
• Four Seasons The Westcliff Johannesburg
• Sunday Brunch with a view and entertainment at Flames at the Four Seasons
• Dinner at amazing Marble Restaurant
Having trouble with Apple Photos on my nearly 5 year old MacBookPro. Just picked up a new MacBookPro which should solve a lot of my recent issues. In the interim, instagram chapters...
• Heading into London on Heathrow Express
• The sweetest and most patient Heathrow Express agent calmly explains to DFW_CK that he screwed up
• Exploring London including Hyde Park
• Fabulous lunch at Michelin star Trishna in Marlyebone Village
• British Airways T5 First Class Check-in and the Concorde Room
• Pathetic Concorde Room Dining offerings
• Our review of British cuisine in the overrated Concorde Room
• BA redeems itself.... Our excellent A380 First Class flight to Johannesburg
• JNB arrival, passport control and exit
• Four Seasons The Westcliff Johannesburg
• Sunday Brunch with a view and entertainment at Flames at the Four Seasons
• Dinner at amazing Marble Restaurant
Last edited by SFO777; Mar 19, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Mar 19, 2022, 3:15 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Atlanta Georgia
Posts: 26
Sorry I haven’t posted in a long time
Good to see you finally experience British Airways first class on the A380 after the great BA debacle of 2013 (where you were threatened with arrest at LAX and they did nothing about it)
With you on Instagram now are you no longer going to be posting trip reports to FlyerTalk or the website
Good to see you finally experience British Airways first class on the A380 after the great BA debacle of 2013 (where you were threatened with arrest at LAX and they did nothing about it)
With you on Instagram now are you no longer going to be posting trip reports to FlyerTalk or the website
Mar 21, 2022, 2:12 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 497
Mar 21, 2022, 7:06 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,590
Sorry I haven’t posted in a long time
Good to see you finally experience British Airways first class on the A380 after the great BA debacle of 2013 (where you were threatened with arrest at LAX and they did nothing about it)
With you on Instagram now are you no longer going to be posting trip reports to FlyerTalk or the website
Good to see you finally experience British Airways first class on the A380 after the great BA debacle of 2013 (where you were threatened with arrest at LAX and they did nothing about it)
With you on Instagram now are you no longer going to be posting trip reports to FlyerTalk or the website
From 8+ years ago...
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21910177-post49.html
Mar 22, 2022, 7:08 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,140
Very interesting to read your BA/AA comparisons! I confess we have minimal F experience (just one r/t on BA) but we do have substantial flown mileage with both airlines in J, and Domestic ‘First’ on AA. I have to say, in AA’s defence, that their FAs have been fine from our humble expectation POV, albeit ‘different’ to BA’s CC. Food-wise on board, I’ll certainly give AA the aadvantage! Lounges for poor OWEs flying J … BA wins.
Thanks for your efforts in posting. 👍
Thanks for your efforts in posting. 👍
Mar 23, 2022, 10:11 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,590
Very interesting to read your BA/AA comparisons! I confess we have minimal F experience (just one r/t on BA) but we do have substantial flown mileage with both airlines in J, and Domestic ‘First’ on AA. I have to say, in AA’s defence, that their FAs have been fine from our humble expectation POV, albeit ‘different’ to BA’s CC. Food-wise on board, I’ll certainly give AA the aadvantage! Lounges for poor OWEs flying J … BA wins.
Thanks for your efforts in posting. 👍
Thanks for your efforts in posting. 👍
