AA first

[oz74]

Hey guys, my wife and I have 5 AA first class trips coming up in August / September, thanks to YUPP / KUPP.

I just want to know what to expect, I know AA first is not that great but any tips from you guys would be great.

I know we don't get admirals club access, would it be worth purchasing a 30 day membership?

The route will be JFK-MIA-MSY-DFW-LAS-LAX.

Should be gold once our qf flights are added to this!

 

[Hvr]

Hopefully you've already chosen your seats according to FEBO. Basically the flight number determines which end of the cabin is served first.

Get to the boarding gate early and join the line. Anywhere from 30 minutes beforehand should see you have a chance of getting overhead space.


The seats aren't that great but you'll survive.


There's no AA lounge in LAS so that might change your value proposition for the 30 day membership.

 

[Anna]

Hopefully you've already chosen your seats according to FEBO. Basically the flight number determines which end of the cabin is served first.

AA didn't use FEBO on my recent flights with them. I was in the front row for each flight and I was always served first. The flight numbers were a mix of odd and even.

I posted a trip report that the OP might find gives some idea of what to expect on the AA sectors.

 

[oz74]

Hopefully you've already chosen your seats according to FEBO. Basically the flight number determines which end of the cabin is served first.

Get to the boarding gate early and join the line. Anywhere from 30 minutes beforehand should see you have a chance of getting overhead space.


The seats aren't that great but you'll survive.


There's no AA lounge in LAS so that might change your value proposition for the 30 day membership.

Hey hvr, yes already chosen seats. Nothing past row 4.

As for getting to the gate first are you saying AA don't have priority boarding? Don't they know who i am?? Lol
M

 

[oz74]

AA didn't use FEBO on my recent flights with them. I was in the front row for each flight and I was always served first. The flight numbers were a mix of odd and even.

I posted a trip report that the OP might find gives some idea of what to expect on the AA sectors.

Thanks Anna I will have a look for it.

 

[Hvr]

Hey hvr, yes already chosen seats. Nothing past row 4.

As for getting to the gate first are you saying AA don't have priority boarding? Don't they know who i am?? Lol
M

They do have priority boarding but lots of people have it, e.g. first class, AA status pax and OneWorld pax from Ruby (QF PS) upwards.

The queues can be very long with just legitimate status pax.

 

[oz74]

They do have priority boarding but lots of people have it, e.g. first class, AA status pax and OneWorld pax from Ruby (QF PS) upwards.

The queues can be very long with just legitimate status pax.

Oh ok, that's good to know! Thank you

 

[serfty]

"Preferences" (aka FEBO) is becoming a thing of the past.

In AA first you can now pre-order from a menu on-line within 30 days of your flight.

For a look at the meals and snack, see this FT thread (lots of photos): 2013 AA Domestic Meals - menus / menu, photos, etc. (consolidated) - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[oz74]

Thanks serfy!

 

[serfty]

Boarding is slated to commence 30 minutes before scheduled departure and often begins earlier than that (maybe 35-40 minutes).

I try to be at the gate as boarding commences.

They do indeed have priority boarding.

If the script is followed, its First, then the "Priority AAccess" groups followed by "Group 1" through "Group 6".

 

[oz74]

Thanks for the info serfy.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The seats are fine and not all that different to QF domestic business really. If you are lucky you might have an international config 757 or depending on the route you could choose 767 equipment which has decent angled lie flats.

I find the service to be quite good generally and on flights that have meals scheduled the food whilst not brilliant isn't that bad. Some have said it's only a slight improvement on economy but in my opinion it is a huge improvement and I find the whole experience generally pleasant.

 

[oz74]

Surprised to see the food doesn't look half bad serfy.

I guess the trick will be the taste though..lol

Thanks for the link.

 

[oz74]

The seats are fine and not all that different to QF domestic business really. If you are lucky you might have an international config 757 or depending on the route you could choose 767 equipment which has decent angled lie flats.

I find the service to be quite good generally and on flights that have meals scheduled the food whilst not brilliant isn't that bad. Some have said it's only a slight improvement on economy but in my opinion it is a huge improvement and I find the whole experience generally pleasant.

Thanks Aussie, My wife and I really are not expecting much but we have previousily done alot of domstic USA flights and just wanted to do things a bit differently this time and the extra status credits help!

 

[serfty]

Surprised to see the food doesn't look half bad serfy.

I guess the trick will be the taste though..lol

Thanks for the link.

There has been a substantial change in the catering from about 6 months ago. (In the first post of that 2013 meals thread, there are links to older threads.)

Previously it was mainly large salads and "cheese flavored with various types of meat" p), even with 'snacks'.

I found the new meals generally better in the area of taste, if not as large as they used to be.

One major variable in First is with the PDB's.[SUP]*[/SUP] This is supposed to be basically a full drink service including alcohol, but it it seems random in provision. IME, Nothing at all is served on about ¼ of the flights, about ½ simply do water(/ice), another [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]5[/SUB] do OJ as well with the remaining [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]20[/SUB] actually providing the full service.

[SUP]*[/SUP]Pre Departure Beverages - served in First after boarding but before takeoff.

 

[docjames]

Unless you've got minimal carry-on, try to be there for the start of boarding. Even in F, everyone carries so much on board it's a nightmare finding space if you board late.

 

[oz74]

There has been a substantial change in the catering from about 6 months ago. (In the first post of that 2013 meals thread, there are links to older threads.)

Previously it was mainly large salads and "cheese flavored with various types of meat" p), even with 'snacks'.

I found the new meals generally better in the area of taste, if not as large as they used to be.

One major variable in First is with the PDB's.[SUP]*[/SUP] This is supposed to be basically a full drink service including alcohol, but it it seems random in provision. IME, Nothing at all is served on about ¼ of the flights, about ½ simply do water(/ice), another [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]5[/SUB] do OJ as well with the remaining [SUP]1[/SUP]/[SUB]20[/SUB] actually providing the full service.

[SUP]*[/SUP]Pre Departure Beverages - served in First after boarding but before takeoff.

Maybe a cost cutting thing?

 

[oz74]

Unless you've got minimal carry-on, try to be there for the start of boarding. Even in F, everyone carries so much on board it's a nightmare finding space if you board late.

Thanks doc, having done a few domestic flights in the US before we have come across this.

 

[grussellt]

Hey guys, my wife and I have 5 AA first class trips coming up in August / September, thanks to YUPP / KUPP.

I just want to know what to expect, I know AA first is not that great but any tips from you guys would be great.

I know we don't get admirals club access, would it be worth purchasing a 30 day membership?

The route will be JFK-MIA-MSY-DFW-LAS-LAX.

Should be gold once our qf flights are added to this!

I would think a 30-day membership would be worthwhile for access at JFK,MIA,DFW and LAX. If it's pleasant seating, showers and a beer you're seeking you shouldn't be disappointed.

 

[oz74]

I would think a 30-day membership would be worthwhile for access at JFK,MIA,DFW and LAX. If it's pleasant seating, showers and a beer you're seeking you shouldn't be disappointed.

We think a like grusselt!