AA or US First Class?

[ADLhighflyer]

Hi All,

I'm travelling from Washington to Seattle in September (one-way) and keen to fly first class given the cost is only around $650 USD if booked <90 days out. Am I better looking at AA or US, given SC's will be the same (210 via DFW or PHX)? Unsure which is better, so seeking some opinions. Is domestic USA first class even worth it?

Cheers.

 

[RooFlyer]

Domestic First class in the United States is what we would call business class, but there may be exceptions.

In flight may be much the same, so I'd look to lounges to discriminate. Not sure if US Air has changed its policy since joining OneWorld but when I flew 'F' with them last year, being * Alliance (as US were then) Gold, I wasn't allowed lounge access (Had to have status on US Air).

And for a trans con, yes, I would think F/J is worth it.

 

[Hvr]

Check the actual plane before booking.

I flew a lot of AA F recently and also flew US F from CLT-SJU. They used an international plane of this route and the F seating was an international config. Basically little suites that were admittedly small but much better than AA F.

No issues with lounge access showing my WP1 card. Indeed it was only on my last visit to a lounge that the person checking said that my QF number wasn't showing in the booking. She entered it for me (after asking if that's what I wanted) and issued a new BP.

Fortunately this meant that all bookings on the same PNR were properly credited.

 

[ADLhighflyer]

AA if flown would be on 738's whilst if I used US Metal it would be on a combo of a 321 and 320. Lounge access being QFF Gold wouldn't be an issue for US given they're now part of oneworld?

 

[muppet]

Firstly ADLhighflyer, lounge access isn't included on either US or AA two class First. You'll need a lounge membership or OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald.

Secondly, check US Air meal times. They don't serve meals IIRC on flights under 3hours?? You get like a bag of chips.

AA will certainly serve sizeable meals on both legs.

I'd go AA.

EDIT: Yes go First - travelling Y in the US is stressful and not much cheaper.

 

[Maca44]

Don't forget the designated F class line to clear security, huge bonus to avoid those long lines for coach pax.

 

[legroom]

Have you looked at a return trip for cheaper pricing ?

Yes, only to ignore the return trip

I did FCO CDG that way.

Single trip costs much more than the return journey !

I have not looked at AA or US.

 

[cirqueboy]

Given the choice, go AA. US, from an "in cabin" experience is still operating as a separate airline with all of the OW benefits thrown in. AA will give you a proper meal (as much as that means in the LOTFAP) and wine out of a real bottle. US will give you basic beer and spirits and the snack basket.

SC wise, the US flights will credit at the same speed as AA, usually within a day give or take the time zone difference.

Regarding the lounge access, US lounges follow the OW policy so if you have access as OWE or OWS then there is no problem.

 

[Gold Member]

I think everyone has summed up the story pretty well. As a side note, if you're keen on more status credits, you could route IAD-CLT-PHX-SEA (280 SCs) with US for $725 which is a better $/SC ratio. But, you have to get to IAD which can be time consuming and costly in itself.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I've flown both and prefer AA. US has a little bit LCC feel to it IMO.

 

[Grooba]

I've flown both and prefer AA. US has a little bit LCC feel to it IMO.

That's an interesting comment PF. I believe they use 320/1 aircraft which somewhat matches the JQ fleet but I'd guess there are other reasons?

 

[Princess Fiona]

That's an interesting comment PF. I believe they use 320/1 aircraft which somewhat matches the JQ fleet but I'd guess there are other reasons?

FA's, drinks, snacks. Hopefully some of this will be ironed out with the merger.

 

[serfty]

That's an interesting comment PF. I believe they use 320/1 aircraft which somewhat matches the JQ fleet but I'd guess there are other reasons?

Nothing to do with the aircraft, it's the soft product.

I did travel with US airways extensively in First/Business over that last few years with my pursuits of *A status through AirNZ. The meals were not to the quality level of AA when they were provided - until early this year most flights needed to be of 3½ hours or more before a that would happen.

Oh - don't expect any IFE.

One thing they may be better than AA at is providing full "pre departure beverage" service. These are the drinks provided for First Class passengers upon boarding but before pushback. With AA it has been running IME at around 10% with a simpler OJ/Water choice proffered with a pre-poured tray service about 40% and 50% nothing.

FA's, drinks, snacks. Hopefully some of this will be ironed out with the merger.

Earlier this year the USair meal window was reduced to around 2¾ hours. It seems sadly, that come September 1, AA flights will have their meal time increasing from the current 2+ hours to align with USair's.

On a better note, later weekend in 5 flights on AA first, full PDB's were offered on four out of five flights.

 

[Pleb Status]

I've flown both and prefer AA. US has a little bit LCC feel to it IMO.

Agree with this summary. I have only flown US F on shorter sectors (<2.5 hrs) however.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have done half a dozen US and a dozen or more AA F flights over the last few years, the US ones since they joined Oneworld.

US doesn't really compare to AA i"m afraid. No IFE on US domestic (it's not much better on AA but at least there's something).

Food windows are also much more generous on AA.

Is First worth it domestic? Absolutely. Coach is pretty much a free-for-all LCC experience.

 

[ADLhighflyer]

Many Thanks to all for your great advice.

Seems to make my decision much easier - will look at booking AA when inside the 90 day window. Bring on holidays!

 

[Grooba]

Many Thanks to all for your great advice.

Seems to make my decision much easier - will look at booking AA when inside the 90 day window. Bring on holidays!

Agreed with the great advice.

Having never flown US I was honestly surprised by the comments re: LCC as I always thought US was just another regular carrier and was looking forward to trying them within the OneWorld alliance. Some of the connections opened up with them are quite appealing however after reading the above comments will avoid if possible.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Biz trip two weeks ago, did SJC-LAX-DEN-ORD-LGA-YUL-MIA-TPA-MIA-BNA-DFW-ONT in AA F.

Mix of CRJ, 737-8 and MD80's, plus one puddle jumper (LGA-YUL).

Soft product was good, funny thing about all the sectors, arrived early every time, which means each departure was on time, can't remember if this every happened to me before.

 

[Austff]

Biz trip two weeks ago, did SJC-LAX-DEN-ORD-LGA-YUL-MIA-TPA-MIA-BNA-DFW-ONT in AA F.

Mix of CRJ, 737-8 and MD80's, plus one puddle jumper (LGA-YUL).

Soft product was good, funny thing about all the sectors, arrived early every time, which means each departure was on time, can't remember if this every happened to me before.

This sounds good for QF earning .

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

800+ SC's, tickets cost $1500+, spread over three clients.

Only visited the Flagship lounge in ORD, most connections were tight, except Miami, but I decided to walk the concourses for some exercise. Other bonus, I didn't talk to a single seat mate nor did they talk to me, I prefer to fly and read a book, chill out and check out the landscape.

Cheers
BF