Appropriate expectations when flying AA in DOM Y or F

[Sdtravel]

So im looking to book some domestic US flights with AA. Mainly for the OW SC's & points.
Ill be travelling with my mother so was thinking of treating her to some better travel classes
I am aware that US Domestic First is what QF would call Business and they dont come with lounge access.

From reading reviews at http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/american-airlines/ it seems like thy get a negative wrap in either cabin a lot. A mixed bag with good and bad reviews from checkin to baggage collection.
Planning to do SFO to LAS in Y and LAS to HNL in F, both via LAX. Depending on how prices work perhaps the whole thing in F.

Im interested in everyones experience and what type of expectations i should set. Ive been on about 4 AA short domestic flights in Y and came out ok. Im hoping US domestic first might turn out ok especially on the longer LAX to HNL leg.

There are other airlines that fly direct on these routes. Is it worth just skipping the OW alliance and flying with someone else?
Are they just getting a bad wrap from people?

 

[moa999]

Y is very basic in terms of catering.
Much like QF, IFE varies depending on the age of the aircraft, albeit most have some form of Internet, although the quality can depend according to provider.

F is again very variable depending on aircraft type, but in general I've found anything with a meal service to be pretty decent.

 

[Sdtravel]

Looking at the routes it looks like most of the flights i want are on A321S and E175. These look to maybe have some better First and Eco seats compared to other routes served by their B757's via PHX.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Looking at the routes it looks like most of the flights i want are on A321S and E175. These look to maybe have some better First and Eco seats compared to other routes served by their B757's via PHX.

The E175 is definitely not better. No seat power or IFE.
Beware that a lot of the A321 are the old US Airways so avoid PHX, CLT, PHL at all costs.
I believe they do fly the A321s to HNL so that’s ok.
The newest product is on the reconfigured 763, the 787, the transcontinental A321B. May be others but those are the ones I know as well as the A330 and B777.

 

[Sdtravel]

Thanks for the tip. I almost started to think about going via PHX to HNL before i found some reviews showing how coughpy those planes are.
The E175 is only on the SFO to LAX route. Although when i took that route 3 or so year ago before the SYD SFO direct im sure it was a bigger plane.
Do the A321 transcontinental sub for the sharklets at all? I assume not. But the sharklets seem fine anyway.

Any thoughts on crew in general and if the airline really should be avoided like the plague? Are they just getting an unnecessary bad wrap from people leaving reviews? People either have really bad reviews or good times. I dont see a lot of in between.

Alternatives seem to be mixes of United, Delta, Virgin & Hawaiian obviously all out of alliance.

 

[moa999]

The alternatives (apart from Virgin which is disappearing and Hawaiian) aren't much different

 

[kelvedon]

Are they just getting an unnecessary bad wrap from people leaving reviews? People either have really bad reviews or good times. I dont see a lot of in between

And that's the problem with internet reviews. The majority of people who bother to post are the ones who are either very happy, or very upset about their experiences. Average experiences don't motivate people to post

 

[serfty]

Do have any oneworld status?

 

[serfty]

Do have any oneworld status?

OK, from another thread I see you are WP.

You do get lounge access before an AA domestic flight as a non AAdvantage oneworld emerald.

Also great seat selection unless on a Basic fare.

 

[BAM1748]

If you have any status with QF or other one world airlines you can probably access the lounges.

I use AA a bit and average is all you should expect. International far superior to domestic which is more like a self loading cargo service.

But then I'm flying to get somewhere not for the flying itself.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks for the tip. I almost started to think about going via PHX to HNL before i found some reviews showing how coughpy those planes are.
The E175 is only on the SFO to LAX route. Although when i took that route 3 or so year ago before the SYD SFO direct im sure it was a bigger plane.
Do the A321 transcontinental sub for the sharklets at all? I assume not. But the sharklets seem fine anyway.

Any thoughts on crew in general and if the airline really should be avoided like the plague? Are they just getting an unnecessary bad wrap from people leaving reviews? People either have really bad reviews or good times. I dont see a lot of in between.

Alternatives seem to be mixes of United, Delta, Virgin & Hawaiian obviously all out of alliance.

The A321s never subbed for the sharklets.
I have done a lot of AA Domestic F and I actually don’t mind it at all. I’m kind of in between. If you stick to reasonably lengthy sectors during meal times then it’s quite good. Lengthy sectors late at night not so good. I’m a bit biased against the old US Airways flights but that might just be me.
I have 9 sectors next month a mixture of the new flat bed suites plus recliners on 737 and E175 so will update my thoughts.
Another thing I forgot to mention is that I do like the entree Reservations on AA premium domestic.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Do they throw any better aircraft on to HNL from DFW? Might be worth looking in to.

 

[Sdtravel]

As serfty figured out i am a QF WP so lounge isnt an issue. Although i know there isnt one on LAS.
I think when i looked at it DFW has 777-200's which are nice. But there is a bit of added time to get over there.

I think the LAX to HNL is the only lengthy segment. The rest are only 1 hourish flights so.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Any thoughts on crew in general and if the airline really should be avoided like the plague? Are they just getting an unnecessary bad wrap from people leaving reviews? People either have really bad reviews or good times. I dont see a lot of in between.

With a single exception, I've always found the crews the be excellent. They seem to love foreign accents and the service is always as good as it can be given the often limited soft product they have to work with (drinks and a snack basket). i love US domestic meal services... good cafeteria-style comfort food. Salt, sugar, fat. Tasty meals and happy passengers.

Unless you can get an long-haul product (lie-flat seats) I'm not personally fussed about which aircraft I get. F is F and Y is Y. F is always that little bit easier with wide seats and plenty of overhead space. But as a platinum you'll have priority anyway so overhead space won't be an issue.

Would I have the same opinion if I had to fly every week in the US? Maybe not. Travel isn't exactly easy there with airport security and delays and upgrade priority lists all that sort of stuff. But for a few flights I think US domestic is pretty good. And if there's no meals you're generally in a pretty good mood with the open bar!

 

[flyingfan]

I am aware that US Domestic First is what QF would call Business and they dont come with lounge access.

This is the key part for me. Catering in AA F for short haul seems to be warm nuts, whatever tipple you like and not much else that I can recall. I don't know what F from HNL would be like, however overall I don't think you should expect too much from the soft or hard product.

Sounds like you don't have lounge access, so boarding first as F is nice as is priority TSA queues. Unless you were doing it for the now-reduced SC earn, I don't think it's necessarily a great investment although I haven't checked current prices.

Baggage allowance might also come into it if you don't have OW status although you mention collecting SCs so I assume you have something with QF already.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is the key part for me. Catering in AA F for short haul seems to be warm nuts, whatever tipple you like and not much else that I can recall. I don't know what F from HNL would be like, however overall I don't think you should expect too much from the soft or hard product.
/QUOTE]

Catering to HNL is just the standard 'long haul domestic'.... salad and main. And a warm cookie before landing. The trick to HNL is the lie flat seats, which I'm not sure they really offer anymore... except maybe to DFW.

 

[mannej]

This is the key part for me. Catering in AA F for short haul seems to be warm nuts, whatever tipple you like and not much else that I can recall. I don't know what F from HNL would be like, however overall I don't think you should expect too much from the soft or hard product.

Sounds like you don't have lounge access, so boarding first as F is nice as is priority TSA queues. Unless you were doing it for the now-reduced SC earn, I don't think it's necessarily a great investment although I haven't checked current prices.

Baggage allowance might also come into it if you don't have OW status although you mention collecting SCs so I assume you have something with QF already.

The OP is WP

 

[edwina86]

I had three domestic AA First flights last year and thought they were quite good, including LAX to HNL which you are doing too!
From memory, check in was fine, they were all helpful and polite.
The worst part was the security line at LAX.
The food on the flight was pretty terrible, nothing like QF domestic business. So I'd recommend just grabbing some food at the airport, they usually have quite a big range. I had access to the Admirals club, but perhaps that was only through my Qantas Club membership? Surely you get access with a first ticket... anyway depends on the lounge but they usually have enough food to tide you over, it's pretty slim pickings but I've had oats and bagels before.

Onboard, service was fine. Nothing memorable. Seat was comfortable, reclines but doesn't lie flat or anything like that. The TVs were good, touchscreen with lots of different movies. You get a nice drinks service and they come around with a snack basket too.

IMO I definitely think it's worth burning some points for a First seat because I remember having a nightmare AA flight LAX to JFK in Y.

Enjoy your travels!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I had three domestic AA First flights last year and thought they were quite good, including LAX to HNL which you are doing too!
From memory, check in was fine, they were all helpful and polite.
The worst part was the security line at LAX.
The food on the flight was pretty terrible, nothing like QF domestic business. So I'd recommend just grabbing some food at the airport, they usually have quite a big range. I had access to the Admirals club, but perhaps that was only through my Qantas Club membership? Surely you get access with a first ticket... anyway depends on the lounge but they usually have enough food to tide you over, it's pretty slim pickings but I've had oats and bagels before.

Onboard, service was fine. Nothing memorable. Seat was comfortable, reclines but doesn't lie flat or anything like that. The TVs were good, touchscreen with lots of different movies. You get a nice drinks service and they come around with a snack basket too.

IMO I definitely think it's worth burning some points for a First seat because I remember having a nightmare AA flight LAX to JFK in Y.

Enjoy your travels!

First class domestic doesn't come with lounge access in the USA, unless you are first class transcontinental on a three class plane. Your qantas club would have granted you access to the lounges.

Some aircraft do have full flat beds in first, but you need to know the routes and aircraft/flights to get them. The flagship trans on flights to from LAX/SFO and JFK are full flat in first and business class.

I guess YMMV... I find the food on meal flights in the USA to be far superior to the current offerings in Qantas domestic business class. Most US airlines will be offering some type of fillet of meat... beef, chicken or fish. Extremely rare for QFd to offer that these days... the odd dish here and there maybe, but not routine like in the USA.

 

[drron]

I quite like AA domestic F.Then again the crew are nearly always impressed that an aussie who has never lived in LOTFAP is a LTP on AA.Occasional bad crew but also the best crews are better than QF.I also don't mind flights with meal service as you can pre order.Generally taste better than they look.
And every now and then you can get lucky with an International config 757 or a 772 relocating-have had both on MIA-DFW in the past.