Economy on American Airlines 737-800 v Air Canada A320

[doctork]

I'm heading to North America with Mrs Tork and Little Miss Tork (now aged 2). I'm booking a one way LA-Toronto leg. With the small person, I'm only interested in nonstop flights. The different options I can see are:

Economy on AA for USD244pp with free bags as I will be OWE by the time of trip.
Business on AA for USD1118pp
Economy on Air Canada for USD244pp. Plus total baggage fees of USD75 as I have no StarAlliance status.

Would like to get an idea before deciding on spending USD2622 more for business class (or not).
Unfortunately, don't have the points to spend 108000QFF points for three J Partner award seats at this time.

My questions for those well travelled in LOTFAP and its near neighbour are:

What's economy like in the AA 737-800? Are the shell seats that bad? Has anyone done a 5 hour transcontinental in one? With kids?
Is the AC A320/A321 significantly better (bearing in mind I have no status and am likely to be in the 'cheap seats')?

 

[mushypeas]

** subscribed **

I'm in the exact same boat... looking at AA using points to YYZ and YUL (Montreal) via Air Canada (only direct route). Like you, I hope someone can provide some insight whether AA economy is fine for the 6 hours East or to get up the front of the bus in business.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Sometimes kids can get restless being confined to their seat for 5+ hours so it may actually help to have a change of planes so they can walk around and stretch their legs enroute at a hub city.

For me having two shorter flights is preferable to one longer one.

A friend whose son was 2 years old at the time thought Jet Blue was great because of their inflight which kept him occupied for ages. AA's in-flight is pretty woeful so if you decide on travelling with them maybe take a portable DVD player or ipad with you.

I've been on a HNL/SYD flight & seated opposite us was a family with two girls I'm guessing would have been around 6 & 4 years old who had an ipad which I'd say was worth every penny it cost as it kept the kids occupied the whole time (apart from when they ate or slept).

 

[Sprucegoose]

Sometimes kids can get restless being confined to their seat for 5+ hours so it may actually help to have a change of planes so they can walk around and stretch their legs enroute at a hub city.

For me having two shorter flights is preferable to one longer one.

A friend whose son was 2 years old at the time thought Jet Blue was great because of their inflight which kept him occupied for ages. AA's in-flight is pretty woeful so if you decide on travelling with them maybe take a portable DVD player or ipad with you.

I've been on a HNL/SYD flight & seated opposite us was a family with two girls I'm guessing would have been around 6 & 4 years old who had an ipad which I'd say was worth every penny it cost as it kept the kids occupied the whole time (apart from when they ate or slept).

Very sage advice!

 

[wonk]

I've taken the AA 737 flight from LAX to Toronto in economy several times and find it similar to a QF domestic 737 service. You will get complimentary water, soft drink and juice but you'll have to purchase food or alcohol. I would recommend eating before the flight and bringing your own snacks onboard.

There will be a movie on overhead TV screens followed by a few TV comedies (The Office, 30 Rock, etc). You'll need to purchase headphones or BYO. Some rows have power (check seat guru) so you could play movies for the kids on an iPad or laptop and not have to worry about the battery running out.

When I take this flight I am connecting from MEL-LAX so I generally sleep through most of it

 

[mushypeas]

thanks Wonk, I too will be connecting from the QF Melbourne flight. Have you had any dramas with Qantas tagging your bags and issuing your boarding pass in Melbourne for the Toronto leg?

I noticed this aircraft also has wifi on board according to Gogo, nice.

 

[wonk]

I've always had both flights on a single booking and had no issues with the baggage tags. You will need to pick up your bags on arrival at LAX and clear customs before dropping them off for the next flight. Be prepared for a long wait at US customs and immigration - 1 hour+ is not uncommon.

One weird issue I have found is the QF advanced seat selection will allow you to choose exit row seats however AA will almost always clear the selection when check in opens. When this occurs you can usually, but not always get your exit row seat back by asking in the AA lounge in LAX T4. If you want to play it safe select non-exit row seats as these selections seem to stick better.

The Gogo internet works well on that route, when you have it. Availability is a bit hit and miss.

 

[dfcatch]

LAX-YYZ on AA in whY is not much fun.

The 737-800 is fine - nothing wrong with it - imagine a QF Economy flight with no meal service for 6 hours (just water/soft drink/juice).

I would take AC for the same price - absolutely - seatback IFE will make all the difference on a flight that long .


The connection is your only issue:

1/ AA

Even if on separate PNR you can get boarding passes for both flights in MEL, and get your bags tagged right through. As above - you need to clear immigration and customs, re-check your bags, change terminals, obtain reprint of BP from AA if desired (if u have status you will then get "Priority AAccess" printed on it).

There is only 1 flight per day direct LAX-YYZ on AA.


2/ AC

You need to make sure you book this as a single PNR (ie. through an agent) unless you like living dangerously with a wife and toddler in tow.

If on separate PNRs you will not be able to check bags right through and will have to re-check after landing in LAX. No big deal - but if you cut your connection fine and QF is late or immigration takes 2+ hours (not unusual) - then you may miss your connection and be up S#$T Creek.

Luckily AC has multiples to YYZ.



Conclusion - book AC on a single PNR via an agent - or follow OzBeachBabe's advice above.

 

[Katie]

Flying with a 2yo - have an iPad or DVD player. Even if you have in seat IFE, many children of that age may not be able to see the screen.

 

[doctork]

Many thanks to all for your answers/interest.
I'm not taking the family SYD-LAX-YYZ in a one shot. Mainly due to the Customs & Border Protection issue at LAX. We'll stop and visit friends in Pasadena for a couple of days.
Thanks to your collective advice, my wife has agreed to spend the money we'll save on baggage fees/business class fare on a new iPad to keep Little Miss entertained (yes, that is the only reason ).
Will probably try to save the AC baggage charge, use the iPad for the toddler and read a book to entertain myself. 40 more SCs to try to retain QF plat, too.
This really is a first world problem...
Cheers
'tork.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Many thanks to all for your answers/interest. I'm not taking the family SYD-LAX-YYZ in a one shot. Mainly due to the Customs & Border Protection issue at LAX. We'll stop and visit friends in Pasadena for a couple of days. Thanks to your collective advice, my wife has agreed to spend the money we'll save on baggage fees/business class fare on a new iPad to keep Little Miss entertained (yes, that is the only reason ).Will probably try to save the AC baggage charge, use the iPad for the toddler and read a book to entertain myself. 40 more SCs to try to retain QF plat, too.This really is a first world problem...Cheers'tork.

Before you make the AA booking, double check the booking class as the cheaper whY fare buckets do not earn QF ff points eg "O" & "Q" classes.American Airlines® (AA) GLMNSV Discount Economy 0.50 BHKY Economy 1 Refer to the airline earning table on the QF website:Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions