Lay Flat Beds on US airlines within the US & Canada

[bertair]

I am going to the US shortly and due to a back complaint, I require to lie down on flights over an hour long. My trips would be from Los Angeles to New York and New York to Denver, Dallas and Las Vegas.
Reading reviews it seems that some airlines (Delta & American) sell the seats as First Class while some others eg. Virgin call their seats first class, but are not lay flat beds.

Have members found Delta and American First Class truely a "First Class" experience ?
I have also heard that Jet Blue offer Lay Flay Beds, classed as "Mint Class" but do not offer lounge access.

What is the situation with Lounge access for First Class Pax ?
While I understand that Qantas in Australia have a hard rule of access only for departing or transit passengers who qualify; whereas in the US, for most airlines, qualifying passengers, and I assume this includes First Class, have access on departure, transit and arrival.
Is this the case ?

 

[TomVexille]

LAX-NYC is likely your only sector where you can definitely get a lie flat. Lounge access is available for F pax on transcon services, but is not a benefit of domestic F flights otherwise.

 

[Cynicor]

First is a joke on US carriers, mostly not as good as our business, but cheaper at least.
Lounge access is almost a guaranteed No without status.

 

[clazman]

First is a joke on US carriers, mostly not as good as our business, but cheaper at least.
Lounge access is almost a guaranteed No without status.

Sure agree, did my first F on a US carrier and it was poor.....

 

[Denali]

Theres no guarantee and even then they can change the plane configuration on you at any time.

I had a flat bed on a LAX>ATL flight (after a plane change) but then it was the very old bucket seats ATL>LAX.

 

[Daver6]

I believe AA on their transcontinental service have flat beds in both F and J. See https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/American_Airlines/American_Airlines_Airbus_A321_new.php

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am going to the US shortly and due to a back complaint, I require to lie down on flights over an hour long. My trips would be from Los Angeles to New York and New York to Denver, Dallas and Las Vegas.
Reading reviews it seems that some airlines (Delta & American) sell the seats as First Class while some others eg. Virgin call their seats first class, but are not lay flat beds.

Have members found Delta and American First Class truely a "First Class" experience ?
I have also heard that Jet Blue offer Lay Flay Beds, classed as "Mint Class" but do not offer lounge access.

What is the situation with Lounge access for First Class Pax ?
While I understand that Qantas in Australia have a hard rule of access only for departing or transit passengers who qualify; whereas in the US, for most airlines, qualifying passengers, and I assume this includes First Class, have access on departure, transit and arrival.
Is this the case ?

best value is probably Mint (as low as $599 one way transcon). For the regular carriers the cost of the fare may be substantially higher as to not warrant the only additional perk of lounge access. United also offers flat beds on their transcons.

As others have said, lounge access is not a feature of 99.99% of domestic first class tickets... only select transcons will get you lounge access. But you can buy day passes for about USD50, or, if you have appropriate status with any of the alliances - skyteam, oneworld or star, you will get access before flights.

I know many people bag US domestic first class... but I actually prefer it to Aussie offerings. They may not serve meals on all sectors, but at least they don't try and pass off a $2.50 meal when you're paying $2000 for a one way. US airlines are generous with the booze, and service is usually very friendly.

 

[JaneFlyer]

I also require lie-flat beds on flights and travelling within the US can be tricky as a result. AA use their 787 from ORD to DFW and LAX, United use their 787 between Denver and SFO, IAD and IAH. These J products are proper lie flat services. Variations among other products is vaaaast. The other solid option is the QF 747 between LAX and JFK.

 

[TomVexille]

I also require lie-flat beds on flights and travelling within the US can be tricky as a result. AA use their 787 from ORD to DFW and LAX, United use their 787 between Denver and SFO, IAD and IAH. These J products are proper lie flat services. Variations among other products is vaaaast. The other solid option is the QF 747 between LAX and JFK.

The issue with selecting widebodies on non-transcon routes is that the equipment can be swapped out at any time so there's no promises.

 

[Himeno]

Very few US domestic flights have lay flat seats. Most such flights are New York to SFO/LAX. You might find some others, but they would all be transcon between major cities (such as BOS-LAX). For AA, all JFK-LAX and SFO flights use an A321 with a 3 cabin config. The F cabin uses their international J seats. They also have selected MIA-LAX flights using a 777 which is sold as 3 class. The premium cabins would be lay flat.

The US carriers often sell domestic sectors when positioning their international widebodies between hubs, but there is no guarantee that they won't be changed at the last minute.

 

[dajop]

For LAS, JetBlue will be starting Mint on JFK-LAS, but not sure when.

 

[bsb]

I believe AA on their transcontinental service have flat beds in both F and J. See https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/American_Airlines/American_Airlines_Airbus_A321_new.php

AA transcon A321 J is lie flat and comfortable. F looked even better.

 

[Gold Member]

5th freedom flights work well. A good example with full three class Int'l config is CX YVR-JFK-YVR.

 

[aggie57]

I know many people bag US domestic first class... but I actually prefer it to Aussie offerings. They may not serve meals on all sectors, but at least they don't try and pass off a $2.50 meal when you're paying $2000 for a one way. US airlines are generous with the booze, and service is usually very friendly.

100%. Most times lounges in the US aren't worth worrying about, plus connections can be tight so you don't have time anyway. On board the flight attendants are generally cheerful and will look after you if you smile and be happy. But complain and be prepared for getting back as good as you give. Lay flat beds? Only transcon on selected routes and definitely not into places like Denver.

Also remember that most flights within the US are operated by 737/A321/A320 or smaller aircraft. You may not even have 1st class. It could be all coach.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have flat been on AA B763 a/c with flat beds LAX/DFW and DFW/MIA plus on the B788 ORD/LAX.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have flat been on AA B763 a/c with flat beds LAX/DFW and DFW/MIA plus on the B788 ORD/LAX.

There's even a three class A321 JFK-DCA!

 

[TomVexille]

I have flat been on AA B763 a/c with flat beds LAX/DFW and DFW/MIA plus on the B788 ORD/LAX.

My last trip over I was booked on 788s LAX-ORD-LAX and both were subbed to 321s about 2 months out

There's even a three class A321 JFK-DCA!

And JFK-BOS

 

[Himeno]

There's even a three class A321 JFK-DCA!

They put the A321Ts on JFK-DCA and JFK-BOS between transcon flights. I don't think they sell them as 3 class flights for those short sectors.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They put the A321Ts on JFK-DCA and JFK-BOS between transcon flights. I don't think they sell them as 3 class flights for those short sectors.

Correct - two class. Elites get to sit in business cabin.

 

[jenib]

I also require lie-flat beds on flights and travelling within the US can be tricky as a result. AA use their 787 from ORD to DFW and LAX, United use their 787 between Denver and SFO, IAD and IAH. These J products are proper lie flat services. Variations among other products is vaaaast. The other solid option is the QF 747 between LAX and JFK.

This is known as the secret flight. Is This The Most Luxurious Domestic US Flight? - One Mile at a Time We've done it four times (twice return). You can break your journey in LA. Doing it again in a few months. It only cost $500 extra over J SYD-LAX (return).