Qantas classic award booking on AA via QFF website

[bigjobs]

hi there,

booking some internal USA flights (ABQ - JFK & JFK - LAX). I want to use my points so searching on the QFF website under the classic award section. I am finding flights for these routes on the days I want, the only catch is they are all saying 'First Class' and/or 'Business Class' when it comes to choosing a flight.

so my question is, what is the difference between 'first class' and 'business class' on a trans continental flight with the USA on Amercian Airlines. Mrs BJ will not want to fly down the back of the bus, and I have points to burn (plus I want to pay on the small amount of tax you get charged). So the difference between those 2 selections?

Thanks in advance.

BJ.

 

[Danger]

The great majority of domestic AA flights operate with only two classes, Coach and First. As a general comparison First is similar to domestic QF Business, but not as good. On some routes you want even get a meal.

Services from JFK to LAX and SFO operate with a three class service. There are also a very small number of other domestic flights that operate with three classes. They are the true transcontinental services and there is a notable difference between Business and First on those routes. If you can, you definitely want to burn your points in First on JFK-LAX. ABQ-JFK is almost certainly operated by a two class aircraft. At a guess it's probably about a 4-4.5 hour flight in which case there should be a fairly decent meal service as well as complimentary beverages. That is to say it's no the worst use of points on a domestic North American F sector.

Because of the two class majority, you'll most often only see availability in Coach or First given Business doesn't exist. The downside is you're paying a premium for what is far from a premium experience. The upside only comes when you fly in that class on a paid fare and earn decent SCs. The other point to note is that if you do find Business availability on a domestic US-48 state itinerary, the chances are it will be a very good domestic product with, at the very least, 180 degrees of recline, although possibly only angle-flat rather than lie-flat. For the latter you want to be on either the three class A321s with 2-2 in Business or the three class 777s with 2-2-2 in Business.