Suggestions re RTW itinerary

[littl_flier]

I am considering a few flights leaving LAX in the morning to arrive ORD early afternoon, so no need for a sleeper. Therefore, would you suggest that we avoid AA88 so that we are booked in First and get get teh extra SC, or is the NGBC more spacious than a standard First seat?

AA88 seems to be operated as a two class flight between LAX-ORD with seats booking into First Class and Economy. The NGBC is like a Skybed though someone here might be able to provide a more accurate comparison between the MD80 First seat and the seat in question.

In March, AA88 leaves at 8:55am and arrives 2:55pm.

The IAD-LHR leg will be in early July (so we can be in the US to see the 4 July celebrations). I presume that the chances of getting a reconfigured 777 will still be low then?

Unfortunately yes, not impossible but still very low.

On the 6th July, there are four BA flights, two on 767's, 1 on a 777 and 1 on a 747. The 747 flight leaves at 6:55pm arriving at 7am and the 777 flight leaves 9:55pm arriving at 10:05am.

 

[Keith009]

The NGBC is like a Skybed though someone here might be able to provide a more accurate comparison between the MD80 First seat and the seat in question.

The MD80 "First" seat - think premium economy...:shock:

Here's a pic from a.net:
Photos: McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83) Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

 

[serfty]

The MD80 "First" seat - think premium economy...:shock: ...

Or 757 ...

Also a bit like Qantas Domestic J Millennium seats with Leather covering.

 

[JohnK]

The MD80 "First" seat - think premium economy...:shock:

But triple the SCs for the price of a standard economy seat....

 

[GCD123]

Phoenix is closer to the Grand Canyon than Las Vegas

Dave

From Phoenix, it is an easy 3 hour drive north through the desert to Sedona - well worth an overnight visit. Montezuma Castle Monument is on the way - spectacular indian caves. Then north again though picturesque forest country to Flagstaff - not worth any visit. Then up to Grand Canyon.

GCD123

 

[Dave Noble]

Flagstaff - not worth any visit. Then up to Grand Canyon.

GCD123

Yeah, gotta agree there; the only thing that makes flagstaff notable is that it is the area to turn off to get to the South Rim

Dave

 

[Ev1dent]

Thanks everyone for your help. I really appreciate it. I've got tentative reservations in place through an Australian agent willing to book an AA ticket for the lower fees and taxes (I couldn't get my phone to let me through to the AA RTW desk number listed elsewhere in these forums - not sure if was me or the phone).

AA88 seems to be operated as a two class flight between LAX-ORD with seats booking into First Class and Economy.
...
On the 6th July, there are four BA flights, two on 767's, 1 on a 777 and 1 on a 747. The 747 flight leaves at 6:55pm arriving at 7am and the 777 flight leaves 9:55pm arriving at 10:05am.

It sounds like AA88 is the way to go LAX-ORD since it has the best seats and First SC.

On IAD-LHR, I am looking at 5/7. According to the BA web site, BA216 and BA292 are on 747s and BA228 and BA264 are on 767s. I am attracted by the prospect of BA264 since it is later and we will spend less time waiting for our connection from LHR. What is the difference in seats between the 767 and 747?

Also, for LHR-MRU the BA web site is confusing. In one place it says this route doesn't have a 'sleeper service' which only goes to the US and mid-East, but then it talks elsewhere about the original club world offering flat beds.

From Phoenix, it is an easy 3 hour drive north through the desert to Sedona - well worth an overnight visit. Montezuma Castle Monument is on the way - spectacular indian caves. Then north again though picturesque forest country to Flagstaff - not worth any visit. Then up to Grand Canyon.

Thanks gcd123. Montezuma Castle sounds fascinating - the possibility of seeing it was part of the reason for choosing PHX over LAS. Is it the sort of drive that an Australian can make easily, especially getting out of PHX? I don't mind country driving around Oz, but I really hate the Sydney traffic and so am not sure how US cities compare (Melbourne's not so bad since I grew up there and know my way around).

 

[GCD123]

Thanks gcd123. Montezuma Castle sounds fascinating - the possibility of seeing it was part of the reason for choosing PHX over LAS. Is it the sort of drive that an Australian can make easily, especially getting out of PHX? I don't mind country driving around Oz, but I really hate the Sydney traffic and so am not sure how US cities compare (Melbourne's not so bad since I grew up there and know my way around).[/quote]

US roads are excellent.
Well signposted and the traffic seems to move a little more slowly than other places.
In Phoenix, just head north on the freeway; it will turn into a highway and you can make whatever pace that suits you.

GCD123

 

[Dave Noble]

What is the difference in seats between the 767 and 747?

if the 747 has the older club world, then no difference at all; the 747 may have the New New Club World which has the newer seating.

Also, for LHR-MRU the BA web site is confusing. In one place it says this route doesn't have a 'sleeper service' which only goes to the US and mid-East, but then it talks elsewhere about the original club world offering flat beds.

Sleeper service doesnt relate to the seating but to the service. On a sleeper service there is basically just a snack served whilst on a regular service a full meal service will be offered

Dave

 

[Febs]

The NGBC is like a Skybed though someone here might be able to provide a more accurate comparison between the MD80 First seat and the seat in question.

World of difference The MD80 F seat is, as mentioned, basically a basic basic domestic J seat. A bit bigger, a bit more leg room, able to recline a bit further.

The NGBC seat is like a poor-man's Skybed, but with much better padding. Reclines enough to allow a decent sleep (albeit with little room for your feet), has a power port, light, divider screen and electric operation. Was a nice surprise on a recent DFW-LAX flight. I also like that they call it a "business class" seat, but the cabin is F/A/P and posts to QF as such.

On the topic of AA business/first seats, I remember flying DFW-LAX (F) in April '07 in a larger, more comfortable seat than the MD80 F seat. I presume this was the old business class?

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[trooper]

Ditto the comment that PHX to the canyon is an easy drive.... just did it in October...

Take the 17 North... and you really can't go wrong.. although I found the signage at the freeway junction in Flagstaff a little confusing... but then as we were staying the night there I was trying to get off the damn thing!!:mrgreen:

Betcha heading West to the Canyon is easier!!

Only memorable thing about Flagstaff was the place we had breakfast... it was just a cafe.. with large scale model railway trains zooming around the "perimeter" just below roof level... and the food was Gooood..... YMMV!!

I'd recommend on the way to the park stopping at the IMAX film centre just short of the entrance... the film on offer there is a mix of "gee whiz" and basic historical info... Thouroughly enjoyed it..

 

[serfty]

... On the topic of AA business/first seats, I remember flying DFW-LAX (F) in April '07 in a larger, more comfortable seat than the MD80 F seat. I presume this was the old business class? ...

My guessing is that you were either in a 763 (yes- OBC) or a 757 - probably the former; those seats had more adjustments than those in the S80's/757's.

 

[NM]

How long do you plan to be in the Grand Canyon area? Perhaps use LAS one way and PHX the other way. The drive between LAS and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon takes you over the Hoover Dam which may be of interest. You also have the option to see more of the desert scenery if and sights if you go north east from LAS to Zion National Park and then south to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Its a comfortable full day's drive from Zion to the North Rim for lunch then down and over the Colerado River and up to the South Rim.

The North Rim is closed during winter. Its at around 9000 feet and gets more snow than the south rim at around 8000 feet. Most of the accommodation and tourist things are at the South Rim.

 

[Ev1dent]

For the IAD-LHR sector, try and pick up BA216 which is scheduled on a 744. BA are also reconfiguring their aircraft with NGBC but at this stage (and by the time you travel) the 777's haven't been started on. Of course, there's no guarantee that it will be NGBC but it might be worth a try.

I am re-examining my itinerary, to give me an extra return flight to/from ORD to spend a weekend in say SFO while I am based in Chicago. Therefore, I'm considering alternative transport from NY to BOS, so that the flight segments in North America will be:

LAX-ORD; ORD-SFO; SFO-ORD; ORD-PHX; PHX-DFW-NYC; and NYC-LHR-CPT-JNB (no longer MRU).

To stay within my 6 North America segment allowance, I need the two NYC airpotrts to be the same. EWR appears to be an option on a BA 777. What are the D class seats like on the BA 777s? (Otherwise, how much does it cost to buy an extra leg on a DONE4?)

Alternatively, is there some other routing via Europe with a connection to LHR to comfortably meet AA6501/BA0059 that I should perhaps be considering if comfort and arriving reasonably well rested is important to my wife and I? We will be leaving NYC on 6 July, with LHR-CPT on 7/7.