Traveling - AVOID American Airlines - especially for International travel
Jan 22nd, 2008, 09:43 AM
#21
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<b>American Airlines Named Best International Airline by Travel Weekly Readers</b>
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080110/lath042.html?.v=101
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080110/lath042.html?.v=101
Jan 22nd, 2008, 10:56 AM
#22
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Well, hmmmm.... I don't have anything against AA, no problem with them, really, but this sound WEIRD.... Comparing AA to British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.... Wait, to <b>Singapore Airlines???</b> the one airline known to be DA BEST IN THE INDUSTRY???? -- give me a break...
If you conduct a pole here on this very board, I'm SURE you will get different results......
If you conduct a pole here on this very board, I'm SURE you will get different results......
Jan 22nd, 2008, 11:36 AM
#23
And even different results with a poll. 
Generalizing, praising, slamming, dissing etc. "favorite" airlines is a great pastime but one needs to let balance and perspective creep into one's thinking.
<i>So, unless you want miles, are using miles, or got a really good price on a ticket...</i>
Well, one or more of those things are indeed quite important to many members of the flying public, especially the last one.
It's not always a case of just the on-board experience, either. BA gives you free drinks in longhaul economy, but you pay the price with Heathrow's chaos, lost bags, cramped knee space, refusal to through-check bags on other carriers, and - if you're really lucky - a cross-London shuffle from one decrepit airport to another.
Virgin will also get you to LHR or LGW, but if you're going further, sorry mate.
Air France will ignore you with all the experience that comes from being French, and then will reward you with CDG - designed for the victims by the insane.
My wife took Malaysian Airlines in coach last summer between Newark and Stockholm, thinking its 5-star rating on Skytrax (the top rank, along with Singapore and Cathay Pacific) would mean a quality ride in coach. Hoo boy, demand a recount. Inedible food, broken IFE, scrunch coach... AA's coach product is miles ahead.
It comes down to what's important to you, and whether 6 or 8 hours in a cramped airplane, eating airplane food and drinking ("free" or bought) airline hooch, is something to be endured or enjoyed. In coach I think it's like the old line about hanging or drowning. Getting over it is most people's aim.
So in that case, things like cheap price, top mileage program, US-based call centers... well, enough people put up with AA's shortcomings to make it the biggest airline in the world, year after year. Of course YMMV.
Generalizing, praising, slamming, dissing etc. "favorite" airlines is a great pastime but one needs to let balance and perspective creep into one's thinking.
<i>So, unless you want miles, are using miles, or got a really good price on a ticket...</i>
Well, one or more of those things are indeed quite important to many members of the flying public, especially the last one.
It's not always a case of just the on-board experience, either. BA gives you free drinks in longhaul economy, but you pay the price with Heathrow's chaos, lost bags, cramped knee space, refusal to through-check bags on other carriers, and - if you're really lucky - a cross-London shuffle from one decrepit airport to another.
Virgin will also get you to LHR or LGW, but if you're going further, sorry mate.
Air France will ignore you with all the experience that comes from being French, and then will reward you with CDG - designed for the victims by the insane.
My wife took Malaysian Airlines in coach last summer between Newark and Stockholm, thinking its 5-star rating on Skytrax (the top rank, along with Singapore and Cathay Pacific) would mean a quality ride in coach. Hoo boy, demand a recount. Inedible food, broken IFE, scrunch coach... AA's coach product is miles ahead.
It comes down to what's important to you, and whether 6 or 8 hours in a cramped airplane, eating airplane food and drinking ("free" or bought) airline hooch, is something to be endured or enjoyed. In coach I think it's like the old line about hanging or drowning. Getting over it is most people's aim.
So in that case, things like cheap price, top mileage program, US-based call centers... well, enough people put up with AA's shortcomings to make it the biggest airline in the world, year after year. Of course YMMV.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 12:04 PM
#24
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give me a break...
<i><b>About 5,000 Travel Weekly readers, which include travel agents and marketing executives</b>, voted to select the finalists in this year's polling and <b>those readers were then asked to vote for the nominees in 51 categories.</b></i>
<i><b>About 5,000 Travel Weekly readers, which include travel agents and marketing executives</b>, voted to select the finalists in this year's polling and <b>those readers were then asked to vote for the nominees in 51 categories.</b></i>
Jan 22nd, 2008, 12:27 PM
#25
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To many, seat and food service is not the total package.
To many who fly a great deal, pre, during, after service is just as important.
I'm lucky enough to fly in J or F when I do fly and I do think AA is <b>one of the better airlines in the business in those 2 classes (but not necessarily the best)</b>, but even in Y, I really believe they outclass the others with ground services, luggage handling, US based call centers, ff plan and they do that with competative pricing. YMMV
To many who fly a great deal, pre, during, after service is just as important.
I'm lucky enough to fly in J or F when I do fly and I do think AA is <b>one of the better airlines in the business in those 2 classes (but not necessarily the best)</b>, but even in Y, I really believe they outclass the others with ground services, luggage handling, US based call centers, ff plan and they do that with competative pricing. YMMV
Jan 22nd, 2008, 03:42 PM
#26
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I used to fly AA a lot (almost always in F or J), but not since summer 2006. Maybe things have changed.
I found their int'l premium product to be miles ahead of United's (the only other US carrier I've flown frequently in the front) in every respect: reservations, ground facilities, in-flight service, food and beverage, and baggage handling.
But in my experience, AA lags *way* behind most of the non-US carrier I've flown (BA, LH, LX, CX, NH, JL, SQ) in the premium classes, in all of those categories, as well as seat comfort. Only exception is the business class seating on LX's 330's, which are every bit as uncomfortable as the old business seats on AA. Only non-US carrier I can recall flying on long-haul that was about equal to AA was Iberia.
When someone tells me that AA's BC service is 'superb' or above-average, I figure either that their experiences have been a whole lot different than mine, or that they haven't spent a lot of time in the front end of that many carriers.
I found their int'l premium product to be miles ahead of United's (the only other US carrier I've flown frequently in the front) in every respect: reservations, ground facilities, in-flight service, food and beverage, and baggage handling.
But in my experience, AA lags *way* behind most of the non-US carrier I've flown (BA, LH, LX, CX, NH, JL, SQ) in the premium classes, in all of those categories, as well as seat comfort. Only exception is the business class seating on LX's 330's, which are every bit as uncomfortable as the old business seats on AA. Only non-US carrier I can recall flying on long-haul that was about equal to AA was Iberia.
When someone tells me that AA's BC service is 'superb' or above-average, I figure either that their experiences have been a whole lot different than mine, or that they haven't spent a lot of time in the front end of that many carriers.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 04:03 PM
#27
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<i>When someone tells me that AA's BC service is 'superb' or above-average, I figure either that their experiences have been a whole lot different than mine, or that they haven't spent a lot of time in the front end of that many carriers.</i>
I called it superb, because I was happy with their BC, as far as service, food, amenities and comfort. I think mentioned elsewhere that BA's BC was better, but alas, that's all my experience flying BC, unfortunately.... So, no I'm not at all the expert to rank AA's BC as the best in the industry. just my personal impression.
I called it superb, because I was happy with their BC, as far as service, food, amenities and comfort. I think mentioned elsewhere that BA's BC was better, but alas, that's all my experience flying BC, unfortunately.... So, no I'm not at all the expert to rank AA's BC as the best in the industry. just my personal impression.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 04:31 PM
#28
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I have flown all 5 airlines at least 10 times and I've posted this before but here we go again:
First class:
1. Qantas - nothing close
2. Cathay Pacific - very nice
3. American Airlines - just a notch below with best suites
4. British Airways - ok
5. LAN Chile - nice seats
Business class:
1. British Airways - probably the best
2. Qantas and AA(new seats) - very nice
3. Cathay Pacific - just ok ( I have not flown J in couple of years)
4. LAN Chile - not that special, but again, I have not flown in couple of years and I've heard reports that it did improve.
Economy class:
1. American Airlines - because of all the other factors (as mentioned earlier)
2. Qantas - good
3. British Airways - ok
4. Cathay Pacific and LAN - survivable
First class:
1. Qantas - nothing close
2. Cathay Pacific - very nice
3. American Airlines - just a notch below with best suites
4. British Airways - ok
5. LAN Chile - nice seats
Business class:
1. British Airways - probably the best
2. Qantas and AA(new seats) - very nice
3. Cathay Pacific - just ok ( I have not flown J in couple of years)
4. LAN Chile - not that special, but again, I have not flown in couple of years and I've heard reports that it did improve.
Economy class:
1. American Airlines - because of all the other factors (as mentioned earlier)
2. Qantas - good
3. British Airways - ok
4. Cathay Pacific and LAN - survivable
Jan 23rd, 2008, 02:11 AM
#30
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I usually get at least 2, Wally but I don't drink so don't rate airlines based oh what rotgut they give away. Just think, all those biz class flights & not one single drink consumed in 34 years.
Jan 23rd, 2008, 02:41 AM
#32
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American Airline Lounges for the unititiated:
Flagship Lounges - first class passengers and One World Emerald status traveling internationaly - Locations: JFK, ORD, LAX and LHR* - open bar with a wonderful, top of the line liquor selection. Different foods , buffet style throughout the day. ORD, LAX are my favorite FL lounges, have no been to JFK yet. LHR* needs refurbishment.
Admirals Clubs - international locations - open bar, just like FLs.
Domestic locations - the ONLY passengers that have to pay for drinks are AC members. Anybody traveling on an international F/J ticket and anyone holding OneWorld Sapphire/Emerald status regardless of the class of service get drink coupons (as many as they need/want). Admittedly some lounge dragons will try to get away with just giving one per person at first, but it never stopped me or anybody flying with me from getting more if needed.
Flagship Lounges - first class passengers and One World Emerald status traveling internationaly - Locations: JFK, ORD, LAX and LHR* - open bar with a wonderful, top of the line liquor selection. Different foods , buffet style throughout the day. ORD, LAX are my favorite FL lounges, have no been to JFK yet. LHR* needs refurbishment.
Admirals Clubs - international locations - open bar, just like FLs.
Domestic locations - the ONLY passengers that have to pay for drinks are AC members. Anybody traveling on an international F/J ticket and anyone holding OneWorld Sapphire/Emerald status regardless of the class of service get drink coupons (as many as they need/want). Admittedly some lounge dragons will try to get away with just giving one per person at first, but it never stopped me or anybody flying with me from getting more if needed.
Jan 23rd, 2008, 02:53 AM
#33
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So where do I get these drink coupons? I'm flying from Orlando to JFK in First and then on to Barcelona in Business in June. Is there any lounge in Orlando I can use? I heard BA uses the Delta lounge.
Do I get the drink coupon in Orlando or at JFK? Don't want to miss it.
Carrybean, the airlines must love you.
Do I get the drink coupon in Orlando or at JFK? Don't want to miss it.
Carrybean, the airlines must love you.
Jan 23rd, 2008, 02:59 AM
#34
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No lounge in MCO
You will have access to JFK AC Lounge, not the FL with the open bar. As you "check in" with your BP, the lounge dragon "should" give you 2 coupons but if s/he does not, just ask. You can also go back to the front desk and ask for more if needed.
You will have access to JFK AC Lounge, not the FL with the open bar. As you "check in" with your BP, the lounge dragon "should" give you 2 coupons but if s/he does not, just ask. You can also go back to the front desk and ask for more if needed.
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retiredinflorida
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Aug 26th, 2004 05:37 AM
