For the last segment of my quick trip to Paris and Cairo, I flew American Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER first class on the nine hour flight from London (LHR) to Miami (MIA). We know that American’s international first class is on the way out, as the airline will soon reconfigure its 777-300ERs, introducing a new business…
Continue reading: Review: American Airlines First Class Boeing 777 (LHR-MIA)
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Despite they did somehow improve dining a bit, I still don't get why they can't offer WiFi for free. Cheap
I've seen you write a few times, for US airlines, the FA's gave good service despite the limited things that they have to work with. What do you mean by that?
I think the top 3 things a passenger in biz or first is concerned with is bed/sleep quality, flight punctuality and service. AA provides some of the best bedding. And service quality is fully within an FA'S control outside of having a frother or proper stemware. But most passengers in biz or first are power drinkers imo and just want to slam drinks lmao.
It was soon after lockdown when we last tried AA in F, on this same route. Not being a fan of the 777, the seat, food and beverage, or, the FA’s on our flight, it was interesting to read Ben’s critique.
She who must always be obeyed, was not a happy little bunny after the experience. The BA return flight knocked the socks off the outgoing AA flight experience.
Sorry AA fans but we fave no plans to try out this product at anytime in the future …. the devil we know!
My wife and I (multi-year CK) had flown AA long-haul first class many times but no longer. The problem with it is AA management. Since the merger, they've intended to eliminate it. So, there is no intention of "investing" in it. Post-COVID, they didn't restore cabin staffing and service suffered. What AA management has done to long-haul F is one of a few reasons our business moved away from AA. Return to quality? I don't believe it.
I’ve been flying AA long haul F for quite some time, and the feeling I’ve always had is like when you’re playing a match and you know that even if you win, you won’t advance to the finals. So you just play and do the bare minimum not to embarrass yourself. Ever since the merger the FA’s know that F has nowhere to go but out. With some exceptions, they don’t have any reason to even try.
How would you compare this to your recent flight on KAL first class? Seems quite comparable (which is sad).
I just do not get it.
This whole experience could be elevated without costing one cent more by just making a couple changes.
First - get rid of all the stuff piled high on the seat when boarding. Why does the mattress and bedding all have to be there if the crew offer a turndown service? It looks cluttered and would be far nicer with just a day pillow and blanket on the seat and then when you are ready to sleep, the bedding retrieved by the crew.
Second - the tray. WHY??!! If there is one way to majorly cheapen a premium product it is serving it on a tray. With so few seats it would be so easy for the FA's to use the same stuff to lay the table.
Why so personal?
This is a review of an international 'Flagship First' product on a long haul route, not a debate about what is and is not a first world problem.
Of course comparisons will be made. Find another airline that offers a western style meal on a tray in a long haul first class cabin.
Why even put bok choy in the dish if it's only going to be 2 maybe 3 scraggly pieces.
An absolutely embarrassing product from AA, but glad the London Mafia was great as usual. Easily some of my favorite FA's in the company.
The ground experience in Frankfurt? The well polished flight attendants? I still wear Lufthansa First pajamas from 3 years ago.
You can buy a milk frother for $10 on Amazon. How could they not just have one in the galley? Maybe you could bring your own frother and ask for a small cup of milk with your coffee.
I think you might be confusing two different things: expectations and values. I expect that the flight is on time, just like I expect that they have food and the bathrooms work. I value having a comfortable bed, great and/or efficient service, and exciting F&B options.
As for things that FA's can work with to make a flight amazing: it's easier to provide good service if you have incredible things the airline provides like champagne/wine tastings, restaurant quality plating (no one-tray setups), the tools/training to provide excellent service. AA does not have a lot of those things, so the FAs have to make do on their own and really shine through on customer service or ingenuity in soft product presentation. Emirates does have all these things, so it's a lot easier for an FA to be perceived as having provided good service.
if "most passengers in biz or first are power drinkers" (by whatever standard is intended here), wouldn't that suggest that a commensurate level of service is the ordinary, anticipated service standard for the product, rather than something unreasonable or excessive?
The tray for the first (main) meal was a COVID change that never went away. I just take the plates off the tray and hand it back to the FA. No more tray. It has always been a thing for the second meal service.
I think LH's First Class may not be an impressive product (still beats BA), but I consider it a First Class.
AA's FC is simply not a First Class, not even a bad one. It is a Business class with an odd seat the swivels (for whatever reason).
Did you ever consider that the Airline does not plan on continuing to offer espresso/cappacino? Why would they invest in any of the components if the product is on the way Out? So many critics with some many answers yet None of You clowns run an Airline. FLY Private if you want/expect an espresso. Tired of the 24/7 complaining.
What ghastly wines for business class let alone first class. Just unacceptable plonk.
By chance I ended up doing this flight twice in the last two weeks, one round trip in business the other in first. Probably same plane, given it goes forth and back all the time. I think the entertainment system definitely shows its age, it’s not very responsive. The amenities kits… odd, my business class kit had no socks, and the FA told me there’s only slippers going forward . Unlike yours my first class kit had eye shades, but they are so terrible I always use the lovely white company kit from BA that I carry with me on all longer flights these days. Food basic but eadible, FAs were fab. I absolutely loved the first class restaurant service in the MIA flagship lounge. Beats the Concorde Room at the service and food quality level hands down. Bit small, but the first footprint is tiny and soon gone obviously.
First Class where you have to choose between appetizers? Where you have to choose between dessert options? Yikes. Hardly First Class at all.
You didn’t mention that the fancy headphones are collected 30-45 minutes before landing. You may, or may not, be offered ear plugs to finish watching and listening to a movie. I don’t know of other airlines that has this annoying practice.
Seriously, first class meals served on trays. What a disgrace! Why are you not criticising that in a big way and don't make excuses like first is being phased out? Impossible to have an "emotional connection" to US carriers especially American.
I also have noticed the American front cabin meals have gotten "good" (plating and taste), like your salmon, for a US airline anyway.
That swiveling seat is a nice touch! Especially being able to face the window. Don't think I've ever seen that before.
To say I am dreading my business class flight is an understatement this coming Monday to Auckland from DFW. To go on a flight and already anticipating it will be really bad is all American Airlines doing. I wish I could have taken Qantas, but due to my cruise starting in AKL, it was the only choice. I will look forward to taking Qantas back to DFW and can only hope it’s a better experience. I purposely booked/paid for this business class flight with Qantas to avoid AA getting most of the revenue over the water.
I concur. Lucky is a really kind and respectful guy, but this is a head-scratcher for me. There is already tablecloth on the table, why not serve the meal on it? It's like "we could make the experience better at zero or extremely low incremental cost or effort, but we are not going to". What is more disgraceful than serving the meal on a tray is AA's attitude.
Exactly. There is the major leagues - SQ,EK,EY,JL,NH, etc
Then there is mediocre like LH, QF, QR, BA etc first classes
Then there is just sadness like AA or AI.
On a recent trip, on AA, I got to speak with the flightcrew prior to departure. Turned out the captain graduated from the Air Force Academy and the F/O went to Annapolis. Impressive, but not nearly as important as having rose scented, 2 ply toilet paper in the business class lavs.
Running a first class cabin is an airline's opportunity to showcase the very best customer service they have to offer. Frankly I'm not surprised they've decided to decommission it.
I have to laugh at the first class snobbery here. Thes comments complaining about the first class service are probably coming from the passengers who dress like absolute slobs on the plane and are the same ones who make the lavatories a disgusting mess. These are the low class passengers flying first class.
Beets and goat's cheese as an appetizer and another iteration of the above as a main course? Lack of culinary creativity is simply unforgivable in FC, even if onboard of AA..
I'm sure you'll be just fine on AA. Really! QF is usually an option on QF8 to SYD and connecting to AKL, but non-stop has its advantages. I flew QF in J to LA and back from SYD last year, and will be doing the trip on AA in a month or so. My decision to do that was fare-driven, but still, I'm looking forward to making the comparison.
Fish again… Almost every trip you review you just eat the fish… You don’t really do good reviews in the meal service as you only indulge in like three things on every single flight you take
I used to fly business and first class airlines alot. At first it was something nice and special. But over time my experiences just sunk.
Some of the best were Cathay Pacific HK to NY, and Lufthansa HK to Milan. Before that it was United over Alaska.
I began switching cabins and found it was quite suitable to sit anywhere on the plane, service could be nice in any cabin. No one flies to get that food regardless of class. And not drinking alcohol helped ease my jet lag.
The airlines became boring and stale. One day some new entrepreneur will come with an entirely new idea of flying and make it nice, comfortable and enjoyable, and all these airlines will go out of business.
Would that be Musk, or a Musk type individual? Lets see.
What an appalling low end wine selection, excepting the champagne. Compared to AA, United’s Trans-Atlantic Business Class wine list looks like you could almost be flying Emirates Business Class.
And the sundae for dessert. As someone who is not a fan of sundae and would never order it, I would like to see what other desserts are offered. A cookie cannot be considered a dessert in my book.
Your comment is even more boring than fish.
You have many review sites you can read - so read them.
Most frequent readers of this site already fly enough to know the food in J and F...
It'd be interesting to hear your thoughts about the two flights upon your return.
I fully agree. The vast number of passengers in the upfront cabin use points or some upgrade instrument. They seem to think they own the aircraft they are flying on. Very sad...
Not only is AA's First pretty close to Business, but it's not far away from Premium Econ. I just flew BCN-PHL in the latter and had the same Mediterranean orzo salad as a pre-arrival snack. Looks identical except for presentation (red pepper sauce was poured over rather than plated separately).
One can take an individual out of the council estate/trailer park and give them a seat in F, however, it is much harder to take the council estate/trailer park mentality out of some individuals who travel in F.
Manners maketh man, no amount of money will endow some people with manners.
I understand the term “business class plus” but strongly prefer the American First class to business class for several reasons:
1) Despite the “lack of privacy” the hard product is the absolute best US carrier product with the most personal space and most comfortable seat. In particular, given my 6 ft height and size 13’s I am never comfortable in the tiny reverse herringbone seats in business with those itty bitty (for me) foot cubbies. Plus I am a stomach/side sleeper so the wider seat and open topped foot area is really appreciated. I would trade that door for those comfortable seats and space each and every time.
2) I love the mattress pad and PJs that are not available in business class. The American first mattress pad is top notch and is better than even Qatar’s mattress pad and definitely better than the sorry excuse for a mattress pad BA offers in their business class “suites” They also give you 2 pillows, which I appreciate.
3) The service is the best that American offers with 1.5 flight attendants for 8 people. You just don’t get that level of attention in business class. (Used to be 2 but now the purser supports the business class meal service). I would say it borders on the Qatar business class service level of attention. Now, admittedly it is more hit and miss with Flight Attendants on American, but I’ve flown AA First at least 5 times this past year and always had great staff (Thanks Amy and Tim for your excellent service earlier this week from LHR to DFW!).
4) The food is admittedly similar to business class, but the plating and presentation is much better and I actually appreciate the first only soup course and olives with the nuts. But the absolute BEST thing about the food service is that I can dine whenever I want. One of my jet lag management approaches is to start eating and sleeping on my destination’s time as soon as I can. The dine whenever allows me to go to sleep for 4 hours right away when I board my flight in LHR and then eat “breakfast (which is the lunch service)” at the right time. You do not get that option in business on American.
I understand the soft product experience is important for aspirational redemptions, but for the road warriors like me, the hard product RULES and there is absolutely no better one on a domestic airline than American Flagship First. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to see it go away.
I am currently pricing a transpacific flight on AA.
$32k for first class
$6500 for business
Anybody who buys either is a complete insecure fool who deserves to be separated from his money. Can you imagine paying $32k to get essentially the same thing as the guy a few feet back paid $6500 for meanwhile your FC neighbor is some geeky online influencer who paid 115k miles and is taking photos of the olives and the toilet the whole time and expensing everything else on the trip for his “business?”
This status bullshit really needs to end. Why can’t airlines just make an entire plane only with the same full sized seats like you see in premium economy, sell them all for the same price, and provide excellent service to everyone? And instead of the gotta-get-my-day-old-sushi-and-drunk-as-possible-on-bottom-shelf-booze lounge free for all treat everyone in the departure gate confirmed on the flight? I would pay for this.