American Airlines any good for long haul?

[bearman68]

Hi. Mrs has loads of time off and wants to go sea kayaking in New Zealand. I mean, who am I to tell her No?, especially as she wants me to go too.
Emirates return flights are £2200, but American Airlines are offering a return for £1300. That looks like a bargain.

Is it because American are flying you in even more cattle class than normal? Or is it because they can't be bothered to put oil in the engines or something equally as horrific, or are they just trying to drum up business, and the flights are just crazy good value?

Someone on here must have experience of AA.

All thoughts welcome, especially if you have recommendations for some full on sea kayaking in NZ

[119]

What has this got to do with the car forums?

[tinyboytim]

bearman68 said:

Hi Bearman - I flew with United to Brisbane this past year in economy on a 787 Dreamliner - it was okay. I guess all the American carriers maybe similar with their offerings. I went via San Francisco and then across the pacific. The last leg is a bit painful in duration but the flight was as good as to be expected. I am guessing New Zealand will be slightly quicker using that route. I would say the savings would be worth risking AA.
I appreciate your contributions to the forum btw!

[richhead]

flown aa a few time, albe it a few years ago, they were no worse or better than most tbh, at the end of the day a plane is just a tool to get you there.

[djc206]

Probably needs moving to holidays and travel.

AA legroom is not as good as Emirates. Connecting through the US you’ll need to clear customs and then go back through, that can vary from quick and painless to a right royal pain in the arse.

[Petrus1983]

I've got extensive experience of AA - I like them. I find the flight crew on long haul more attentive than BA/Virgin. The fleet is usually newer than other airlines. Take a look and see if premium economy is available - sometimes it isn't too much extra but IMO worth it. Where ever you are don't be concerned with walking to the back of the plane, raiding the tuck shop and asking for another drink.

[toohuge]

My experience of AA is opposite to the post above. I've found AA's economy product to be the most basic, especially if you're assigned a seat that's off centre close to the back of the plane. The food is more basic etc etc. On long haul there will be entertainment, on domestic no screens etc.

However, they'll get you there for the lowest price and codeshare with one world so plenty of options if you miss a flight etc.

[mudnomad]

FWIW I just came back from New Zealand paying £577 for LHR-AUC return with China Southern, 2x23kg luggage included. Can't really complain, decent food, decent entertainment, 6h stop over in Guangzhou with free 24h visa so went to the city to stretch legs and for some dim sum.
I believe there's still black Friday sales on with similar prices.

[tim0409]

Petrus1983 said:

I've got extensive experience of AA - I like them. I find the flight crew on long haul more attentive than BA/Virgin. The fleet is usually newer than other airlines. Take a look and see if premium economy is available - sometimes it isn't too much extra but IMO worth it. Where ever you are don't be concerned with walking to the back of the plane, raiding the tuck shop and asking for another drink.

My recent experience of BA and AA back to back to the USA was the polar opposite. I was in BA premium economy on the way out and it was really civilised with great service, decent food, a comfortable seat with plenty of recline. On the way back (AA) it was dreadful. The seat was poor with limited recline and both my wife and I had faulty foot rests (I suspect this may have been a 777 that was still to be refurbished). The staff were pretty blunt, and the food was really poor apart from the breakfast. Boarding with AA was a complete shambles, and the size and number of carry on luggage people had was ridiculous. Half way through boarding the economy overhead section was full so they asked everyone still boarding to move forward and use the business/premium section, which was chaotic. I would actively go out my way to avoid AA in the future.

[havoc]

Not flown with AA, but have heard lots of stories about all the US carriers and their ability to rival BA for utter mediocrity.

I have flown to NZ though, and for that journey, I'd want to be as comfortable as possible with as reliable/reputable an airline as possible, so, in order of availability/affordability:-
- Business Class with nearly anyone, as long as they're timely and my bag's not going to end up in Vladivostok
- Premium Economy/similar with a good airline
- Premium Economy with someone like BA/AA
- Economy with someone good like Emirates/Qatar/Singapore/etc - 34" seat pitch is a must
- ...and only then would I go for ordinary economy with the likes of AA/BA

I do appreciate though that everyone has a budget, and if one line costs more than another that there's a trade-off...

[djc206]

Sadly Oz and NZ flights are bonkers expensive at present so premium economy now costs what business did a couple of years back.

[gamefreaks]

£1300 is a fairly 'normal' price for this flight. The carriers that go East are expensive at the min as they take a massive detour to avoid Russian airspace.

AA go the other way so don't have this problem.

[djc206]

gamefreaks said:

£1300 is a fairly 'normal' price for this flight. The carriers that go East are expensive at the min as they take a massive detour to avoid Russian airspace.

AA go the other way so don't have this problem.

There’s no detour for any of the Middle Eastern carriers or Singapore/Malaysia flights.

[gamefreaks]

djc206 said:

There’s no detour for any of the Middle Eastern carriers or Singapore/Malaysia flights.

MH3 (LHR-KUL) looks like it takes a detour to avoid Ukraine and the southern bit of Russia down to Georgia. Same route for SG317.

Emirates doesn't need to detour but that second Dubai to Auckland leg is a brutal 17hr flight.

You can see the 'ideal' route vs the actual route here

https://www.greatcirclemap.com/roadmap?routes=LHR-...

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/sq317#3...

[captain_cynic]

Personally if going to AU/NZ I'd prefer Singapore but as DJC mentioned, prices are crazy at the moment.

I flew AA from MIA to LHR last Sunday on a B777-200ER and it was slightly better than your average European or American airline in Economy. The seats had some actual padding (Safran instead of the terrible Recaro CL3710), there was a remote for the IFE (didn't stop the tt behind me stabbing the back of my seat though), food was edible but this is largely dependent on the airports you're flying out of. Personally I find American crews to be friendlier and more engaging than European ones.

The problem is that flying AA you'll likely be transiting via the US and that means passing customs in the US. Also possibly having to pick up and recheck your bags as the only airports I'm aware of that you can check your bags through are MIA and IAH (Houston) and AA looks like it's flying though DFW. Sandwiched between 2 10+ hour flights this could be a dealbreaker.

The reason AA is cheaper is that they really do pack them in, seat pitch of 31" and that transiting via the US is often a pain. I flew AA from LHR to MDE (Medellin, Colombia) transiting via MIA but this is one of the shorter, most direct routes so the hassle of passing US customs was worth it, I wouldn't say the same heading to NZ.

I'd readily recommend AA if you're flying to the Americas though.

[djc206]

gamefreaks said:

MH3 (LHR-KUL) looks like it takes a detour to avoid Ukraine and the southern bit of Russia down to Georgia. Same route for SG317.

Emirates doesn't need to detour but that second Dubai to Auckland leg is a brutal 17hr flight.

You can see the 'ideal' route vs the actual route here

https://www.greatcirclemap.com/roadmap?routes=LHR-...

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/sq317#3...

Small reroute around Ukraine but your assertion was an “massive detour” avoiding Russia which they didn’t tend to overfly to a significant degree anyway. It costs them next to nothing in time. They’re still doing Singapore in just over 12 hours, twas ever thus.

Great circles don’t take into account winds or ATC charges.

[Petrus1983]

tim0409 said:

Petrus1983 said:

I've got extensive experience of AA - I like them. I find the flight crew on long haul more attentive than BA/Virgin. The fleet is usually newer than other airlines. Take a look and see if premium economy is available - sometimes it isn't too much extra but IMO worth it. Where ever you are don't be concerned with walking to the back of the plane, raiding the tuck shop and asking for another drink.

My recent experience of BA and AA back to back to the USA was the polar opposite. I was in BA premium economy on the way out and it was really civilised with great service, decent food, a comfortable seat with plenty of recline. On the way back (AA) it was dreadful. The seat was poor with limited recline and both my wife and I had faulty foot rests (I suspect this may have been a 777 that was still to be refurbished). The staff were pretty blunt, and the food was really poor apart from the breakfast. Boarding with AA was a complete shambles, and the size and number of carry on luggage people had was ridiculous. Half way through boarding the economy overhead section was full so they asked everyone still boarding to move forward and use the business/premium section, which was chaotic. I would actively go out my way to avoid AA in the future.

That's ashame - I liked AA for a while. I haven't used them in just over a year as my sons mum is prepared to bring him over now - so OP, bow to the judgement who've used AA more recently for sure.

[djc206]

Petrus1983 said:

That's ashame - I liked AA for a while. I haven't used them in just over a year as my sons mum is prepared to bring him over now - so OP, bow to the judgement who've used AA more recently for sure.

Your experience is fairly extensive I don’t think that can be discounted. I’ve flown AA once long haul, they were ok, staff a bit gruff but otherwise fine. I fly BA regularly and they vary from great to utter ste so I can imagine AA are much the same, my primary concern would still be connecting in the US which can be fairly painful.

[Petrus1983]

djc206 said:

Your experience is fairly extensive I don’t think that can be discounted. I’ve flown AA once long haul, they were ok, staff a bit gruff but otherwise fine. I fly BA regularly and they vary from great to utter ste so I can imagine AA are much the same, my primary concern would still be connecting in the US which can be fairly painful.

Hey djc - as you know protecting my 'status' was my priority for the LHR-DFW flight so I could use the lounges. Often flight times with AA were just a little more attractive too. Hope you're keeping well

[tvrolet]

Usually book on BA as I have a gold card, but now retired I'll be dropping to silver and always choose Business on long haul. Anyway, last trip back from LA was a codeshare operated by AA. Almost identical product to the new BA business class (although I must be one of the few who liked the old seating with the reversed seats at the window). Felt like the same style of seat as BA (and others), wee sliding door, same size of screen...but maybe a little less storage, but near as dammit identical. But the service was way off what BA usually offer. I don't know how many times I had to press the call bell for drinks, missed meals, missed breakfast etc. Even the wife noticed that she was never offered tea or anything else (she doesn't drink; I drink for two).

Also, check the seating. I've flown LA to Hawaii a few times and it's a codeshare on AA, and paying for business class on that one just gets you wider seats up front with no full recline (as in BA premium economy) and no in-flight entertainment! You had to use your phone/ipad/PC to connect to the aircraft systems. So I'm guessing AA is only doing the 'mini suites' style business class on the wide bodies? (This was on an A320).

So given a choice I'd choose BA over AA, but the AA seats are just as good and the food is fine (hot fudge sundae on las AA flight ) so it wouldn't be a deal breaker if the AA timings were better. Just find out where that call-bell is and get prepared to use it.