AA's SYD-LAX flight

[Mattg]

Has anyone flown on American Airlines' new AA72/73 SYD-LAX service yet?

I'd be interested to know how the service is (and how it compares to Qantas).

 

[serfty]

There's some comment and mini review on FT:

American LAX-SYD-LAX 77W AA73 / AA72 (as of 17 Dec 2015) - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[drron]

Not flown the SYD service but many AA flights in F,J (mostly awards) NRT-USA-NRT and JFK-LHR.
The worst crews probably AA but some QF crews not far from that place.The best crews have also been AA-again some QF crews very close.
In general we find AA premium crews out of DFW to be better than other ports though we still consider Marvel out of JFK the best FA we have ever had.
In the middle a win to QF.
Meals-in the past I would have said AA but Doug Parker has certainly now downgraded that part of the service as with the wines.I loved the system until recently when you could have a tasting tray of any of the wines they had on board.I believe that has now gone.Then we are not great fans of the Neil Perry airline menus.

I cant help out with the Y cabin.

 

[serfty]

I saw a mention today that AA are endeavoring to match the QF transpacific soft product on these flight with similar catering and amenties.

 

[Mattg]

I saw a mention today that AA are endeavoring to match the QF transpacific soft product on these flight with similar catering and amenties.

Will matching QF's soft product be extended to having the flight attendants smile?

 

[serfty]

Will matching QF's soft product be extended to having the flight attendants smile?

While they appear to have the same caterers in LAX and SYD I can't say the same for the respective FA Academies.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Some very promising reports of F in that FT thread. J not so flash however.

 

[RooFlyer]

There's some comment and mini review on FT:

American LAX-SYD-LAX 77W AA73 / AA72 (as of 17 Dec 2015) - FlyerTalk Forums

While they appear to have the same caterers in LAX and SYD I can't say the same for the respective FA Academies.

That's an interesting read, thanks . Most interesting point was the word "suspended".

I haven't flown AA nearly as much as you, serfty, but I can't say I've developed such a view of AA's FAs, esp in comparison with QF's; however the FT reviews of J TPAC don't sound promising!

 

[bosox76]

Well this doesn't bode well for our J flight in 3 weeks. Hopefully it improves by then.

 

[adrian]

Wow. A lot of negativity.

FWIW, I fly AA in J a lot. Maybe 20-30 times a year, international (not yet from SYD, but that should change next week)

To be honest, most of my travel in J is using EVIPs, but hopefully that doesn't cloud my judgment.

I pretty much only travel in J on oneworld airlines...... CX, QF, BA, JL mostly, and based on their:
service (rarely had a bad AA one, "let me top that up honey", to to brim, lol),
seat (same as CX, excellent, but with a better blanket),
and food (um it's good; and I don't starve, unlike on QF - soup as a "meal" on a 7.50pm departing flight, Xmas eve - or CX - okay, but I'm still a bit hungry - and BA - steaks are dryyyyyyy!!!!)

Give me AA out of all of the above any day.

But feel free to keep flying the others. My partner and I have 24 EVIPs to use this year, and I'm happy for them all to clear.....

ps. AA steaks are good, generally cooked medium. But the best steak I have had was kobe on JL... so good....

 

[drron]

I'm with you Adrian.I really like AA but don't fly Y.

 

[adrian]

I flown only AA Y once in the last 11 years - and it was the last award seat out of Europe when that Icelandic volcano exploded, grounding most European flights, so I wasn't complaining.

I've been lucky with EVIPs - they always clear. But when that luck runs out, I'm pretty sure I'll be happier in AA's MCE with their no-attitude FA's, over QF's less than friendly FA's....

 

[russ]

I agree the AA steaks are fantastic!
And AA's F pyjamas are much nicer than QF's F pyjamas.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

It'll be an interesting experience with my 3x SYD-LAX-DCA MRs in Y in the coming months..

 

[dfcatch]

Short answer - it's cough.

Expect it to be only marginally above the UA standard of service - and even then - only slightly better due to the better catering/PJs.

Dirty seats, much like UA and DL - they don't believe in making an effort to clean aircraft between flights. QF and VA win hands down on this.

FAs are on par with the slackest, laziest, old (due-to-be-put-out-to-pasture) QF 747 (QAL) crews. And that's "at best". Again - I'd rank them equally with DL and UA on this.

Hard product you should be able to form an opinion on yourself - most folks around here prefer the AA J product over QF, but prefer QF F over AA. AA is better than UA on this one. (Personally I like the Skybeds so would choose QF, but AA J hard product is more than acceptable).

Short answer - J and F hard product is fine - but don't choose AA over QF if you at all care about soft product and service.

 

[Isochronous]

What kind of loads are AA getting on the service?

 

[DC3]

Has anyone flown on American Airlines' new AA72/73 SYD-LAX service yet?

I'd be interested to know how the service is (and how it compares to Qantas).

A lot of conjecture from those who have not been on the flights that you asked about.

 

[Moindardt]

Has anyone see any SWU availability for immediate upgrade not wait list? I would rather pay for J on QF than take the risk of being stuck In Y but have 8 SWU to use and rather use them on LAX to SYD and vice versa.

 

[adrian]

Has anyone see any SWU availability for immediate upgrade not wait list? I would rather pay for J on QF than take the risk of being stuck In Y but have 8 SWU to use and rather use them on LAX to SYD and vice versa.

For most of this week they have been C7. Doesn't get any more instant than that. I purchased a few days ago for Fridays flight.

Even if they aren't showing instant upgrade, its pretty easy to make an educated guess. I have never had a upgrade not clear.

 

[adrian]

I'll report back on the weekend.... AA72