1st time on AA ~ What to expect.

[DJ737]

Hi there

I did visit the CX lounge (when i eventually found it) at LHR T3 and yes, it was much better than the AC by way of food offerings and drink selections. Although the AC permits smoking in one area, there is no smoking permitted in the CX lounge.

Overall impressions of AA were generally very good, although charging for booze in Y on a 10hr flight is a bit of a bummer.

The route of AA136 on the day i travelled was a bit odd as we flew roughly east from LAX overhead ABQ and TUL then to the DC area past NY and thence to LHR rather than the GC route over Canada and Southern Greenland.

The JQ flight from HNL to MEL departed HNL 15 mins early (with a load that could have comfortably been accomodated on a A320) and arrived in MEL 44 mins early, but as we were early the bags couldn't be unloaded due to the ramp staff dealing with a domestic flight. (Apparently JQ can't cope with an early running flight:shock: ) So despite being on the gate at 1615 (sch 1655) the bags weren't on the carosel until 1700

Cheers
DJ737

 

[NM]

The route of AA136 on the day i travelled was a bit odd as we flew roughly east from LAX overhead ABQ and TUL then to the DC area past NY and thence to LHR rather than the GC route over Canada and Southern Greenland.

This is quote common for that route. I initially thought it may be due to ETOPS restrictions on the more northerly route, but the AA 777's don't are able to fly that way under normal conditions.

Perhaps they can make better use of the jetstreams to the south. Or perhaps there was an equipment issue with the aircraft that meant it could still operate on the normal JFK-LHR flight path (with its usual alternate airports) but not to the full ETOPS 180 rules. Something like a non-operational APU could do that.

Did the flight operate pretty much to schedule? If so, then I would guess it was most likely just a more optimal routing for the prevailing winds than anything to do with ETOPS limitations.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

The schedule for AA136 is LAX 1905 - LHR 1325 (10h20)
Actual was LAX 1936 - LHR 1404 (10h38) including a couple of times around the holding pattern and a track back west for a landing on 09L

Coming back on AA137 was 10h56 via the GC route

Cheers
DJ737

 

[NM]

The schedule for AA136 is LAX 1905 - LHR 1325 (10h20)
Actual was LAX 1936 - LHR 1404 (10h38) including a couple of times around the holding pattern and a track back west for a landing on 09L

Actually, that would be 10:28 actual flight time. And most airlines include at least a few scenic orbits of the greater London area in their schedule for LHR arrivals. So I would suggest the flight time was pretty much as planned, so assume it was just a matter of finding the optimal track for prevailing traffic, winds and other weather conditions.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

Correct, bit of a typo there The ground speed displayed on the flight map was in excess of 1000 KPH over the continental US but slowed to the mid 800's over the Atlantic, UK landfall was over Cornwall / Devon area.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[NM]

The ground speed displayed on the flight map was in excess of 1000 KPH over the continental US but slowed to the mid 800's over the Atlantic, UK landfall was over Cornwall / Devon area.

Cheers
DJ737

Definitely sounds like a routing to optimise the winds then. As I mentioned earlier, its not uncommon to go that way.

 

[alect]

Did the flight operate pretty much to schedule? If so, then I would guess it was most likely just a more optimal routing for the prevailing winds than anything to do with ETOPS limitations.

I have been on this flight many times, and in all cases it has taken the GC route (with some slight variations) - so I think 'twas the winds.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Definitely sounds like a routing to optimise the winds then. As I mentioned earlier, its not uncommon to go that way.

Hmmm - I've flown LAX-LHR many times and always been over Greenland/Iceland.

 

[NM]

Hmmm - I've flown LAX-LHR many times and always been over Greenland/Iceland.

The best routing depends on the winds on the day. Airlines spend a great deal of effort to select the optimal routing based on weather forecasts.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The best routing depends on the winds on the day. Airlines spend a great deal of effort to select the optimal routing based on weather forecasts.

Sure. But in my own experience of flying this route dozens of times, the path has been very similar and a long way north (eastbound).

 

[NM]

Sure. But in my own experience of flying this route dozens of times, the path has been very similar and a long way north (eastbound).

Then I posit that on those occasions, and probably most commonly, that is where the best use of the winds can be found. But on the day DJ737 flew, the winds further south across the continental USA were more attractive.

 

[Mal]

I'm over in the U.S late next month. What do you think the chances are of any weather related delays to AA flights at the time?

Think I've got AA flights all sorted now. Just hoping there are no unexpected delays (mech or weather or ground handling or ... )

 

[NM]

I'm over in the U.S late next month. What do you think the chances are of any weather related delays to AA flights at the time?

Think I've got AA flights all sorted now. Just hoping there are no unexpected delays (mech or weather or ground handling or ... )

They can and do happen much of the year, but unlikely to get the 3-day delays much later than the end of February. Most weather delays from March onwards are due to storm activity and generally measured in hours not days - though may need to remove shoes and socks to count the hours at times :shock: .

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I'm over in the U.S late next month. What do you think the chances are of any weather related delays to AA flights at the time?

Think I've got AA flights all sorted now. Just hoping there are no unexpected delays (mech or weather or ground handling or ... )

That very much depends on where you are flying.

 

[Mal]

That very much depends on where you are flying.

Yeah I know, sorry. It was a very, very broad question related to internal U.S flights.

Have just been reading up on the many snow/storm related closures over the last few days. While March did look much better from things I've read previously, was still curious.

 

[NM]

Yeah I know, sorry. It was a very, very broad question related to internal U.S flights.

Have just been reading up on the many snow/storm related closures over the last few days. While March did look much better from things I've read previously, was still curious.

Places often affected by snow include JFK and ORD. Surprisingly LGA is affected much less than JFK.

DFW is mostly affected by storms and occasionally tornadoes. DFW can suffer Ice Storms, but most unlikely in March, they are more common in January and early February.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

well you aren't likely to experience snow storms in Florida for example, or hurricanes in Idaho, tornadoes in Washington, etc

 

[NM]

well you aren't likely to experience snow storms in Florida for example, or hurricanes in Idaho, tornadoes in Washington, etc

True indeed. But you could well experience delays due to airways congestion at New York, TSA over-zealousness at Los Angeles, baggage delivery at Dallas/Fort Worth, or presidential movements at Washington DC.

 

[serfty]

Hmmm - I've flown LAX-LHR many times and always been over Greenland/Iceland.

I've only flow LHR-LAX once and what a sight Southern Iceland was as the aircraft flew through a clear and cloudless sky.

 

[tuapekastar]

Places often affected by snow include JFK and ORD. Surprisingly LGA is affected much less than JFK.

DFW is mostly affected by storms and occasionally tornadoes. DFW can suffer Ice Storms, but most unlikely in March, they are more common in January and early February.

I had to change from UA SAT-DEN-LAX to AA SAT-DFW-LAX due to an unseasonal snowstorm which closed DEN for about 3 days. I think it was in September of the year concerned.