AA Domestic F - My Expectations Were Low.

[MEL_Traveller]

For an upcoming LGA-ORD it preselected 16A which has the permanent tray block next to it in 16B. Nice to have a guaranteed shadow but still opted to try the 500 mile upgrades anyway as I have no other use. I think there are 4 blocked seats on the 738 16 & 17 B & E. Anyone got these instead of MCE?

I flew in these a couple weeks ago - had the choice of MCE or the block. The block was better I think because you're not rubbing shoulders with someone else.

However, I'd take the upgrade to First class if you can. The economy seats can be the slim-line model and I find them extraordinarily uncomfortable (especially if you're tall - for some reason I end up all hunched over). Luckily we only had a 50 minute flight.

Edited to add the seats in coach can be (rather than are) the slim line model. The 738 we flew on was factory fresh with the brand new F and Y class product.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Be aware that AA are adding row 7 back to these aircraft at the expense of much of MCE as well as removing those 'blanks' to give an extra 10 seats.

Interesting. I wondered about the cost of blocking the seats vs an extra member of crew. On my last flight to HNL a few years back the FA was on $55 an hour (but she was a senior in FCL). At those rates it could be a tight call.

 

[amaroo]

(Sighs longingly). yes

The forward MCE rows/seats look like this: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....es-helicopter-airboat-57072-4.html#post982203

For completeness - this is the OpUp F cabin on the same trip: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....es-helicopter-airboat-57072-4.html#post980137

 

[serfty]

Be aware that AA are adding row 7 back to these aircraft at the expense of much of MCE as well as removing those 'blanks' to give an extra 10 seats.

In march I flew from LAX to SFO - I was in 16F. (It was one of the newer ones with AVOD)

 

[kempvet]

I usually try to score the mid cabin areas of domestic F on AA, simply because I keep forgetting whether odd or even flight numbers front rows get the first meal preference. If you don't get your meal preference just check behind the curtain mid flight in the galley area, there you will usually find one of the staff eating your meal preference after saying that they had run out by the time they have taken your order.

 

[gbetox]

Earlier this month, I did a DCA-ORD-MIA-xAUA-xMIA-ORD-DCA status run on AA "First". Food was decent-ish on all legs, with freshly baked cookies.

If I had been offered that sad sandwich that somebody posted before, I'd have asked for a sandwich from the main cabin (which I always get for free when I travel on Y, by waving my BP with my OWE status on it).

 

[aaflyer]

yes - not generally a cookie fan, but it was hard to resist the aroma.....

The evil overlords in LOTFAP are working overtime with aromas.

I find it impossible to not drool when smelling a Cinnabon in a terminal, and a true sign that it's a US airport.

Now, you can have that at home too:

They also do plug-in ones!

As a side note, out of the hundreds of AA F flights i've taken, i've had a small handfull of grumpy crew. If you get a long haul domestic with a DFW based crew, go to the galley and chat to them. If you're an Aussie and you're doing a status run, they think you're batsh*t insane, and love having a chat. There's also a high liklihood that you'll get a 'to go' back of mini spirits (if you've been consuming them during the trip).

AA F crew love Aussies. It's a great way to make a flight fly, if you'll pardon the pun.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

it all looks delicious!! I. Want. The. Airwick!!! (now why can't they use than instead of the shake-n-vac in all the Las Vegas hotels and casinos??)

 

[aaflyer]

it all looks delicious!! I. Want. The. Airwick!!! (now why can't they use than instead of the shake-n-vac in all the Las Vegas hotels and casinos??)

My plan is to appropriate them at Walmart next week and ship large numbers back to Australia.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My plan is to appropriate them at Walmart next week and ship large numbers back to Australia.

just beware of any restrictions in checked luggage - some airlines have a limit on the number of aerosols that can be carried.

 

[aaflyer]

just beware of any restrictions in checked luggage - some airlines have a limit on the number of aerosols that can be carried.

May purchase the plug-in ones I think. I have never been a fan of the automated air fresheners. I like to dispense when I like (at least I can turn the plug in's on and off as required).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

May purchase the plug-in ones I think. I have never been a fan of the automated air fresheners. I like to dispense when I like (at least I can turn the plug in's on and off as required).

yes yes. But 'automated' would be so... American! Not having to lift a finger. I hope the manual version doesn't detract from the experience! (sorry for the OT)

 

[drron]

I'm with you aaflyer.It is rare to get the famous dragons that others speak about.I still think Marvel (yes that was his name) on a JFK-LHR service about 6 years back was the best FA I have had as far as friendly and efficient service goes.
And on a JFK-FRA flight that was the first after I had made LTP on AA the purser congratulated me and said how AA was honoured that an Australian would show such loyalty to AA.After I had transferred several hundred thousand CC points to Aadvantage to get to LTP before they changed to BIS miles only counting.

 

[mlob]

Recently flew first class from LAX to JFK after arriving into LAX in business on Virgin. I must admit I found the relaxed casual manner of the crew quite entertaining after the excellent efficient service on Virgin. My mother who I was flying with said she preferred the seats on Virgin! The Flagship lounge was a welcome spot after our overnight flight and so was being accompanied and having fast tracked assistance through security. My meal service I also thought was excellent. I quite liked the champagne they had served on board. When I later asked one of the crew as we were approaching landing, where the champagne was from she returned with a bottle of it wrapped up in a plastic bag and said "have a great time gals"!

 

[blackcat20]

Having just done a number of flights, I thought they were mostly good, but not excellent. Some crew were fabulous, others not so much. The lowlight was a CSM who announced he would "like a direct flight to LAX on any airline but AA", and this was in F on the transcon.... yet our FA from Bermuda was fabulous, even sending us away with a bottle of champagne.

 

[JessicaTam]

Having just done a number of flights, I thought they were mostly good, but not excellent. Some crew were fabulous, others not so much. The lowlight was a CSM who announced he would "like a direct flight to LAX on any airline but AA", and this was in F on the transcon.... yet our FA from Bermuda was fabulous, even sending us away with a bottle of champagne.

I think that QF have learnt about their inconsistent service from AA.

 

[aaflyer]

I think that QF have learnt about their inconsistent service from AA.

I've flown QF and AA equally. I'd say 95%+ of my AA flights have had simply brilliant crew.

I'd say around 5% of my QF flights have had crew anywhere close to the AA brilliant crew.

That said, the Aussie Accent on AA goes a very long way towards making them chatty and providing off-plane beverages.

 

[serfty]

See my previous post #4 ...

 

[JessicaTam]

Here are three of my recent meals.

1. Was a breakfast. The large glump in the middle was similar to an omelette using the finest reconstituted egg.

2. Was a beef enchilada. Whatever mystery meat they added was supposedly beef. The strange stuff at the front of the plate is overcooked black beans, and at the back is overcooked rice.

3. Chicken gloop. Old boiler hen that should have been used for soup was used here.

I had the chicken on one of my legs. It may have infact been the same chicken. "Chicken Tarragon" to be precise. Very tough old bird with tarragon flavoured goop spread on top. Blech.

 

[Mattg]

...The lowlight was a CSM who announced he would "like a direct flight to LAX on any airline but AA", and this was in F on the transcon....

May I ask what the context of this was? Sounds bizarre.