AA's SYD-LAX flight

[cove]

Yes dfcatch it worked out well for a quick work trip. The work went really well also.
Back in Perth I put ANZ Black cards to work as Feb 26th is getting nearer.

 

[PaulybGC]

Can anyone comment on the Seating in the mini cabin? I managed to snag some return J class Gold coast /syd /lax. for my wife & I in August. So we can chat & see each other i am thinking of the centre seats row 3 D & G. Just not sure if the mini cabin seemed too closed in ?

 

[drewbles]

Can anyone comment on the Seating in the mini cabin? I managed to snag some return J class Gold coast /syd /lax. for my wife & I in August. So we can chat & see each other i am thinking of the centre seats row 3 D & G. Just not sure if the mini cabin seemed too closed in ?

There's a review here that mentions they perfer it:
Review: American Airlines Business Class 777-300ER (LHR-DFW)

If at all possible I always opt for the mini-cabin because it feels a lot more private than the rest of business class – but I only opt for the mini-cabin if I can snag a seat in row 3. Row 4 is a bit too close to the galley and can get noisy.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Thanks for that link, Drewbies. I asked a while back about seats and have now changed my seat to 3J.

 

[galah]

I can't comment on the mini-cabin, but sitting with a partner in the centre seats (D&G) still requires you to both lean forward a fair way if you want to talk. I'd still recommend this over the aisles, as your console/table meets in the middle and can be shared easily.

 

[PaulybGC]

Thanks Drewbies & Galah, i'll give those seats a try. I dont mind leaning forward a bit at least we will have some contact, its our first time flying up near the pointy end.

 

[Timtammi]

I'm in 3j both ways for my flights in July. Mr Timtammi is in 3a. We don't really talk on plane flights anyway, we both retreat into our own little world's and go into 'plane mode'.

 

[galah]

I'm in 3j both ways for my flights in July. Mr Timtammi is in 3a. We don't really talk on plane flights anyway, we both retreat into our own little world's and go into 'plane mode'.

That's one way to go about it!

It's actually a bit annoying if you're sitting in the middle J seats and your partner's TV screen is stowed and turned on, as it shines right in your direction. Not that Ms Galah and I have ever had that problem.. :shock:

 

[drewbles]

I have a seat in the mini cabin for my next flight, so i'll report back depending on when you're taking it

 

[BriarFlyer]

My AA flight's not until July, so I'd love any further feedback on the mini-cabin before then.

 

[david1]

Do these flights (with QF flight number) count towards your 4 squiggles for QFF status retention?

 

[bosox76]

Yes they do

 

[travs]

Wife and I flew this (She's EXP on AA) and we used the SWUs to upgrade from Y to J. Overall, it was horrible and I can't see why anyone would ever pay for this flight. Prices seem to be the same as QF and, well, it's pretty awful overall.

Good:
* Hard product is fine, if you like the CX seats. I do like that they have air vents available (CX doesn't in PE at least and I was hammered last time I flex CX J on the 330, so don't remember)
* good storage in seat.
* PJs somewhat unique; just not a lot of AA routes offering them, so that's cool.
* plane is new
* TBIT connector open so at least if you have status, you can use the QF First lounge.
* WIFI was fast and worked well!
* umm, that's all I got.

Bad:
* service. I don't know where to start.
- refusing the headphones was like pulling teeth. They tried to force them on my wife, she had to refuse 3x. Pax before her (man) refused them and they didn't blink twice. She definitely got a gender bias vibe.
- never took her blazer on either leg, even though it was hanging on coat hook. They took mine once w/o asking, and once after being asked.
- we barely got service. Used the call light 3x on trips; 6:30 was the quickest they took to get to us. They also never turned off call lights, so I had to do that each time, which is annoying.
- food was inedble. absolutely inedible. I'd say we are pretty tolerant of bad airline food, but this was the worst. The beef tenderloin (usually safe on old US Air flights) was beyond well done, and the lamb on way back was even worse. Probably the worst J food I've ever had by a mile and worse than most Y food I've had.
- wines were terrible. I have the habit of researching menus when I board, and all the wines were < 12 bucks a bottle USD. Doesn't hold a candle to QF.
- other service issues include complete rudeness, abject annoyance at being asked for anything and no refills the entire flight unless called. Sure, there's a self service bar, but when you leave the seat belt light on THE WHOLE FLIGHT, you're not exactly encouraging people to get up.
* I do hate the flip out TVs. Gives you nothing to do on approach or take off if you're following the rules.

I could go on and on, but it was terrible. I wouldn't fly it revenue if I have a choice of QF that's within 20% of the cost. It's just not worth it. Soft product is even worse than the old US Air product, and that's saying something.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Wife and I flew this (She's EXP on AA) and we used the SWUs to upgrade from Y to J. Overall, it was horrible and I can't see why anyone would ever pay for this flight. Prices seem to be the same as QF and, well, it's pretty awful overall.

Good:
* Hard product is fine, if you like the CX seats. I do like that they have air vents available (CX doesn't in PE at least and I was hammered last time I flex CX J on the 330, so don't remember)
* good storage in seat.
* PJs somewhat unique; just not a lot of AA routes offering them, so that's cool.
* plane is new
* TBIT connector open so at least if you have status, you can use the QF First lounge.
* WIFI was fast and worked well!
* umm, that's all I got.

Bad:
* service. I don't know where to start.
- refusing the headphones was like pulling teeth. They tried to force them on my wife, she had to refuse 3x. Pax before her (man) refused them and they didn't blink twice. She definitely got a gender bias vibe.
- never took her blazer on either leg, even though it was hanging on coat hook. They took mine once w/o asking, and once after being asked.
- we barely got service. Used the call light 3x on trips; 6:30 was the quickest they took to get to us. They also never turned off call lights, so I had to do that each time, which is annoying.
- food was inedble. absolutely inedible. I'd say we are pretty tolerant of bad airline food, but this was the worst. The beef tenderloin (usually safe on old US Air flights) was beyond well done, and the lamb on way back was even worse. Probably the worst J food I've ever had by a mile and worse than most Y food I've had.
- wines were terrible. I have the habit of researching menus when I board, and all the wines were < 12 bucks a bottle USD. Doesn't hold a candle to QF.
- other service issues include complete rudeness, abject annoyance at being asked for anything and no refills the entire flight unless called. Sure, there's a self service bar, but when you leave the seat belt light on THE WHOLE FLIGHT, you're not exactly encouraging people to get up.
* I do hate the flip out TVs. Gives you nothing to do on approach or take off if you're following the rules.

I could go on and on, but it was terrible. I wouldn't fly it revenue if I have a choice of QF that's within 20% of the cost. It's just not worth it. Soft product is even worse than the old US Air product, and that's saying something.

Umm :shock: :!:
On the upside it looks like the PJ's and seat are ok.
I have opted to take this flight to LAX in June. I will now make sure I eat a hearty breakfast washed down with some quality Champers in the Flounge, take the headphones, pop a couple of melatonin and sleep through :mrgreen:

 

[maz1]

Umm :shock: :!:
On the upside it looks like the PJ's and seat are ok.
I have opted to take this flight to LAX in June. I will now make sure I eat a hearty breakfast washed down with some quality Champers in the Flounge, take the headphones, pop a couple of melatonin and sleep through :mrgreen:

Haha me too! Except I'll pop a couple of temaze

 

[BriarFlyer]

Yup. And on these night flights a "comfy" (relatively) lie-flat bed trumps everything so I'm glad to see that at least the seat passed the test. :-|

 

[dfcatch]

Given QF has a perfectly acceptable lie-flat seat - which was the point of the comparison above, then the rest of the service failures are pretty big.

However - it is in line with most reports that I've been hearing.

The positive reports are the exception, not the rule.

 

[Quickstatus]

It is my speculation that the AA transpac flights would be a highly sought after flight for the cabin crew. I suspect that the crew that successfully bid for these flights would be the long tenured legacy crew with seniority and the accompanying very poor service. They are there because they can have a nice slip in Australia and the passengers can go to hell. After feeding the chooks, turn off the light, keep seat belt sign on, see you in 12 hours.

 

[russ]

Given QF has a perfectly acceptable lie-flat seat...

QF's J seats are not perfectly acceptable to me. They droop too much. I'm looking forward to trying AA J just to get a better seat.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF's J seats are not perfectly acceptable to me. They droop too much. I'm looking forward to trying AA J just to get a better seat.

Russ here is the method suggested to me by an ex A380 CSM:

"Skybed droop is easily fixed. You need to bring seat back up then start again, but don't use the lay down button. You will be able to make it into a flat position. It droops sometimes when it is in the full base position, but there is a spot just before this point it will stay perfectly flat"