Just did a quick trip for myself SYD-LAX-SYD and my wife and 4 kids are still in the middle of theirs SYD-LAX-LHR-LAX-SYD (with a stopover in LAX on the way over and a side trip to Manchester for ManUtd v Leicester). Their flights are a proper SYD-LON AA fare btw.
My SWU's cleared for both legs. The family landed in London last night and their 5 SWU's cleared for the whole way over (both legs upgraded about 3 days before each flight). For those that don't know, 1 SWU will cover 3 legs in one direction (and can include stopovers). When they come back, they probably won't get the upgrade for LHR-LAX (only 6 seats left in J) but should have no problems with LAX-SYD.
I have to say, the hard product was excellent but you would have thought they learnt from CX and made the table adjustable. We also had some overhead space issues because of all the crew stuff and oxygen tanks. There was space, it just might not be above your seat. Pretty minor things but that was how hard it was to find any faults.
The soft product was a mix. On the way over, It seemed everyone that had the meat (beef and lamb) and prawns loved it, but the rice/pasta dishes were inedible, like seriously disgusting. I had the chicken curry and the rice was so overcooked, I didn't know it was possible to do that and the chicken was completely cartilage with no sauce. Thankfully I had had a big breakfast in the QF F lounge. On the other hand, my two youngest, who are the most painful eaters, absolutely loved theirs. I don't really know what desserts they offered as I didn't see anyone get anything other than the ice cream sundae. Every time I have one, it takes me back to my childhood. They are just simply amazing.
We had an old lady as our flight attendant. When I say old, she would make some of the pensioners on here feel like kids again. Her hands shook so bad, most of the nuts went all over the floor. I only got half a bowl. After they had gone by, the aisle looked as though it had been a bunch of kids throwing nuts at an elephant at the zoo. We all started reaching out to grab the food off her. She was at least half deaf and at least half forgetful. She would mis-hear the order and then couldn't remember who she was supposed to deliver it to. I have seen a number of attendants where the badges from the original airlines they worked with (before AA bought them out) and I think hers had the Wright brothers on it
But she was such a sweet-heart and fussed over everyone like they were her grand-kids (even though her grand-kids were probably on the pension).
On the way back, I followed everyone else's recommendations from the first flight and got the short rib. It was a pretty decent meal. The service was pretty average. I had been one of the first served and the guy said no Ice Cream Sundae only Ben and Jerry's so I had something else which was ok but then later all the Sundae's came out. By this time it was 1am LAX time and I had already had dinner with family, dessert, coffee and drinks in the LAX Flounge, a full bowl of nuts this time, another dinner and another dessert and was sitting with a glass of Baileys. I tried to summon the courage and room to fit it in but couldn't *sob* A bad bad mark against that FA.
When we landed in Sydney, I was amazed to see the signs for the ConceirgeKey - there was 8 of them. In all my flights in the US, the most I had ever seen was 2 (and that was once).
As a data point, both flights had full F and were at least 6/8 from weeks out, so they probably were paid F. J was only half full 3 days out in both directions but full at flight time. Keep in mind, on the way to LAX, we accounted for 6 of the upgrades, so there was a lot to be had. We'll definitely be doing this again.
