Any experience on MCE on AA 787?

[dajop]

Looking at several options to get from either HKG or PVG to get to US in about a weeks time. Unfortunately no availability in premium cabins on awards but there is some good availability in Y awards and good fares on CZ, UA, DL and AA.

The choices are either SQ or CX on 77W (may natural preference is SQ) or using CZ A380 service or one of the U.S. carriers, and of these AA is my preference as I can access Main Cabin Extra for free as a QF gold (something that star gold or skyteam gold won't get me on UA or DL).

Anyone have experience with MCE on their long hauls? I have always been reluctant to go with US big three, but does MCE make them worthwhile choosing over my two favourites, SQ and CX ?

I think my return would be on 777 but still MCE.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking at several options to get from either HKG or PVG to get to US in about a weeks time. Unfortunately no availability in premium cabins on awards but there is some good availability in Y awards and good fares on CZ, UA, DL and AA.

The choices are either SQ or CX on 77W (may natural preference is SQ) or using CZ A380 service or one of the U.S. carriers, and of these AA is my preference as I can access Main Cabin Extra for free as a QF gold (something that star gold or skyteam gold won't get me on UA or DL).

Anyone have experience with MCE on their long hauls? I have always been reluctant to go with US big three, but does MCE make them worthwhile choosing over my two favourites, SQ and CX ?

I think my return would be on 777 but still MCE.

MCE will give you leg-room (36') and a wider seat on the 777 compared to others on AA (9 abreast instead of 10 abreast). But not so on the 787 (still 9 abreast). Food, IFE, service, beverage list (I think beer and wine only?) - all coach.

Economy fares are pretty cheap out of China ATM to the USA. I'm seeing sub-$600 (USD) on CZ. Premium economy on CI is about $1000 more.

If you can handle beer and wine and a fairly narrow 787 seat, I'd take MCE.

 

[dajop]

Unfortunately, didn't work out. Cheap AA fares only to/from California and the North East (NYC, BOS), going to New Orleans added 60% to fare. Also due to my time constraints the only AA flight I could make was DFW. Initially was looking at getting SFO, I don't care much for flying via DFW to get to SFO, even with MCE (which also only had window seats available). And on return it mean connecting to a redeye PVG-SIN (separate booking).

Anyway long story short, due to best connections and best award availability, against my better judgement redeemed some UA miles, to do PVG-LAX on UA 787. The advantage of UA redemption is it allows free stopover enroute, so covering PVG-MSY, MSY-PSP, SAN-ICN for price of return (and I was able to reissue my SQ ticket out of ICN to avoid redeye). Coming back I opted for OZ A380, will see how that goes, although still considering changing it to SQ .....better the devil you know and all that.

Regardless, my first "long haul" economy flight on a non Asian/Australian carrier since 1992 on BA to London. So a bit out of the comfort zone, and expectations are low.