- Introduction: Zipping To Tokyo Via Mongolia
- Review: American First Class Boeing 737 (MIA-LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: VIP ONE Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Turkish Airlines Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Lufthansa Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Business Class Airbus A350 (JFK-CDG)
- Review: Air France HOP Business Class Embraer E190 (CDG-FRA)
- Review: Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 787 (FRA-UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 737 (UBN-ICN)
- Review: Seoul Incheon Airport Transit Hotel (ICN)
- Review: Oneworld Lounge Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN)
- Review: ZIPAIR Full Flat Business Class Boeing 787 (ICN-NRT)
- Review: Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: TIAT Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
To kick off my trip to Japan via Mongolia, I flew American Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 first class on the 2hr30min flight from Miami to New York. American’s 737 first class is probably the single premium product I fly most often, yet for whatever reason, I’ve never actually reviewed it, so I figured it’s time to change that.
So, how is American’s 737 first class? I’d say it does the trick. The seats are comfortable and fairly spacious, and the Wi-Fi is typically fast. However, the service can be a mixed bag, the food isn’t great, and there’s no seat back entertainment. Still, ultimately I value domestic first class for the extra space, and that’s an area where this product delivers.
In this post:
How I booked my American first class ticket
I booked my ticket from Miami to New York with cash. Specifically, I paid $138 for a one-way economy ticket on the following flight:
1/24 AA2347 Miami to New York departing 2:03PM arriving 5:03PM
Then thanks to my American AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, my complimentary upgrade cleared about 24 hours in advance. Those are becoming increasingly rare nowadays, in my experience, though I guess mid-afternoon on a Wednesday is a good time to fly.
American first class lounge & boarding
A regular domestic first class ticket on American doesn’t come with Admirals Club lounge access. However, I do have a membership through the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (review), so was able to use the Admirals Club Miami.
The other lounge options in the terminal are the Amex Centurion Lounge or Turkish Airlines Lounge, depending on the credit cards and memberships you have.
My flight was departing from gate D16, with boarding scheduled to start at 1:28PM, 35 minutes before departure. Boarding only ended up starting at 1:45PM, due to a late inbound flight for the aircraft (the plane only arrived from Dallas around 1:20PM). Concierge Key members were invited to board first, followed by Group 1, which includes first class passengers.
American 737 first class cabin & seats
American’s Boeing 737-800 first class cabin consists of a total of 16 seats, spread across four rows in a 2-2 configuration. These seats feature 37″ of pitch, 20″ of width, and 5″ of recline.
American’s 737s have the Collins MIQ seat in first class, which you’ll find on quite a few airlines, as it’s a generic seat with some minor customization opportunities.
I assigned myself seat 3F, the window seat on the right side in the third row.
As far as seat features go, underneath the center armrest you’ll find a narrow but deep storage compartment. That’s also where the AC power outlet is located, which is easy to access, if you know where to look (it seems to throw off a lot of people, who don’t think to look there).
The center console also has a basic drink tray, as well as the seat recline button.
The tray table folds out from the far armrest, and can be extended completely, or folded over in half.
If you only fold it over in half, you’ll find there’s a little panel that can be flipped up, so that this can act as a personal device holder, for viewing entertainment.
The seat back contains the literature pocket, and a USB-A outlet.
The seat back has an additional personal device holder, where you can place a smartphone to watch entertainment.
Lastly, between the seats in front is a small tray that can be folded down, if you want an extra place to store a drink.
The overhead consoles have both reading lights and individual air nozzles, which is a feature I always value.
American’s 737s also contain Boeing’s updated bins, meaning you can store bags on their side, to maximize carry-on space. You’d think this would limit the number of bags that need to be gate checked, though it seems that even with bigger bins, the fundamental problem hasn’t been solved.
There’s not a proper bulkhead between first class and economy class, but rather there are just some partitions hanging from the overhead bins, and then there’s a curtain (more like a see through net) in the aisle between the cabins.
As much as I generally rag on American’s lack of investment in its premium product product, let me give the airline some credit:
- I appreciate American’s fleet consistency, because you know exactly the product you’re going to get when you board any of American’s 360+ Boeing 737s
- While Delta deserves credit for having personal televisions throughout most of the fleet, American’s first class is more spacious, and I find it makes a material difference in terms of comfort
- While United is heading in the right direction with reconfiguring its narrow body jets, the current state of United’s domestic narrow body fleet is inconsistent, and some of United’s 737s have very outdated interiors, with seats that are downright uncomfortable to sit in
American first class amenities
Lol, what amenities? With the exception of select transcon flights, don’t expect much in the way of amenities on American’s domestic first class flights. There are no pillows, blankets, or any other sort of amenity. The closest thing you’ll get to an amenity is a pre-departure beverage, and I’d say crews are 50/50 on providing those.
When pre-departure beverages are offered, sometimes the crew will just come through the cabin with a tray of water, while other times they’ll do drinks of choice. On this flight there were no pre-departure drinks to speak of.
American 737 first class entertainment & Wi-Fi
American’s Boeing 737s all feature Viasat Wi-Fi, which is among the fastest Wi-Fi you’ll find in the skies. Unlike on Delta, Wi-Fi isn’t free. You can either buy a monthly plan, or there are Wi-Fi passes available for sale on each flight, with pricing being dynamic. On this flight, a one hour pass cost $15, while a full flight pass cost $19.
I have a monthly membership, so was able to use that to stay connected throughout the flight. The speeds were excellent.
Since American doesn’t have seat back entertainment on its 737s, the airline instead has streaming entertainment, so you can connect to American’s Wi-Fi portal, and then choose from a variety of movies, TV shows, and more. While I have a strong preference for seat back entertainment, the selection is at least quite good, with lots of current movies, TV shows, and even live TV.
American 737 departure from Miami
Boarding is never really efficient on US airlines, and this flight was no exception. Boarding took around 30 minutes, and wrapped up around 2:15PM. The main cabin door was closed immediately, and then we pushed back a moment later.
At that point the manual safety demonstration was performed. American has an audio track for the safety information, and then the flight attendants stand in the aisle during that time.
Our taxi started at 2:20PM, and was super quick.
By 2:25PM we were holding short of runway 8R, and a minute later, were cleared for takeoff.
We had a smooth climb out, and as usual when departing Miami, the views were gorgeous.
As is standard on US airlines, the seatbelt sign stayed on for around 30 minutes. At that point we leveled off, and the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of 2hr20min, and our cruising altitude of 35,000 feet.
American first class lunch service
Lunch was being served in first class on this American flight. American lets you pre-order your meals in first class, which gives you access to a larger selection of options than onboard. Below were the options for this flight. It always makes sense to pre-order, since you may very well not get your first choice if you don’t do so.
Service began about 40 minutes after takeoff, with warm towels being distributed.
At that point drink and meal orders were taken. For what it’s worth, below is American’s drink selection (this is also what’s available in economy, which is why pricing is listed as well).
I ordered a Diet Coke to drink, which was served with warm mixed nuts, a staple of American’s first class experience.
For my meal, I selected the harvest vegetable and grain bowl with roasted garlic dressing, roasted vegetables, pickled onions, lentil salad, green beans, and roasted shiitake mushrooms. This was served with some packaged sourdough flatbread crackers, veggies and hummus, and some sort of cake for dessert.
This is usually my go-to meal in American first class. It’s not great, but it’s reasonably healthy, and I’m usually not looking to eat on domestic flights anyway. I believe American has finally changed its meal cycle in the past couple of weeks, which is long overdue, because the airline doesn’t alternate options often enough.
American 737 first class lavatory
American has a lavatory at the front of the first class cabin on the 737. Note that this lavatory isn’t reserved for first class passengers, but is also open to passengers in economy. The only exception is on inbound international flights to the United States.
American’s 737 lavatories are unfortunately tiny, so expect to be a bit claustrophobic. Oh, one more thing — on this flight the first class lavatory was actually out of service from the time the flight departed. So this picture was taken from another flight, as the only option on this flight was to use the lavatories at the back of the cabin.
American first class service
Service in American first class can be a mixed bag. Some crews are great, while some are not-great. The flight attendant working first class on this flight was friendly. She was doing her best, and had a positive attitude. Admittedly I intentionally limited my consumption during this flight to avoid using the lavatory, so there wasn’t much service to speak of beyond the meal.
American 737 arrival in New York
I enjoyed the views enroute to New York, and at cruising altitude, it sure was a pretty afternoon.
We started a gradual descent at 4:15PM, and 15 minutes later, the flight attendants were told to prepare the cabin for arrival.
I was on Flightradar24 for the entire descent, and the views would have been amazing, I’m sure, given that we flew right over Manhattan. However, there was virtually no visibility, so below is what the view was like out the window for most of the descent.
We finally broke out of the clouds a few hundred feet above the ground, and landed at 4:55PM. We had a very rough landing, and slowed down quickly, prior to exiting the runway.
From there we had a short five minute taxi to our arrival gate, where we pulled in at 5PM.
Believe it or not, this was my first time visiting LaGuardia Terminal B, so my first order of business was checking out the Chase Sapphire Lounge New York LaGuardia.
Bottom line
American’s 737 first class is basic, but does the trick. I appreciate American’s fleet consistency when it comes to 737 interiors, as well as the high speed Viasat Wi-Fi and pitch that’s better than on Delta. However, other than that, American first class isn’t much to get excited about.
Service can be a mixed bag, food isn’t great, there aren’t amenities, and on this flight there was even a broken lavatory. Yet living in Miami, American is typically the best choice, so on balance I’d consider American’s 737 first class to be decent enough.
What’s your take on American 737 first class?
I’ve spent 45 years flying internationally primarily from a base in Singapore, London or Hong Kong. Also had a few years in Dubai.
One thing that quoted shocked me back in the 1970s and 1980s was how different any flying within the USA or on US carriers was compared to the accepted global and international accepted standards worldwide.
Back then airport lounges operated on the basis that once inside everything on offer was free. This...
I’ve spent 45 years flying internationally primarily from a base in Singapore, London or Hong Kong. Also had a few years in Dubai.
One thing that quoted shocked me back in the 1970s and 1980s was how different any flying within the USA or on US carriers was compared to the accepted global and international accepted standards worldwide.
Back then airport lounges operated on the basis that once inside everything on offer was free. This was a globally accepted norm. Except in the USA where some lounges had “bar tenders” (totally not necessary) and certain drinks had to be paid for plus there was a tip jar!
Really?
It seems nothing much has changed. US based airlines can sell a product as First Class (sic) but no lounge access, no IFE, indifferent hit or miss cabin crews, no exclusive toilets.
My mantra for the past 40 + years has been to avoid all US carriers where possible. Difficult if you live in the USA admittedly.
My preference is always:
1 any Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, JAL, ANA, Thai etc
2 any Middle East carrier Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Oman, Gulf Air
3 European carriers Lufthansa, British Airways, etc
4 if desperate or very very cheap sale then a US carrier
There is nothing new about American Airlines 737 first class product. There's no need for a review It's the same seat that's been there for years on end.
Wow.Such drama in comments. You don’t like his style,stop reading.Civility matters.Im so tired of people being unnecessarily unkind.
My god there are a lot of triggered individuals in here. Such a strange thing to do to visit a travel blog then whine about the subjective views of the author!
I hope you ignore them and keep doing what you're doing. I don't know how else to consider a flight or hotel experience without comparing it to other companies either - the comparison with DL is really useful, thanks.
Flew AA F/C Knoxville-Miami-Roatán last month. The Knoxville to Miami and back crews were substandard. No pre-departure drinks, Flight Attendant doodling on her phone for most of the flight. The Miami to Roatán and back flights were the complete opposite. Pre departure drinks, friendly Flight Attendants. No meal service on any of the flights as they we just short of AA distance for food requirements which was a bit irritating but we made up for...
Flew AA F/C Knoxville-Miami-Roatán last month. The Knoxville to Miami and back crews were substandard. No pre-departure drinks, Flight Attendant doodling on her phone for most of the flight. The Miami to Roatán and back flights were the complete opposite. Pre departure drinks, friendly Flight Attendants. No meal service on any of the flights as they we just short of AA distance for food requirements which was a bit irritating but we made up for that by visiting the Admirals lounge (admission based on the AA credit card). Overall it an OK trip, nice to have the space and some free drinks.
Agree with the other commentator-.stop being obsessed with Delta. And your feeling of entitlement is over the top. There are real problems on this world. If you feel like you're ot being coddled enough in First Class, just deal with it.
And other commentators are correct- American Airlines is absolute garbage. Garbage.
I think you're in the wrong place. This isn't a news review or non-profit discussion board. It's a review of a flight. If you don't like subjective reviews, or disagree with them, good... that's why they're there, to help travelers make an informed choice. Calling someone entitled for a review of a First Class seat on a blog dedicated to exactly that is ludicrous. There are plenty of social media places you can drag your...
I think you're in the wrong place. This isn't a news review or non-profit discussion board. It's a review of a flight. If you don't like subjective reviews, or disagree with them, good... that's why they're there, to help travelers make an informed choice. Calling someone entitled for a review of a First Class seat on a blog dedicated to exactly that is ludicrous. There are plenty of social media places you can drag your vulnerability to and mouth off there instead. Leave this for those who travel and have an interest in the experience of others.
Truly, AA has the WORST domestic First Class of any US carrier! That seat is the MOST uncomfortable and should not be considered First Class. I’ll add it’s also terrible to Hawaii mostly due to exceptionally high seniority flight attendants that for the most part, just want to chat in the galley. If it wasn’t for the miles, I would not be taking them to Paris in April.
American has twice a day on the mia nyc route the 777 with lie flat seats
The last time I flew this up front, the smoked salmon platter was pretty good...
Serving cauliflower and lentils to people stuck in a metal tube with other people is a bad idea.
I think I'm be one of the few out there but I love the Golden Chicken meal. It's pretty healthy, especially since the size of the chicken breast tends to be a good size...so you get a good protein boost with that.
Wow, you have low standards. 3 1/2 stars for a meal that isn't even hot and no restroom. That feels like a 2 1/2 star experience to me!
Your reviews should be consistent across all airlines you fly. Would you *really* have rated a 3 hour business class flight 3 1/2 stars with this type of cabin and service had it been operated by Emirates or Qatar???
Jake, I think you have to rate a service against the expectations for that service. If you rated this against Emirates, then every domestic us flight would get 0 stars. That may be accurate but it's not very informative.
I understand that Lucky lives in an AA fortress hub. I have said this before, and I know I am "irrelevant" (according to my much younger partner..) BUT: I actively avoid AA. After 4 really bad back to back F class trips a few years ago.... NEVER again. NEVER. My money and miles goes to a quality and consistent experience which is always on Delta.
Give AA another chance you might get lucky and have a decent flight. Ben can fly AA 80% of the time and still fly United or Delta to places like NY, CHI , and LA utilize the US3 despite being hub captive but Ben also values EXP which is an all in. Doing the above would drop down to PPRO.
Looks fine. You got something to eat and drink. I'll generally trade decent legroom for a TV screen, anyways.
Just flew MEX-PHX on AA 737-8. The flight attendant was excellent, offered drinks prior to departure. It was a full flight. I was very impressed. We ordered the Sea Bass which was very tender and flakey. I could have done without the "red sauce" that was put on top of the fish, but managed to scrape it off well enough and melt my butter pallet on top. Who comes up with these sauces anyway?Everything else...
Just flew MEX-PHX on AA 737-8. The flight attendant was excellent, offered drinks prior to departure. It was a full flight. I was very impressed. We ordered the Sea Bass which was very tender and flakey. I could have done without the "red sauce" that was put on top of the fish, but managed to scrape it off well enough and melt my butter pallet on top. Who comes up with these sauces anyway?Everything else served with this entry was actually good. Desert was some kind of custard, and quite tasty. Order coffee and Baileys to go with. Great option for flying out of Mexico City on a short 3 1/2 hour flight
It looks like you might have been on the MAX. The first MAX AA received worked MIA-LGA-MIA it has ever since. I’ve noticed even a brand new MAX has interior issues. The new engines are great and not as loud but not much else to be excited about.
The chicken parmigiana is by far, their best dish for this cycle, the golden roast chicken next. The shawarma chicken is my least favorite. The grains...
It looks like you might have been on the MAX. The first MAX AA received worked MIA-LGA-MIA it has ever since. I’ve noticed even a brand new MAX has interior issues. The new engines are great and not as loud but not much else to be excited about.
The chicken parmigiana is by far, their best dish for this cycle, the golden roast chicken next. The shawarma chicken is my least favorite. The grains bowl (it is what it is). If it tasted good, it wouldn’t be healthy.
Oh. They are instructed not to do predeparture beverages if there is any delay as to not stop boarding to serve drinks and board as quickly as possible.
Glad you liked the new seat. I’d say the cushion is the best part when it’s brand new but it goes flat and does not recover its thickness
I would feel foolish spending a lot of money and effort to earn Ex Plat for just the “chance” to receive this type of upgrade. But that’s just me.
This is the new normal for the US3. EXP still gives you some decent perks. Also, what's not known is does an EXP get a better upgrade offer than others? Cash upgrades seem to be just like fares, they can change at a second's notice and the decrease can be substantial. Also, EXPs after CKs will get first shot at any F seats that goes unsold. But PLT and GLDs should give up the dream.
I've never been on a DL flight - on one of their mainline aircrafts - and had such a paltry experience as what's featured here. Even on their regional aircraft, there's always been a pre-departure drink served by friendly and proactive crew. For what the US3 charge for F nowadays, there's no comparison for me between United, Delta, and AA - I always go with Delta, and I live in both United's and AA's super hub of Chicago...
Well, Chris, some of us have to travel for business and/or want to travel on vacation and sometimes AA is the best choice. Some people may spend a bit at the end of the year to get over a status hurdle. But many just get status because the airline is the one that goes where we do. As of today I have 434K LPs for 2023. And I dislike American pretty intensely. But it goes...
Well, Chris, some of us have to travel for business and/or want to travel on vacation and sometimes AA is the best choice. Some people may spend a bit at the end of the year to get over a status hurdle. But many just get status because the airline is the one that goes where we do. As of today I have 434K LPs for 2023. And I dislike American pretty intensely. But it goes where I need to go. Further Ben has said he doesn't go out of his way to earn EP anymore. But if the airline goes where you need to be, you get status and sometimes you get an upgrade.
That’s a lot of flying…..my condolences. Maybe use Zoom when possible…be sure to kiss your kids & wife the next time you see them
Hi Ben. Is there a reason why you don't like the bulkhead seat in this cabin?
@ Max -- I actually don't mind the bulkhead seats in this configuration. The only downside is that you can't store bags there during takeoff and landing. Since I'm on my laptop most of the flight, it's useful to be in a non-bulkhead, so I can work from takeoff until shortly before touchdown.
@ Ben - I remember you stated recently that you prefer vegetarian meals. For the purpose of the review, it would be great if you can hit one for the team once in a while and order a beef dish.
@ InternationalTraveler -- Fair enough, will do!
"This is usually my go-to meal in American first class"
I get that but for reviewing purposes it would be good too see how (bad?) the meals with protein are...
@Julia, the meal Ben had does have protein. You mean with animal protein.
Yeah, that's what I meant. Just how rubbery and processed is the chicken on AA these days, or is it decent quality?
How did you access the chase lounge on arrival? I thought it was only for departing passengers within 3 hours of scheduled departure?
I prefer no IFE. Too many interruptions from crew announcements and someone pecking on the back of my seat.
Grain bowl is boring af but you surely have to give them credit on that garlic dressing.
No assurance the grain bowl is doing you any health benefits. Nutrients often need oil/fat source to be properly absorbed. Nutrients are lost to oxidation so a pre-prepared meal (i.e. leftovers, which is what airline food is) is not as nutritious as fresh.
Lentils have to be sprouted and soaked. There are also various (unknown) combinations of nutrients that are more effective (interaction) together, and there are also various cases of "anti-nutrients" where eating 2...
No assurance the grain bowl is doing you any health benefits. Nutrients often need oil/fat source to be properly absorbed. Nutrients are lost to oxidation so a pre-prepared meal (i.e. leftovers, which is what airline food is) is not as nutritious as fresh.
Lentils have to be sprouted and soaked. There are also various (unknown) combinations of nutrients that are more effective (interaction) together, and there are also various cases of "anti-nutrients" where eating 2 things prevents you from absorbing the nutrients of either.
Lesson learned: Cook Mediterranean-style meals at home, splurge on the food you like when eating out.
Would note that AA is still flying 777's between MIA and JFK that you can book for the same price as domestic first class. Flew down with the family for president's week vacation, got a 777-200 on the way down with the reverse herringbone seats and yesterday took the 777-300 on the way back where we sat in the soon to be discarded actual first class seats. Obviously most of the time will get a...
Would note that AA is still flying 777's between MIA and JFK that you can book for the same price as domestic first class. Flew down with the family for president's week vacation, got a 777-200 on the way down with the reverse herringbone seats and yesterday took the 777-300 on the way back where we sat in the soon to be discarded actual first class seats. Obviously most of the time will get a 737, but sure was a comfortable way to fly between Miami and NY (and makes up for the so-so food).
Cool story bro. I must’ve flown jfk Mia six times on the 77W in seat 1A during COVID.
In Ben’s case , flying into LGA is perfectly fine. All you have to do is take a ride share down to JFK.
@Ben - AA seatbacks have two different ways to hold a smart-phone. 1) The flip-down panel that you show in your photo, but also 2) the small grey clip/bar with an "up arrow" on it allows you to wedge your phone in - in landscape mode - at eye-level. Much easier on your neck watching a film for a couple of hours at that height.
@Ben do you usaully spin the wheel by booking economy? If so, what are your odds of getting it?
@ neogucky -- Typically I try to find a way to guarantee first class, since I don't have good luck with upgrades at all. However, this flight looked like a slam dunk, as almost no first class seats were taken a few days out, the exit rows looked pretty empty, etc.
Ben, would you be willing to share your estimated rolling LP balance? I'm always curious, where you have to be to have good luck getting upgrades. I'm ending the year around 450K and then I'll earn 250K in early march, so I'm curious if I might actually start to see some upgrades out of DFW at ~700K LP rolling balance.
Not a bad review but a few things need to be addressed.... no need to constantly bring up what Delta offers when you are reviewing another airline. If you are obsessed with Delta, Fly Delta, PERIOD. Everything travel related is NOT centered around Delta. FACT.AA chose not to offer inseat IFE.....deal with it, if you require it, AA is not for you. Proper bulkhead? How about 'not the older tradional bulkhead"....it is lighter weight, looks...
Not a bad review but a few things need to be addressed.... no need to constantly bring up what Delta offers when you are reviewing another airline. If you are obsessed with Delta, Fly Delta, PERIOD. Everything travel related is NOT centered around Delta. FACT.AA chose not to offer inseat IFE.....deal with it, if you require it, AA is not for you. Proper bulkhead? How about 'not the older tradional bulkhead"....it is lighter weight, looks fine and serves the purpose. Mesh curtain? The mesh curtain is REQUIRED by Homeland Security after the 9/11 attacks.....not even debatable for a US based carrier. I do agree that pillows and blankets should be offered in a Premium Cabin but this may still be a post covid hangover effect. No amenity kit......it is a Domestic Flight, what next Pajamas and slippers? Four meal options on a three hour flight is more than adequate and if an individual still has 'issues'......you may want to start your own airline or charter one. People have unrealistic expectations when it comes to satisfying these expectations. As much as I enjoy reading some of these reviews from Bloggers I also like to point out that your commentary is often times nothing more than STIRRING the Pot are creating unnecessary drama when there doesn't need to be. There is plenty that I do not like about airlines,hotels & restaurants but I accept them for what they are and I sure as hell am not fixated on "What would Delta do".....that is complete horseshit.
@ andy -- Are you feeling okay?
While his comment is a little strongly worded, there is a difference between a review and a comparative review.
Ironically, it is precisely because I frequently bring comparative industry information to my comments and alot of people don't like it - even though I believe it is important. I also think there is value in comparing each service aspect - just compare like to like - ie AA, DL and UA FC is comparable...
While his comment is a little strongly worded, there is a difference between a review and a comparative review.
Ironically, it is precisely because I frequently bring comparative industry information to my comments and alot of people don't like it - even though I believe it is important. I also think there is value in comparing each service aspect - just compare like to like - ie AA, DL and UA FC is comparable but QR is not comparable to US carrier business class or even AA's soon-to-end international FC.
There is also a subjective weighting of all of the factors... you and others regularly talk about an inch of space here or there whether the issue is domestic FC or the DL 767-300ER D1 seat.
For alot of people - the ease of dealing w/ DL and the generally better customer service is worth it.
Cranky has an article today on yet one more aspect of AA driving away premium customers, esp. those that have their travel managed through smaller agencies.
Everyone makes their choices as to how they weigh each product attribute.
Comparing aspects is useful, as one would think those who are truly looking for a review of such a banal domestic flight are comparing why they might select American or a competitor. You or I know what we'd get on just about any choice in the market but we aren't the target audience I'd assume.
I deal with American given I live near Charlotte and they have a frequently inexpensive First product (or easy...
Comparing aspects is useful, as one would think those who are truly looking for a review of such a banal domestic flight are comparing why they might select American or a competitor. You or I know what we'd get on just about any choice in the market but we aren't the target audience I'd assume.
I deal with American given I live near Charlotte and they have a frequently inexpensive First product (or easy upgrades with my AS MVP status) nonstop to just about anywhere in Eastern time in about 2 hours or less. Delta went from my favorite domestic carrier to where I will only fly them if they are cheapest/most direct after a marked degradation in service on short haul and some very poorly handled irregular operations. I'm sure Delta will get back to where it was and the recent RIF in needless blue pants/brown shoe MBA brigade is a good start.
@upstarter: Correct. That would make running the blog much easier. "I took a flight. The end."
again, all you expressed is based on how you weigh personal attributes.
Given that you are in the CLT area, you have the same hub loyalty that every airline has - and is esp. acute in CLT given how much more air service the city has compared to its population.
DL has obviously struggled to recover service (human) levels but is still perceived as good as or better as AA and UA.
...
again, all you expressed is based on how you weigh personal attributes.
Given that you are in the CLT area, you have the same hub loyalty that every airline has - and is esp. acute in CLT given how much more air service the city has compared to its population.
DL has obviously struggled to recover service (human) levels but is still perceived as good as or better as AA and UA.
and DL is building a SkyClub in CLT so they clearly see the growth of their business there. and enough loyalty.
Ben also is hub captive and I wouldn't expect him or you to not consider loyalty benefits as part of your decision making process. DL just happens to be the 2nd largest carrier in both MIA and CLT.
and remember that some people have said on here that they are tired of seeing reviews of QR and E. Asian airlines to the neglect of US carriers. Ben is responding to that w/ this article. The only point is whether he has enough of a basis for currently and directly comparing AA to DL domestic FC on a Florida to NYC route - and I will leave it to him and his readers to decide if his comparisons are accurate.
Would be happy to see @Tim Dunn's view on your comment......
This comment begs a question; if you weren't to review the features you criticize being discussed, @Andy, what would you be left with to review? "Here's the plane, and then we boarded, and then we flew, and then we landed, and then I got off"? I feel that many times over it's been mentioned that Ben isn't a good writer - which is fine - because this is a blog, and he makes up for...
This comment begs a question; if you weren't to review the features you criticize being discussed, @Andy, what would you be left with to review? "Here's the plane, and then we boarded, and then we flew, and then we landed, and then I got off"? I feel that many times over it's been mentioned that Ben isn't a good writer - which is fine - because this is a blog, and he makes up for this shortcoming with light-hearted commentary and decent photographs. (And it really is remarkable how he gets his photos without breaching the privacy of other passengers. Top marks for that!) He still needs to review something regarding the flight though, and to make all these suggestions here is frankly borderline immature and I am also detecting malevolence. Whether this is intentional or not from you I honestly have no idea. It would be necessary to meet with the people who write comments like this to perform a sort of pseudo interrogation of their motives, or at the least get a gauge on their opinions of other things without leading on that I was trying to understand their thoughts and motives for a specific comment they made here. Somewhere disarming and non-confrontational would be, e.g. at a cafe, gym cardio room, or a casual conversation if you were seated near each other at the same restaurant for one of the three major meals of the day (b'fast/lunch/dinner). Those Chinese restaurants with the big circular spinning tables always crack me up. I don't know which law of physics applies to the situation but you know when you spin it too fast and it causes the dishes to sometimes wobble outwards! Lol.
The only explanation for the umbrage taken by @andy is that he works for AA.
Tim D your comments wouldn't be so bad if you weren't such a shill for Delta.
first, someone specifically included my name in the conversation before I ever joined it. And I probably would not have jumped into this article other than to read it.
Second, there is nothing "shilling" here in noting that DL is clearly doing quite ok and is AA's principle domestic competitor - and is growing its premium revenues in part because of the repeated missteps on AA's part.
DL simply delivers a higher quality...
first, someone specifically included my name in the conversation before I ever joined it. And I probably would not have jumped into this article other than to read it.
Second, there is nothing "shilling" here in noting that DL is clearly doing quite ok and is AA's principle domestic competitor - and is growing its premium revenues in part because of the repeated missteps on AA's part.
DL simply delivers a higher quality product and no one would objectively disagree with that.
Some people "settle" for less because there are other factors involved which I noted.
You, like others, come out of the woodwork when anything negative is said about AA.
Do you see me in here defending AA? Lol.
"And I probably would not have jumped into this article other than to read it"
And yet, you came to the comments section on your own...nice try, shill boy.
DL might be better than UA and AA in some areas, but is lacking when compared to many non-US based airlines.
once again, your comprehension of the basic facts is lacking, to say the least.
First, Ben specifically referred to Delta and compared his experience between AA and DL. This whole sub-thread is someone's objection to that.
Second, someone else specifically asked what I thought before I even participated in the thread.
Third, I specifically said that some people value different factors and that Ben and NedsKid have valid reasons including loyalty program...
once again, your comprehension of the basic facts is lacking, to say the least.
First, Ben specifically referred to Delta and compared his experience between AA and DL. This whole sub-thread is someone's objection to that.
Second, someone else specifically asked what I thought before I even participated in the thread.
Third, I specifically said that some people value different factors and that Ben and NedsKid have valid reasons including loyalty program participation to be hub loyal.
I hardly see where I jumped into the discussion on my own and certainly not to shill for Delta.
Me thinks you are a tad sensitive. Actually, a whole lot sensitive.
So what if he referred to Delta? That was still enough to trigger you to read the comments for some reason. It isn't like being mentioned in the comments section send you some kind of notification. So your comment about "would not have jumped into this article other than to read it" is a bit false.
You act like this is the first time you have jumped in about anything regarding Delta. I'm not the...
So what if he referred to Delta? That was still enough to trigger you to read the comments for some reason. It isn't like being mentioned in the comments section send you some kind of notification. So your comment about "would not have jumped into this article other than to read it" is a bit false.
You act like this is the first time you have jumped in about anything regarding Delta. I'm not the sensitive one here, you are the one who seems triggered every and any time Delta is mentioned and has to remind us how it is the greatest airline to ever exist since planes were invented.
yeah, you are hypersensitive.
Ben at least makes comparisons between like airlines. and his comparison is accurate for the most part.
Non-US airlines can't and don't fly between NYC and FLA.
and since you are already wound up, just wait till DL starts MIA to S. and Central America service on its own metal. Your head will burst.
Lol keep on shilling Delta, I hope they pay you well enough for your posts on here and all the other blogs you post on.
"Non-US airlines can't and don't fly between NYC and FLA."
Not relevant at all to what I said. But keep shilling Delta lol.
Wow, the colors on that plate!
The catering on these domestic flights is really shocking. JetBlue mint is really the only way to go. I'm all for them offering a domestic first non-lie flat product with their great service + catering. Would pay for it every time.
if only they could get you and your bag to your destination within a few hours of the scheduled time... JetBlue woudl be amazing!
Regarding food, what are those red/green scoops? They taste horrible and I have no idea what they are. Some sort of bean paste?
The review omits a description for them. I assume Ben is as perplexed by them as I am.
@ Pat -- Hah, yeah, I think they're some sort of a hummus type thing? It tastes to me like low quality hummus with food coloring, but who knows...
I asked a flight attendant on a recent JFK-MIA flight... she said that it has been described to them as beet hummus and edamame hummus.
The vibrantly hued mystery humus!
My problem with AA's 737 first class is that it is wholly worse than it used to be. You used to get additional pitch, a less plasticky seat, more room to stick your bag under the seat in front, and often a PTV.
In a world where premium products keep getting better and better, it sucks for me that my single favorite domestic F product got worse in every way. Long live 2018 I guess
It's too bad you didn't get better views on approach. I don't want to discount the "very rough landing," but landings at LaGuardia tend to be on the firm side due to the relatively short runway length.
"A good landing is one that you can walk away from. An excellent landing is one where you can use the plane again."