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Original poster

American Airlines

29 replies

2anddone · 07/02/2022 19:28

Has anyone flown American Airlines recently to USA?
Just booked to go to Orlando in December with British Airways and they are code sharing with AA.
We are going indirect via Philadelphia and home via Miami.
Just wondering what food, inflight entertainment, WiFi etc is like (have 2dc aged 16 and 13) so not worried if they like the food or not just need to know if I need to take extra snacks etc!!
Thank you

OP posts:
lljkk · 07/02/2022 20:15

I flew LHR MIA in December 2021.
To me it seemed like the "usual" level of everything: food, entertainment, toilet cleanliness, etc

You can usually get extra snacks -- DH & DS did. DS & DD nicked blankets, i took home headphones.

Original poster
2anddone · 07/02/2022 20:19

@lljkk thank you for your reply. Are drinks free on the flight (soft drinks not alcohol)

OP posts:
lljkk · 07/02/2022 20:23

i think the alcohol was free, not just the soft drinks. I had the cash & other family sitting othr side of plane had booze --maybe they paid by card, I Suppose.

Usually after main meal has been served you can go to those middle areas & ask for drinks, too. They will give you what is in stock.

lljkk · 07/02/2022 20:25

That MIA->LHR flight got aborted recently due to a stubborn non-mask wearer, hopefully U won't have any trouble. I suspect that I would have had a brief nuclear moment if that happened on my flight.

Original poster
2anddone · 07/02/2022 20:31

We don't go til December so hoping that masks may be a thing of the past by then! Thanks so much for your help @lljkk really appreciate it

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notimagain · 07/02/2022 20:44

You mention codeshare - are both sectors AA or is the UK -> PHL one BA?

bert3400 · 07/02/2022 20:48

Husband is currently on a code share flight with AA/BA to Miami ...said food was good and plenty of drinks . I think its a standard airline, no surprises and not that exciting. They do have good WiFi as he's been chatting to me the whole flight Hmm

RandomQuest · 07/02/2022 20:51

I think they’re really good compared to BA. You get a lot more food for starters because the portions are definitely American friendly. Last time I went BA in premium economy I was absolutely starving but that never happens on AA! If you’re booked in economy and the main cabin extra seats are available they’re worth it too.

EileenGC · 07/02/2022 21:20

I like AA more than BA for long haul. Food is decent - better than BA’s in my opinion - but I’m vegetarian, so not sure what the ‘normal’ food is like.

They pass through the aisle regularly asking if you need extra drinks, or an ice cream, but without bothering you if you’re clearly asleep or watching a movie. I’ve always found them really respectful. Compare to BA who on my last long haul with them didn’t even give me a second water bottle when I got up to ask for one.

Entertainment is fine, same as any other airline… can’t comment on the wifi as I never buy it, I like having 8-10 hours of uninterrupted peace away from the outside world Grin

But like PPs have said, who is operating the LHR-PHL leg? Both airlines fly it.

Original poster
2anddone · 07/02/2022 21:21

@notimagain

You mention codeshare - are both sectors AA or is the UK -> PHL one BA?
The London to Philadelphia flight is AA, the only BA flight is the Miami-London on the return.
OP posts:
Original poster
2anddone · 07/02/2022 21:21

@bert3400

Husband is currently on a code share flight with AA/BA to Miami ...said food was good and plenty of drinks . I think its a standard airline, no surprises and not that exciting. They do have good WiFi as he's been chatting to me the whole flight Hmm
The good WiFi will please the teenagers!! Thank you
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Original poster
2anddone · 07/02/2022 21:23

@RandomQuest what is the difference with the 'extra' seats please? I saw those available when I reserved seats but wasn't sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
2anddone · 07/02/2022 21:24

@EileenGC AA are running the London-Philadelphia flight.

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notimagain · 07/02/2022 21:36

@2anddone

"The London to Philadelphia flight is AA, the only BA flight is the Miami-London on the return."

Thanks, pre the Covid disruption BA used to carry a fair few passengers on their LHR-PHL services who then used to connect onto AA domestics, hence the question.

Have a good trip.

RandomQuest · 07/02/2022 21:44

It’s extra leg room, up front, with priority boarding. I’ve found you often get extra drink offerings by being up front plus it’s first dibs on meals. On the domestic leg main cabin extra also gets you biscuits and booze which you wouldn’t otherwise get. I think everyone gets drinks long haul but it’s been a while because my last long haul flight with AA I got upgraded to biz class, which for what it’s worth is way nicer than BA’s!

Original poster
2anddone · 07/02/2022 21:50

@RandomQuest sounds great and definitely something to look into!

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EileenGC · 07/02/2022 22:48

When I’ve flown AA domestic I’ve always had snacks and soft drinks for free. Not booze but they give you pretzels or biscuits regardless of what type of economy seat you have!

BritWifeInUSA · 08/02/2022 04:32

Haven’t flown with them in years. Not since they used to serve that congealed mess they called “pizza” in coach on every single flight. Hopefully things have moved on from that.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/02/2022 07:11

AA are not too awful as carriers go. I would take along extra snacks for them though but leave all uneaten items unless it’s sweets on the aircraft.

How long is your transfer time in Philadelphia before boarding your next flight to Orlando?

orangina01 · 08/02/2022 09:05

I just flew this route (only the direct to PHL part) at Xmas and the food was some of the worst I've had. Ice cream pots were nice. BA operates the return and the food was equally bad unfortunately. Drinks and alcohol all free on both flights in economy. I find the PHL route marginally more tolerable than Newark or JFK, not sure why. Might be something to do with the airport in Philly being less manic.

Original poster
2anddone · 08/02/2022 10:03

@AttilaTheMeerkat we have 3 hours in Philly before the connecting flight so hoping it's enough time...there is another later AA flight to Orlando that day if all else fails that we can hopefully be transferred to.

Thank you for the advice about food snacks will definitely be packed!!

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/02/2022 10:58

Have done same day internal transfers through US airports and its not recommended.

Even three hours is really pushing it; the clock starts ticking on you as soon as your inbound flight from Heathrow lands and if that is also delayed in getting to a gate you're going to be further stuffed. It could also take at least half that time to actually clear immigration and customs in Philly (not all their desks are manned by any means) so I would now consider booking onto a later flight to Orlando.

Another thing to consider here is that you will arrive into one terminal and could well leave from another.

EileenGC · 08/02/2022 11:08

I personally think 3h is an okay margin, it’s well within MCT, and PHL is not the worst airport to transit through. The OP is travelling with teens who can presumably walk briskly if needed, and they’ll have pre-approved ESTAs. The terminals at PHL are well connected, last time I transferred there from A to F gates (so opposite sides of the airport), it took less than 20 minutes.

If the first flight is delayed, it’s AA’a responsibility to book them on the next one for Orlando, although that might not be the evening flight if it’s full, they might have to wait until the day after. 3h at PHL is fine. Wouldn’t try it at O’Hare or JFK, mind you.

Original poster
2anddone · 08/02/2022 11:16

@EileenGC if I had to catch the flight the next day the world wouldn't end...I used to live in Philly so would love an excuse to show dc the city!
We land in terminal A and depart also from terminal A so hopefully immigration will be relatively swift and we will catch the next flight....nothing can be as bad as Orlando 2016 when 4 UK flights all landed at the same time and we had to wait in that queue to clear immigration with a then 7 and 10 year old!! My teens are quick walkers now...I have to tell them to slow down so I can keep up!!
Hopefully it will all be ok

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/02/2022 11:24

Three hours is bang on their minimum connecting time. Its still very tight.

Just because the airline suggests a flight that respects the MCT, it doesn't mean that you should buy it (can attest to that fact!). It is called the "minimum" connecting time for a reason: it's the amount of time that one needs to catch their connection, provided that everything goes well - which rarely occurs: your plane might be a few minutes late (check out the DoT's list of chronically delayed flights if you're travelling in the US), you may not be able to get off the plane fast enough, the terminal could be very busy, there might be a queue at passport control, etc.

"If the first flight is delayed, it’s AA’s responsibility to book them on the next one for Orlando, although that might not be the evening flight if it’s full, they might have to wait until the day after".

Indeed but if that later flight is full (as it could well be; they seem to double book their domestic flights as a matter of routine and they often ask for people to come forward to be taken off) they may not get onboard it. It's also crap because that will then incur a night in an airport hotel (because its their last flight of the day to Orlando) not to just say losing a day's holiday.

"Wouldn’t try it at O’Hare or JFK, mind you."
Indeed not!!.