Perplexed By Flagship First
#46
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: AA 1MM/Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,240
On our recent flight in F to SYD, the FAs brought a young, blind woman up to an empty seat in F. She was traveling by herself, and the genuine care and attention shown by the FAs to this woman was really amazing. They were so good to her throughout the entire flight. I dont know where she was sitting before, but it was really great to see. Like I said in my earlier thread, Flagship F is far from perfect/world class, but I still thought it was a nice step up from AA J.
#47
formerly wchinchen
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Honolulu
Programs: AA CK, BA Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,657
#48
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: AA 1MM/Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,240
For the same price, I would never choose AA F over something like CX F or JL F, but they were not options here. The only other F option was QF, and it was a lot more.
i would pay a premium for AA F over AA J. Not 2x more, but its usually not that much of a delta.
i would pay a premium for AA F over AA J. Not 2x more, but its usually not that much of a delta.
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,344
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 453
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 453
As for your onboard experience, glad you got lucky. But this is clearly more the exception than the rule. Service levels in BA Club World are far superior to AA F most of the time.
#52
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 562
The only time I've booked AA F post COVID was award tickets that were randomly cheaper than J. But it really is all personal preference.
#53
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: AA 1MM/Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,240
Honestly I'm the opposite; I'll choose J even if the prices are not very different, but am more likely to choose CX J, JL J, or QR J over AA F, even if they cost a little more.
The only time I've booked AA F post COVID was award tickets that were randomly cheaper than J. But it really is all personal preference.
The only time I've booked AA F post COVID was award tickets that were randomly cheaper than J. But it really is all personal preference.
#54
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: New York
Programs: AA, Bonvoy, Delta, Hyatt
Posts: 99
If the service was that bad then please send a complaint to AA. It's long been known that AA F is only a very minor step above J, if you even want to go that far, and the crew can make or break the experience.
A very similar thread but with a more positive experience from this week:
A few thoughts on long haul Flagship F
A very similar thread but with a more positive experience from this week:
A few thoughts on long haul Flagship F
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,491
#56
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, IC Amb
Posts: 5,581
Just did my first AA FC leg DFW-LHR today
Purser Lynn and FA Carol were both 5-star service in the sky.
I had super low expectations as I have flown CX/SQ/BA First before.
They were so damn great, friendly, attentive, proactive, that I actually sent in a comment at aa.com about them.
F was only 10k miles more on this award trip and I feel it was worth it.
BTW....FFD was REALLY GOOD--definitely on par with CCR and The Pier at HKG in service and food. However, shame on AA for closing the Flagship lounge at 10:15pm (normal closing time) when our departure was delayed until after midnight--what a terrible business decision for an airline.
FFD menu:
Purser Lynn and FA Carol were both 5-star service in the sky.
I had super low expectations as I have flown CX/SQ/BA First before.
They were so damn great, friendly, attentive, proactive, that I actually sent in a comment at aa.com about them.
F was only 10k miles more on this award trip and I feel it was worth it.
BTW....FFD was REALLY GOOD--definitely on par with CCR and The Pier at HKG in service and food. However, shame on AA for closing the Flagship lounge at 10:15pm (normal closing time) when our departure was delayed until after midnight--what a terrible business decision for an airline.
FFD menu:
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I resided in Hong Kong for nearly a decade and practically lived in The Wing and The Pier during many, if not most of those years. This said, I just experienced the same FFD menu shown in your photo roughly a week ago. In terms of food quality, it's wasn't even remotely a close call. Also, the current menu is a massively scaled-down shadow of itself from just two years ago. Although the burger was pretty decent to be fair.
As for your onboard experience, glad you got lucky. But this is clearly more the exception than the rule. Service levels in BA Club World are far superior to AA F most of the time.
As for your onboard experience, glad you got lucky. But this is clearly more the exception than the rule. Service levels in BA Club World are far superior to AA F most of the time.
Guess we got lucky again as the Purser Kevin was super friendly, amazing, and eager to help throughout the entire flight!
Also went back to the FFD to make sure I wasn't crazy in my opinion I posted earlier. Ordered the burger and the scallops again and they both were absolutely delicious. I'll admit the menu is extremely limited (I don't know what it USED to look like as I have never been to any AA FFD lounge as I use LAX to depart the US to Asia and Europe as the lounges and flights are better) and a lot of it does NOT look appealing but I stand by my opinions on the burger and scallops being on par with any FC lounge I have ever been to except SQ's Private Room....that place was unreal the ONE time got to visit it!
This flight only cost us 10k more miles per person, I think.....I like the leather armrests on the F seats....and the smaller cabin. It certainly is not SQ/CX/ or even BA....but it was perfectly fine for our wonderful long weekend trip to London.
#59
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA Concierge Key, DL Silver, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold, Avis PC
Posts: 97
Flagship First has never had seriously differentiated soft product. Back in the day it had a nicely differentiated hard product, because Business was not lie flat, and up to half the Business class seats depending on A/C lacked aisle access. It was worth paying something to avoid a 12-hour flight in a middle seat that didn't lie flat. Once Business went lie-flat, it was pretty much over, given that AA was never going to step up to the Asian and Middle East carriers' First Class standard.
#60
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kamuela, HI
Programs: AA-Plat
Posts: 471
Looking for advice. I also posted in the Domestic Meals thread but this may be more appropriate to find an answer.
I used miles for this flight JFK-LAX in Flagship First since Business Class was not offered for award miles. My question is the preorder breakfast choices are different between Business and First where the bagel and lox choice would be my preference. Is there anyway to preorder the Business meal even though I am seated in First?
Breakfast Business Class
Breakfast
Choose Later
I will make my selection at a later time or during the flight
Traditional American Breakfast
scrambled eggs with chives, Canadian bacon, roasted potatoes, herbed tomato
Bagel and Lox
New York bagel, Atlantic salmon lox, cream cheese, boiled egg, red onion, capers
Coconut chia oatmeal
fresh berries, mango, toasted coconut, dried apricot
Mushroom, Leek and Asparagus Frittata
served with spring salad. Created and inspired with wellness in mind by James Beard Award winning author and nutritionist Ellie Krieger
Breakfast Flagship First
Breakfast
Choose Later
I will make my selection at a later time or during the flight
Traditional American Breakfast
scrambled eggs, bacon, roasted potatoes, herbed tomato
Steel Cut Oatmeal
with coconut milk, chia seeds and fruit toppings
SMOKED SALMON FRITTATA
potato, zucchini, dill, tomato jam, fresh spring greens
Avocado Toast
rye toast, avocado, lemon vinaigrette dressing, pine nuts, parmesan, with fresh arugula
I used miles for this flight JFK-LAX in Flagship First since Business Class was not offered for award miles. My question is the preorder breakfast choices are different between Business and First where the bagel and lox choice would be my preference. Is there anyway to preorder the Business meal even though I am seated in First?
Breakfast Business Class
Breakfast
Choose Later
I will make my selection at a later time or during the flight
Traditional American Breakfast
scrambled eggs with chives, Canadian bacon, roasted potatoes, herbed tomato
Bagel and Lox
New York bagel, Atlantic salmon lox, cream cheese, boiled egg, red onion, capers
Coconut chia oatmeal
fresh berries, mango, toasted coconut, dried apricot
Mushroom, Leek and Asparagus Frittata
served with spring salad. Created and inspired with wellness in mind by James Beard Award winning author and nutritionist Ellie Krieger
Breakfast Flagship First
Breakfast
Choose Later
I will make my selection at a later time or during the flight
Traditional American Breakfast
scrambled eggs, bacon, roasted potatoes, herbed tomato
Steel Cut Oatmeal
with coconut milk, chia seeds and fruit toppings
SMOKED SALMON FRITTATA
potato, zucchini, dill, tomato jam, fresh spring greens
Avocado Toast
rye toast, avocado, lemon vinaigrette dressing, pine nuts, parmesan, with fresh arugula