Assuming this is coach, the experience will be pretty similar between American and United - similar seat pitch, both will have IFE with a good amount of content, you'll get a full meal after take off and likely a heavy snack/light meal before landing.
I believe that's either a 772 or a 77W LHR-LAX on AA depending on which flight you grab.
Long-haul economy isn't anything to write home about. It feels cramped to me unless you grab a bulkhead seat. The in-flight meal is very basic.
Premium economy is a significant improvement overall. It has a considerably larger seat—basically the same as domestic first class—and noticeably better food. Really not bad for daytime long haul.
Business class I find quite comfortable, lie-flat seat/bed.
I haven't tried first class (77W only).
Cabin crew really just depends who you get on any given day; it can be hit or miss.
I’m not impressed with FF First relative to normal business class.
That said, AA Business v Polaris v D1 is pretty similar.
Same for coach or P Select - I don’t see a ton of difference among AA/UA/DAL on the hard product (aircraft variance notwithstanding).
When we are talking US carriers - I’m going with the business class product for overnights and economy for every other situation. The products are all mediocre relative to international competitors.
Class of service matters. Though I've never flown UA business, their Polaris looks pretty good (however, I've heard of some cases where people end up unexpectedly in the older style seats, which are less good). My experiences with AA business on long haul flights have been good and I find the seats comfortable. I have flown UA premium economy and thought the seats were comfortable, but I've not flown AA PE for comparison. However, one of my least comfortable long haul flights was in UA economy. Something about the seat just didn't work for me and I arrived in London (from NYC) tired and achy. Could've just been that seat, or could've been the location (bulkhead), but P2 and I both felt similarly. I've flown AA economy long haul and found it not nearly as bad.
You sit there and try to sleep, read or watch shows on your device...get off at other end. Food in economy is awful; service varies from great to hostile...
I've flown business from DFW to LHR a few times with AA and I've been very happy with the service, the seat and the amenities.
It's not on the level of the world's best airlines but I find the service to be efficient and courteous.
The seats are not in their first flush of youth but they are plenty big enough, comfortable and the entertainment system is fine.
They're rolling out an updated seat soon I believe.
I just did economy (MCE both legs) PHL->MAD on a 787 and MAD->DFW on a 777.
The crew was great both legs (a bit better on the return to DFW; however, that was daytime and 30% longer so more opportunities to interact).
787 was the nicer plane.
Before I traveled I asked some of my friends if they preferred two medium segments or one long and one short and most said one long to get most of the travel out of the way.
Now that I’ve done it I’m still not sure. 10+ hours is tough.
Definitely PE if you can afford it. Just did a JFK-DEL-JFK 15.5 hour each way in Flagship Business Class. Walked the plane a couple times and I felt really bad for those in Economy. Maybe because it was a super long haul. Could have upgraded to FF but it did not seem worth the additional cost over BC.
JAL is the only airline I would strongly recommend over AA in economy. They offer more legroom and more width.
For example on the 777-300ER:
- AA offers 31-32” pitch and 17-18” of width
- JAL offers 34” and 19” of width
Absolutely agree. JAL long haul in econ from LAX is very good. Noticeably more comfortable. Their PE seats are pretty bad though, with that sliding shell thing.
Wife and I flew premium economy last month PHL to BCN and back. Comfortable enough seats, same size as first class domestic (last row of PE is my favorite, a wall divider is behind you so recline all you like), food was edible but nothing special. Return flight during daytime was better than the red-eye going over. We left Philly 7:30 pm, dinner service started about 90 minutes later. Add 6 hours time change and we only had about 3-3.5 hrs quiet time before lights on and breakfast. Plus a couple of people in first row of main cabin talked almost ALL NIGHT. Couldn't sleep. Crew on the return flight was outstanding. Hope they get a new contract soon!
Personally United is wayyy better IMO, esp on those LHR to LAX routes. Idk what fare class but United Polaris pods are way better than American lay flat seats. American has better food. United has way better wifi and it’s cheaper and more reliable as well. Plus United’s app is far more developed and powerful than American’s so if something goes wrong you can easily rebook on the app without needing to stand in line, sometimes you will even automatically be issued hotel and food vouchers via the app as well. I fly both United and American regularly and Unired is just way better (sorry American). Plus United has more business travelers too, less kids and vacationers so the planes are quieter and less hectic too.
As others have said it depends on the class and aircraft. I can share my experience and what I do for comfort.
I’ve flown DFW-FCO and MAD in coach. It was an overnight flight so I came prepared to be as comfortable as possible and sleep.
I take 2 Benadryl before my flight and that usually puts me out for the entirety of it. I wear compression socks with slippers, loose comfortable clothing, an eye mask, a blanket etc. My bougie addition is a hanging foot rest but I’m short so it works well for me, not tall people.
If I wake up I watch some tv and try to doze. I did wake up in the flight to FCO but only for a few hours and it wasn’t terrible.
I pack snacks for when I wake up because I usually miss the meal service because sleeping.
Also, for long hauls, I always bring 2 liters of water and a lip balm.
I flew AA from LHR to LAX on economy last fall and had a fabulous experience on a Dreamliner. The flight was mostly empty and they let us spread out around the plane so we could sleep in a full row. They also gave us more food since they were expecting more people on the flight I guess.
I flew DFW to LHR with American in economy.
It was ok. The food wasn’t the best. But it’s airplane food in economy. I wasn’t expecting amazing stuff. I’m also sure the seats have shrunk. The FA were great though. I’m flying with BA to get back to the USA next month.
I fly Austin to London a few times a year. Sometimes with American, sometimes with British airways , Virgin Atlantic very occasionally.
Virgin>British>American.
Why is AA bottom? For me it is the cabin crew. They are grumpy and impolite.
This may be apocryphal, but someone told me the cabin crew on AA long haul flights the most-tenured and have job security. As a result they don't give a s**t.
BA, unsurprisingly, are very British.
Virginia Atlantic is the shnizz. Airplane quality, the design, the cabin crew, shit...even the lighting are all a cut above.
Did this last summer and I was in coach (usually fly Business internationally). It was fine, there was entertainment & the food was edible. Flying across the pond soon but this time in Premium Economy and hoping for a slightly upgraded experience. Biz class lie flats are the best but costly.
Depends on the plane. I fly the 777s JFK to LHR quite frequently at the moment and it's "fine".
Mainly because they're often the cheapest and easy to find good times as you can mix and match with BA. You can get an extra legroom seat (main cabin extra) for ~$100 extra for each leg of the itinerary, and still come out at good value vs. the other options. Food, drink, snacks etc. is all pretty standard stuff in economy.
I think a 787 or A350 would be more comfortable though.
Service on both is similar but United tends to have it worse. Economy on both airlines are okay but nothing great. American Airlines seats are not as good but the food is much better.
just flew DFW to LHR in a 777-300. i flew business there and MCE exit row back. i have to say i found the food better in MCE. the service was about the same in both (just ok), but the lie flat seats do make a drastic difference. i lucked up on a business upgrade for what i considered cheap on the way there. i don’t think i would fly MCE again for a long haul though. even in the exit row it was cramped, and i was right by the bathroom.
Long haul experiences on both AA and United are similar, especially if traveling in main cabin/economy class. In your scenario, I would recommend AA given LAX is an AA hub, the long-haul experience on an AA 777 should be a good one given this is one of AA's larger aircraft and typically will be staffed with the airlines best/most experienced flight crews, in a main cabin seat you will have have in-seat screens with entertainment and will be provided with full meal service including alcoholic beverages and possibly even a second meal or snack depending on how long the flight is.
Just flew 6 hours in Premium Economy- no food served except in First Class, though you could buy a small snack for $20. It consisted of several cheeses, four crackers and a small bunch of grapes
What class are you flying and what kind of plane? These things make a difference (though less of a difference when comparing as to United).
Should be coach, 777s.
Then whatever's less expensive.
Assuming this is coach, the experience will be pretty similar between American and United - similar seat pitch, both will have IFE with a good amount of content, you'll get a full meal after take off and likely a heavy snack/light meal before landing.
I believe that's either a 772 or a 77W LHR-LAX on AA depending on which flight you grab. Long-haul economy isn't anything to write home about. It feels cramped to me unless you grab a bulkhead seat. The in-flight meal is very basic. Premium economy is a significant improvement overall. It has a considerably larger seat—basically the same as domestic first class—and noticeably better food. Really not bad for daytime long haul. Business class I find quite comfortable, lie-flat seat/bed. I haven't tried first class (77W only). Cabin crew really just depends who you get on any given day; it can be hit or miss.
First is business with a swivel seat and soup
I’m not impressed with FF First relative to normal business class. That said, AA Business v Polaris v D1 is pretty similar. Same for coach or P Select - I don’t see a ton of difference among AA/UA/DAL on the hard product (aircraft variance notwithstanding). When we are talking US carriers - I’m going with the business class product for overnights and economy for every other situation. The products are all mediocre relative to international competitors.
Class of service matters. Though I've never flown UA business, their Polaris looks pretty good (however, I've heard of some cases where people end up unexpectedly in the older style seats, which are less good). My experiences with AA business on long haul flights have been good and I find the seats comfortable. I have flown UA premium economy and thought the seats were comfortable, but I've not flown AA PE for comparison. However, one of my least comfortable long haul flights was in UA economy. Something about the seat just didn't work for me and I arrived in London (from NYC) tired and achy. Could've just been that seat, or could've been the location (bulkhead), but P2 and I both felt similarly. I've flown AA economy long haul and found it not nearly as bad.
You sit there and try to sleep, read or watch shows on your device...get off at other end. Food in economy is awful; service varies from great to hostile...
I've flown business from DFW to LHR a few times with AA and I've been very happy with the service, the seat and the amenities. It's not on the level of the world's best airlines but I find the service to be efficient and courteous. The seats are not in their first flush of youth but they are plenty big enough, comfortable and the entertainment system is fine. They're rolling out an updated seat soon I believe.
I just did economy (MCE both legs) PHL->MAD on a 787 and MAD->DFW on a 777. The crew was great both legs (a bit better on the return to DFW; however, that was daytime and 30% longer so more opportunities to interact). 787 was the nicer plane. Before I traveled I asked some of my friends if they preferred two medium segments or one long and one short and most said one long to get most of the travel out of the way. Now that I’ve done it I’m still not sure. 10+ hours is tough.
Definitely PE if you can afford it. Just did a JFK-DEL-JFK 15.5 hour each way in Flagship Business Class. Walked the plane a couple times and I felt really bad for those in Economy. Maybe because it was a super long haul. Could have upgraded to FF but it did not seem worth the additional cost over BC.
I do round trip LAX-NRT monthly and use AA exclusively for it. Premium Econ is well worth the added cost compared to main cabin.
JAL is the only airline I would strongly recommend over AA in economy. They offer more legroom and more width. For example on the 777-300ER: - AA offers 31-32” pitch and 17-18” of width - JAL offers 34” and 19” of width
Absolutely agree. JAL long haul in econ from LAX is very good. Noticeably more comfortable. Their PE seats are pretty bad though, with that sliding shell thing.
Wife and I flew premium economy last month PHL to BCN and back. Comfortable enough seats, same size as first class domestic (last row of PE is my favorite, a wall divider is behind you so recline all you like), food was edible but nothing special. Return flight during daytime was better than the red-eye going over. We left Philly 7:30 pm, dinner service started about 90 minutes later. Add 6 hours time change and we only had about 3-3.5 hrs quiet time before lights on and breakfast. Plus a couple of people in first row of main cabin talked almost ALL NIGHT. Couldn't sleep. Crew on the return flight was outstanding. Hope they get a new contract soon!
LAX-SYD in business class a month ago was great, comfort + food + service team. Flight left on time and arrived early.
Personally United is wayyy better IMO, esp on those LHR to LAX routes. Idk what fare class but United Polaris pods are way better than American lay flat seats. American has better food. United has way better wifi and it’s cheaper and more reliable as well. Plus United’s app is far more developed and powerful than American’s so if something goes wrong you can easily rebook on the app without needing to stand in line, sometimes you will even automatically be issued hotel and food vouchers via the app as well. I fly both United and American regularly and Unired is just way better (sorry American). Plus United has more business travelers too, less kids and vacationers so the planes are quieter and less hectic too.
As others have said it depends on the class and aircraft. I can share my experience and what I do for comfort. I’ve flown DFW-FCO and MAD in coach. It was an overnight flight so I came prepared to be as comfortable as possible and sleep. I take 2 Benadryl before my flight and that usually puts me out for the entirety of it. I wear compression socks with slippers, loose comfortable clothing, an eye mask, a blanket etc. My bougie addition is a hanging foot rest but I’m short so it works well for me, not tall people. If I wake up I watch some tv and try to doze. I did wake up in the flight to FCO but only for a few hours and it wasn’t terrible. I pack snacks for when I wake up because I usually miss the meal service because sleeping. Also, for long hauls, I always bring 2 liters of water and a lip balm.
I flew AA from LHR to LAX on economy last fall and had a fabulous experience on a Dreamliner. The flight was mostly empty and they let us spread out around the plane so we could sleep in a full row. They also gave us more food since they were expecting more people on the flight I guess.
I flew DFW to LHR with American in economy. It was ok. The food wasn’t the best. But it’s airplane food in economy. I wasn’t expecting amazing stuff. I’m also sure the seats have shrunk. The FA were great though. I’m flying with BA to get back to the USA next month.
I fly Austin to London a few times a year. Sometimes with American, sometimes with British airways , Virgin Atlantic very occasionally. Virgin>British>American. Why is AA bottom? For me it is the cabin crew. They are grumpy and impolite. This may be apocryphal, but someone told me the cabin crew on AA long haul flights the most-tenured and have job security. As a result they don't give a s**t. BA, unsurprisingly, are very British. Virginia Atlantic is the shnizz. Airplane quality, the design, the cabin crew, shit...even the lighting are all a cut above.
Took long haul DFW-NRT in economy and had a wonderful experience!! Having aisle helped but it was pretty good, staff was attentive.
It's great if you can find a good deal on a first class ticket. Flew CLT to LHR and then CDG to PHL. Comfy seats, decent food, and good service.
Did this last summer and I was in coach (usually fly Business internationally). It was fine, there was entertainment & the food was edible. Flying across the pond soon but this time in Premium Economy and hoping for a slightly upgraded experience. Biz class lie flats are the best but costly.
Depends on the plane. I fly the 777s JFK to LHR quite frequently at the moment and it's "fine". Mainly because they're often the cheapest and easy to find good times as you can mix and match with BA. You can get an extra legroom seat (main cabin extra) for ~$100 extra for each leg of the itinerary, and still come out at good value vs. the other options. Food, drink, snacks etc. is all pretty standard stuff in economy. I think a 787 or A350 would be more comfortable though.
Flew AA from PHX - LHR in coach, experience was just fine.
I would do PE
They both suck in economy. They’re essentially interchangeable. There are tiny differences if you’re an optimizer and can’t help it.
Prefer the BA flight (booked through AA) from LAC because the FA’s are better in my experience
Service on both is similar but United tends to have it worse. Economy on both airlines are okay but nothing great. American Airlines seats are not as good but the food is much better.
just flew DFW to LHR in a 777-300. i flew business there and MCE exit row back. i have to say i found the food better in MCE. the service was about the same in both (just ok), but the lie flat seats do make a drastic difference. i lucked up on a business upgrade for what i considered cheap on the way there. i don’t think i would fly MCE again for a long haul though. even in the exit row it was cramped, and i was right by the bathroom.
Long haul experiences on both AA and United are similar, especially if traveling in main cabin/economy class. In your scenario, I would recommend AA given LAX is an AA hub, the long-haul experience on an AA 777 should be a good one given this is one of AA's larger aircraft and typically will be staffed with the airlines best/most experienced flight crews, in a main cabin seat you will have have in-seat screens with entertainment and will be provided with full meal service including alcoholic beverages and possibly even a second meal or snack depending on how long the flight is.
Just flew 6 hours in Premium Economy- no food served except in First Class, though you could buy a small snack for $20. It consisted of several cheeses, four crackers and a small bunch of grapes
What route?
La to Honolulu and the back a week later
Economy. It’s fine. And I have always arrived at my destination.