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Hi
I am considering booking an American Airlines flight from LHR - JFK, LGA - MCO. Has anybody used this route before, if so how did you transfer between airports in New York and how long does it normally take. It says that it's a 777 plane, would this have seat back tv's? How is the flight with AA generally?
Also any ideas which are the best seats, as the flight is fairly empty and I have reserved bulk head seats.
Any help would be appreciated.
Claire
I fly with AA quite a lot and like it. It is a good 'no frills' airline with efficient, if not special service. The staff give out necessary info clearly and quickly on the ground, something not always the case with all airlines. In the air, they are reasonably helpful and the seating seems adequate on most planes. The 777 is rather roomier than its older cousins.
I have also connected flights between JFK and La Guardia, though not on the MCO route. There are shuttles between the airports, but we used our friends' car. The journey depends on the time of the day and can be quite slow at working hours, even if it is not peak time. We travelled the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) between the two airports at around 2pm on a weekday afternoon and the traffic was on the heavy side, taking about an hour if I remember right.
I fly AA to Orlando all the time from Heathrow. However I always change in Chicago or Boston as it's the same airport and much easier. Check if this option is open for you.
Dave
Claire,
I flew LHR-MIA-MCO out and MCO-BOS-LHR return in 2003. The bulkhead seats on 777 are fine and have flip-up TV screens with the downside being fixed armrests. The BOS gateway for us was better as it splits the flight up quite nicely assuming that the stopover time is quite short. Don't forget that the 777 will only be on the transatlantic leg and the internal US flight will be either an MD-80 or 767 with no entertainment (take a good book!!), although the legroom on the internal flight is still far better with AA than you will ever get on a European flight. I had no issues and I am 6'4". We got a great deal with this routing, however this was 2003. We thought that AA were great and I wouldn't hesitate to use them again if the gateway/stopover was good - as Dave says maybe Boston or Chicago might be better than having to cross 'town' in NY! Have a good one whatever you end up doing.......
Flying out is ok....however if you check my 'bumped' thread, you will see i had great difficulty in getting home again. So double double check that you actually have a reserved seat number, because if you have a definite date to get home again you might have problems, because i just returned yesterday and i did.
Only Flown with AA twice, in my experience, FANTASTIC airline! I think we also change at Chicargo, it was , not done the LHR - JFK, LGA - MCO though so can't comment on that. But we were very impressed with leg room, seat sizes, large screens at back of seats, food....everything actually!!!:)
Thanks everyone for your help.
I have looked at the Manchester - Boston route but it's on a 757, does that make any difference to the leg room? Will all flights have seat back tv's.
Thanks again.
Claire
The MAN-BOS is a new route starting later this year (in May I think). American are using a domestic 757 with a 3-3 configuration. I am pretty sure that it isn't 1 of the newer planes because it is only offering economy fares but there are few of the old first class seats at the front of the plane which can't normally be booked in advance.
I would be very surprised if there are seat back TV's (or indeed any visual entertainment). I am also pretty sure it won't be 1 of the 'More Room' planes.
The only attraction for me is that I think this route must be the shortest transatlantic trip available (under 6 hours on the return).
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Claire M
Thanks everyone for your help.
I have looked at the Manchester - Boston route but it's on a 757, does that make any difference to the leg room? Will all flights have seat back tv's.
Thanks again.
Claire
[/quote]
In my view the 757 is not a good aircraft for any transatlantic route, I used to be cabin crew and have operated the New York route on a 757, is it not good for passengers and crew alike.[msnscared]
I agree completely - what are American doing with this new route? I don't see many people being impressed with it using such an unsuitable aircraft.
I will rule out the Manchester flight!
Claire
Very wise I think!
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Claire M
I will rule out the Manchester flight!
Claire
[/quote]
Good move!!![msnwink]
Although there has been no official announcement, I have been told that starting from March this year American Airlines are to reduce the seat pitch(legroom) on all their domestic and international flights to 32 inches. I had this confirmed verbally by AA on the phone.
I know for many of us the extra legroom - “more room in coach” – was the main, if not only, reason for flying with AA. It will make their flights a lot less attractive.
The AA Manchester - Boston route operated last year and I used the route twice. It operates in the summer only - May to October and then is replaced by the Manchester - Miami route for the winter. I contacted AA and they said there were provisional plans to make this an all year service - but it hasn't yet happened.
The 757 is Coach Class only, and as Katys Grandad said it 3-3 configuration with a 6 rows of 2-2 configuration at the front; i.e USA domestic configuration.
Early last year AA reduced the seat pitch on the 757 for internal flights, but did not do so on the 757 used last summer on this transatlantic route(it was one of the "more room in coach planes")However I am told that starting from March AA are going to reduce the legroom on all domestic and international flights to 32 inches. - See separate post.
The 757 has the old drop down screens(on domestic flights as well) - but then so does their 767 used on the Manchester to Miami and Manchester to Chicago route.
As for unsuitable. Well the 757 is used on the direct East to West coast flights in America. Manchester to Boston is only about 40 mins more flying time than, say, Boston to Los Angeles.
Personally I found the short flights outweighed any other disadvantage - it took only 5 hours on one return trip - and I have already booked for May on this route and will be using it a couple of times more this summer.
Robert
I would agree that the short flight time is a big plus and a 5 hour transatlantic crossing is something that appeals to me. However, if the seat pitch is changed as you have said, an overnight in fairly cramped surroundings won't be much fun.
Because I happen to know that you are a practised user of the AA Advantage scheme, can I ask whether you flew home in the 3-3 seats or managed to get yourself in the front?
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I would agree that the short flight time is a big plus and a 5 hour transatlantic crossing is something that appeals to me. However, if the seat pitch is changed as you have said, an overnight in fairly cramped surroundings won't be much fun.
KG
I am lucky enough to be able to book the front 2 - 2 seats in advance which is why I like that route. It also means that I don't have to use up my miles on upgrades; or of course pay the new US$250 co-pay to upgrade.Quote:
Because I happen to know that you are a practised user of the AA Advantage scheme, can I ask whether you flew home in the 3-3 seats or managed to get yourself in the front?[/
However I wouldn't have thought that the seats will be any more cramped in the 3 - 3 configuration than any other future AA flights; or for that matter any of the other major transatlantic operators. A seat pitch of 32" is slightly better than some of the others.
Robert