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American Airlines

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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
As they are emerging rather well from bankruptcy, they are creating a new look and hopefully more reputable services. I was always a fan of them but not everybody else. Check out the new look! Good luck to them in the future! I think the new livery just screams AMERICUH

Old:
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New:
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Jan 17 2013 3:25PM
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 882
so they're coming out of bankruptcy and the way they chose to improve their service is....painting their aircraft


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Jan 17 2013 3:27PM
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ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
eh. american is alright..

i'll stick to my southwest or united or us airways.
Jan 17 2013 3:27PM
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 882
that being said I think it's a nicer paint job.

if they really want to make some cash though they should hire xzibit to pimp their airplanes.
Jan 17 2013 3:28PM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
Theyre receiving 600+ aircraft in the next 10 years. They just took 2 deliveries of the new 777 last month.
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New airbuses are arriving in spring:
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It'll take a couple years, but they are going to have the nicest fleet in the world again.
Jan 17 2013 3:37PM
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yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
spot on good sir
Jan 17 2013 3:41PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
Rebranding is important to shedding an image.

And like said above, they aren't just going to paint the plane.
Jan 17 2013 3:44PM
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gusestomp
Posts: 1377 - Karma: 746
I always fly jet blue.

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Jan 17 2013 3:54PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51260 - Karma: 157,386
.
Jan 17 2013 3:55PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,147

those look cool, but obviously first class.

I don't mind spending money for extra things or luxury. I will always spend more to have good tickets at sporting events or concerts, etc. but I get really really frustrated when it comes to flights, because the increase for first class is just not justifiable. For a flight that is $300 coach you'll pay more than double to sit in first class. I just can't wrap my head around that much of an increase for a couple hour flight. It should be like 100 more.

Jan 17 2013 3:56PM
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fortyvalve
Posts: 1442 - Karma: 1,570
i fly southwest every chance i get, if you get the right crew working it can be a pretty fun time
Jan 17 2013 4:01PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
Could be wrong with this, but I believe business and first class are usually targeted towards businesses, where they are just expensing the ticket and will pay pretty much anything.

A first class ticket to australia is about 6 grand.
Jan 17 2013 4:01PM
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 882
I think you're probably right, but that may also be why they went bankrupt. realistically I don't think there are that many people flying all the time to be able to fill a first class cabin with people whose companies are paying for the ticket. if that sentence made any sense.

I fly westjet whenever I can and they don't have first class. the whole plane is kinda between first class and coach.
Jan 17 2013 4:06PM
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Rialb
Posts: 565 - Karma: 154
I fly Air Canada as often as I can, but ended up having to fly AA a few weeks ago for vacation. The flight attendants were bitchy and the 767 we were on seemed absolutely ancient, my tray table wouldn't even come down all the way
Jan 17 2013 4:10PM
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Bread_Fish
Posts: 760 - Karma: 71
HA! My dad works for american and i get free flights anytime, so i can go out west all the time. They have some old stuff that could use an update, but im not gonna complain.
Jan 17 2013 4:18PM
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 882
I realize, and I don't know the break down %s of reasons for people flying, but I just don't think that there are enough people flying on their boss's dime to fill most of a first class cabin on every large flight.
Jan 17 2013 4:23PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,147

yeah they still don't fill them all though. Which is why there's always a last ditch effort at the gate to sell first class "there are still first class seats available. for $150/person you can upgrade, please come see us at the desk."

They offered it for 100/person on my flight back from Mexico and I was like "yes, let's do it" and then we went up there and they're like "oh, we don't have two seats next to eachother." fuck that.

Jan 17 2013 5:03PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Southwest flies one of the oldest fleets in the industry, unassigned seating is bullshit, no entertainment, no power ports, subpar food/beverage choices. Buttttttt generally happy and friendly staff and good service and cheap rates. Virgin America is eating into their business model with similar routes, much better amenities and comparable prices and top notch service.


Jan 17 2013 5:32PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,947
Same.

Dem cheap tickets. And 2 free checked bags.
Jan 17 2013 5:49PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
actually most airlines make more money off the first class cabin than the rest of the plane.


and also, you may prefer to fly southwest or JetBlue, but good luck flying anywhere out of the US or north America on those airlines...
Jan 17 2013 6:09PM
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proZach
Posts: 7163 - Karma: 917
my buddy is flying business class to china from newyork for work. his flight is 4400, marked up from 1100 coach.

I got to sit first class on a flight from cozumel to hotlanta a few weeks ago. and holy shit was it so much better. free awesome food, my booze was never empty, and they even spoke to me like I was better than other people (really weird). for a shit ton more money, I was like a king for 2 hours. I'll probably never fly first class again, but holy shit it's nice.
Jan 17 2013 6:18PM
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HWW
Posts: 3084 - Karma: 3,436
Prefer the old livery, maybe because I'm just so used to it.
Jan 17 2013 6:23PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,147
It's true. this is the flight that we almost took first class in recently but the seats weren't together: cancun to atlanta. This is why I wish the prices were more reasonable because DO WANT.
Jan 17 2013 7:14PM
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Flacko
Posts: 1495 - Karma: 788
this, jet blue is the best. if theres not a flight available ill take delta. but fuck us airways they always fuck the flights up, and the old American airlines planes/soulthwester planes are the loudest.
Jan 17 2013 9:40PM
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Pancake_Fucker
Posts: 1833 - Karma: 1,880
Dude air Canada fucking blows. Worst service out of them all. Not to mention if you want help locating lost bags you can basically go fuck yourself. What's that, your bag is overweight by five pounds so we will charge you am absurd amount. Westjet is way better and that's why more people prefer them over air Canada.
/end rant
Jan 17 2013 9:47PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
lol at people thinking the target customer is someone that travels once a year for their griswold vacation to disney world.


its all about building loyalty among your most profitable customers. business customers.

cant say ive sat first / biz class on anything other than Delta equipment, but the service and product were top notch IMO with the lay flat seats.

also just plain first class is pretty nice when your drink is never empty and you get treated like AN ACTUAL HUMAN BEING. instead of steerage.


that said, the service ive had on european airlines, (lufthansa) (SAS) was incredible, even in the coach cabin, i cant imagine what first would be like.


also southwest is the grayhound of the sky, spotting southwest customers in the airport is like spotting zebra's at the zoo. although damn do i love cheap flying.
Jan 17 2013 9:56PM
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Lick
Posts: 1927 - Karma: 518
I've only flown Delta and AA, but fuck Delta. Flew them a few months ago and got my flights delayed for 12 hours because they couldn't find a pilot. What kind of Airline service can't find a fucking pilot? They ended up giving us $50 gift card and a shitty fucking hotel for the night, never flying them again
Jan 17 2013 10:27PM
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CashmereCat
Posts: 2211 - Karma: 2,394
Agreed delta fucking blows, but I wrote them a letter after a very shitty experience and use the voucher they gave me to fly to Colorado
Jan 17 2013 10:35PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,147

I know it isn't-- but i wish first class was available to everyone, or at least some sort of an upgrade, it shouldn't be the 50.00 shit seat or the 5000 good seat. why not have a middle class?

see what i did there?

Jan 17 2013 10:41PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Tons of flights/flight lines have "middle classes". It's called business class or some call it economy plus.

But honestly, I fly a TON on every airline imaginable and I honestly couldn't tell you I have a favorite. They all are pretty much the same overall in my opinion. I guess I try to fly Southwest when I can because it's so cheap, but they definitely have the most plain and cramped cabins I've been in recently.
Jan 17 2013 11:05PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
economy comfort blows ass. The only way i will ever sit in one paying is if its a free upgrade situation.

we should start an airline called "middle class airlines" "we are not the 99 or the 1% we are AMERICA!" where everyone gets moderately comfortable seat.


for getting good seats a little geeking out goes a long ways. for example there are planes I would way rather sit in coach in than other planes. for example i would way rather sit coach in an EMB 190 than a 737 or 320 from the early 90s. However a seat back TV goes a long way in having me be a happy camper.
Jan 17 2013 11:15PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,147

yes seat back tv for sure. the last flight i had was a 767 i believe and they were like "attention all passengers, the tvs in the backs of the headrests are broken, sorry" for a 6.5 hour flight from Atlanta to Seattle- sucked. Back row too which means no recline.

I'm just going to start looking up the floor plans of the planes im on to know which row to pick so that I'm not in the back row, and get the exit isle if possible, etc.

But at the end of the day I just want first class.

Jan 17 2013 11:20PM
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Gnarbangalakazoo
Posts: 561 - Karma: 262
Me too, always helpful, when I need to bring my bass somewhere I always carry it on. Their technically not suppose to allow it. But every time i've been on Jet blue they help me find room and could not be more helpful. Best airline for sure.
Jan 17 2013 11:51PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
a careful trick, NEVER sit right in front of an exit row. They dont always recline. (major bummer)
Jan 17 2013 11:56PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
airlines used to have great service.


'course a single ticket from New York City to miami, one way, was probably around $600. These days it would probably be about $150.


The thing about flying is that it's no longer a luxury. People dress like they're taking a bus, act like assholes, and expect everything in return for a minimal cost.


If you want to get from point A to point B, fly economy. If you want to enjoy the traveling as much as the destination, fly business/first. Can't afford it? Deal with it. I really want a brand new Audi, but I can't afford one. I don't complain though because my current car does the job just as effectively.

Jan 18 2013 1:17AM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
A lot of this stems from deregulation, when they couldn't compete on price they had to compete on service. Now that they can compete on price, they don't have to worry about amenities as much.

Jan 18 2013 2:13AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
That just looks outdated compared to Swiss/Lufthansa or any of the major Asian airlines. They all provide far better service too.

But instead of respraying, AA should update their first/business lounges, the last time I visited one all they had where carrots and ranch dip. All the competitors have at least a buffet with fresh food and the better ones have a kitchen that will cather to all your demands.
Jan 18 2013 2:25AM
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 297
I've only flown USAir first class and one or two legs in coach. But First class is amazing. People always ask me why I choose first class and they don't realize the jump in the quality of equipment and service. In Chicago this summer, I walked thru a security line with about 10 people in it, while hundreds waited, thanks to my first class tickets.

As previously mentioned, the attendants actually treat you like a human. They are much happier and more personal and attentive than those in coach. By the time coach started to board, I'm always sitting there, ready to go and always have a drink and sometimes a snack.

I've flown transatlantic first class a good amount and the extra legroom, personal tvs, and lets just say the seats are amazing. I'd rather pay more and be comfortable and treated well than be stuffed back in 56C between a fat guy and an old women I dont know.

With all that said, my mom and I are flying to Paris in a couple weeks from Boston and we have a stop in Germany. We are flying Lufthansa Coach. Two seats next to each in a 2 seat row. Whats it like? I've heard good things.
Jan 18 2013 8:15AM
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 297
& btw, i've flown over 60 legs. I'm 16.
Jan 18 2013 8:18AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Try Swiss first class, it's better then sex. Their staff and food are truly the best. They are also genuinely kind, not that fake Emirates smile.

Swiss first class food:
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Jan 18 2013 8:42AM
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 297
Damn. I really only fly US Air because my dad flys for work and between him and I constantly flying we've racked up tons of miles. We're Chairmans/Platinum preferred.

But ill check out Swiss for sure, that looks amazing.
Jan 18 2013 8:50AM
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theblackrod
Posts: 2162 - Karma: 575
Do want.
Jan 18 2013 10:32AM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
that food is nothing special for first class. Just about all of it is good and the same quality. Though you definitely find things you prefer.

I had an amazing a few months ago on UA flying home from paris. And to top it off they came around and made us ice cream sundaes with whatever topping we wanted.
Jan 18 2013 10:40AM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,292
You get what you pay for. It seems like some people in this thread feel that flying is right, not a privilege. The fact that you are flying...in the air...over thousands of miles in a matter of hours is most certainly a privilege, and if you want to do it comfortably then you are going to have to pay more.

When I have to fly it's almost always southwest. I don't mind, Im flying for fucking cheap so I'm not going to complain about anything.

Like mentioned above, airlines make the most money off their business and first class travelers, so why would they care about the "once a year" flyers?

Lol at people saying U.S. Scareways...
Jan 18 2013 10:55AM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
you would, ben
Jan 18 2013 11:28AM
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KZA
Posts: 3304 - Karma: 301
I studied abroad in Amsterdam and when I was moving back to DC, i first flew to Dublin for a mini-vacation. This was right around the time when the DC got tons of snow in December of 2009 (when meat heads made a trip to DC). Anyways, I had a flight from dublin to ATL and then from ATL back to DC. I get to the ticket counter and they inform me my flight to JFK has been cancelled. I guess they switch it since it would be closer, but I was pretty pissed since the flight to ATL was still schedule for take off.

After dealing with several people, the first person who had helped me came running up to me in the customer service line and said, "GET YOUR SHIT NOW AND FOLLOW ME!!" My girlfriend and I had to sprint through customs and half the dam airport to reach our plane right as they were getting ready to shut the door. Sweaty, tired, and pretty frustrated I stepped onto the plane to 2 first class seats and two glasses of champagne! Reclining seats, TV, and a 3 course meal certainly made the 5 hour flight better!
Jan 18 2013 11:37AM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11953 - Karma: 12,292
Haha. There was a reason why you were banned. Give it a rest.
Jan 18 2013 11:48AM
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
american is cool, i picked up 2 credit cards with them and am now sitting on about 90k frequent flier miles.  will be flying with them in the future


and for the first class discusion, i'd say most of the people who sit first class don't actually pay for it.  they're generally frequent business travellers who get a free upgrade because they fly so often.  not sure if this has been said already because i quit reading at some point
Jan 18 2013 11:54AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Definitely not, Swiss is by far the best in the food department, then with distance Lufthansa, and on the Asian liners I have been disappointed with their food numerous times. They just seem to prepare things a lot better at Swiss, for example, I've had Balik salmon on Cathay as well but that definitely didn't taste as good as the Balik Salmon from Swiss.

They only downside is that Swiss includes so many Swiss wines instead of French, for every French wine there seem to be two Swiss wines.
Jan 18 2013 11:54AM
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 297
First world problems... hahahah but what's Lufthansa's food like?
Jan 18 2013 12:18PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Very well prepared, it just isn't as exciting as the Swiss menu, the pretzels are great do.
Their plating is also not so pretty compared to Swiss.
But that's because Swiss has probably the largest tray tables by far in First class, it feels like you are actually dining at a table instead of a tray and it allows for a roomier dining set-up with bigger and more plates, which gives them more freedom in they way they plate their food.

Just look at the ridiculous size of their tray tables:

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Jan 18 2013 12:26PM
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