Review of American Airlines flight San Francisco New York in Premium Eco

Airline American Airlines
Flight AA 12
Class Premium Eco
Seat 12D
Aircraft Airbus A321
Flight time 05:47
Take-off 02 Oct 15, 11:13
Arrival at 02 Oct 15, 20:00
AA   #69 out of 96 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 591 reviews
jetsetpanda
By 2687
Published on 3rd October 2015
Hi and welcome to my second series to GIG in my quest to achieve EXP with AA. After my first trip last month, I already became PLT so thanks to my status with access to lounges, this trip which is mainly in Y was made more bearable. My schedule is as follows:

SFO-JFK on AA Y - you are here
JFK-GIG on AA Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-11776.html
GIG-JFK on AA Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-11903.html
JFK-LAX on AA J - http://flight-report.com/fr/report-11957.html
LAX-SFO on AA F - will not report


The day before I tried to check-in online and there was a glitch in the AA site, so when I arrived at the airport I also encountered a slight problem when I tried to use the check-in kiosks and an agent escorted me to the desk. The priority line at security was not bad and in a blink of an eye I was on the other side.

Time to visit the Admirals Club to take a shower. I have covered the lounge extensively on my previous report so I will jump to the shower part here since this is a new feature for me. The SFO Admirals Club is a very nice lounge and its shower reflects that impression with its spaciousness.



The handles for the shower could be better marked.

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Lounge was getting crowded.

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Breakfast selections.

photo DSC08034 (1024x683)photo DSC08036 (1024x683)


At about 10:45A I headed to the gate and once there I learned that the flight will be delayed and was now showing a dept. of 11:45A instead of 11:13A due to weather. I decided to return to the gate and this time I was welcomed by a very nice agent who issued me some drink coupons which the first lounge agent failed to do. When I said to her that I was not planning to drink she said that I could exchange it for a bottle of water instead. In the meantime she checked for my connecting flight and reassured me that I would be fine.

Plane at the gate.

photo DSC08039 (1024x683)

I surfed the computer for a few minute and gave some positive feedback to AA. Then it was time to board again and now the flight has been further delayed to depart at 12:00P instead. I was starting to get anxious but thankfully the gate agent started boarding.

I boarded the plane and there was no FA at the door. When you turned to the aisle she was standing in the bulkhead greeting.

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I settled into my seat and my neighbor appeared shortly afterwards. This was going to be a full flight.

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From the across.

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Earphone and entertainment are for sale in Y, even on a transcon.

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I ordered a Chicken Cobb salad that was decent. A bit expensive at USD 9.49 but I received a 25% discount for using the AA Citibank card to pay.

photo DSC08046 (1024x683)photo DSC08048 (1024x683)

Service by the crew in Y was friendly and they made water runs and a beverage service before arrival.

Once the plane landed I had less than an hour to connect which was doable but I still had to go to Duty Free to buy a few things for some friends. I said thanks to the purser at the door on my way out and she just smiled. As a matter of fact I did not heard any good byes from her and there were no messages about connecting gates upon landing. I ran to Duty Free and luckily a clerk helped me find all the things that I needed and on top of that gave me an extra 10% discount.
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Verdict

American Airlines

7.0/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew7.0
Entertainment/wifi5.0
Meal/catering7.0

American Airlines Admirals Club

8.0/10
Comfort8.0
Meal/catering8.0
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Services8.0

San Francisco - SFO

9.1/10
Efficiency9.5
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0

New York - JFK

8.8/10
Efficiency8.0
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0

Conclusion

An average flight on AA, but I object to the idea of charging for entertainment on a transcon route like this.

The crew in Y was pretty good, but I found that the lack of connecting gate announcements by the purser disconcerting and indifferent.

The flight was delayed by 45 min. by weather.

Information on the route San Francisco (SFO) New York (JFK)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 11 avis concernant 5 compagnies sur la ligne San Francisco (SFO) → New York (JFK).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est JetBlue Airways avec 8.1/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 5 heures et 29 minutes.

  More information

10 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 147847 by
    KévinDC TEAM SILVER 6668 Comments
    Wow, this flight was yesterday! How are you finding time to write reports on your vacay!? These kinds of delays that keep growing are stressful when you have a connection. The lack of information is even more frustrating. In the end it worked out and you were able to make your connection--an hour is plenty of time when you're staying in the same Terminal doing an AA to AA connection. I didn't know AA charged for the IFE...so tacky. Everyone else does it, I guess, but I thought AA was above it...guess not. I haven't sat in Y on a bird with PTVs so I didn't know, what a shame. At least there's some free programming.

    The weather problems aren't because of the hurricane, Joaquin is moving offshore just North of the Bahamas. We're had a stalled front on the East Coast that has turned into a slow moving Noreaster and brought record rains. Lots of flooding and wind problems. Luckily the hurricane won't head this way, because after all this rain, it would have been a disaster.
    • Comment 326340 by
      jetsetpanda AUTHOR 2283 Comments
      How are you finding time to write reports on your vacay!?
      - Blame it on jet lag. I was awake sitting on my bed of my hotel room and I decided to use the time productively. ;)

      I didn't know AA charged for the IFE...so tacky.
      - It's the ex-US management team at the helm. It shouldn't surprise you.

      We're had a stalled front on the East Coast that has turned into a slow moving Noreaster and brought record rains. Lots of flooding and wind problems.
      - Thanks for the clarification.

      Your support and comments are appreciated Kevin.
  • Comment 147926 by
    lagentsecret 12186 Comments
    Thanks for sharinng this FR

    Your LH bag is on strike for this routing ?

    The fruits salad and the yogurts aren't stored in a cool place ! Eek :(

    Very stressful delays

    I still had to go to Duty Free to buy a few things for some friends
    Lucky friends : even with a delay you took the time to buy them what they've asked

    See you for your next leg (already published !)
    • Comment 326344 by
      jetsetpanda AUTHOR 2283 Comments
      Your LH bag is on strike for this routing ?
      - RIP. The poor bag couldn't keep up with all the travels that yours truly does. So I got a Samsonite and the handle broke off when I tried to lift it up once I arrived in GIG. Carry on bags don't last with me.

      The fruits salad and the yogurts aren't stored in a cool place ! Eek :(
      - The salad is served at room temperature and the yogurts are on top of ice. If you see the bottom container with the yogurt all that pool of water was melted ice. I had swimming yogurt for breakfast. :P

      Very stressful delays
      - One of the prices that we pay for being frequent flyers.

      Thank you Gilbert for your comments and visits.
  • Comment 147949 by
    indianocean SILVER 7572 Comments
    Well first of all, congrats for your Platinum status. But I'm not sure that you status gives you better comfort on Y class onboard whether you are Elite or not.

    However, the pitch looks nice.

    Thank you Adan
    • Comment 326345 by
      jetsetpanda AUTHOR 2283 Comments
      Well first of all, congrats for your Platinum status.
      - Thank you but I am waiting for the end of this trip and then officially become an EXP. ;)

      But I'm not sure that you status gives you better comfort on Y class onboard whether you are Elite or not.
      - We are talking about a U.S. carrier - what do you think? I sometimes thing that it is the reverse. :P

      Thank Bernard for your comments.
  • Comment 147970 by
    Rl 777 802 Comments
    Thank you for sharing this FR with us!

    I'm glad you made your connection to GIG. Short connections are stressful indeed, especially if there's a lack of information.

    The PTV looks similar if not identical to the one used on QR's 350s and 380s. It's a shame they charge for most of the content, even on a transcon flight.

    See you!
  • Comment 148288 by
    NGO85 SILVER 1963 Comments
    Thanks for sharing this report with us Adan.

    You are just sporting all kinds of *A paraphernalia these days, first a LH bag and now a TK luggage tag!

    Earphone and entertainment are for sale in Y, even on a transcon.
    - Not suprising given the recent switches the carriers are making to the BYOIFE system for domestic flights. I don't like that they charge you per movie. It should be a fee to activate the IFE and then free use. What if you start a movie and decide you don't want to finish?

    For $10, that is pricey for a salad. But after than light breakfast you ate, you had to eat lunch. Otherwise there would be a grumpy panda on the next leg.

    As a matter of fact I did not heard any good byes from her
    - Somebody had a case of the Mondays...
    • Comment 326665 by
      jetsetpanda AUTHOR 2283 Comments
      You are just sporting all kinds of *A paraphernalia these days, first a LH bag and now a TK luggage tag!
      - I have a soft spot for *A carriers.

      What if you start a movie and decide you don't want to finish?
      - Watch at your own risk.

      Otherwise there would be a grumpy panda on the next leg.
      - You don't want to upset a panda. :P However, I must say that I had seconds on my JFK-GIG and GIG-JFK segments. I asked and received.

      Somebody had a case of the Mondays...
      - I should have fainted and see if she would react. :P

      Thank you Michael for your comments and support as usual.

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