Dear all,
It’s now time to fly back to Europe but in style, for this flight we could have taken British Airways with their A380 or American Airlines, we choose the later because AA is now using their latest 777-300ER on this route, main asset being the famously known Cirrus reverse herringbone seat for their Business Class passengers.
I am fond of this seat since I tried it with Cathay Pacific, it’s IMHO the best available seat on the market today and I can’t wait to try the Air France’s version later this year.
Our routing:
- Paris ORY - Madrid (Iberia, Business, A321) CLICK HERE
- Madrid – New York JFK (Iberia, Business, A330-300) CLICK HERE
- New York JFK – Los Angeles (American Airlines, Business, A321) CLICK HERE
- Los Angeles – London LHR (American Airlines, Business, B777-300ER) [YOU ARE HERE]
- London LHR – Paris ORY (British Airways, Club Europe, A320)
[LAST]
We just arrived from JFK with the new transcontinental service, and we have 4 hours de kill before our flight to Heathrow, as we are not expecting much from lounges here we headed to the In N out to sniff some fresh jet fuel XD
A380-800 Singapore Airlines
A330-200 Hawaian
B787-8 United
Back to American Airlines terminal
Security took quite a bit of time (15mn)
And let’s visit their lounge
It’s a very big lounge with an airy feeling
There is a bar
And shower facilities
But of course don’t expect anything from the buffet, we are in US afterall.
My nibble
We did some advertising too :)
Our magnificent aircraft is getting prepared right bellow us.
Boarding priorities are well respected.
We are warmly welcomed aboard and directed to our seats.
My seat
Bose headsets
Amenity kit, slippers and water
The seat is a copy of the CX version, only colours differs.
PDB soon offered by our cheerful crew, OJ for me
Comfortable duvet + pillow
Amenity kit is basic but with useful items such as tissues and pen
Safety video played
And GE90-115B powered up! I will never get tired of these monsters.
Airshow
What I really like with the Cirrus seat is the amount of space you get with the side table and the full access.
Tiny oshibori
Beverage offered with warm nuts, this time Champagne (Gosset), which was pretty good I must say.
Menu
Diner
Starter and salad presented on one tray
Starter
Thai Chicken
With grilled five-spice pineapple, watermelon and Asian mint dressing
Salad
Seasonal greens with fresh vegetables, feta and pepperoncini
With your choice of sour-cream and herb dressing or premium extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Crew are doing a good job by keeping our glasses refilled at all time, unfortunately they changed my tiny Champagne glass for a lot less elegant pot, she probably poured half of the bottle in it, kind of a waste.
For the entrées I wanted the Red Thai Curry Chicken but it was not available anymore, my second choice was the beef, hoping it will not be overdone.
Boursin Crusted Fillet of Beef
With wilted spinach, balsamic grilled tomatoes and whipped potatoes
I prefer my meat more rare, but it was pretty acceptable
Traditionnal Ice Cream Sundae
Vanilla ice cream with your choice of hot fudge, butterscotch or seasonal berry toppings, whipped cream and pecans
Diner was pretty average: chicken, beef and ice-cream even if well executed are too predictive, they should give more choice in terms of starter and dessert, and serve cheese in addition and not as part of the dessert selection.
Washroom
Before getting to sleep we gathered at the fantastic bar, they just finished setting it up and it looks fantastic with some really tasty options (but we were full).
We wanted to celebrate this flight with some Champagne and the crew asked us how many glasses do we need, I said “3” and one of the FA said “no, 4, one for me” we found it hilarious and very appropriate as we were very enthusiastic. What a change from Iberia were you are asked to leave the galley.
I slept well for 5 or 6 hours with no interruption
Economy cabin in 3-4-3 configuration (Economy Extra in 3-3-3 configuration).
As we are approaching Ireland, breakfast is served
Breakfast
Selection of fruit and breakfast breads
American Breakfast
Three cheese omelette with poblano cream sauce, herbed potatoes, turkey sausage and roasted tomatoes.
This is again basic but very well executed, the omelette was delicious with the melted cheeses.
IFE
Nice fleet
Soon enough, we are approaching Heathrow from the west
Parked at Terminal 3
Our next flight is leaving from Terminal 5, and we are following the clear signage.
Airside bus
Video:
Thank you for sharing this qualitative report, your pictures as always are stunning, I'm really surprised to see such a large jet parked so close to the terminal building, the clearance seemed quite small, impressive nonetheless.
The lounge looks aesthetically pleasing to the eye but the food offering leaves alot to be desired by international standards.
AA's business cabin is in ;y opinion very classy. I like the colors better than those of CX as I find the tones more sober. The implicit presence of wood on the tables make for an even classier experience and the seat looks as you stated, best in class.
The food offering seemed above average for an american carrier, I would've been disappointed not to try the Thai chicken, would've been my choice as well. The potions and quality seem to be there however and I think this takes precedence over a too frivolous offering. The breakfast certainly looks filling.
I enjoyed reading the report, it will be interesting to compare CX, AA and AF once the new cabin is rolled out.
Thank you William, I agree with you, lounge is nice but food selection is a joke, they could at least offered some sandwiches.
I am a big fan of this cabin and it would be interesting to compare it with AF.
Catering was ok, lack of choice is an issue nonetheless.
Thank you for this report.
It is still surprising that in the country where food is almighty you are not able to eat correctly in the airports' lounges.
Hard product looks fantastic, the meal is okay (I laughed at the boursin crusted beef, sounds weird but it looks good though) but for me ice cream is a bit of a childish dessert for a premium cabin.
I'm waiting for your FR on AF then :)
Thanks, some airlines like DL are going the extra mile with a second type of dessert like a cake, but AA only stick with their ice-cream only, you do have some sweet stuffs at the bar though.
I just can't believe you opened the Flight Report kakemone in the AA lounge. Well done!!!
The main meal you chose looks more attractive than the one yd75 ate. I would have prefered the meat rare cooked just like you. The new Cirrus seat is just amazing.
You should send the bottoms up picture to No picture airline Iberia. That proves that their crew just sucks.
Thank you Leadership
The roll-up idea was not mine but I found it brillant and funny.
I think I have never seen a rare meat on a US airline ^^
Thank you once for taking the time to read and comment this FR!
I won't comment the whole of the report as I just did it on Yd75's version of that flight.
It's a good product, you can't be over-enthousiastic for it but you also can't be totally deceived. It's making the job done.
But what is more important is a radical change for the frequent flyer. For a long time, if you wanted to fly oneworld from LAX to LHR, you would have taken BA without a doubt. And now, I think this product is over the Queen's carrier one. It does make a difference.
Thanks for sharing !
Probably this is why we dediced to try AA over BA, even if you can fly with the whalejet on the later.
Still there is a consitency issue with AA and you have to carrefuly select flights operated with 777-300ER only, and none of them are flying to Paris for eg.
See you.
You seems enthusiast by the crew but just give a 7.5. What's the point?
I'm just curious because I'm planning to have my next transatlantic flight on American and I start therefore to look into the details ;-)
Thanks a lot for your sharing - the pictures were just amazing, specially from the mid-flight buffet :)
Thanks,
7.5 is a good grade for me, but I need to penalise as I was not given my first choice for the dinner, and I found that the service lack of elegance, for eg when they served me the champagne in an unproper glass.
Beautiful report as usual. The lounge is pretty decent for a US lounge. At least you got real cheese, not the plastic wrapped stuff in the DL Sky Clubs, lol. The 77W J product is just Amazing. It really is a game-changer. DL, of course, had Cirrus way before AA and full-flat seats on the entire long-haul fleet, but DL's seats look cheap and bare in comparison. AA went on the way with all the finishings and decor--the cabin has a much more luxurious feel than DL's. The catering is predictable for a US carrier, as you mention, but they did make some effort with the presentation, sides, and the appetizer looks interesting. I don't think we'll even see foie-gras on a US carrier in J. On DL I usually get cheese and a desert, I'm sure you can on AA as well if you ask. I also wonder why only 7.5 for the crew when they sound like they were great? I've become a huge fan of the new AA livery; it is very fresh and modern and really represents AA's transformation.
Thank you Kévin, you right I prefer AA cabin over DL one, the seat looks more stylish.
I think catering on DL is better.
Thanks Leadership for this great FR.
As said in the FR written by yd75, the food seems better than from EX-LHR but it's still average.
Very nice buffet !!
Thanks Denis, buffet is very nice but catering is as you said very average.