[ChrisLA]

I'm planning a trip to Europe this fall and my travel agent has given me the option of either flying British Airlines, or American to London.

I've never flown British Airlines so I was wondering overall the is service better than American Airlines. Now granted I've only flown AA domestic, and I've always thought for what the airline service is today, its one of the better ones on domestic flights.

On international I've only flown KLM, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic. My personal opinion was KLM and Virgin Atlantic offer better service and a much smoother flight than Delta (very rough flight, and so bad food had to be taken back).

Also towards the end of the 20th century I worked for an internation company that was owned by the ailines. Back then I knew British Airlines has a fairly good rating, and known for their good service. Things change, and since I work or follow these things as much, I wonder if BA is still a pretty good airline. Oh BTW BA is slighty higher than AA fares, but not that much that will make a difference in choosing. I need to know by early Wednesday to place my deposit since its all part of a package deal I'm getting.

[urbanflyer]

British Airways is leaps and bounds better than anything US carriers offer across the Atlantic. It's a no-brainer.

Another thing to consider Chris is that the smoothness of your flight has a lot more to do with the weather than a particular aircraft or airline crew.

[ChrisLA]

British Airways is leaps and bounds better than anything US carriers offer across the Atlantic. It's a no-brainer.

Another thing to consider Chris is that the smoothness of your flight has a lot more to do with the weather than a particular aircraft or airline crew.

Yeah I know, but I just threw it in there as a negative experience I had with Delta. In fact I had so many very rough flights with Delta, and once a machanical malfunction during take off with them I've not comfortable using them at all now days.



Thanks for your feedback too. I just wanted to confirm with those like you who pay close attention to whats happening in the airline industry.

[brickell]

British Airways is leaps and bounds better than anything US carriers offer across the Atlantic. It's a no-brainer.


I've only flown trans-Atlantic once and it was BA, but the service and amenities were so much better than any other flight I've been on, international or otherwise. Highly recommended.

[Lexy]

British Airways is leaps and bounds better than anything US carriers offer across the Atlantic. It's a no-brainer.




I concur. BA is the way to go across the Atlantic Ocean IMO. Superior service and all.

[Red UM Rebel]

Yea, BA is the better of the two. I prefer Air France or VA over anything else. I would avoid American like the plague

[trvlr70]

Both airlines suck, but BA probably sucks less.

[WESTSEATTLEGUY]

Choose BA, way better service and a very comfortable flight.

[akiatl261]

I would say try British Airways. Depending on the month you fly in to LOndon you might get the oppurtunity to be in the new Terminal 5 Which is all British Airways and is suppose to be a masterpiece.

[ChrisLA]

^
When will the new terminal open up?

I will flying into London the last week of September.

[Gordo]

British Airways and American don't even compare - take BA.

[PittPenn 03]

When flying to Europe always take the European airlines - they are so much better than US airlines.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Never done the trip myself, but my jet-setting friends all say British Airways is one of the best carriers they've ever flown on. Defnitely stick with BA Chris :tup:

[Daquan13]

I think you have to shop around and see which carrier is going to offer you the best service for your money.

[ChrisLA]

Thanks guys for your feedback, it looks like British Airways will be my choice. Granted the fare is slightly higher, I just want to make sure our flight will be nice and comfortable, with good service. Also I had to let my travel agent know today in order to seal the deal.

[urbanflyer]

I think you have to shop around and see which carrier is going to offer you the best service for your money.

No reason to shop around when BA is one of the choices.

[Daquan13]

No reason to shop around when BA is one of the choices.



I've never flown that airline. Of course, I've never been out of the country either.

I DID however check out the interior of a BA 777 once, and it looks like a giant movie theater on wheels!!:banana:

[urbanflyer]

The only way BA and AA are remotely comparable is meals...a sample of economy class offerings across the Atlantic:

BA:

http://www.airlinemeals.net/images/meals/britishairways524.jpg
http://www.airlinemeals.net/images/meals/britishairways523.jpg

AA:

http://www.airlinemeals.net/images/meals/americanairlines469.jpg
http://www.airlinemeals.net/images/meals/americanairlines439.jpg

BA's cabin and seats are far better: bigger LCD screen and wider seats (same aircraft compared, 777 economy class)

BA

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/80531426_4f2b17ed88_o.jpg

AA

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/288018952_fca8f3188e_b.jpg

[Red UM Rebel]

How appetizing those meals do look. SAS International actually had the best meals I have ever been served on a plane. They were phenomenal! (for airplane food of course :) )

[WonderlandPark]

Flew on a Eastern European fighter jet once (an Iskra out of Camarillo) with a 777 driver for BA based in LA.

777 interior shots :tup:

[ChrisLA]

What no wine with your food on British Airways? :(

I do like the interior on BA, but my I noticed AA have only two seats along the windows, and BA has three. I rather have to only excuse myself pass one person instead of two. We asked for window seats so it look like we'll have company.

[brickell]

Lots of free wine and drinks on my BA flight. The guy next to me made good use of it.

[urbanflyer]

Yeah Chris, that's the only problem with the 3-3-3 configuration versus 2-5-2. If you're traveling in a couple, the two seats on the windows is ideal.

[jamesinclair]

Yeah Chris, that's the only problem with the 3-3-3 configuration versus 2-5-2. If you're traveling in a couple, the two seats on the windows is ideal.


But for fairness the 3-3-3 is better. Nothing worse than being in the middle of the middle.

[nick_taylor]

^
When will the new terminal open up?

I will flying into London the last week of September.T5 won't be open till March 2008.

[brian_b]

If you take BA to Heathrow, make sure you don't check any luggage ;)

[pdxtex]

neither!! take lufthansa!!! huge seats and the hot german stewardess/s

[Lincoln]

I've only flown BA once but it was a pretty awful flight. They didn't have air conditioning for whatever reason while we were waiting at the gate and taxi-ing, and my knee cap got the hell knocked out of it while I was sleeping and the drink cart came by. That hurt, but the flight attendants didn't notice because they were in a hurry to put the cart up or something.

I'm sure that was just a fluke flight, though... They're probably pretty good most of the time. :tup:

[Buckeye Native 001]

neither!! take lufthansa!!! huge seats and the hot german stewardess/s

On that line of thinking, are the flight attendants for Aer Lingus hot Irish girls? How's about the FA's for Air Italy: Hot Italian girls?

"Screw the destination, I'm just flying for the FA's." :tup:

[JMancuso]

ANA had hot japanese girls.

i would fly BA over AA any day of the week but continental is an example of a decent US overseas carrier.

[plinko]

I've been on AA's LAX to LHR 777 flight (2005). It's not THAT bad. Not being the smallest person, only having to hop over 1 person to get to the aisle was fantastic.

I honestly don't recall the food.

The only bad thing was that I came home from Paris and had to fly CDG-DFW on a cramped 767.

Continuing on a theme, the FA's on Sri Lanka Airlines were pretty hot as well. Then again, I'm not sure if they were actually Sri Lankan

[Peanuthead]

Continental Airlines anyone..I felt they were pretty damn good

[palemonk]

BA's cabin and seats are far better: bigger LCD screen and wider seats (same aircraft compared, 777 economy class)

BA

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/80531426_4f2b17ed88_o.jpg

AA

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/288018952_fca8f3188e_b.jpg

BA wins in the seat comparison in every category. The American seats look cramped, and they are 2-5-2, compared with 3-3-3 on BA

Edit: Continental is okay. I flew them in April to Panama and the flight wasn´t very good. dinner was a turkey sub (which was the caterer´s fault) also, the plane wasn´t configured for international flight. the plane was a 738, but if continental uses the plane for an international route shouldn´t the plane be configured internationally? The next flight after that, from EWR to Madrid, the flight was a lot smoother. I am flying them tomorrow and I am hoping everything goes okay. As I said, Continental is okay, they are just inconsistent in service.