Playing the 'positioning flight' game - have I got this right ?

dickydonkin

Nick_C wrote: »

AA's J class at its best is streets ahead of the BA product. Privacy, aisle access to every seat, more space and a less crowded cabin. As long as it's on a plane that has flat bed's, then for me it would be AA every time.

Domestic first, except on coast to coast, is not comparable to transatlantic J, but it is much better then Club Europe. And you can find domestic flights (such as DFW to HNL) that use long haul international planes. I had a nice flight from JFK to MIA in December on a long haul 767 with flat bed seats.

I have heard good things about AA's Transcon j class - I did the JFK - MIA three weeks ago, sadly in a 320 (IIRC) but no flat, however the seats were fine for a relatively short trip.

Club Europe is a joke and unless included in a J itinerary, I would never pay for it. For positioning flights and short haul, I can (on the majority of occasions) select the emergency exits in European Traveller and that does for me.

Murphy_The_Cat

Nick_C wrote: »

AA's J class at its best is streets ahead of the BA product. Privacy, aisle access to every seat, more space and a less crowded cabin. As long as it's on a plane that has flat bed's, then for me it would be AA every time.

Domestic first, except on coast to coast, is not comparable to transatlantic J, but it is much better then Club Europe. And you can find domestic flights (such as DFW to HNL) that use long haul international planes. I had a nice flight from JFK to MIA in December on a long haul 767 with flat bed seats.

In a 'breathing life into an old dog" way, what AA have done to the 767-300 in Business Class looks really good.


The Business Class in AA 777-300er looks like its a really nice place to spend some time.

BA's Club World looks like its 'packed in' by comparison !

dickydonkin

stevie11 wrote: »

Thanks again for the advice, this will be our first trip, so need to read up and take advice like yours. I think the tip of enrolling with Hawaiian Airlines FF programme is very useful as we would possibly use them to island hop.

I remember earlier in the year AA were having a sale for flights during the Summer vacation months (Jul/Aug) with business class fares as low as £1200. Now that is a deal

This option (also with other configurations) is available for Easter - booked direct with AA. There are also some great J prices ex Netherlands for many North American destination via BA.COM. Many J prices are cheaper than PE.

pollypenny

What are J prices, please?

I've had a quick look at MAN -PHL for January, but DIL always keeps us waiting for exact dates.

Murphy_The_Cat

J prices are Business Class .

stevie11

dickydonkin wrote: »

This option (also with other configurations) is available for Easter - booked direct with AA. There are also some great J prices ex Netherlands for many North American destination via BA.COM. Many J prices are cheaper than PE. snip ......................

Thanks Dicky, I have just seen your reply, also read this deal on flyertalk about an hour ago but unfortunately back to 2.5k to 3k.

If I had seen it yesterday I may have jumped at £1300, that would give me a shed load of miles also as all flights are AA.

I need to confirm my dates for Easter, I have played around with dates and get economy from Man for £700. Then need to check if I can use my SWU's. Otherwise may consider ex EU if a good deal comes up in J.

:beer:

stevie11

pollypenny wrote: »

What are J prices, please?

I've had a quick look at MAN -PHL for January, but DIL always keeps us waiting for exact dates.

Pollly, I've flown Man-Phl many times in Jan/Feb and find the Man AA flights a great route even when transferring at PHL. I had a quick search at MAN -PHL for January,

sample J price from Man to Phl in Jan with AA. https://goo.gl/flights/Rd6v currently £1355. Delta and Virgin a similar price.

economy price https://goo.gl/flights/z16A Currently £415 although Delta and Virgin are cheaper

The advantage of the AA flight it is a 7 hour direct flight but you may have an allegiance to a specific airline or prefer stops.

dickydonkin

stevie11 wrote: »

Thanks Dicky, I have just seen your reply, also read this deal on flyertalk about an hour ago but unfortunately back to 2.5k to 3k.

If I had seen it yesterday I may have jumped at £1300, that would give me a shed load of miles also as all flights are AA.

I need to confirm my dates for Easter, I have played around with dates and get economy from Man for £700. Then need to check if I can use my SWU's. Otherwise may consider ex EU if a good deal comes up in J.

:beer:

I am hoping they are available again in the new year, unfortunately, these offers were only valid for departures up to April.

I think I booked my last Hawaii trip in March/April for departures around the time I required them, so hopefully they will be posted again in the Spring.

As an aside, I did book flights to Vancouver for April (£1170 pp BA.com) and just before I pressed the payment button, the page suggested booking the flight/hotel combination which would apparently save me money.

I must admit I have never done this before, but one of the hotels in the 'offer' was one I was going to consider anyway (Pan Pacific).

Before I committed myself for the offer, I did a phantom booking via comparison websites for the dates I required and I was very surprised to see the same room/dates at just under £2000 (GBP) for the duration of my stay as opposed to just around 800 Euros with the hotel/flight combination.

As another bonus, if I just booked the flight alone, I would have had to pay there and then, however, with the hotel combined, full payment has to be completed five weeks before departure.

Avios and tier points will be as per normal BA conditions.

Hopefully I won't be allocated the broom cupboard!:):)

stevie11

dickydonkin wrote: »

I am hoping they are available again in the new year, unfortunately, these offers were only valid for departures up to April.

snip .................

That is a great saving on your hotel, looks nice overlooking the harbour.

Initially we wanted to go to Hawaii with a stop off at SFO but the stop off worked out OTT for what it was, therefore now toying with the idea of a separate trip to SFO in Spring and leaving Hawaii till Summer, especially if the J fare deals come out again similar to this Summer.

Funny you should mention Vancouver, that is another trip on my list, whether we fly to Vancouver or to Seattle then car over the border.

I am currently an AA member so usually try to get AA codeshare where applicable, although AA earning rules are becoming more restrictive, I may look at joining BA FF scheme in the future. Maybe I could start with my trip to Hawaii

pollypenny

stevie11 wrote: »

Pollly, I've flown Man-Phl many times in Jan/Feb and find the Man AA flights a great route even when transferring at PHL. I had a quick search at MAN -PHL for January,

sample J price from Man to Phl in Jan with AA. https://goo.gl/flights/Rd6v currently £1355. Delta and Virgin a similar price.

economy price https://goo.gl/flights/z16A Currently £415 although Delta and Virgin are cheaper

The advantage of the AA flight it is a 7 hour direct flight but you may have an allegiance to a specific airline or prefer stops.

MAN -PHL is best for us, as DS lives mid way between Philadelphia and Newark airport. Philly is a bit easier. However, I'm in a huff with AA after our cancelled flights saga en route to New Orleans in the summer.