A number of days in the past, I flew American Airways’ Boeing 777-200ER enterprise class on the 9 hour flight from London (LHR) to Miami (MIA). This is identical journey the place I had flown TAP Air Portugal’s Airbus A330-900neo enterprise class within the different course throughout the Atlantic. Whereas I’ll have a full journey report quickly, on this put up I wished to share some preliminary impressions of the expertise.
Let me begin by saying that I all the time battle with the choice of whether or not to fly a US or European provider throughout the Atlantic. The way in which I view it:
- US carriers sometimes have a greater onerous product, and sometimes have higher bedding
- European carriers sometimes have a greater tender product, together with higher meals and repair
That’s a really broad generalization, and there are after all many exceptions. However normally I find yourself flying with European carriers, since service isn’t fairly as a lot of a wild card on these carriers, so I at the least form of know what to anticipate.
For this journey I made a decision to fly with American (I booked the ticket with 57,500 AAdvantage miles), and this was my first time taking an extended haul flight on American in years. Nicely, I’ve to say, the flight was a really nice shock, from begin to end.
American has comfy seats, good leisure and Wi-Fi, and strong bedding. I knew that stepping into. What delighted me was that the service was exceptionally good, and on prime of that, the meals was fairly first rate. On a very good day, American generally is a practically unbeatable strategy to cross the Atlantic. Let’s get into it…
American’s 777 enterprise class seats are good(ish)
American’s Boeing 777-200ERs have two sorts of enterprise class seats — some have the Safran Idea D seats, whereas others have the Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond seats, which you’ll discover on many airways, and which most passengers appear to want. My flight had the previous seats, as I used to be on one in every of American’s oldest 777s (delivered again in 1999, although it has after all been refurbished).
The Safran Idea D seats are all totally flat and have direct aisle entry, and alternate between being ahead and rear going through.
Why do folks not love these seats? It comes down to 2 elements — the seats lack storage, and the seats additionally are inclined to “rock.”
Primarily, every pair of ahead and rear going through seats are linked, so if the particular person in a single seat strikes a bit, you’ll really feel your seat shaking. This may be actually annoying on an extended haul flight if you’re attempting to sleep. It’s form of unbelievable that the seats have been produced on this method, and it’s a must to surprise if no correct testing was performed earlier than these seats have been put into service, or what.
Luckily this concern might be prevented by deciding on one of many seats not “paired” with one other seat. For instance, I assigned myself seat 7A, the rear going through window seat within the first row of the second cabin, which isn’t linked to some other seat.
Should you can rating one in every of these seats that isn’t subjected to the shaking concern, I truly fairly like this product. That’s as a result of the seat is comfy in mattress mode, as you don’t have any small footwell it’s a must to cram your ft into. Moderately the footwell affords an infinite quantity of vertical area, which you don’t discover in lots of fashionable enterprise class merchandise.
American’s leisure & Wi-Fi are nice
American’s leisure choice on 777s is phenomenal. There’s no scarcity of flicks and TV exhibits, together with issues that most individuals truly wish to watch. So in comparison with the restricted choice you’ll discover on many different airways, that is fairly a deal with.
Personally I’m extra of a map and Wi-Fi form of man, so the under is what my leisure was for a lot of the flight.
Talking of Wi-Fi, American has Panasonic Wi-Fi on its 777s, and a move for your complete flight value $35, with no information caps. Whereas that’s a bit expensive, I discovered the speeds to be fairly good. Final 12 months American introduced it could enhance Wi-Fi speeds on its jets with Panasonic Wi-Fi, and I believe that has truly been fairly profitable.
American’s facilities are above common
American affords Casper bedding in enterprise class, with a thick pillow and blanket. Whereas inferior to United Polaris bedding, it’s nonetheless significantly better than on a overwhelming majority of airways (particularly European airways, which frequently have pillows which might be about as thick as pancakes).
American additionally affords Bang & Olufsen headphones in enterprise class, that are the very best high quality headphones that you just’ll discover on any airline in enterprise class.
There was additionally an amenity package, or on this case, an amenity field. The field contained socks, eyeshades, earplugs, a dental package, a pen, and a few D.S. & DURGA merchandise. I do know many individuals are outraged by American selecting to make use of a field for its amenity package in the intervening time, although I’m undecided I get the massive deal?
American’s catering was higher than anticipated
American’s enterprise class catering on this sector was strong, higher than I used to be anticipating. After takeoff, drinks have been served with combined nuts. I simply had a Weight loss plan Coke, as I wasn’t consuming alcohol on this flight.
The primary course was comprised of a salad with artichokes, in addition to a starter of tataki salmon with rhubarb and ginger compote. There was additionally a bread choice, together with a pretzel roll. This was a method above common salad and starter in comparison with what I’m used to on American.
For the primary course, I opted for the grilled salmon with purple curry sauce, rice, diced pumpkin, and sautéed choy sum. Each the fish and the sauce have been nice (and to those that are irritated by me all the time ordering fish, fear not, I’ve non-fish footage, however you’ll have to attend for the complete evaluation!).
Lastly, for dessert there was the selection of a cheese plate, cheesecake, or an ice cream sundae. There’s just one proper possibility when flying with American. 😉
For the pre-arrival meal, I chosen the orzo pasta salad, with peas, zucchini, feta cheese, solar dried tomatoes, pepper pearls, and pumpkin seed, served with a aspect of contemporary fruit, plus an an apple and blackcurrant cheesecake.
American’s enterprise class service was flawless
Now let me get to the actual spotlight of the flight — the service. The one factor constant about service on US airways is that it’s inconsistent. As a passenger, it’s fairly irritating if you get on a flight and you may instantly inform the crew isn’t joyful to be there.
Alongside these strains, what a breath of contemporary air this flight was. The complete crew was glorious, however particularly, I’ve to provide large credit score to Arthur, the flight attendant working my aisle. His service was simply good, each when it comes to tempo and attentiveness. The place can we even start?
- He greeted every passenger in his part — “my identify is Arthur, and if there’s something I can do to make you comfy, please let me know”
- I appreciated the well mannered tone with which he communicated — “have you ever had an opportunity to determine which entree you’d like in the present day?”
- He carried out your complete meal service so effectively, all whereas not making anybody really feel rushed; I requested if I might wait about 5 minutes to have dessert, to which he responded “your schedule is my schedule”
- Throughout the meal service, he by no means let a glass get anyplace near empty, and the query was all the time phrased as one thing alongside the strains of “what else can I get you?” (in different phrases, “you’re not inconveniencing me by asking for something”)
- All through your complete 9 hour flight, he should have checked on passengers each 10 minutes to see in the event that they wished something; when he was on his break, his colleagues did the identical factor in his absence
If all of American’s crews on lengthy haul flights have been like Arthur and his colleagues on this flight, I’d all the time fly throughout the Atlantic with American. I believe it’s additionally necessary to acknowledge that they have been offering this stage of service regardless of morale amongst flight attendants mainly being at an all time low, as they’re engaged on negotiating a brand new contract (which they deserve).
Backside line
After I boarded my American 777 enterprise class flight throughout the Atlantic, I figured it was an environment friendly strategy to get house, and that will be about it. So suffice it to say that I used to be completely delighted by the expertise. Essentially the most spectacular a part of the expertise was the service, as your complete crew (and particularly, Arthur) have been superstars. On prime of that, the meals was higher than I used to be anticipating.
So far as the remainder of the expertise goes, it was as anticipated — I fairly like American’s enterprise class seats, the leisure and Wi-Fi are good, the facilities are strong, and I recognize particular person air nozzles.
What’s your tackle American’s 777-200ER enterprise class?
