sail7seas - American Airlines

[Krazy Kruizers]

It has been years since we have flown American Airlines. We stayed loyal to US Airways as long as we could. And at one time they had direct flights to the embarkation ports we needed to get to. But those days are over.

In August we dumped our US Airways tickets to San Diego and bought American Airlines - had to change planes in Dallas.

From Pittsburgh to Dallas breakfast was served. We had a choice of Special K cereal or a spicey enchillada. Of course both came with fresh fruit and a roll. We weren't too impressed with breakfast.

On our flight from Dallas to San Diego lunch was served. The choices were cold chicken on a salad bed, 3 wedges of lightly seasoned pita bread, crackers, cheese, and cookies OR tuna on a bed of pasta, small salad, cheese, crackers, and cookies. I had the chicken and DH had the tuna - both were excellent meals.

Coming home we had the same thing for lunch. But this time DH's pasta was wheat noodles - you would have loved them.

We each had the chicken parmigiano dinners. They also offered short ribs -didn't want snything spicey.

All in all the food was good.

[sail7seas]

Your breakfast sounds very like the first class breakfast we get on our Boston to FLL flights. The lunch is different though. The food is really awful IMO and certainly is not anything I would call First Class. I remember the days when we really got a first class meal on a first class ticket.

You're right though.... :) The wheat noodles would have pleased me. :)

[jhannah]

Flying sure ain't what it used to be, that's for sure. But it still beats driving!

[dakrewser]

All in all the food was good.




No sundaes for dessert? That's the best part of an AA meal, IMHO.

-dave

[Krazy Kruizers]

dakrewser

OH YES - we remember when AA used to serve sundays with all kinds of choices for toppings. DH would ask for Drambuie on top of his ice cream. I always got hot fudge with creme de caco on top.

Oh - the good old days.

[Krazy Kruizers]

sail7seas

The lunch and dinners were better than we got the last few times on US Airways in first class - tough chicken breasts and tough beef. At least we were able to eat these meals.

When US Airways used to serve breakfast we had a choice of pancakes and bacon or ham/cheese omlette with sausage. We didn't even get that the last time we flew down to Ft Lauderdale in May. All we got on our last flights on US Airways were snacks.

Can hardly wait to see what Delta serves in January. Right now there aren't any meals listed for our flights.

[gizmo]

Can hardly wait to see what Delta serves in January. Right now there aren't any meals listed for our flights.



If you think you are going to get hungry bring your own food.
The doggy bags Delta used to hand out was better than what was served in First/Business Class. :rolleyes:

[Krazy Kruizers]

There have been times when we would like to take our own food, but unfortunately we have to stay in a hotel the night before our flights since so many of our flights are around 7 or 8 AM. And since we have to be at the airport at least an hour ahead the hotels aren't even open for breakfast that early. So there isn't much of a chance of our taking our own food. And now that there are fewer flights out of Pittsburgh most of the restaurants don't open till 7 or 8 AM. Businesses are suffering at our airport. When we got off our plane at 9:10 PM the other night, our airport was like ghost town - nothing except the news stands were open. And we have reading reports the last couple of days in our papers that businesses will be cutting their hours even more.

[sail7seas]

Seeing as I do not usually want to eat anything AA is offering, I sometimes bring a small box of cereal. If you open it the way they indicate, you can use the box as a bowl. The flight attendants will give milk and at least I can have a decent bowl of cereal. Shame what we spend for those tickets and I feel the need to bring a box of cereal but it's worth it to have something edible. IMO

[stanjj111]

much better to get a good corned beef sandwich on board and get a free coke. I remember when flying was fun but then I was late one day and had to grab a hot dog for dinner in Pittsburgh. That was it for me. Any airline is the same. Go for the cheapest. Forget loyalty.

[Hflors]

I agree. For several years we flew either US Air or Southwest (to places where US doesn't fly. But for the last year or so we here out of BWI have no direct flights to anywhere but Charlotte or Pittsburg to change planes to where ever you want to go. (FLorida to pick up a cruise!!!!) This trip AA beat both US AIR and South west (also no flights to Miami) by a mile. And a direct flight!! YooHoo! We are leaving New Years Day out of Miami. We fly down the day before. Which I love since it's too hectic to fly the same day and since New Years Eve is a holiday this year for both of our companies we can leave middle of the day and have a leasurely day & New Years Eve. Before we're off.

IF US Air wants to stay in business they better get with it and stop this hop scotching from to their hub airports with every flight.

[imsulin]

AA - my favorite airline! Over the years, I've flown American Eagle to all kinds of destinations in the Caribbean, and have often volunteered to bump, gaining several free tickets, AAdvantage miles, hotel rooms, meal vouchers, and future flight vouchers. I once volunteered to bump three times out of Beef Island, Tortola, over Spring Break) and ended up with $1800.00 in future flight vouchers, which got me back to Tortola from SFO twice. I love AA!!

[mhshapiro]

On shorter flights American has eliminated meal service altogether.

I recently did a round-trip from Ontario, CA to DFW, and there was no food served even though one flight was a lunch time flight and the other was a dinner time flight. This wasn't a big problem because I was able to eat lunch and dinner at the airport.

But, I can easily see a situation where you might have two connecting flights and not enough time between flights to get anything to eat.

Flying sure isn't what it used to be.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We are faced with only 45 minutes between flights in Atlanta on Delta for all of our up-coming cruises out of Ft Lauderdale.

It's official - Pittsburgh is no longer a hub for US Airways - just a connector city.

[sail7seas]

Depending upon what gates your arrive/depart at, 45 minutes between flights can cause alot of hustling. I realize there are few options but it is so stressful. The few times we connected through Atlanta, we did not enjoy the experience. That's a horrid airport IMO We did not find the people at all helpful when we had confusion trying to get from here to there the first time we were there.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Its been a few years since we went through Atlanta but our choices are slim. American wants to take us through Chicago - way out of our way to get to Ft Lauderdale. If we want to continue cruising, we don't have very many options anymore.

[sail7seas]

I feel your pain, KK.


I so hate having to deal with airlines, airports, airplanes.

When we were deliciously able to board "MY" Maasdam in Boston last July and get off in Boston.....NO AIRPORTS......it was the BEST!! We have passed up a number of cruises due to air travel displeasure. If I hate the air choices badly enough, we simply opt to skip that cruise and take a different one.

DH was just about willing to take longer out of his office than normal and do the 16 day Veendam transcanal repo cruise (we would have been gone 18-19 days) from FLL to San Diego in April but I don't want to fly to Tampa and then home from San Diego so we are not doing it.

[jhannah]

The few times we connected through Atlanta, we did not enjoy the experience. That's a horrid airport IMOAbsolutely! The way it's sprawled out heaven forbid if you arrive in terminal B and have to get to terminal H or some such in a short period of time. And that crazy tram. You can often walk/trot the distance just as quickly.

[elmorejj]

I also despise Atlanta airport, and on many occasions they have had to take us across the runways etc to get to our gate in time. My husband uses a wheelchair in airports and they make us stay on the plane until everyone else has de planed oftentimes making it a real close call. Now, thankfully, Delta has inplemented straight through flights to Orlando, Ft Lauderdale and Tampa from Columbus so we have a little more choice.
BTW, don`t hold your breath waiting for decent food on Delta, we have travelled first class at meal times and been served nothing. On many of their flights now you can purchase food from TGIF restaurants, its much better than what the airlines cook....jean :cool:

[Roadwork]

Changing planes in the Atlanta airport is a real nighmare to be avoided at any cost.
Some Delta flights serve something they refer to as food, but that term is subjective.

[AirGorilla]

Seeing as I do not usually want to eat anything AA is offering, I sometimes bring a small box of cereal. If you open it the way they indicate, you can use the box as a bowl. The flight attendants will give milk and at least I can have a decent bowl of cereal. Shame what we spend for those tickets and I feel the need to bring a box of cereal but it's worth it to have something edible. IMO


In your previous messages, you have indicated that you always fly first class? Why bother to pay up for the front cabin, and then bring your own food?

[AirGorilla]

Absolutely! The way it's sprawled out heaven forbid if you arrive in terminal B and have to get to terminal H or some such in a short period of time. And that crazy tram. You can often walk/trot the distance just as quickly.


Sorry to bust your bubble, but ATL does not have a concourse H. A, B, C, D, E and T are the six concourses there.

Also, if you're connecting between concourses that are not adjacent to one another, I would definitely use the train to save time.

I am speaking as an Atlanta resident with 3.4 million miles on Delta Air Lines.

[AirGorilla]

Its been a few years since we went through Atlanta but our choices are slim. American wants to take us through Chicago - way out of our way to get to Ft Lauderdale. If we want to continue cruising, we don't have very many options anymore.


You could always move to Florida!!!

[sail7seas]

In your previous messages, you have indicated that you always fly first class? Why bother to pay up for the front cabin, and then bring your own food?


:) For that larger seat and more leg room.....Dh certainly cannot drink enough to 'get his money's worth'. The food is disgusting IMO

[sail7seas]

Absolutely! The way it's sprawled out heaven forbid if you arrive in terminal B and have to get to terminal H or some such in a short period of time. And that crazy tram. You can often walk/trot the distance just as quickly.




Sorry to bust your bubble, but ATL does not have a concourse H. A, B, C, D, E and T are the six concourses there.

Not to be picky, but Jim did qualify his designation "H" by saying 'some such'. I think he was simply putting forth a hypothetical.

[peaches from georgia]

Also, if you're connecting between concourses that are not adjacent to one another, I would definitely use the train to save time.
I am speaking as an Atlanta resident with 3.4 million miles on Delta Air Lines.
I agree with you, AG. The train runs every minute and is very fast. A great people-mover over a very large airport.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We thought about moving to Florida a few years ago when we retired - sure glad we didn't after all the hurricanes Florida experienced this past summer.

[dewhit6959]

Atlanta Hartsfield Airport is the largest passenger airport in the United States in passenger totals. It is also one of the most efficient in terms of number of passengers in and out every hour. I cannot imagine why anyone would have difficulty within this airport if they read the numerous boards and concourse signs which are everywhere. Many of us in Atlanta are not fond of the security and crowds that come with an airport this size, but like having the convenience of direct flights all over the world. It will become more efficient in the near future when it is wrenched out of the hands of the City of Atlanta and controlled regionally. You can actually fly an entire Caribbean "cruise" in and out of Atlanta for less than premium cruise fare. Those of you in Pittsburgh might consider connecting thru Charlotte or Newport News. Look at Jet Blue, a fantastic airline using D.C. as a major hub or Independence Air into Florida. Also, with the downsizing of the Delta Dallas hub, Cincinnati is going to be expanded.

[peaches from georgia]

Some of the complaints with the airlines sound exactly like the complaints re the cruiselines. Everyone wants better food and larger accomodations, yet demand discount fares to fly/cruise cheaper. You get what you are willing to pay for. Personally I would rather pay HAL more and have them reverse the cutbacks they obviously have made in food and service. :rolleyes:

[sail7seas]

Some of the complaints with the airlines sound exactly like the complaints re the cruiselines. Everyone wants better food and larger accomodations, yet demand discount fares to fly/cruise cheaper. You get what you are willing to pay for. Personally I would rather pay HAL more and have them reverse the cutbacks they obviously have made in food and service. :rolleyes:

We are in the position of saying, We ARE NOT getting what we are WILLING to pay for. We are paying for First Class. I feel the need to bring a small box of cereal in my carryon to be sure I will have something to eat. Usually our flights are not that long these days if they go as scheduled so it doesn't matter if we don't eat. But in this day and age one never knows so I make certain to have something edible with us.

We are paying alot and we are not receiving what we pay for.


(And, yes....I am aware we do not have to buy a first class ticket. That is not my point in this conversation.)

[peaches from georgia]

I was referring to the general need for price discounting in the airline and cruiseline industries and how the ensuing problems in both industries mirror each other. Lower revenue on airline and therefore cuts in food quality and service, the need to increase the number of seats and thereby cut the space allotted each airline pax, etc. The economic binds the airline and cruiseline industries are in is no secret and the reasons can be seen reading all these boards over a period of time.

There was NO reference or criticism of your particular situation or posts.

[shipcafe]

Believe it or not, I have always been a fan of United / Star Alliance primarily to keep my Mileage Plus miles accruing, etc. I have not found their onboard service, etc. to be up to par though. In the last month I have flown American Airlines 3 times and I have been *thoroughly* impressed. I have truly enjoyed the service, staff, food, etc. They were all morning flights with the "Bistro Bag" but still - it was more food than I would have ever gotten on United Airlines on a morning flight !!

I just may, upon using up all of my UAL miles, become an AA fan!

[dakrewser]

Atlanta Hartsfield Airport is the largest passenger airport in the United States in passenger totals. It is also one of the most efficient in terms of number of passengers in and out every hour. I cannot imagine why anyone would have difficulty within this airport if they read the numerous boards and concourse signs which are everywhere.
Um, because the signage really isn't all that helpful to someone who infrequently visits that airport? I have no trouble with O'Hare, and actually like DFW (certainly better than Houston, JFK, Dulles or Logan) but many people don't like them. My favorite for connections, though, is LAX actually. Just not very often that going thru LAX is worth the extra flight time.

-dave

[gizmo]

Atlanta Hartsfield Airport is the largest passenger airport in the United States in passenger totals. It is also one of the most efficient in terms of number of passengers in and out every hour. I cannot imagine why anyone would have difficulty within this airport if they read the numerous boards and concourse signs which are everywhere. Many of us in Atlanta are not fond of the security and crowds that come with an airport this size, but like having the convenience of direct flights all over the world. It will become more efficient in the near future when it is wrenched out of the hands of the City of Atlanta and controlled regionally. I agree there are numerous signs containing all the information someone would need to get from one place to another. The train is very efficient except at 1:00 in the morning.
Most of the complaints come from people making connections. If you come in at one end of a terminal and have to go the opposite end of that terminal or another, many find it difficult to make their connection without going at break neck speed. One thing lacking in Atlanta are people movers within each terminal.

[Tatka]

We used AA couple of year ago for Boston - Paris roundtrip and liked the food...(more than on Lufthansa or KLM(Norwest))

I think AA prices are very competetive...I recently was able to book non stop roundtrip Boston - San Francisco for 215 pp!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

So far we don't have Jet Blue in Pittsburgh.

And Independence Air only goes to DC - right now they are talking about stopping that run - not enough business.

Since we do not like to travel by regional jets - too small - no first class - we are very limited in what we fly to anywhere.

[dewhit6959]

Gizmo & others;

You are entirely correct about the lack of "people movers" within the Atlanta airport. It does resemble a marathon when your flights are at extreme
gates. This is a complaint that should and will be remedied when control of the airport turns over to a regional commission and many of the contracts for services and maintenance are given to reputable companies instead of cronies, relatives and empowerment programs of the Atlanta city council and mayors office.

[gf]

Ah, if that would only happen!!!

[jhannah]

Political patronage is older than our own government!
(Oops ... no politics ... sorry!)

[AirGorilla]

Um, because the signage really isn't all that helpful to someone who infrequently visits that airport? I have no trouble with O'Hare, and actually like DFW (certainly better than Houston, JFK, Dulles or Logan) but many people don't like them. My favorite for connections, though, is LAX actually. Just not very often that going thru LAX is worth the extra flight time.

-dave
The signage at ATL is very good; it is no worse than the other major US hub airports. Keep in mind that Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. We had hundreds of thousands of visitors, many from foreign nations whose primary language is not English. A large number of these visitors arrived at ATL. Our airport worked fine for them. I can't understand all the griping from all you people.

[sail7seas]

:D Lots of stuff in life I'll NEVER understand!! Relax....don't take it personally. :) ( unless it was you who designed those signs and the placement of them. ;) ) It's just the opinion of some of us that we do not care for that airport. Truly, in the whole scheme of the world, it's about a minus three on the scale of who cares!!!

[AirGorilla]

Triple S --

Yeah, that's a good perspective. Thanks!

[sail7seas]

Thank YOU, AirGorilla.


Happy cruising.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Well, in January we will get to experience Atlanta's airport. Like I said, it has been quite a few years since we had to do connecting flights through there. Maybe I will get us roller-blades for Christmas???

[dakrewser]

The signage at ATL is very good; it is no worse than the other major US hub airports.
For me, it is. That doesn't mean others would find it so, but evidently a number of people posting here do have problems with that airport. That doesn't mean you're a bad person, or that Atlanta isn't a nice city, just that some people don't like your airport. As the advertising jingle says, "everybody doesn't like something..."

:) -dave

[gizmo]

For me, it is. That doesn't mean others would find it so, but evidently a number of people posting here do have problems with that airport. That doesn't mean you're a bad person, or that Atlanta isn't a nice city, just that some people don't like your airport. As the advertising jingle says, "everybody doesn't like something..."

:) -dave
What exactly is wrong with the signs?
I know plenty of people that dislike the Atlanta airport, but their dislike is because of trying to make connections. I never heard about a problem with signs.

[ekerr19]

Well, if you really want a fun time, try a tight connection at Heathrow! Talk about lack of signage! Also, the restrooms facilties near our gate were pretty much non-existent. This is a major airport with many people making connections, the security screening (went through twice before able to get to our gate for our connection to Rome) and we were coming direct from DIA, which in my mind has some of the tightest security around, seemed redundant.

MANY folks missed their connections, the driving around the airport on the bus leaves alot to be desired IMO. There are many great airports abroad, but there also many that I could live without ever traveling through again. I like Atlanta, for a huge airport, the job gets done.

The food on British Air was pretty good considering we were in coach. All drinks were free - and they had no problem giving out nice little bottles of wine (as many as we wanted) for each meal. We were able to request doubles on our cocktails without a problem either. That said, they sure weren't very sympathice to DH's arm cast - the woman in front of him had her seat fully reclined, even for meals - and he had a very hard time with his meals as she kept bouncing against the seat back.

BA cabin crew let several pax move up to World Traveller plus for small things like a television not getting the map channel, etc. - but we did notice that all those around us who were allowed to move seemed to have a UK accent. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have traveled in and out of Heathrow several times - though not since 9/11.

It is not one of our favorite airports either.