American Airlines (AA) is one of the largest airlines in the world. But is it a good choice for your next flight? Reviews on Reddit provide useful insights from real AA customers.
Overview of American Airlines
American Airlines is based in Fort Worth, Texas. It operates an extensive network within the United States and internationally. AA is part of the Oneworld airline alliance.
Some key facts about American Airlines:
- Operates over 6,700 flights daily to 350+ destinations in over 50 countries.
- Has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington D.C.
- Has a fleet of 956 aircrafts, including Airbus, Boeing, and regional jets. The average aircraft age is 9.4 years, making it a relatively young fleet.
- Serves around 200 million passengers annually.
- Employs over 123,000 people worldwide.
How Does AA Compare to Other Airlines?
On Reddit, there are extensive discussions comparing AA to competitors like United and Delta. Here are some of the key comparative points that emerge:
AA vs. United
- AA is seen as having better availability of direct flight routes from its hubs. United relies more on connections.
- United’s frequent flyer program is regarded as more devalued. AA miles still have good redemption value, especially for international premium cabin awards.
- United’s fleet is older on average (16.6 years vs. AA’s 9.7 years). More chances of outdated cabins on United.
- Service-wise, there is no major differentiation. Though some do report better upgrades and lounge access with AA status.
AA vs. Delta
- Delta is praised for reliability and on-time performance. AA is considered more prone to delays and cancellations.
- Delta’s SkyTeam partners provide strong global reach while AA’s Oneworld partners are preferred for flights to Asia.
- Delta has older planes but with consistent interiors. AA has newer planes but more variation in configurations and amenities.
- AA is seen as more affordable while Delta offers a premium experience.
Key Discussion Points on American Airlines
Redditors shed light on all aspects of flying AA. Here are some of the most commented on topics:
Is AA Reliable?
The most common complaints are around AA’s operational reliability. Flight delays and cancellations happen too often according to many users. Some blame AA’s hub in Dallas (DFW) which is prone to weather disruptions. Others report poor handling of irregs by AA staff.
However, just as many defend AA stating delays happen with all airlines. They feel AA does its best under difficult circumstances.
What is AA’s Service Like?
Feedback on AA’s inflight service and ground experience is mixed. Some love the friendly cabin crew and airport staff who go the extra mile. But many others report indifferent or downright rude service at times. Lack of food and beverage service on shorter domestic flights is another common gripe.
How Are the Planes?
AA gets credit for operating a relatively young fleet. Their Airbus A321s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners score high marks for comfort in economy. However, some older 737s and regional jets with poor legroom remain in operation. The lack of seat-back screens on most domestic aircraft is also called out.
How to Get Upgraded?
AA Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro elites report decent upgrade success rates compared to Delta and United. Complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats also provide extra legroom. But upgrades are still limited, especially out of AA’s hubs like DFW. Tips like avoiding Mondays and booking at full-fare can help score upgrades.
Award Availability Issues?
Booking AA awards tickets through AAdvantage miles is relatively easy for economy class. But premium cabin redemptions on competitive routes can be scarce. Particularly transcontinental flights and routes to Hawaii see limited award space in First/Business class according to users.
Are AA Lounges Good?
The Flagship Lounges get unanimously positive reviews. They offer premium amenities and service. But AA’s Admirals Clubs are rated as mediocre and overcrowded. The food offerings are considered subpar by airline lounge standards.
Tips for Flying American Airlines
Based on the experiences shared on Reddit, here are some useful AA tips:
- Book early and watch for sales to get the lowest fares in economy. Last-minute tickets are very expensive.
- Consider the More Flexible or Business Flexible fares for lower change fees if plans might change.
- Carry headphones and entertainment loaded on your devices as not all planes have seat-back screens.
- Try to get the first boarding group if you need overhead bin space for your carry-on. Overheads fill up fast on packed flights.
- Buy day passes for Admirals Clubs to access lounges if you have long connections at AA hubs.
- At busy hubs like DFW, stick close to your gate for connections. The 35-minute connection time is very tight.
- For bonus miles, sign up for the AAdvantage credit cards from Citi like Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Elite Mastercard.
- If needing to cancel, do so over the phone. Online cancellation often fails to refund taxes and fees.
Redditors About AA
On Reddit, American Airlines customers share various day-in-the-life experiences that provide further insights.
One user described their long-haul economy flight experience. They had booked a ticket from Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu. To get extra legroom, they paid for a Main Cabin Extra (MCE) seat. Overall it was a pleasant 6-hour flight according to them. The MCE seat provided adequate comfort. They enjoyed the inflight entertainment system with movies, TV shows and games. And the meal service exceeded expectations with a cheeseburger, fruit and chocolate mousse for dessert. They were impressed by the friendly cabin crew and smooth flight operations by AA.
Others asked for tips on how to book award tickets using AAdvantage miles. Suggestions included being flexible on dates and checking inventory regularly as award seats open up. Recommended sweet spots were using 60,000 miles for roundtrip business class to Europe during off-peak times. For booking Hawaiian vacations, look out for deals like 50,000 miles roundtrip in first class. Trying to use miles on competitive transcontinental or London routes will be tougher.
Sharing airport experiences, one flyer was surprised to get free check-in and bag drop assistance as an AAdvantage Gold member at LAX. They initially went to a self-service kiosk but were courteously guided to the priority line by an agent. Another flyer highlighted the excellent Flagship First Dining experience at JFK before their flight to Hawaii. As a business class passenger, they could enjoy premium dining with tableside service rather than the crowded lounge.
Other redditors exchange tips on getting the most value from the Citi AAdvantage credit cards. Recommendations include signing up for bonus mile offers, utilizing the free first checked bag benefit, and taking advantage of reduced mileage awards. However, some warn to account for the annual fee by making sure your spending earns enough extra miles to offset it.
These real-world perspectives from AA customers on Reddit provide added color on what to expect when flying American Airlines. The experiences reinforce that AA delivers a baseline reliable trip but goes beyond expectations when things come together smoothly. Overall, AA remains a viable option for U.S. travelers looking for routes served with new planes and the convenience of a large network airline.
Final Verdict: Is AA Worth Flying?
The general sentiment on Reddit is that American Airlines is a middle-of-the-pack U.S. airline. It lags leading rivals like Delta in some service aspects. But thanks to its widespread network, operational quirks are forgiven by many road warriors out of necessity.
Most agree that all legacy U.S. carriers have pros and cons these days. For price-sensitive leisure flyers, AA works fine when they get a competitive airfare. Loyal business travelers with elite status seem to have a reasonably positive experience with access to upgrades and lounges.
Overall, while not perfect, AA still satisfies the basic priority for most flyers – getting from point A to point B without breaking the bank. So while reddit feedback helps set appropriate expectations, American Airlines remains a solid choice for many U.S. routes.