AA

[naturegirl]

Has anyone ever flown business class on AA. I heard that's what they call first class now on domestic flights. We had ff miles that were expiring this year so we figured we had to use them up anyway so we upgraded to business class. Was it worth it? What is included in business class?

[Xislandgirl]

It is just like first class. Big seats, free booze, mediocre food.

If you have miles to use, do it. I woul dnever pay money for it though.

[naturegirl]

I heard it was pretty bad for a supposedly firsr class cabin. Guess first class is not what it used to be although they are still charging the same miles for and upgrade.

[CShell1019]

Some planes have all three - first, business and steerage - but on many flights, especially the leisure routes, there is no first class but a buisness class. I definitely think it is worth it (depending on your miles balance and the cost of your flight) especially when the fare is so low that it is not worth using miles. The advantange of not being stuffed three seats across and a few of the other percs make the flight more tolerable. They still offered pre-take off drinks, food, etc. and you certainly don't have to worry about stuffing your bags in the overhead when everyone else got there ahead of you! With AA limiting the number of ff seats, it is sometimes the best option and the most comfortable one!

[MrB]

We were offered an upgrade for $70 for the 2 of us last year and we will never go another way. No more sitting with the unwashed for us! I think the big seats are worth it alone. Some AA flights DO have 1st, and busniess class on the same plane. If you can avoid these planes (there is a website with diagrams so you can avoid) then do. A flight with both, and your upgrade only gets you business class, but if the flight only has 1st class seating, then that is what you get with your upgrade. Shop savvy!!!

[naturegirl]

This is a 757 so it is only a business class upgrade but I guess it's better than sitting on the back of the bus. I hate to fly and it usually more of a bumpy ride in coach so that will be worth it alone.

[augie]

AA's web site still shows Business Class seating available on both legs of our trip, so maybe there will be an opportunity to buy a reasonable upgrade at the gate.

We can certainly live without it (and I would not have paid the difference in the fares!) but you never know...

[naturegirl]

Wow Augie- 4 more days-how excited are you!!!

[augie]

Wow Augie- 4 more days-how excited are you!!!

According to RickG I'm about to pop!

(...and he may be right!)

[sapphirecat]

Hi naturegirl,

Seats are much better in AA biz class than in the back of the plane; and last year, believe it or not, I had the best pancakes I'd ever tasted. I know. Unbelievable, but true.

The time goes by *much* faster in biz class. I feel I'm on vacation already once the tickets are booked, since the thought of the hassle of squeeze is eliminated from my life.

Cat

[Gromit]

You've done the right thing. Like others I use miles or pay the small upgrade fee at the gate EVERY time I get the chance, especially if I paid rock bottom prices for the main ticket. I hardly ever use FF miles for a whole ticket domestic, unless it's for a trans-atlantic first class ticket. The restrictions on domestic FF use are ridiculous IMHO. But for some reason they always have room for upgrades. So IMHO that's the way to go.

Right now I'm really sweating the flight down on Dec 1st. Both flights are packed and I am really hoping that they will offer the upgrade at the gate for $$ option when I check in. Praying is more like it!! Plus when I see all those full seats there is a much greater risk of the flight being overbooked.

Coming back on Dec 11 isn't a problem since there are plenty of open seats as of now.

But like the others I am an upgrade ADDICT!

[byado18]

I've found that if I check in online 24 hours ahead of time, I increase the odds of a possible $$ upgrade......although I am not sure if that will work for "international" flights it works well for domestic flights.