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Flying to Albuquerque in September with BA, starting in Amsterdam for the usual cheaper Club World tickets, so AMS to LHR and then change at Chicago O'Hare (cba to look up the code!) for American Eagle flight to ABQ
Coming back via Dallas Fort Worth, I think. Same carrier.
I understand AE is a sort of commuter operation, subsidiary to American Airlines. Anyone know what to expect? Any good?
American Eagle is the regional arm of AA – all US airlines have one.
Expect nothing except the awful, awful, awful experience that is domestic air travel in the US. Intrusive, excessive and aggressive security. Dreadful airport lounges not worthy of the name. Zero onboard service – and don't bring any hand luggage, you'll be on a CRJ700 (for THREE hours) with no overhead space.
For your sake I hope you're not flying with AA on any of the long-haul sectors of your trip. I flew DFW-LHR in 'Business' with AA a few weeks ago and the only positive thing I can say is that it was better than UAL - it was lousy.
People are always complaining here about BA Club but that cabin is simply in a different league (several different leagues actually) to what you get on AA (or any US airline). As a One World partner AA is an unfunny joke when it comes to comparative business-class products. Avoid at all costs.
American Eagle is a single class service so I'm afraid you will be in economy for the full 3 hours from ORD. Drinks (non-alcoholic) are served 'free' however no food. As Shanwick points out, the service will be on a CRJ-700 (2 + 2 seating) and handbag storage is very limited.
Any chance you could get on the BA DFW flight?
AA fly MD80s on the DFW-ABQ route and the flight duration is about 1:30. As it is main-line service, you can at least get the proper business-class seat (an actual business class seat - not an economy seat that is utilised for business pax as is the case with most airlines in Europe, for short-haul routes). Sadly, even though it would be a business class service, don't expect much more than the better seat and free alcoholic drinks (no food is served on business flights of less than 2 hours....).
Just checked the details. Definitely says Business Class, seats 3C and 3D, flights BA1823 out and BA1780 out. Equipment is indeed a CRJ-700.
As for hand luggage - thanks, Shanwick. I'll be toting my cameras and lenses and laptop in a ThinkTank wheelie bag, airline size approved (absolutely marvellous kit, ThinkTank is). I'll have a look at seatguru.com right now. I'm buggered if I'm putting £10k worth of Nikons & Mac stuff in the hold.
edit: just checked. The flight is First and Economy, with First in 2+1 configuration. Sounds OK.
I stand corrected, TOH.....AE have recently started to offer 2 class service on their CRJ fleet from a number of airports, including ORD.
The first 3 rows of American Eagle CRJ-700s are 1+2 "First" class (business). The seats are larger than those in economy with more legroom, but are not as big as those on full sized AA Aircraft. The overhead bins on CRJ-700s are quite small and will not fit a rollerboard bag. They will hold about the same as you can put under a seat, laptop case, small to medium duffle bag or backpack. If your ThinkTank is a full sized rollerboard style bag, it will have to be checked on the jet bridge plane side at ORD (you do not have to check it as regular luggage) and you will pick it up on the jet bridge in ABQ. You are allowed two pieces of carry on, one under seat and one in the small overhead bin.
Depending on the time of day, you may actually get meal service in First, though it likely will be a cold entree like a grilled chicken breast and salad, They do not have warming ovens on the CRJ-700.
Thanks for that. That's what I'll do, then. Outward flight departs at 2005, so we (self and wife) might get something. What's your source for the catering arrangements, by the way? Airlinemeals.net?
i have flown them a few times, last time was on monday SAN to LAX, as others have said expect Ryan air with an american accent.
note, they usually fly emb birds, the overheads are very small and your usual carry on size bag does not fit so expect to valet it (put in the hold at the door of the aircraft)
get an A seat if you can, the layout is 1 - 2, the A allows you to strech into the isle while resting your head on the bulkhead
I fly them BNA to LGA (Nashville to New York LaGuardia) and a few weeks ago that was what was for lunch; cold grilled chicken breast on a bed of salad, not half bad and there will likely be something similar on your 20:05 flight. There are some decent restaurants in the main AA concourse at ORD Terminal 3 H and K gates (Wolfgang Puck near K1 or Macaroni Grill near K3 for a decent sit down meal). You will most likely be going out of the G gates, not many choices there but it is not far from the H/K gates (LHR T5 this is not).
Also, as CW passengers you will get access to the Admiral's club with complimentary drinks (no free food, and what they have is more bar food than dinner). There are two, the larger one between the H and K gates and a much smaller one in the G concourse.
And thanks for that as well. we have a four-hour stopover in ORD, so good to know where the Admirals Club is. It's decades since I last flew on a US airline.
TiredOldHack I awould take soem of the posts with a pinch of salt. Regretably opinions often overtake facts on these forums particularly when talking about "johnny foreigner" arilnes.
The ORD -ABQ service is operated by American Eagle as you say and they operate a 2 class CRJ700 Regional jet on this route. You have plenty of time to make your connection.
The CRJ700 has 2+1 seating in the first 3 rows so you make your own choice on bulkhead or not.
The poster who commments on overhead space is corect that the bins will not accomodate the massive roll ons that US domestic flyers favour but AE offer gate valet so you give them your carry on at the gate and they bring it back to you at the gate on landing so it does not involve goign to baggage belt. Stiil be careful with electronics, fragile items or leather bags as they move relative to each other in the area they secure gate check bags in.
THere are 3 flights, the morning departure serves continental breakfast, the afternoon serves lunch (probably cold) and your flight in the evening is a snack (might be cold might be pizza). In the AA terminal there is are food courts and also some proper restaurant options Wolfgang Puck, Macaroni Grill (Italian) and a number of others. The AA terminal is effectively a number of wings connected and you can walk between them easily.
If you are a BA EC Gold member then you have access to the FLagship lounge which is at the end of the K wing. This is one of the better lounges with a nice selection of snacks (items like shrimp salad and fresh fruit salad as well as a help yourself bar and coffee machine with the usual options). I think there are showers in this lounge (maybe IN Admirals CLub cannot remember. There is wirelesss free, some free PC's, a quiet room with no cellphone noise as well as some TV's No HD channels unfortunately). Windows looking out on perations. Very helpful staff.
If you are not Gold there are 2 admiral clubs as posted.
They are not lo cost as Ryan Air but the service level will not be the same as International or Transcontinental level.
Often RJ's use multiplane gates with steps a bit like Ba in T3 without the buses. As a result, deplaning is normally very quick as are bags though this can vary by airport and I have never visited ABQ.
Have a really great trip, and before another "BA or die" poster comments, there will not be an inflight movie.
For a virtual tour of AE FIrst
http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/AE_first-class.jsp
When you clear CBP at ORD you will have to go upstairs and renter the airside through TSA as usual for US. Make sure you go down to the first class check (left end of terminal as you enter building) as there is a dedicated fast track security there and this could save you time.
Dear all,
Slightly related question... I am doing a rookie run on AA mainline First from CUR to MIA and MIA to DCA in a few weeks. I purchased one of these K-UP fares for around $650.
Couple of questions:
Looks like CUR to MIA is scheduled as business (booking class I) while MIA - DCA is market as First. What happens to BA EC TPs?
Secondly, what can I expect onboard in terms of service? Been on CO service to SJU and was very happy.
No idea about BA EC question as not a member. Both flights are 737 800 which may be brand new aircraft or may be refurbed but a few years old. Nice plane into DCA given size of airport and runway length.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/newsroom/aa-receives-delivery-of-new-boeing-737-800s.jsp.
Both flights show meal service dependent on time of day on both legs in International Business and Domestic FIrst and buy on board snacks in Coach.
Thanks immensely for that, RichHI1. Printed off and saved with the paperwork for the trip.
Blue BA card only, I'm afraid (tantalisingly close to Silver, mind you).
Blimey, does someone at BA have my real identity hacked?
Silver card arrived today. Happy Bunny.
I have to say my experiences of AA are not the best even in F.
I will say that ABQ airport is shared with a military air force base and there are normally Top Gun style training flights during the day and night. pretty amazint to watch.
Just noticed you are flying back through DFW. At ORD the tram between terminals is outside on landside so you will exit the International Terminal (having rechecked your bags at the exit from Customs) and take the Tram to the AA terminal and then enter security on the left (as noted earlier). When you arrive at DFW on the return the Tram is airside, so arriving on an internal flight you do not exit the terminal, instead follow the signs to the Tram and then you can transit airside to the appropriate Terminal (there are multiple stops in the temrinals (eg Gates x - x+9) so you take the one nearest to your gate (on your boarding pass). Both airports the tram frequency is very high and the transit time is very fast (nothing like LHR much much quicker).
Yeah, Kirtland AFB. We have friends there, and have been before and yes, there's some fun stuff.
We went down to Alamogordo once, and a flight of four F16s took off as one, and as soon as they were airborne pulled a tight 180. Wonderful.
@RichHI1 - my mistake. Chicago both legs.
TOH
I am waiting eagerly to hear back from you on how this all went. I would like to know if opinions did indeed overtake the facts or if, as I fear you will find, air travel in the US continues to suck the big one...
Are you there yet?
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