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Over the last few months that I have been reading trip reports on this board I have become very tired of reading about trips in F on SQ and other fancy pants airlines. I have read report after report where the DeltaFlyingProf, KeithMEL, the nickbots, and now even Leroy and Bubba have traveled in this style. Bears, imagine even bears riding around in suites. I have never heard of such a thing. Clearly these writers do not appreciate what truly fine F service is. Just so we all have a point of reference to compare to let me report on the epitome of First Class service. In other words, domestic First Class on AA. Prepare to be jealous as you read this trip report.
In the last year or so I have taken six flights in AA F. All of them have been from and to DFW. Being the headquarters of AA you may be assured that this represents the best you will see on AA outside of a flight from one side of the US to the other in AA Flagship Service.
The reason the DFW area is home to the headquarters of so many companies is the ability to reach almost any point on the US in a few hours. Each of the six fights were from two to slightly over three hours. This report is a summary of all six.
AA domestic F from and to DFW follows a distinct pattern. On arrival at the DFW airport the easiest way to get rid of the luggage is to have the car service driver leave you at the lower level curbside check stand at the terminal the flight will leave from. For a mere two dollars a bag the porter will check the bag, without weighing it, as well as provide the boarding pass. This is the first instance were F on AA is better then economy despite the exorbitant price difference. The typical curbside economy line is about 20, whereas the F line is at most two other people.
Next it is up the escalators to go through security. Security at DFW can be good and bad. There is usually an F line. This is always a good thing.
After security is cleared it is off to the gate or the Admirals Club. Entry to the Admirals Club is part of the AA F ticket as long as you pay the $495 membership fee once a year. Yes, that was a joke about it being part of the F ticket. So far the Admirals Clubs I have been in at DFW and other locations have been very nice facilities. Even the hellhole that is the MIA terminal has a nice club. As the cost of the F ticket is already so high another $495 bucks is peanuts, which is exactly the only food you receive free of charge in an Admirals Club. Well except for apples too I guess. For example,
On to the gate. AA does have Priority Access for F passengers. This means you get to be the first one to sit down in the hot cabin while you wait for the other 100 something passengers to make their way to the back of the plane. This process consists of everyone bouncing their way down the aisle with you in F being the object they bounce off of. There is no predeparture drink service as there is no way a FA could get down the aisle with anything other than a machete.
I do not quite see the point in boarding the F passengers first other than tradition. Although I suppose it ensures they get overhead bin space. I would prefer they just lock the bins in F until the Y passengers are loaded.
Once the aircraft is stable in flight the service commences. This is exactly the same flight after flight. First the warm towel is presented. Although towel may be somewhat of a misnomer as it looks more like something one would use as gauze to cover a large wound.
The only difference in food service is morning v non-morning. On the morning flights warm nuts and a drink are missing, as warm nuts before breakfast makes no sense. However, at all other times they are tasty.
The meal service consists of one of two selections. The time of the flight dictating whether these choices center on breakfast, lunch, or snack. Often the lunch and snack service is the same thing. Usually a drink is offered before the meal service begins. This drink of your choice is presented in either the highest quality available small plastic cup or a small glass.
Breakfast is typically a cheese omelet or something else. The something else being cereal or pancakes. Lunch is a warm sandwich of some sort along with another option. Pasta and chicken salad are common as the other option. Salad is always served, as are a few crackers. Each meal is uninteresting but filling. I have yet - knock on wood - been served anything totally inedible.
AA usually serves based on FEBO. This means on even numbered flights service begins at the front. On odd numbered fights service begins at the back of F. This is an important consideration if you are a picky eater. If you are at the front on an odd numbered flight your choice will be whatever sounded terrible to everyone behind you. I read one time the non-sandwich was salmon something or the other which is nothing this Texas boy - being from beef country - would eat. At least they have never had sheep on the menu. Anti-sheep is a Texas thing.
After the meal service one more pass is made for the drink service. At this point the FAs disappear to eat or rest until near descent. That is unless this is a non-morning flight. In which case a warm chocolate chip cookie arrives with the last drink service.
On some flights - I think the ones that are three hours of more - the latest quality passenger entertainment system is deployed. This consists of the FA banging on the ceiling until a TV drops out.
On this TV a movie is shown, as well as several commercials.
F on AA domestic is always full. AA upgrades to fill all the F seats. I suspect my wife and I are the only ones who have to pay full fare as we do not fly enough to be sure of being upgraded.
As you can see, those chubby little bears have nothing on me. My suggestion to all of you is if you want to experience what first class should really be, get out of those claustrophobic suites, and try AA domestic F on a Mad Dog 80 before they retire all of them. If you do, you will never go back to SQ. I bet you will spend all of your time flying from city to city in the US just to experience it over and over again.
In the last year or so I have taken six flights in AA F. All of them have been from and to DFW. Being the headquarters of AA you may be assured that this represents the best you will see on AA outside of a flight from one side of the US to the other in AA Flagship Service.
The reason the DFW area is home to the headquarters of so many companies is the ability to reach almost any point on the US in a few hours. Each of the six fights were from two to slightly over three hours. This report is a summary of all six.
AA domestic F from and to DFW follows a distinct pattern. On arrival at the DFW airport the easiest way to get rid of the luggage is to have the car service driver leave you at the lower level curbside check stand at the terminal the flight will leave from. For a mere two dollars a bag the porter will check the bag, without weighing it, as well as provide the boarding pass. This is the first instance were F on AA is better then economy despite the exorbitant price difference. The typical curbside economy line is about 20, whereas the F line is at most two other people.
Next it is up the escalators to go through security. Security at DFW can be good and bad. There is usually an F line. This is always a good thing.
After security is cleared it is off to the gate or the Admirals Club. Entry to the Admirals Club is part of the AA F ticket as long as you pay the $495 membership fee once a year. Yes, that was a joke about it being part of the F ticket. So far the Admirals Clubs I have been in at DFW and other locations have been very nice facilities. Even the hellhole that is the MIA terminal has a nice club. As the cost of the F ticket is already so high another $495 bucks is peanuts, which is exactly the only food you receive free of charge in an Admirals Club. Well except for apples too I guess. For example,
On to the gate. AA does have Priority Access for F passengers. This means you get to be the first one to sit down in the hot cabin while you wait for the other 100 something passengers to make their way to the back of the plane. This process consists of everyone bouncing their way down the aisle with you in F being the object they bounce off of. There is no predeparture drink service as there is no way a FA could get down the aisle with anything other than a machete.
I do not quite see the point in boarding the F passengers first other than tradition. Although I suppose it ensures they get overhead bin space. I would prefer they just lock the bins in F until the Y passengers are loaded.
Once the aircraft is stable in flight the service commences. This is exactly the same flight after flight. First the warm towel is presented. Although towel may be somewhat of a misnomer as it looks more like something one would use as gauze to cover a large wound.
The only difference in food service is morning v non-morning. On the morning flights warm nuts and a drink are missing, as warm nuts before breakfast makes no sense. However, at all other times they are tasty.
The meal service consists of one of two selections. The time of the flight dictating whether these choices center on breakfast, lunch, or snack. Often the lunch and snack service is the same thing. Usually a drink is offered before the meal service begins. This drink of your choice is presented in either the highest quality available small plastic cup or a small glass.
Breakfast is typically a cheese omelet or something else. The something else being cereal or pancakes. Lunch is a warm sandwich of some sort along with another option. Pasta and chicken salad are common as the other option. Salad is always served, as are a few crackers. Each meal is uninteresting but filling. I have yet - knock on wood - been served anything totally inedible.
AA usually serves based on FEBO. This means on even numbered flights service begins at the front. On odd numbered fights service begins at the back of F. This is an important consideration if you are a picky eater. If you are at the front on an odd numbered flight your choice will be whatever sounded terrible to everyone behind you. I read one time the non-sandwich was salmon something or the other which is nothing this Texas boy - being from beef country - would eat. At least they have never had sheep on the menu. Anti-sheep is a Texas thing.
After the meal service one more pass is made for the drink service. At this point the FAs disappear to eat or rest until near descent. That is unless this is a non-morning flight. In which case a warm chocolate chip cookie arrives with the last drink service.
On some flights - I think the ones that are three hours of more - the latest quality passenger entertainment system is deployed. This consists of the FA banging on the ceiling until a TV drops out.
On this TV a movie is shown, as well as several commercials.
F on AA domestic is always full. AA upgrades to fill all the F seats. I suspect my wife and I are the only ones who have to pay full fare as we do not fly enough to be sure of being upgraded.
As you can see, those chubby little bears have nothing on me. My suggestion to all of you is if you want to experience what first class should really be, get out of those claustrophobic suites, and try AA domestic F on a Mad Dog 80 before they retire all of them. If you do, you will never go back to SQ. I bet you will spend all of your time flying from city to city in the US just to experience it over and over again.
Thanks, Paint Horse for the detailed overview of AA domestic F.
And of course, since this site is for our beloved Singapore Airlines, most of the trip reports will be on SQ. 
And yes, it is still a pleasure to read all the experiences flying in the front cabin.
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