TWA1985 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 636 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2273 times:
Hello All,
I'm looking to fly either American or Delta to Honolulu from Chicago in first class. If I fly AA, I will fly ORD-DFW-HNL (and the reverse). If I choose DL, I will fly ORD-ATL-HNL (and the reverse). Now for the question ... which airline provides a better product (food, seats, etc.)?
srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (5 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2202 times:
Going of off a/c types, it's pretty much a wash on both airlines since ORD-DFW on AA is shown to be all MD-80 family a/c and ORD-ATL on DL is predominately MD-88s. AA has slightly better seat pitch in First 39" compared to 37". As for the leg to HNL, AA uses a 763 while DL uses an A333. But I have to give AA the edge here since they have lie-flat "shell" seats versus DL's angled seats that only recline to 176° and both have similar seat pitch.
Is it safe to assume that AA ORD-LAX-HNL or ORD-SLC-HNL is out of the question? I'm assuming that the ORD-DFW-HNL and ORD-ATL-HNL options are the cheapest options on AA and DL.
Even though I am a Delta flyer, I'd give the edge to AA for the following reasons:
1. Slightly better seat pitch in First.
2. Better routing, as DFW is further west than ATL.
TWA1985 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 636 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (5 months 4 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2190 times:
Thanks, srbmod!
So, at this point, AA has the edge. I'm also considering the non-stop AA flight from ORD-HNL, which is also uses a Boeing 767. The meal also plays a factor. What kind of meal service can expect on Delta's Atlanta to Honolulu flight, and the reverse, and also the American flight from ORD to HNL, and of course, the reverse? I was kind of surprised to see that American serves a full lunch on the DFW to HNL flight, and that the second service is only a small fruit and cheese plate. I would expect something more substantial for the second service, considering it's an eight hour flight. Would the ORD to HNL route have something similar?
deltairlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8771 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (5 months 4 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2166 times:
Quoting srbmod (Reply 1): But I have to give AA the edge here since they have lie-flat "shell" seats versus DL's angled seats that only recline to 176° and both have similar seat pitch.
Keep in mind that the seats on the A330 are significantly wider than the 767, given that AA is throwing 6 abreast on the 767, which is pretty narrow.
Quoting srbmod (Reply 1): Is it safe to assume that AA ORD-LAX-HNL or ORD-SLC-HNL is out of the question? I'm assuming that the ORD-DFW-HNL and ORD-ATL-HNL options are the cheapest options on AA and DL.
LAX/SLC mean likely no true international product on the overwater legs. At least going from DFW/ATL means an international plane with a better seat.
As for meal service on Delta, you get a hot lunch (two options) and ice cream going over, plus a sandwich prior to landing. On the way back, it's a hot dinner (two options) and a cold breakfast (cereal, breakfast breads, etc.) prior to arrival. Meal types are standard domestic F meals, not what you'd find in BusinessElite. The only differences from a normal longer domestic flight are the presence of mai tais and the ice cream sundaes.
srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (5 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2127 times:
Quoting deltairlines (Reply 3): Keep in mind that the seats on the A330 are significantly wider than the 767, given that AA is throwing 6 abreast on the 767, which is pretty narrow.
Fair point, as SeatGuru lists the First Class seats on AA's 763s at 18.5" while DL's First Class seats on the A333 are listed at 20". An inch and a half may sound like a little bit, but when it comes to seat width (as well as seat pitch), it means a lot (even more so as airlines have narrowed their economy seats in recent years).
AirAfreak From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2113 times:
Take Delta, so you can have a wider seat, better chance of fewer weather delays/cancellations (have you seen the snow in Chicago?), premium offerings in the Delta SkyClubs, a true Southern Snack @ Paschal's (grab your sweet iced tea!!), more miles (Atlanta is further east than Dallas), and a quiet Airbus 330 making the 10 hours nice and comfortable =]
I like earning my miles and as many as I can within a roundtrip, so I don't mind flying out-of-the-way. After all, it's First Class, so it's a no brainer to fly via ATL considering the class-of-service mileage bonus!
Simple, but vastly inferior product to the AA or DL options. I'd go out of my way to avoid the Ghettobird 777 with domestic F seats for 10 hours.
If you want to fly United up front, I'd look for a connection to one of their internationally configured planes - I know they have BusinessFirst on some of the IAH/EWR/IAD/SFO flights (and can't remember if DEN has it too).
mauiman31 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 434 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 months 4 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2027 times:
Quoting TWA1985 (Reply 2): I was kind of surprised to see that American serves a full lunch on the DFW to HNL flight, and that the second service is only a small fruit and cheese plate. I would expect something more substantial for the second service, considering it's an eight hour flight. Would the ORD to HNL route have something similar?
We have been flying these routes FC on AA for years. Menu's outbound and inbound rotate between entree choices of fish, chicken, beef and pasta choices. Here is the drill for American's Sam Choy "Hawaii Flagship Service" in FC:
Pre-departure - champagne, mimosa or drink of choice
After take off - hot towel, menu presented, cocktail service with warm tropical nut mix
Dinner entree orders taken
Drinks and tropical dried fruit and nut mix refilled as wanted
Linens and service tray set
Salad (choice of dressing), bread basket and wine service from cart.
Salad removed when finished.
Entree served individually when ready.
Entree dish removed.
Cocktails/wine replenished
Dessert cart comes by - offering, handmade sundaes (toppings vary), fruit and cheese plate and a variety
of cordials, (brandy, amaretto, etc.)
Continual drink, water service.
Fruit and cheese plate offered prior to arrival or continental breakfast inbound.
Here is the exact menu choices from our last trip HNL-DFW dinner flight:
To Start: Tropical Mix Nuts
Salad: Fresh seasonal Greens with asparagus and daikon radish, offered with Greek vinaigrette or spicy Asian dressing.
Main Course: Teriyaki Beef Fillet glazed served with broccolini and basmati rice with ginger cilantro pesto or
Cheese Ravioli - Semolina pasta filled with four cheese, offered with a mushroom tomato cream sauce, sauteed shallots and sliced mushrooms
On today's flight we are proud to feature King's Hawaii rolls. (they always have other choices in the bread basket too)
Dessert: Ice Cream Sundae Vanilla ice cream with a choice of hot fudge, strawberry or sweet coffee toppings, whipped cream and chopped walnuts. Or fruit and cheese plate.
Prior to arrival: Warmed on board scones offered with fresh seasonal fruit.
TWA1985 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 636 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 months 4 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2024 times:
Thanks for all the input, I think I will go with American. I've heard from others that the seats (because they are more private) and food are superior, even to Delta.
Quoting mauiman31 (Reply 8): Prior to arrival: Warmed on board scones offered with fresh seasonal fruit.
Thanks for posting that. Did the HNL-DFW or HNL-ORD routes ever get a full breakfast?
mauiman31 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 434 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 months 4 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2017 times:
Quoting TWA1985 (Reply 9): Did the HNL-DFW or HNL-ORD routes ever get a full breakfast?
We have been flying AA to Hawaii in FC since 2007. And it has been a continental breakfast prior to arrival on the dinner flights. They did step up that a few years ago to the more substantial warm scones and fruit plate (juice coffee). The first couple years it was just a muffin and beverages. I would guess back in "the good ol' days" it was a full breakfast in FC. They used to serve a comp meal to economy on these flights, but that went away years ago also. And economy just has beverage service and BOB offerings.
Roseflyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8740 posts, RR: 52 Reply 11, posted (5 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2006 times:
Does AA have any IFE on the HNL flights? The 767s do not have built in PTVs, so if they don't offer the portable player, then you won't have any individual IFE and that is a long flight. DL's A330 has a built in system.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
LAXintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22030 posts, RR: 51 Reply 12, posted (5 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1950 times:
Quoting deltairlines (Reply 7): Simple, but vastly inferior product to the AA or DL options. I'd go out of my way to avoid the Ghettobird 777 with domestic F seats for 10 hours.
Personally I value time much more in a nonstop, then bouncing around the country and waiting for a connection.
The UA domestic configuration is not bad enough to warrant avoiding it if the choice is between nonstop or having to take a longer time multi stop routing imo.
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