So I've been researching my next trip and it seems like LAX-Hawaii only has First seats available for all days searched. I suspect this is because most (if not all) flights LAX-Hawaii fly in 2 cabin planes and BA codes them as "First" seats, thought they're coded as Business/First on AA. Is there any way for me to book a business seat (50k RT) from LAX-Hawaii? 75k seems a bit steep for that route and those seats...
You answered your own question. Unfortunately AA calls their business class "First/Business" and BA classifies it as First when using Avios. I don't not know anyway to work around the "no AA business class with Avios". Maybe somebody else does?
I don't think that AA does call its business class 'First/Business' - rather that depending on the route the same seats with basically the same service are called different things. The vast majority of their domestic service (which includes LAX-HNL) is a two class service, with Economy and First as the two cabin options. Where the same planes fly on international routes, the cabin is marketed at Business. This is why there is no option to buy a business class tickets with Avios - it unfortunately doesn't exist. To make matters worse, this 'first' cabin appears to be on domestic configuration 757's so, you don't even get a lie flat seat, just a large leather one. So, as you say, steep at 75k a ticket....
Darn. Looks like I'm out of luck on this one. The only thing I might be able to do is find a 3-cabin AA flight from another city but it looks like these don't exist out of the west coast.
You wont.,. AA only flies 757s and 763s to Hawaii.... none of these aircraft in their fleet are configured for 3 cabins.
I know that Avios has a distanced based element. But, the redemption cost for mainland USA to Hawaii on the 3 main carriers (first in a two cabin): American 75,000 United 80,000 Delta 75,000/85,000 This is a much better deal from the East Coast than the West Coast, but you win sometimes and you lose sometimes.
Yea, I was under the impression that there would be business availability at the 50k level in Avios. Looks like that isn't happening for us west coast-ers. Just not as good a deal as I thought it'd be. 25k in coach is still great, though. Too bad AS devalued their companion pass or I would have gone that route. Meh. Like you said, you win some and you lose some.
Just to clarify something here, AA does not have BF, that would be continental airlines Dba United. AA has First, Business and Coach. AA only flys 2 class 767 to Hawaii, whether it is from LAX, DFW or ORD.
Just booked a trip on AA LAX-OGG on a B763 for next week in F class. ( no Business class within USA) Of the 3 daily flights 2 are on B763 and 3 rd B752 LAX-HNL. Has a mix of B763 & B752's as well
Good to know! Enjoy your flights. Which one is the B757 flight, so I can avoid that one? Can you let us know about your in flight experience?
checked the schedule, and indeed, the 763 is back, one of them is Nov 15 - Dec 12 in the current schedule. Whatever class they choose to call it, the 763 is a 2-class plane with an international business seat (angle flat, I believe) in the front cabin. The 757 is domestic F. -David
