Thanks to vast improvements in service, deciding which airline to use when passing over the fly-over states has never been harder. If, that is, you’re in business or first class.
Transcontinental front-of-the-plane travel is where the money and glam is; it’s where airlines invest when they have extra cash laying around and, recently, airlines have had it (thanks, consolidation).
That’s why big changes have been in the air. United, Delta, American and JetBlue have all added horizontal lie-flat “bed seats” (United was the first to do so). They’ve refurbished fleets or added new planes, improved meal service, and beefed up in-fight entertainment systems. Even egalitarian JetBlue has joined the race, adding a first class service on its JFK-LAX route. Better perhaps, the cost, while still not “cheap,” has come way down mainly thanks to JetBlue’s lower fares.
We break down each airline’s offerings.
Best in class
Without question, American has the most luxurious cabin in transcon: their first class, aboard new Airbus A321’s, is so private it’s like flying, well, private — only with a better safety record. (In January, 1959, AA was the first airline to launch nonstop jet service from LA to NYC, so “transcon is particularly important to us,” says spokesperson Casey Norton; and only AA has retained distinct first, business, and economy cabins on the routes).
With just ten first class seats in five rows — all are singles, with aisle access and a window — it’s so exclusive that Hollywood types feel quite at home here. On a recent flight I sat across from Californiacator David Duchovny, traveling with his two kids. (“The Good Wife’s” Julianna Margulies and Neil Patrick Harris, both of whom appear in AA’s ad campaigns for the new product, are also regulars, according to cabin crew I spoke to). Speaking of Hollywood, AA’s in-flight entertainment system is among the best in the sky, with a clever collection of movies (first-runs, classics, foreign, documentaries), TV shows, plus diverse music and radio channels.
Down the aisle in business class, there are 20 lie-flat seats in a two-by-two configuration. All seats have 110-volt AC power and USB ports. First-class cuisine is a bit more extensive than in biz, but the wine selections are the same in both cabins and both get to use Bose noise-canceling headphones in flight. One thing I’d like to see on AA and others: real French Champagne, please? Enough with the Gloria Ferrer Brut.
Routes: JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO
Most comfy
United didn’t bother buying new planes, but it did completely refurbish its transcon Boeing 757 fleet, finishing the task at the end of last year. United’s “p.s.” (premium service) transcon product has just two classes — “business first” and economy (three, if you include “economy plus”).
I find United’s business class seats to be the most comfortable of all the airlines in transcon (Lufthansa uses the same seats in biz). On my first flight, I forgot to recline, so squirm-proof were they. Whereas the old 757’s had no in-flight entertainment system (flight attendants distributed hand-held video players), the new planes have all the audio-visual bells-and-whistles, as well as AC power at all seats.
Routes: JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO
Best value
But perhaps the biggest news is over at JetBlue and its “Mint” service. This first-class equivalent cabin offers both single and double seats (16 in all), so if you don’t like having to choose between window or aisle, book early and grab one of the singles, which also have a “door” that slides shut for extra privacy.
Mint is now offered on all JFK-LAX flights (JFK-SFO is launching in late October and they’re looking at Boston-LAX for a future launch). Key here are the fares: introductory rates were as low as $599 for non-refundable one-ways, going up to $999 for refundable tickets. That compares to what used to be $2,400 or so each way in business class on the Big Three, and considerably more for first class on American. The meal service in Mint, provided by New York City’s Saxon+Parole, is stellar — perhaps the best airline food since the Concorde.
And the clever amenity kits, provided by Birch Box, are full of samples you’ll actually use (there’s one for guys and one for ladies).
Seating is very comfy on the new Airbus A321’s, with air-filled cushions (the firmness is adjustable at the push of a button). The only downside perhaps: a lack of airport lounges. JetBlue does have one at JFK’s Terminal 5 ($25 per visit), but none at LAX or SFO (for a fee, you can use Virgin’s LAX lounge, which is nearby JetBlue’s gates in Terminal 3 — or it’s free if you’re a Priority Club member).
And while we’re nitpicking, you can’t upgrade with miles to Mint, as you can to business on the Big 3 (15,000 miles each way from the lowest fares on UA and AA) and although there’s live TV with 100-plus channels there are just eight movies. Those quibbles aside, the Wi-Fi is free, at least for now, and it’s fast.
Routes: JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO in late October
Falls flat
Then there’s Virgin America. Nothing really new here, it’s the same product since launch. The snazzy white leather seats, eight of them in a 2-by-2 configuration on an Airbus, don’t lie flat, and frankly the hard leather surfaces aren’t very comfortable. The meal service is quite tasty (maybe not as good as on JetBlue) but on my last flight the first class cabin crew disappeared after serving, only to return as we were landing.
Tip: Virgin sells last minute first class upgrades six hours before departure for $399 each way. Virgin does have airport lounges for full-fare first class passengers at LAX (free) and JFK/SFO ($40-$75 per visit). But they’re still charging, as we go to press, $1250 to $2400 each way on some flights, even without lie-flat seats.
Routes: JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO
Also ran
Over at Delta you’ll find lie-flat seats on a variety of older, refurbished (but not factory-fresh) aircraft, although not all planes have been retrofitted yet (the entire project should be finished by year’s end) so consult the seat maps and your flight number on SeatGuru.com before booking.
Some flights are operated with wide-body Boeing 767-300ER jets, with 26 lie-flat bed seats, while others are flown on 757 (16 business-class seats). Delta’s meals, however, are fresher than ever.
Routes: JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO, JFK-SEA
George Hobica is the founder of Airfare Watchdog. For more tips and low fares, follow him on Twitter @airfarewatchdog.