American Airlines vs British Airways: Which Airline is Better for Your Next Trip?

When it comes to flying between the United States and Europe, two of the most prominent airlines are American Airlines and British Airways. Both are members of the Oneworld alliance and codeshare on many routes, allowing passengers to mix and match flights. However, there are some key differences between the two carriers that may sway your decision on which to choose for your next transatlantic trip.

Route Networks and Hubs

Winner: American Airlines

For U.S-based travelers, American Airlines provides a distinct advantage with its larger domestic route network and more U.S. hubs compared to British Airways. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (JFK and LaGuardia), Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington D.C. This gives more options for convenient connections from your departure city.

British Airways, being based in London, has a primary hub at London Heathrow (LHR) with very limited service from other U.S. gateways. BA currently serves around 26 airports across the United States, meaning many passengers need to connect in London to get to their final destination.

While American only flies nonstop to London from 11 U.S. airports, it serves a total of 14 European destinations nonstop compared to just a handful for BA beyond London. So American may offer more convenient routings depending on your origin and final destination.

Credit Card Availability

Winner: American Airlines

When it comes to co-branded credit card options, American again has the upper hand for U.S-based travelers. British Airways offers just one credit card – the British Airways Visa Signature from Chase. It has a solid welcome bonus and earns valuable Avios, but that’s your only option.

American Airlines has a much broader portfolio of personal and small business cards issued by both Citi and Barclays. This includes premium options like the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard which comes with an Admirals Club lounge membership. Having more credit card choices is advantageous for earning miles and getting benefits.

Airline Loyalty Programs

Winner: American Airlines AAdvantage

Both airlines have robust frequent flyer programs, but American’s AAdvantage program gets the nod over British Airways’ Executive Club in several ways:

– American still publishes an award chart showing redemption rates, while British Airways obscures award pricing
– AAdvantage miles are worth significantly more than Avios according to annual valuations by The Points Guy and NerdWallet
– American has significantly more airline partners to redeem miles compared to BA’s limited Oneworld partners

The one area where British Airways excels is taking advantage of distance-based award pricing for short, nonstop flights – like transcontinental U.S routes or flights within Europe. But for most redemptions, especially in premium cabins, you’ll get more value from AAdvantage miles.

Extra Fees

Winner: American Airlines

Neither airline is particularly generous when it comes to included amenities, but British Airways tends to nickel-and-dime passengers more than American in certain instances:

– Checked bag fees: BA charges up to $75 for the first checked bag on basic economy transatlantic fares, while AA’s standard economy allows a free checked bag
– Seat assignment fees: BA charges a fee to select standard seats in advance, while AA permits free advanced seat assignments
– No free snacks/drinks in economy: American still provides free non-alcoholic beverages and snacks on longer flights, while BA doesn’t

British Airways has temporarily removed most change fees through late 2024 due to the pandemic. But historically BA has charged hefty fees to change or cancel bookings, especially those booked in cheaper economy fares.

In-Flight Experience

Winner: British Airways

Despite lagging in most other areas, British Airways does tend to provide a superior in-flight experience compared to American – especially in economy class:

– More modern cabins: BA has been much more aggressive updating its longhaul fleet with new seats, entertainment systems, etc. across cabins
– Free alcohol in economy: BA serves free beer, wine and cocktails in economy while AA only offers complimentary non-alcoholic beverages
– More substantial meals: British Airways meals and snacks are generally more filling and higher quality than the basic options on AA flights

American has focused on improving premium cabins in recent years with excellent new business class seats, enhanced bedding, amenity kits and more. But its economy product remains fairly basic and lags top carriers.

British Airways has a bit more amenity squeeze on short intra-Europe flights which more closely resemble low-cost carriers. But the longhaul international experience is quite good and a notch above basic American service levels.

So Which Airline is Better?

When weighing all the factors, American Airlines emerges as the better airline for most U.S. travelers compared to British Airways on the majority of routes:

– American has a much larger domestic network with more hubs for convenient connections
– Its loyalty program and credit card options provide more value
– It charges lower fees for things like checked bags and advance seat assignments
– AA is typically cheaper for the same routes/cabins

The main advantage British Airways holds is an arguably better in-flight experience, particularly in economy class. So for budget-conscious leisure travelers who want a bit more amenity, BA could be a better pick. The airline is also sometimes a good value for nonstop domestic U.S flights using British Airways Avios.

But for most, the superior route network, elite benefits, fees, and credit card/loyalty program integration make American the more sensible choice between the two partners. Pick whichever has the most convenient schedule and pricing for your particular travel needs.

Just be aware that when you book a codeshare flight operated by the other airline, you’ll be subject to many of their specific policies like fees, seat assignment rules, in-flight amenities and more. Those differences could make or break your decision on any given itinerary.