First Class on 3 AIRLINES in 1 Day: Which is America's Best Airline? 

The 'weird alien looking things in the desert' are the heliostats and solar power towers that are part of the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility.

I fly both UA and AA quite frequently out of ORD or JAX and other Florida airports, and to me, I find AA not getting a fair reputation. The interiors of AA are a lot more consistent, and generally fresher. With United, it’s literally a hit or miss. You may get a new MAX 9 or a very tired 737-700. Crews are generally professional and pleasant on either carrier.

I recently travelled with AA out of MIA, and I must say the crew were very friendly, kind, polite and helpful. They provided us excellent customer service.

One of my biggest gripes with United as someone who very frequently flies domestic for work was something you touched upon: MASSIVE variability in aircraft fit and finish. Flying the same route over a few months repeatedly on the same day of the week at the same time, I’ve had ancient regional jets with no working wifi, old 737 NG cabins with no in-flight entertainment, 737’s with the DirecTV trim, and new 737-MAX 9’s with the latest cabin. And occasionally A320. It’s quite annoying because I don’t really have much of a choice when I fly, so the flights are either really pleasant or feel like I’m flying in 2005. Service is also hit or miss. I’ve flown two leg flights with United totaling over 5 hours in flight time and only offered one microscopic snack that tasted awful (some gelatinous “fruit” bar). Feel constantly crammed in and it’s impossible to gain premier status. Flew on 20 legs in the span of 4 months and not even close to reaching Silver. Meanwhile flew like twice on Delta and was treated like I’d been there for years. Great service and good value seat. If I had more of a choice I wouldn’t fly United anymore.

Not alien at all! It's the Ivanpah solar facility. 3 heliostats generating around 400 Megawatts total. Well played Noel... Increasing engagement with easy comment call out! Great vids and glad to see AA delivered - Us "more pedestrian" travelers can only really have one loyalty program and I invested starting with US Air back in the '90s, hence I'm an AA loyalist. It has it's issues but agreed that cabin crew makes the experience even on mixed bag equipment.

One of my 2023 highlights is getting to watch Noel's videos every Sunday afternoon. 🌅 Happy New Year, everyone.

I have to say (having flown all three both domestic and internationally), I'm 100% team Delta. Not only has everything been consistent service and aircraft wise- I feel like the Flight Crew, ground staff and customer service have been way more helpful and willing to go above and beyond- I've encountered great staff from the other two airlines as well but Delta has just been the most consistent for me

The second time I ever flew, it was with Delta. They had an extra seat in first class and they moved me up to it for free because I was active military (I had to travel in uniform, which was how they knew). That was a decade ago and I still remember it- it was great! The food, seats, crew, all of it

The WiFi charge of $29 just seems so mid-2010’s. I’m glad to see airlines moving towards cheaper or even free wifi. Great overview of the three majors!

After dealing with Greyhound, you deserve these first class trips!

I’m a delta fan through and through

Only airline I haven’t flown first with is United. I’ve flown AA a lot and it’s been a great service. However, I just took my first flight with Delta in first class and was amazed. Delicious meal and outstanding service. Deltas done a great job modernizing their older ex NW airbuses. My A319 was 22 years old and felt nicer than any AA oasis cabin

Noel, I have been bingeing your videos like there’s no tomorrow! I love that you put yourself through all of this so the rest of us don’t have to! I literally feel homesick just watching from the comfort of my own home! This tells me I am not made of the tough enough stuff to do what you do! I’m not a seasoned traveller by any means, so thank god you are! Keep going Noel, you are amazing!

I am an EXP with AA and on +95% of my flights, I am treated with a pre-departure beverage. Also, AA allows you to pre-book meals online/app so I'm not sure why you couldn't this time. One thing I agree they need to improve, however, is dumping the [high] fee for the internet.

Delta being my first choice airline, I am so glad it turned out making itself look good on this trip.

A Noel Phillips video without a loo review?!!! Inconceivable!

Have to agree about AA crew. Several years ago I swore never to travel with them again because of the surliness of the crew. However, came back from Boston to LHR with AA and the crew were lovely, so polite and smiley. Well done AA.

Thanks for this Noel and most importantly I wish you, Rach, and your children a happy and healthy New Year ! I flew Delta to and from Atlanta on the iconic 767-300 from TPA to ATL and back on the 767-400 both the get a ride on these great old Boeing aircraft before they are retired and also to compare Delta economy to premium economy. I was very impressed with the premium economy product versus the economy which was not bad either. For aircraft that were 32 and 29 years young respectively, I was surprised at the modern and spotless cabins. The captain of the 767-300 allowed me to visit the flight deck and sit jump seat for the entire pre-flight checks and he and his first officer were so engaging and accommodating. The flight deck was spotless as well a real testament to how Delta cares for their aircraft. I have always been a United guy but Delta won a new fan on that trip. Again happy New Year !!

I travel a lot for work, often taking 6 domestic flights per week. I prefer AA for being able to use my own device for IFE. 95% of my flights with AA are with friendly crews and great service. Delta I think has the best planes/seats and domestic lounges (I know lounges wasn’t included in this video) but I still prefer the experience with AA overall. United I find lacking in all areas except their frequent flyer program. Anyway, I love your videos!

Ive never flown domestic in the USA but i did fly AA transatlantic and loved the flight. Crew were friendly, service was brilliant and the plane interior clean and modern. I loved the experience with AA.

That waffle. Delta for the win! Have a happy new year to you and your family Noel! 🎉

I traveled for work for about 6 years domestic and international. Delta was always my choice. You should compare the apps of the airlines also. I remember Delta being the only one who allow you to pay for checked bags via the app and they also have a baggage tracking feature that tells you which carrousel your bags would come out on.

I feel AA performs better than expectations too. I am a life time AAdvantage gold, but even so, find AA’s domestic flights to be just behind delta. Only drawback is the lack of in flight screens. I also flew AA in business from JFK to Delhi, and found them to be excellent. PJ’s, lie flat bed with mattress, excellent food, with no delays, on their 777-300 ER aircraft. I would put them on par with SQ and others, on this score. My experience with United, mirrored yours.

When flying 1st or business on AA, you can select your meal in advance between 14 days to 24 hours beforehand. Once the 24 hour window has passed, though, you'll have to take what's available when they get to your seat (but most commonly you can usually have your pick).

I am a Delta girl. It was reinforced the time we were boarded, but the ac quit before we pushed back. We were delayed about an hour, but it was 80 outside and sweltering inside. The crew kept us informed and the poor flight attendants, dripping in sweat, raced up and down the aisle handing out water to everyone. Trip home, last flight of the day, was cancelled. We rebooked on app, but were not happy with those results. Red Jackets in terminal got us on the next flight out in free upgraded seats. Very happy. Delta also paid for the extra night we had to spend in the hotel because of the cancellation, though finding the request form on the website was very difficult and it took about 3 months to get our money. But we got it.

Those AA seats are the same as I had on their A319 from DCA-LGA so it's good to see some consistency across aircraft types

Thanks Noel, perfectly timed! We are travelling in the US in October from Australia and just about to book internal flights.. Great content and thanks again for your efforts.. Take care

I'm an American Airlines boy. I like the streamlined boarding process, consistent interior cabins and choice of beverage on board (incl. Dr Pepper). Thanks for a great comparison video, Noel!

I flew AA from Philly to Rome a few weeks ago. It was a lovely flight and the crew was amazing! It was on a 787, which was great. The food in economy was good, and the in flight entertainment was really good as well. Never seen such an extensive range of movies

I flew this year for the first time in several years, mostly with AA, and I also thought the cabin crew were very pleasant compared to how they were 10+ years ago! The gate agents were a bit surly and rude, but overall, it was a lovely experience.

I've had the same experience of not friendly service on American at the gate and on the plane at all their locations especially MIA and CLT. Love your content.

Noel, all the Best for 2024! I really enjoy both of your Channels. I am with you about the hit and miss on UA. Having said that, I must admit I fly them a lot. I think things will be getting better with all the new plains coming in the new year. I just have not had good luck with AA, and I have not flow DL in a long time since they pulled out of my airport.

Noel... I am happy that you had an experience that was wonderful when flying American. As an AvGeek Myself, I know there are times when flight crew teams can have good or bad days. I hope that some time later you can have a wonderful flight with American, Delta, or United... Or maybe any other Airline up to Phoenix, Arizona.

You can use the first class lounge when flying through select airports on Alaska airlines. Alaska first class is also nicer than what you experienced on these 3 airlines.

Thank you i found this helpful when traveling for business.

Great vlog as always! No taxis here. Good for you. Lol! Happy new year from Norway. In the next 24h we can expect 50cm of fresh snow, and the days after that temp of -20c and below in Oslo as Max during daytime! That is the coldest start to the new year since 1979! Keep up the good work. Be safe, and warm. Lol!

I used to be a United guy, then I didn't fly much in a year and lost my status, and boy without status United is rough, that and they seemed to always be delayed and late, so I was going to switch to Delta, but they pulled out where I fly from so that left AA, so I started flying on them, and have to say, I really like it. I almost always have to connect no matter what, and connecting in DFW and Sky Harbor are by far better than having to route through Denver. Judging by your flights, Delta knocked it out of the park on all accounts. Love your videos. Keep up the awesome work. Also wish I had your flight prices lol, regional airport prices are so much higher.

I got the opportunity to fly first class a couple years ago on United heading to Louisiana for Hurricane Relief. Breakfast was amazing! ( Cereal, bacon, fruit, orange juice, fried eggs, and milk) was amazing. The people next to me had the waffles also and they were exactly the same as yours. Other than that it was a great flight!

Excellent job trying to keep it as equal as possible. This mirrors a lot of my experience. The only way to make it a bit more fair is the exact same meal service time. I’m glad you pointed out that often the refresh date of a specific plane is a big wildcard, while all other factors are generally more consistent flight to flight. One thing I really prefer about the IFE on AA compared to the touch screens is sometimes the person behind you really forgets that it’s also a headrest and while navigating for something to watch it feels like a woodpecker behind you 😂

Noel your journey take’s me back to the days of the Delta air pass of years ago . We use to rock up at ATL from GTW and travel around the US on as many DL flights as we could fit in , spotting as we transited . It has to be Delta for me .😃👍

So I usually fly Southwest, mainly due to my location, but I have started to fly AA recently and even upgraded to 1st and I’m honestly impressed with AA.

As a guy who flys roughly 75k a year, I would advise Alaska for Domestic, Delta if you are in a pinch. I would do Virgin Atlantic, Quanta’s, or Singapore Airlines, or Emirates for overseas flights.

Happy New Year Noel & Rachel!

Happy New Year Noel and Family. I just flew on DL (BOS-SEA) in Economy and returned in Comfort+. I was very happy with the crew, the service and the IFE in these seats were great as well as AC and USB power at every seat. It was my first time on any AIRBUS neo aircraft, a A321 and was very impressed with the aircraft for sure. I am always in some form of Economy seat when I fly and have to say in general I have been happy with pretty much all my flights regardless of who's metal it has been. Most of my flights (up to this fall) in the past three years had been on AC (strangely very competitive pricing since you-know-when until just this past summer) and WN and have not had a poor experience since way before Pre-2020. Going to be trying Hawaiian for first time in a month or so. Have heard good things and I am hoping as we have picked a couple long legs to test them on, BOS-HNL-SYD in Economy. We have been really happy with AC A330-300 so figured HA A330-200 also with 2-4-2 seating was a safe bet.

As a former Delta employee back in the 1980s, I greatly enjoyed the video, Noel! As you've correctly pointed out, all three airlines have huge fleets of aircraft and it really can be "hit and miss" with aircraft types and specific models. Many thanks indeed.... 👋

In my flight experiences I find Delta Airlines to be the best domestic airline to use. Planes are always clean and the flight staff are always friendly and professional.

Great review and I really liked the comparison chart at the end. You should really do those summary charts on more of your videos. I recently flew United first class from Chicago to Minneapolis. It was a short flight, so there were no meal, but we were kept well supplied with snacks and drinks. Friendly service, and the plane was newer so it was very clean and very comfortable. I had just been in regular economy on a long international flight, and this was heaven !

Great video Noel happy new year to you and the family. Delta just looks cleaner and smarter/tidier doesn’t it

As a Delta Diamond Medallion member, It looks like I picked the right airline to fly for business. Good review Noel.

I've always been a Delta guy for American carriers. Looks like from this comparison video, Delta for the win! My very first flight was on Delta, a Tristar L1011 a fantastic plane ahead of its time so I've always been partial to Delta

Happy New Year Noel, Rachel & family! I've flown all 3 in economy. Delta far exceeds the other 2 in that class and it appears as if it does so in first class as well. All the Best for 2024 🍾🥂🎇🎆🎊🥳

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NOEL..❤

I would be so confused seeing a guy with a camera getting close ups on his waffle 😂

You are so right, Noel, about 1st class doesn't = lounge access on US domestic flights. Moreover, it' doesn't (seemingly) apply to some INTERNATIONAL destinations either. I flew Delta r/t SEA-PTY, 2 flights (738s/739s) each way in March and wasn't granted lounge access. I was told it's only for 1st/business class that travels over open seas. Panama is an isthsmus--water on 3 sides. I felt quite slighted. The flights were pleasant, food was better and the crews were very efficient. No complaints there. But not being granted lounge access with first class international ticket--come on!

Haven’t flown American but my experience on United and experience with Delta I always check Delta first. It also helps that all of my travels are based out of Atlanta.

HappyNew Year Noel and family.

What amazes me is how all of your flights departed and arrived on-time. Just two years ago on-time departures were hard to come by. Thanks for the comparison. I’m glad Delta won you over. They are my favorite airline as well.

The best airline is the one that goes nonstop to your destination, on the date & time that you want.

Happy New Year Noel thanks for the great videos all year

Delta : Last two trips i flew with them and ive (for the most part) enjoyed it. I wasnt in 1st, so the seats didnt have leg room, but they weren't bad.. All of them have screens and the crews were great.

Given the choice I would choose Delta then American. Happy New Year! Would love to see more ground travel reviews.

There is a lottery basically if you get a new interior or not. I've been flying Delta for years and back in the 2010's, it was really hit or miss with their domestic routes with the interior layout. However, their wide-body international flights have had that same look since 2014 (TV and all). That has finally made its way over to their narrow-body fleet thankfully. It should also be noted that Delta's strategy with aircraft is utilize them to the maximum lifespan, which is why they have such an old fleet. Ironically, if you want to fly on a newer narrow-body like an A320neo, you are better off getting a flight with low-cost carriers, since they prefer efficient aircraft over utilizing old ones.

You should do a similar video reviewing the domestic AA/UA/DL widebody routes, or on the newer planes (AA/UA/DL MAX/neo or even vs JetBlue A220). Love your videos :)

Thanks for all your hard work and great vlogging in 2023, have a great 2024 Noel yourselves and family.

Had to comment on the contrast between the glass of OJ Noel gets at 3 minutes here, and what Cahill got on Myanmar airways. It looked like they were asking Noel for a sample of something rather than offering him a drink!

Noel, what a day. Haven't been on American nor Delta in a while. But with high status on United from many years of travel I find them satisfactory. Often offered free lounge and always on international. Haven't been in such a ratty plane as you just were but looks like those old planes are soon on their way out. Standing by for your next flight.

Happy New Year, Noel! All the best to you and your family ^^

Domestic US I usually Delta MOSTLY because I have a relative who works as a pilot for the airline so extra perks and upgrades are the usual for me. I love their first class product though, it really is the best bang for the buck on the Seattle to Chicago flights (the flight I most often do)

I think you said it correctly all along: Each of the big 3 have inconsistent hard products and inconsistent food service. Crews in first class tend to be friendly (in my experience).

Domestic first class in US is hideous. You can get an ok price if you try hard but the only reason most take first/business here is for the seat room only. If you don’t need room it’s not worth it

Wishing you, Rachel and family a very happy new year ❤

I am flying American in May Hopefully I enjoy the experience great video by the way I love these tips!

For me, it's Delta hands down for domestic flights in the USA. I have found the fleet to be better in most cases and the flight crew seem to always be the most friendly and helpful among the the 3 carriers mentioned in your video. Thanks for the insight.

I typically fly United and you're right about it being hit or miss with the plane interiors. I flew four domestic flights last week and 3 were 737 900's or 800's that had the tired small screens with credit card slots. One was a 737-MAX that has the nice touch screen just like your Delta flight had. I like playing mahjong on them :-)

I work for United in Houston, I enjoy seeing your videos when your flying out. You are on point with the different AC interior types.

Noel: I am a SoCal transplant that now lives in East Tennessee (in the Tri Cities area). TRI airport (KTRI) is about 20 minutes from me, and I prefer to fly out of there just for the convenience. Delta and American will fly out of there, and usually they fly to Atlanta or Charlotte, then hub from there. But if I'm flying to the west coast, that means a 1 hour trip, then a 4.5 hour trip to LAX or SNA. But American will fly TRI to DFW. The first leg is usually on an Embraer 145, so a bit slower and lower than a 737 or 320. The second leg is usually a 737. And while the total flight time is about 5.5 hours, the flight is conveniently split evenly between the two legs, so it's a nice rest. The problem with Charlotte is you usually arrive at Concourse E (at the end, of course), and you have to get to Concourse B. It's a bit of a walk, and if you have been delayed or are on a short layover, this can be stressful. It's a similar situation for ATL. But the trains at DFW makes it very easy to get around the whole facility, so just for ground convenience, we always fly AA.

I usually fly American, and haven't had any real problems the last few years. I think they've gotten a lot better since they swapped out their old 767s for Dreamliners and aging narrowbodies for A321s. If you don't care about seeing out the window, seats 24D-F on the A321ceos gives an absolutely absurd amount of leg room. You have to walk over to your bag! I flew 4 segments on United this year, and the average age of the aircraft was 28 years. Like your flight, they were really showing their age with tiny overhead bins, no power outlets, and uncomfortable seats. You do absolutely have to eat the Biscoff cookie when you're flying on AA. I say those cookies "taste like American Airlines."

American is usually pretty good and haven’t had any issues with them. Their staff are always nice and flexible, cabins are modern and nice, and as a big aviation enthusiast and involved in the aviation industry myself for years, this is the first time I’ve ever heard somebody compare American to Spirit. I definitely think it deserves way more recognition than that and is nowhere near the level of Frontier and Spirit. American is 100% up there with Delta and United as the top 3 airlines in the country (which nearly every airline rank list usually says as well). If anybody has had any bad experiences with American, I’m sorry to hear that, but in general, it’s not known in America as one of the “worst” airlines at all by a long shot, it’s very much referred to as the opposite of that.

Happy New Year Mate! Another year of amazing content 🎉

Great video! Happy new year!

Why Airlines in the US promote these seats as First class is mind-boggling. These should be known as domestic Business class, actually more like Premium Economy.

I wouldn’t really call that first class. It seems be more like premium economy product

Great video, Noel! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Noel. I've enjoyed your content this year and look forward to seeing your journeys in 2024.

Those "alien looking things in the desert" are Solar power plants. The mirrors point to the top of a central tower and boil water to run a turbine.

Hey Noel, great video as always. I completely agree with the rating you gave United. I recently flew their oldest 777 at 29 years old and it had very visible tiredness. Also, being a United member and flying domestically often, their 737-900s are very tired because they’re flown as many as 15 routes per day. They need retrofits (or extermination) soon so they’re comparable to American and Delta. Their Polaris is, however, hard to beat.

Great video! Really interesting comparison! The one exception to the 3 legacy carriers’ narrow body first class setup is the American A321 transcon configuration. They have flagship first with a 1-1 lie flat configuration and then behind that flagship business with a 2-2 lie flat config. I’m looking forward to trying the flagship business on that one next week from LAX to JFK. I hope I don’t regret that I didn’t go for the widebody United Polaris option that was also available to me but the AA A321 transcon sounds more unique!

A very good comparison video to end 2023. All lovely retro ish planes haha but thank you for this year and I hope you Rachel and your family have a wonderful 2024.

I've become a real fan of Delta for the most part. Overall their service, quality and amenities stand above the competition. I will Say that American has improved in recent months and would be my second choice. United is, just as you mentioned hit & miss. I have had some amazing United experiences and others that were abysmal. Great Video!

I live in the DFW area and fly frequently to Mexico for work. AA at DFW airport has something like 15 direct flights to Mexico, even to smaller cities like Durango and Morelia. Even out of their hubs, United and Delta do not come close to that type of coverage, so AA is the only option for me. The AA Crew seems nicer because of people like you Noel! Go explore those Mexico connections via DFW and perhaps we'll run into each other. Happy new year.

Happy new year Noel!

🎉🎉🎉🎉 Happy New year great man,thanks a lot for this lovely video

I feel like nearly every experience in the US, especially in transportation, is largely subpar compared to other countries. These companies have stripped out all luxuries for the consumers in an effort to maximize profit for shareholders. Dirty airlines, underpaid angry attendants, garbage food products, it's all a bad product and experience. I'm always so happy when in other countries and using their airlines where people act professional, the interiors are well cared for, the food is pretty darn good, and the overall product is meant to cater to the consumer.

I’ve flown all three first class out of Charlotte, NC, mostly to LA. I’ve found American and Delta to have the friendliest crew although United’s were still pleasant. Delta definitely beats the other two for updated cabins although all three have rather old fleets. Food was better on Delta while American offered more variety on pre flight app checking. I’ve found seats on American more comfortable than deltas. I do hate Americas lack of built in seat back entertainment. I would rate Delta first followed by American and United. I’m also irked that 1st class domestic does not have lounge access.

I love these comparison videos, Noel! Surprised you didn't include a loo review in your ratings. ;) I am a Delta flier, 100%. Have always had a good to great experience onboard.

Cheers Noel 🍻 Happy New Year!

I don't fly a lot (I can't afford to), but when I do fly it's always Delta. They always have good service clean planes, and everything is satisfactory.

Noel is the kind of guy I'd spend a 1 year long flight next to without getting bored

I've always found Delta to be a better value for money and choose them whenever possible! Thanks for the video Noel, Happy New Year!

Quite a Grand Day Out as Wallace and Gromit might say. Not having flown to/from America for more than 20 years it was really interesting to see how the big 3 compare. Look forward to more great adventures in 2024!