For years now, profitable foreign-based airlines have offered newer, more luxurious aircraft than their poorer U.S.-based competitors. British Airways has had sophisticated entertainment systems in all classes and lie flat seats in their premium cabins for years now. But if you flew on American, Delta, or United, it was probably in an aging 757 or 767, maybe with one of those 1980’s-era T.V. monitors hanging from the ceiling. Lie flat seats? Good luck.

But finally, the remaining legacy U.S. airlines are stepping up their game to compete with foreign-based carriers. And it can’t come too soon. We have suffered long enough with those embarrassing, elderly planes. Now that they’ve merged and capacity-cut they’re buying new planes, refurbishing older models from top to bottom, and adding amenities that used to be found only on British Airways, Singapore, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa and other aviation icons.

While we wait for the 787’s to fly again, you can experience this new world of air travel on American Airlines’ new Boeing 777-300ER, and on some of United’s refurbished Boeing 757-200’s flying between New York and Los Angeles or San Francisco, which have been retrofitted with fully lie-flat beds in the front cabin.

Delta, too, has reconfigured many of its trans-continental 767’s and 757’s with lie-flat business class seats and in-seat video in economy class, but again, these aren’t new planes, just new interiors.

Oddly, it’s beleaguered American Airlines, still in bankruptcy court, that is actually adding completely new planes. American is also taking delivery of new Airbus A321 models (first deliveries in November) to replace those aging 767’s on transcontinental routes, with fully lie-flat seats in business and first, part of 460 new planes the airline has on order. Economy class cabins will have in-seat touch-screen monitors.

But the really cool ride is on the 777-300ER, which currently flies or will fly soon from New York and Dallas to London, New York and Dallas to Sao Paulo, and Los Angeles to London.  And lest you think that the goodies are confined to business and first class only, a ride on AA’s 777-300ER (for extended range) will dispel that quickly. All cabins have new in flight entertainment and WiFi. But not just any entertainment or WiFi. The programming is amazingly extensive and hip (I spent my entire flight flipping channels and watching new releases and Hollywood classics), and the WiFi works domestically as well as internationally.

I flew in business class from New York to London and back, a route that I normally fly on British Airways. How did AA compare to its OneWorld alliance partner?

Food: better on AA. This was a surprise. In addition to meals served at seat, the crew lays out a buffet of delightful edibles (sandwiches, canapés, puddings, fruit) in the walk-up kitchen in business class.

Cabin décor: AA. Not that BA is shabby, far from it, but the lighting, colors, fabrics and other design elements are just a bit more pleasing on AA. The cabin has touches of wood that makes it look a bit like a cabin cruiser, plus red and blue mood lighting.

Cabin service: about the same.

Business class seats: a toss up. AA wins for no climbing over your neighbor (full aisle access for all seats), but the AA seats are not quite as cushy as BA’s recently upgraded Club World seats (IMHO).

Premium class lounges: hands down, BA.

In flight entertainment: AA blows all other airlines away (I know, sounds hard to believe), even before you add the Bose noise-cancelling headphones and the international Internet. It’s not just the quantity of selections, it’s the quality. Lots of clever, unexpected choices in both audio and video.

But watch out, U.S. airlines. Don’t think for a minute that the foreign competition will be resting on its laurels. We hear that Singapore Airlines has some new cabin enhancements up its corporate sleeve, and we doubt that British Airways will stand still either when it introduces Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 service later this year.

Save on summer travel to/from Canadian cities with the current sale from Porter. Travel is valid through September 3. All tickets must be booked by 11:59pm ET, May 20.

Fares include:

Boston to Toronto $298 round-trip, nonstop, including all taxes

Newark to Toronto $261 round-trip, nonstop, including all taxes

Chicago to Toronto $298 round-trip, nonstop, including all taxes

Washington DC to Toronto $277 round-trip, nonstop, including all taxes

Montreal to Toronto $242 round-trip, nonstop, including all taxes

Travel to/from Boston, Montreal, St Johns, Chicago, Newark, Thunder Bay, Halifax, Ottawa, Moncton, Quebec City, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Windsor, Timmins, and Toronto.

Toronto image via Shutterstock

Fly from Detroit to Portland for $157 round-trip, including all taxes, on United.

We found seats leaving Detroit on September 17, and returning from Portland on September 24. Other dates available for travel beginning in late August through March. Valid 7 days a week. No minimum stay.

For booking info, see our Fare Details.

If you're feeling a tad put off by peak season fares to Europe, SAS has a little sale for those willing to wait it out until late summer/fall. Travel is valid on weekdays, from August 14 through October 26. Add an extra $70 for weekend travel.

Other carriers may be matching along some routes. Tickets must be booked by May 28.

Fares include:

Newark to Copenhagen $828 round-trip, nonstop, including all taxes

San Francisco to Copenhagen $909 round-trip, including all taxes

San Francisco to Helsinki $915 round-trip, including all taxes

Chicago to Copenhagen $878 round-trip, including all taxes

For a complete listing, visit our fare pages for Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Helsinki.

Copenhagen image via Shutterstock

American Airlines has lowered fares for summer travel to Vail and Jackson Hole. Fares are valid for daily travel from June 12 through August 24.

Fares require a Saturday or minimum 2-night stay.

All purchases must be made by 11:59pm CT, May 27.

Atlanta to Vail $347 round-trip, including all taxes

Detroit to Vail $414 round-trip, including all taxes

Nashville to Vail $416 round-trip, including all taxes

Santa Ana to Jackson Hole $373 round-trip, including all taxes

Baltimore to Jackson Hole $450 round-trip, including all taxes

Chicago to Jackson Hole $456 round-trip, including all taxes

Ft Lauderdale to Jackson Hole $459 round-trip, including all taxes

Pittsburgh to Jackson Hole $445 round-trip, including all taxes

Tampa to Jackson Hole $464 round-trip, including all taxes

West Palm Beach to Grand Junction $466 round-trip, including all taxes

Image via Shutterstock

Fly from Los Angeles to Prague for $614 round-trip, including all taxes, on US Airways.

We found seats departing LAX on November 5, and returning from Prague on November 12. Similar fares available for travel on other dates.

For booking info, see our Fare Details.

Lots of other fares to the Czech Republic from other US cities. See our full list of current deals to Prague PRG.

Fly from New York to Stockholm for $639 round-trip, including all taxes, on Turkish Airlines.

Searching Orbitz, we found seats available for travel in winter, departing New York on February 26, and returning from Stockholm on March 4. Flights connect in Istanbul.

Other dates also available for winter travel.

Fare of the Day: New York, NY (JFK) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) $652 RT, including all taxes on Turkish Airlines. Winter travel.

We found this fare on Turkishairlines.com for travel early next year. Must be flexible with dates.

Lower fares than normal are now available on Sun Country for late spring and summer travel through Aug. 28, 2013.  Lowest fares are available for Tuesday/Wednesday travel with higher sale fares for Monday through Saturday travel. Tickets require a 14-day advance purchase and must be booked by 11:59pm CT on May 23, 2013.

Sample fares include: (Also available in reverse direction)

Minneapolis to Fort Myers $278 round-trip including taxes

Minneapolis to San Francisco $358 round-trip including taxes

Minneapolis to Las Vegas $288 round-trip including taxes

Minneapolis to Los Angeles $358 round-trip including taxes

Minneapolis to Chicago $148 round-trip including taxes

Minneapolis to Anchoracge $596 round-trip including taxes

Lansing to Minneapolis $198 round-trip including taxes

Lansing to Washington D.C. $208 round-trip including taxes

Image via Shutterstock.com

Fare of the Day: Minneapolis, MN (MSP) to Istanbul, Turkey (IST) $604 RT, including all taxes on Air Canada.

Escape the winter chill of Minnesota. Travel any day of the week if available, we found fares at this price starting in January, February, and March of next year.