A321T

[Dont call me Shirley]

I look forward to the trip report, Art!

 

[nycbusdriver]

I look forward to the trip report, Art!

 
Yes.  I would like to hear that, too.
 
What is MCE?  

 

[700UW]

Main cabin extra

 

[IORFA]

Main cabin extra. Also, as I was told, the amount of cargo isn't all that big. Also, what ever is there could go through DFW/ORD/MIA. The CNBC piece a few years ago, basically said the same.

 

[nycbusdriver]

Do the Business Class seats in the 321T "lay flat"?

 

[IORFA]

Yes. 180 degrees.

 

[Jacobin777]

Odd that Parker would label what AA has done successfully for 23 years "an experiment."   AA has captured high fares between JFK and both LAX and SFO ever since he left AA to go to NW.   
 
My cynical guess is that he's actually a bigger idiot than I ever imagined.     

 
I hope not. 🙁
 

 
Parker is a numbers guy.  You, obviosuly, are not.

 
Maybe that hinder's Parker's ability. DL has lost $700-$900 million in its "quest for New York" the past few years (while still being profitable over all). However, looking at recent information/data, it seems DL might (operative word here) finally be successful in NYC (ie.profitability). IMHO this isn't something Parker would even think about trying.
 
IMHO it also goes to show Parker's "lowest common denomitator" mentality-something which many from the AA side were concerned about.
 
Regarding the A321T, IMHO it has too many F seats. They can probably reduce F by 2 seats and increase J or Y.

 

[lpbrian]

I had the opportunity to check out the new A321 that was parked at DFW a couple weeks ago. AC 783 did not have power on it, but I saw enough to form some impressions. It is commonly thought that the F seats are identical to the BC seats on 777-300's. They are not. Seems like there is less room on the A321T. The BC seats are quite nice. I would probably prefer them to F. It comes to this: If you want to sleep the whole way than F is the way to go. But if you want work, then BC is the way to go. Coach was like any other coach, but with AVOD.

 

[Art at ISP]

Well, my flight operated relatively on time on Wednesday afternoon. I knew the upgrade wasn't happening, although I was further up the list than I had expected. Boarded on time! but took a 30 min mechanical to add hydraulic fluid.

I will say I am not a fan of the new coach seats. They are thin and hard, and appear to be slightly narrower than the 762 seat. The lack of cushioning is apparent pretty quickly. Of particular note is that when the seat in front is reclined, it gets very cramped, even in Main Cabin Extraa. Not a good seat for a six plus hour flight, but this was just my first experience.

Route of flight was northerly, over GAYEL and BUF, not over RBV as is normal. Stayed north as far as Minnesota before curving south. Initial cruise 320, ending up at 360.

The IFE is pretty nice, lots of selections. The map program is nice too, although they should have speed, heading and altitude on more than just the cockpit view. The gogo was spotty as usual, I do wish they would fix that.

Service was very friendly, recognized Franco, one of the FA's from one of my November trips on the 767. The carts are very small now, and they had to constantly run back to the rear galley to resupply, and ran out of snack choices relatively early. The Cobb salad appears to be the big seller. I'm sure they are still adjusting procedures to the new bird, but that will take a while.

Sitting at the aisle, it did appear to me that we landed with flaps 3 rather than full flaps, as is normal with Airbii..and the flap configuration looked a little different from US 321s but that could have just been the angle of my view. Interestingly, the ailerons deflect upward with the spoilers on landing, which I don't recall happening on other Airbii.

Overall a pleasant flight, but those seats are not going to win any awards.

We will see what happens with the return.

My BEST to you all.....

 

[1AA]

Wide body comfort service on a narrow body, another AA first FAILURE!
It's like trying to shove 10lbs of ______ in a 5lb bag.
What will they think of next?
 
The good ole days of the comfort transcons are history.
 
707's,747's,DC-10's and 767,s all in the past.

 

[robbedagain]

Thanks art may be over time theyll make some adjustments who knows

 

[700UW]

Art get use to it, many airlines including DL are switching to those slimline seats to add more rows to the aircraft.
 
DL is even putting in smaller lavatories.

 

[WorldTraveler]

the lav walls are SCULPTED to allow more space for the seat in front of the lav without taking anything away from the size of the lav.

Tell us what airlines are NOT using slimline seats in favor of 20 year old fat designs either for new orders or reconfigs.

Even WN is adding more seats to its aircraft. It has happened thruout the history of the airline industry - now it is the seat structure that is contributing to the ability to add space.

 

[Art at ISP]

I know, 700 but I don't have to like it 😉

Probably a good incentive for me to lose some weight.

 

[WorldTraveler]

you do realize that slimline seats don't necessarily mean less personal space... just that the size of the seat cushions and the rest of the structure is smaller so that more seats fit in the same amount of space with less of it taken up by the seat?

if an airline has reduced the amount of personal space, then that is another issue but there isn't any evidence that has happened in the process of replacing seats on US airlines.