Last edit by: Prospero
AA Transcontinental Three Class Service Airbus A321 "A321T"
NOTE: The "32B" designation is used by ICAO for A321 (-100 and -200) family with "Sharklet" wingtips; the use of "32B" by AA has been applied to "321T", the three class aircraft described here and used on transcon service, and for the "A321", the two class A321S used in "normal" service as well as the A321H ETOPS version used on West Coast-Hawai'i service. ("321" is used by AA to describe non-Sharklets equipped LUS A321s.)
A subset of A321-200 aircraft has a three class configuration (with First and Business with horizontal full flat seats, as well as Main Cabin Extra and Main Cabin) for use on transcontinental JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO flights. First delivery was N101NN, Fleet No. 783, 21 Nov 2013. Inaugural flights were AA118 Lv LAX 0700 Ar JFK 1530 Tue 7 Jan 2014 and AA133 Lv JFK 1545 Ar LAX 1925. SFO-LAX began 6 Mar 2014.
These aircraft, referred to as "A321T" or "321T", have 10F in 1 + 1 layout, 20J in 2 + 2, and 72Y in 3 + 3 configuration (MCE rows 11-16); coded "321T" (32B in timetables). F has Zodiac Skylounge solo suite seats with shells similar to the 77W Business suites, J have B/E Aerospace Diamond Parallel horizontal lie flat seats; MCE and Main Cabin Recaro slimline seats. Pets have two small cabins flanking the aisle forward in F, called "Cuddle Class".
In Flight Entertainment is Audio-Video on Demand (AVOD), provided by Thales in its TopSeries system, with 15.4" touch screens offering "200 movies, 180 TV programs, more than 350 audio selections, up to 20 games, and 3-D moving maps" free in F and J, and $4.00 for most movies and TV in Y on an 8.9" touch screen. These are also controlled by universal remote controls. Bose QuietComfort headsets are provided in F and J; these are recovered by crew about an hour from your destination. (Unfortunately, the IFE system has turned out to be extremely unreliable; currently, do not expect to experience seamless AVOD on these aircraft. Some have reported successfully resetting by holding down "O" button over ten seconds on remote and the same procedure for the screen power on button.)
WiFi is provided by GoGo ATG-4 (cellular) service, and is not very fast.
At seat power includes USB 5 VDC and universal 110 VAC outlets. The outlets are awkwardly placed by your head in J, in the seatback in front of you in coach.
Also note: Airbus A320 family - 156 inches (395 cm) outside width
Boeing 737 /757 - 148 inches (380 cm) outside diameter.
Which transcontinental AA flights are operated by A321-200 "A321T" three class aircraft?
All transcontinental non-stop flights scheduled JFK <-> LAX
JFK<-> SFOare operated by three class Airbus A321-200 "32B" (A321-200 with "Sharklets" wingtip devices.
No other regularly scheduled transcontinental non-stop flights (e.g. MIA-LAX, PHL-LAX or -SFO, etc.) use the three class A321-200 "A321T" - even if a "32B" might be used in the future, it will merely be a two class LAA A321-200 aircraft (with Sharklets).
For further discussion on seats, service, etc. on three class A321T aircraft, please see:
Best Business / First seat on LAA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / "32B" (consolidated)
Best Economy / MCE seat on LAA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / "32B" (consolidated)
For older posts, see the Archive thread here.
NOTE: The "32B" designation is used by ICAO for A321 (-100 and -200) family with "Sharklet" wingtips; the use of "32B" by AA has been applied to "321T", the three class aircraft described here and used on transcon service, and for the "A321", the two class A321S used in "normal" service as well as the A321H ETOPS version used on West Coast-Hawai'i service. ("321" is used by AA to describe non-Sharklets equipped LUS A321s.)
A subset of A321-200 aircraft has a three class configuration (with First and Business with horizontal full flat seats, as well as Main Cabin Extra and Main Cabin) for use on transcontinental JFK-LAX and JFK-SFO flights. First delivery was N101NN, Fleet No. 783, 21 Nov 2013. Inaugural flights were AA118 Lv LAX 0700 Ar JFK 1530 Tue 7 Jan 2014 and AA133 Lv JFK 1545 Ar LAX 1925. SFO-LAX began 6 Mar 2014.
These aircraft, referred to as "A321T" or "321T", have 10F in 1 + 1 layout, 20J in 2 + 2, and 72Y in 3 + 3 configuration (MCE rows 11-16); coded "321T" (32B in timetables). F has Zodiac Skylounge solo suite seats with shells similar to the 77W Business suites, J have B/E Aerospace Diamond Parallel horizontal lie flat seats; MCE and Main Cabin Recaro slimline seats. Pets have two small cabins flanking the aisle forward in F, called "Cuddle Class".
In Flight Entertainment is Audio-Video on Demand (AVOD), provided by Thales in its TopSeries system, with 15.4" touch screens offering "200 movies, 180 TV programs, more than 350 audio selections, up to 20 games, and 3-D moving maps" free in F and J, and $4.00 for most movies and TV in Y on an 8.9" touch screen. These are also controlled by universal remote controls. Bose QuietComfort headsets are provided in F and J; these are recovered by crew about an hour from your destination. (Unfortunately, the IFE system has turned out to be extremely unreliable; currently, do not expect to experience seamless AVOD on these aircraft. Some have reported successfully resetting by holding down "O" button over ten seconds on remote and the same procedure for the screen power on button.)
WiFi is provided by GoGo ATG-4 (cellular) service, and is not very fast.
At seat power includes USB 5 VDC and universal 110 VAC outlets. The outlets are awkwardly placed by your head in J, in the seatback in front of you in coach.
Also note: Airbus A320 family - 156 inches (395 cm) outside width
Boeing 737 /757 - 148 inches (380 cm) outside diameter.
Which transcontinental AA flights are operated by A321-200 "A321T" three class aircraft?
All transcontinental non-stop flights scheduled JFK <-> LAX
JFK<-> SFOare operated by three class Airbus A321-200 "32B" (A321-200 with "Sharklets" wingtip devices.
No other regularly scheduled transcontinental non-stop flights (e.g. MIA-LAX, PHL-LAX or -SFO, etc.) use the three class A321-200 "A321T" - even if a "32B" might be used in the future, it will merely be a two class LAA A321-200 aircraft (with Sharklets).
For further discussion on seats, service, etc. on three class A321T aircraft, please see:
Best Business / First seat on LAA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / "32B" (consolidated)
Best Economy / MCE seat on LAA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / "32B" (consolidated)
For older posts, see the Archive thread here.
Airbus A321 Transcon / A321T / "32B" 3 class (master thread)
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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More appetizer and dessert choices too, IIRC. But yes, this is about right for me too. When the service is up to scratch it's a great product. And there is a reason why no one ever compared Continental's seat to some F products, but did so with the nicer implementations of the Cirrus seats. A bogus comparison, to be sure, but it would never have come up with AA's A321 Biz seats.
Given the choice and budget I can't imagine ever picking biz over F on this plane. I appreciate it's no so for everybody, to me it's a no-brainer.
Given the choice and budget I can't imagine ever picking biz over F on this plane. I appreciate it's no so for everybody, to me it's a no-brainer.
I will say I see more celebs flying DL on the 767/A330 then on AA lately. (JFK-LAX/SFO) The A321T while nice with 1/1 F just can't compare to a wide body.
#32
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As previously noted it's champagne in F and not sparkling wine (Prosecco) in J.
#33
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA Platinum, others
Posts: 1,270
More appetizer and dessert choices too, IIRC. But yes, this is about right for me too. When the service is up to scratch it's a great product. And there is a reason why no one ever compared Continental's seat to some F products, but did so with the nicer implementations of the Cirrus seats. A bogus comparison, to be sure, but it would never have come up with AA's A321 Biz seats.
Given the choice and budget I can't imagine ever picking biz over F on this plane. I appreciate it's no so for everybody, to me it's a no-brainer.
Given the choice and budget I can't imagine ever picking biz over F on this plane. I appreciate it's no so for everybody, to me it's a no-brainer.
There's still absolutely a different amenity kit, but I don't think there's a catering distinction anymore. I'll have to grab menus from my next round-trip from both and see, I suppose, unless anyone has a current set to compare.
#34
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC
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Posts: 1,270
The food is definitely different in both cabins. I upgraded from J to F a week before my LAX-JFK flight a couple of months back and the menu options were completely different. Ironically I preferred the food I had on the JFK-LAX flight in J than the LAX-JFK coming back!
As previously noted it's champagne in F and not sparkling wine (Prosecco) in J.
As previously noted it's champagne in F and not sparkling wine (Prosecco) in J.
#35
Join Date: Jul 2004
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I just noticed that my JFK-DCA flight (AA 2183) on Saturday August 19 has changed to a 321T, and as an EXP I was able to choose the "business" seats.
Hadn't seen this before on this routing, would be an interesting counterproduct to the Shuttle if it became a regular thing.
Hadn't seen this before on this routing, would be an interesting counterproduct to the Shuttle if it became a regular thing.
#36
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Posts: 13,913
I just noticed that my JFK-DCA flight (AA 2183) on Saturday August 19 has changed to a 321T, and as an EXP I was able to choose the "business" seats.
Hadn't seen this before on this routing, would be an interesting counterproduct to the Shuttle if it became a regular thing.
Hadn't seen this before on this routing, would be an interesting counterproduct to the Shuttle if it became a regular thing.
#37
Original Poster
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I have a confirmed F seat from SFO to JFK in a few weeks. Are there any international partner lounges that I have access to at SFO as a result?
#38
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Sadly no unless you want to go all the way to the international terminal and go through security to use the BA or CX lounges, both of whom might deny you entry. I'd just stick with the Admirals Club personally.
#40
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
that's about as cheap as it gets. I think there may have been a slight bit of $599 action to match B6 Mint but I haven't seen that for a long time.
#41
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
that seems the lowest it will go, especially now that B6's cheapest mint seats on JFK - LAX/SFO are 659.
#42
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Posts: 2,966
Does the menu say that the dessert for F is a choice? I am a big fan of desserts and was wondering if the FA would be able to serve me a tray containing each option - was offered this in J on AA 193 LAX-HKG last year
(Dont mind an eyeroll as a price for that)
(Dont mind an eyeroll as a price for that)
#44
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
So it seems like JFK-SFO is 5 daily flights for rest of the year. Has this always been the case or was it 6 last year? Is AA not doing well on this route? Just curious, since when I flew on this last year, it seemed to be at 6 daily flight and the J class had very few upgrades.
#45
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
So it seems like JFK-SFO is 5 daily flights for rest of the year. Has this always been the case or was it 6 last year? Is AA not doing well on this route? Just curious, since when I flew on this last year, it seemed to be at 6 daily flight and the J class had very few upgrades.