Feb 8, 2015, 6:20 am
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)
Dec 16, 2017, 10:41 pm
#121
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There was a lot of talk that the LAX-MIA route justified something special due to the entertainment industry premium demand and AA ran a decent mix of widebodies for quite a while. Now however they decided to just send nearly hourly 737s due to the total lack of competition. At least LAX-JFK has UA and DL offering a decent product to compete but to Miami the only true competition with a superior premium product is B6 and VX out of Fort Lauderdale. The only thing that will force any airline to upgrade its offering is competition and none of the routes you cite provide any true competition for AA premium customers, thus we can expect to see plenty more brand-new planes with no amenities and tighter pitch. Just look at how they have outfitted the new 737 Max. What an embarrassment for a brand-new plane for the next 25 years!
Dec 16, 2017, 10:49 pm
#122
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There was a lot of talk that the LAX-MIA route justified something special due to the entertainment industry premium demand and AA ran a decent mix of widebodies for quite a while. Now however they decided to just send nearly hourly 737s due to the total lack of competition.
Dec 16, 2017, 10:52 pm
#123
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,656
Flight 2183 today from JFK to DCA (leaving at 2:55 pm) is listed as being on an A321 (Sharklets) plane. The plane is great: a 3-class plane. Main Cabin Extra seats are like international business class, and first class has lie-flat seats. It’s an A321T.
Is this a rare equipment swap or does this flight usually have this great plane?
Is this a rare equipment swap or does this flight usually have this great plane?
The plane was apparently used on a Boston-JFK flight before this one.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Dec 17, 2017, 2:49 am
#124
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
AA is definitely losing MIALAX premium business to jetBlue, but JetBlue has so little capacity so far it's probably minimal impact. I haven't flown MIALAX since March. It's all Mint for me, even though FLL is a dump (like what MIA was in the late 90s). Don't even think AA bringing a better hard product to MIA will change me over (MIALAX still has the upgraded JFK soft product, even on the A321s, th Drunk Dougy has done a great job making that product worse even), JetBlue is far superior regardless.
Dec 17, 2017, 3:42 pm
#125
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
Thanks for the feedback. This was really a wonderful plane and a wonderful surprise.
Curious why AA does this. Wouldn't it be cheaper to just use a regional jet for BOS-JFK-DCA segments on weekends and leave the A321T parked somewhere on weekends?
Curious why AA does this. Wouldn't it be cheaper to just use a regional jet for BOS-JFK-DCA segments on weekends and leave the A321T parked somewhere on weekends?
Dec 18, 2017, 3:31 pm
#129
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Baltimore/Washington, USA
Programs: AA LT Platinum, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,076
Feb 10, 2018, 9:18 am
#130
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15
First Class on AA Airbus 321 Transcon
My hope was to fly business class from NYC to SFO on AA. I've got 65,000 AA miles and 120,000 BA Avios. Since there's no availability in U , the only premium option would be shelling out 100,000 Avios for two tickets in first(50,000 each). I've read a lot of mixed reviews about their first class product and am not sure if it's worth it.
Any advice and/or suggestions are appreciated.
Feb 10, 2018, 9:25 am
#131
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
The service is so hit or miss it's hard for me to give a definitive answer. The seat and AVOD are great. Flagship check-in and Flagship dining make for a great ground experience. When I use miles, I always choose F over J for the small premium it costs.
Feb 10, 2018, 9:26 am
#132
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 509
My hope was to fly business class from NYC to SFO on AA. I've got 65,000 AA miles and 120,000 BA Avios. Since there's no availability in U , the only premium option would be shelling out 100,000 Avios for two tickets in first(50,000 each). I've read a lot of mixed reviews about their first class product and am not sure if it's worth it.
Any advice and/or suggestions are appreciated.
Feb 10, 2018, 9:34 am
#133
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Feb 10, 2018, 9:51 am
#135
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
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Posts: 3,870
The Flagship First Transcon product is something I fly with some degree of frequency. The seats (same as Flagship Business on the 777-300) are excellent given the 1-1 configuration, there's a cappuccino machine up front and the espresso or capuccino is served with really good biscotti, it's extremely quiet and relaxing, and I've never had a bad cabin crew.
A colleague of mine at FBT recently reviewed the product. Her review might be helpful.
American Airlines Flagship First New York-San Francisco – Flight Review
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This link is to an online source to which I contribute and/or have a financial interest.
A colleague of mine at FBT recently reviewed the product. Her review might be helpful.
American Airlines Flagship First New York-San Francisco – Flight Review
This was my first time on an American A321T and everything my colleagues have written about how comfortable the first-class seats are is confirmed. The seats are in a 1-1 configuration with gobs of personal space. I echo Frequent Business Traveler Editorial Director Jonathan Spira’s sentiment that flying up front on this plane has a private jet-like feel....
The designers of this seat gave serious thought to where to put things. The outlets for electrical plugs and USB are precisely where they should be, no hunting or bending down required. Ditto the three-prong connector for the lovely Bose noise-cancelling headphones AA provides. The small tablet that controls the seat’s in-flight entertainment system is brilliant, and the seat itself has three separate lights, all individually controlled.
The designers of this seat gave serious thought to where to put things. The outlets for electrical plugs and USB are precisely where they should be, no hunting or bending down required. Ditto the three-prong connector for the lovely Bose noise-cancelling headphones AA provides. The small tablet that controls the seat’s in-flight entertainment system is brilliant, and the seat itself has three separate lights, all individually controlled.
...
This link is to an online source to which I contribute and/or have a financial interest.
