US Airways Dividend Miles - 332 Photos

Noticed this post (http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=45886&view=findpost&p=690200)on Aviation with links to the new 332. She's a beauty. Looks like she'll be flying PHL>SJU tomorrow as US1071.

I think the wood laminate in Envoy is a little cheesy, but maybe it'll look better in person or perhaps they are intended to match some design elements in the as-yet-to-be installed flatbeds that are rumored.

I can't believe they're going with those incredibly uncomfortable Envoy seats for their new aircraft.

I just sat in one of these on an Envoy-equipped 757 being used for a domestic transcon. All my prior experiences on aircraft with these seats were in row one on an A330, which is a different seat.

I could not believe how high up the cushions sit (sitting upright, my feet wouldn't touch the ground), putting the tray table literally right on my knees. There is no space for the US East drink service (cup, minis, mixer) without having the tray table open. The guy sitting across the aisle was larger than me, but by no means extraordinarily large, and he couldn't even have the tray table out, as it would not lay flat -- he had to balance his meal tray on his lap! Unless they have fixed these problems (but they look identical) these seats are just a mess for sitting upright working, eating, etc. They're reasonably comfortable if you're laying back fully reclined, but one obviously can't always do that.

Why not go with the newer 767-variety Envoy seats? They're no great shakes, but certainly better than these. :confused:

As has been mentioned here before the seats were not ready from the vender to have Airbus install them. The first two new A330's will have these until the new seats arrive.

As has been mentioned here before the seats were not ready from the vender to have Airbus install them. The first two new A330's will have these until the new seats arrive.

I suspect I know the answer, but I'll ask anyway. . . Is there a plan to retrofit the older A330s to the newer seats?

I can't believe they're going with those incredibly uncomfortable Envoy seats for their new aircraft.

...

Why not go with the newer 767-variety Envoy seats? They're no great shakes, but certainly better than these. :confused:

Clearly no seat fits all. I prefer these to the 767 seats, which seem hard and in my perception seem to position you even closer to your seat mate.

Hopefully the rumors about retrofitting with flatbeds are true...

Hopefully the rumors about retrofitting with flatbeds are true...

Yes, hopefully. That would truly change everything.

I don't know about the wood but maybe once the new seats are in it will make more sense. I would LOVE to see some changes to the old 330's. Rumor has it that come fall they will start to replace the seats in Envoy and Econ. with these new seats. It would be great to get the new IFE also. The old passport system is so hit and miss. Happy to see us getting new widebodies at the company!

The first two A332s will indeed have the current Envoy seats due to vendor timing/production issues. All A332s afterward will have the new Envoy seats detailed in threads on FT. The A333s will be refitted with the new seats sometime in the future as well as the first two A332s.

Nice looking aircraft. It also appears by looking at this photo (http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8987/bulkheadlogoa332.jpg) that the bulkhead window seats will have underseat storage? Or is that for the seat to extend?

Yes, hopefully. That would truly change everything.

I might stop connecting in YYZ...

So can someone explain why it looks like the middle seat bulkheads (Y) only have 2 IFE screens for 4 seats? Haven't been on US A330 so I am not sure how this works but I would be pissed if I had to share with my seatmate :-)

I think the wood laminate in Envoy is a little cheesy, but maybe it'll look better in person or perhaps they are intended to match some design elements in the as-yet-to-be installed flatbeds that are rumored.


I think the wood in Envoy looks absolutely dreadful. Reminds me of a 1985 Dodge Caravan. Other than that, Y doesn't look too bad, but I wonder what the pitch is like. Looks pretty tight.

So can someone explain why it looks like the middle seat bulkheads (Y) only have 2 IFE screens for 4 seats? Haven't been on US A330 so I am not sure how this works but I would be pissed if I had to share with my seatmate :-)

I imagine that the other screens are in the armrest.

Looks good to me!

It looks like US has 24 more 332 orders (according to Wikipedia, the most reliable source) What is US planning on doing with these? With their current balance sheet issues and the bad economy, will they even end up getting the financing for these additional A/C?

Will they replace 752s (some of which are getting returned soon, but are these the ones that are used on current TA trips?) and 762s or be used in addition to them to compliment the European route network? Possibly, could we see something to Asia (maybe ex-PHX), since it would be pushing it from PHL (maybe NRT)? Or maybe more stuff down in South America (or maybe move 762s and 752s there)? I doubt until we get a single contract we would see any type of 762s to Hawaii, but new AC (maybe 332s) to west wouldn't be impossible?

I'm just curious about USs strategic plan since DP seems to be advocating more "consolidation" across the board, and at the same time US has a good amount of A/C on order (I realize the 319/320/321 orders are primarily replacing the 737 fleet), but they are still spending a good amount of money on capital purchases, most notably the 25 332s, and down the line the 350s.

It looks like US has 24 more 332 orders (according to Wikipedia, the most reliable source) What is US planning on doing with these? With their current balance sheet issues and the bad economy, will they even end up getting the financing for these additional A/C?


They barely got financing for the first two. The public disclosures indicate that most of these aircraft are replacements, presumably for the 767s coming off lease.

The Envoy bulkheads do look rather weird, so perhaps they were designed that way for the latest flat seats US may install.

Does anyone know the seat pitch of both classes? Envoy seems to have the standard 60 inches, but I can't tell Y from the pictures.

I'm withholding judgement on the wood grain look. It can be very nice if it's done right, so let's wait until the seats are in.

BA first is quite nice and has a 'warm' feel in the cabin compared to the cold blues and greys so many other airlines use (UA, CO, AA, US, etc.)

http://www.airliners.net/photo/British-Airways/Boeing-747-436/1307947/M/

I could not believe how high up the cushions sit (sitting upright, my feet wouldn't touch the ground

For a tall person, it is probably a more healthy seat. When you are tall and your foot to knee height is higher than the seat, then pressure is put on your hip joints, over time leading to damage and hip replacement. Seats are a tough situation, often causing long-term physical injury to taller people. It goes the same for a car and taller people.

With the right shade of wood (I'm guessing veneer) and with moderation, you can make the wood work and make it look classy. But the shade of wood and the amount of wood used just doesn't look right. I'd rather that US Air went with some stainless steel trim to give it a more industrial, modern look-the bulkhead just looks cheap and tacky.

She's a beauty. Looks like she'll be flying PHL>SJU tomorrow as US1071.


Did it actually fly? Nothing pops up on FlightAware when the tail number is entered in??

Did it actually fly? Nothing pops up on FlightAware when the tail number is entered in??

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/USA1071

You will see few 332s in there.