Jan 31, 2017, 4:10 pm
Last edit by: DenverBrian
AA (legacy US Airways) Airbus A321-200 "321"
The older legacy US Airways Airbus A321-200 is shown as "321" in AA schedules. (Newer legacy AA A321s are listed as "32B" as they have "Sharklet" wingtip devices installed, and include two class A321S and A321H ETOPS and three class A321T transcontinental versions.)
NOTE: in accordance with AA “Project Oasis” all A321-200s will be retrofitted between 2019 and 2021. Business / First cabins will use the seats found today in the AA A319, with reduced seat pitch and recline. MCE and MC will have the Rockwell Collins slimline Meridian seats with reduced pitch and recline. Lavatories will be ultra-slim Rockwell Collins Spacewall lavs. See Oasis: New seats & less pitch, WiFi IFE & power all 737 and A321 2019-21 for further information.
As conversion begins we will start a new thread, and you should be able to see which configuration a particular aircraft has by referencing the (unofficial) American Airlines Fleet Site here.
The legacy US Airways A321s are currently unmodified, though a few have been reupholstered, have new carpeting and bulkhead liners. These have less seat pitch and recline in the First cabin, no Main Cabin Extra seats other than the few with greater seat pitch (e.g. bulkhead / 5, Exit rows 9, 10, 22, and 23) and have neither seatback IFE nor at seat power provisions. They do have GoGo WiFi and free streaming audio and video entertainment for your WiFi capable devices..
Note 10 ABC (fixed armrests with deploying trays) or F, 23 A and F seem to be preferred by some members.
Please see AA to install same new seats in 737-800s and A321s but add more of them for information on the plan to install new B/E Aerospace Meridian slimline seats in a denser pattern and 30" seat pitch in Main Cabin in 2019. (We will dedicate a thread to the CIP / modified A321 when that aircraft becomes current with the AA fleet.)
The A320-321 refurbishment thread may be read here.
Older posts from 2014 and 2015 have been archived here.
Updated 31 Jan 2017 - JDiver
Airbus A321 (legacy US Airways A321-200) master thread
May 9, 2016, 3:20 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
Do the legacy US Airbus 321s not have even audio channels? I always have my noise-cancelling headphones, but I don't always have my tablet.
I understand that there is no visual IFE on these aircraft because they never had the monitors installed like on most pmAA equipment, but I did think they had at least the audio IFE.
I understand that there is no visual IFE on these aircraft because they never had the monitors installed like on most pmAA equipment, but I did think they had at least the audio IFE.
Long answer: The 28 LUS (East) 321s delivered in 2001 had both audio and video IFE with LCD screens (similar to most LAA 738s). Post HP merger, in 2008 a decision was made to not only deactivate these systems, but remove them entirely, which also rendered the Empower in-seat power ports inactive too, as the IFE system was what supplied power to them.
The other 65 321s that were delivered to a mix of both US West and US East starting in 2009 and running through 2015 were delivered without any IFE of any kind.
However, all versions had wifi installed in 2011.
May 12, 2016, 12:28 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 410
anyone familiar with LAX to PHL on A321 ?
AA changed our routing to Barcelona (schedule change). We're now routed from LAX to PHL on an A321 in F class. There's only 4 rows in F class which makes me a bit nervous (as in old plane).
The AA reps don't seem to know anything about the A321 aircraft. There are 3 different versions of A321. Wondering if anyone has flown LAX to PHL on A321? I'm primarily interested in the recline of the seat and the entertainment. The only seats left are the last row, 4 A&C or row 1 bulkhead A&C..
Thank you.
The AA reps don't seem to know anything about the A321 aircraft. There are 3 different versions of A321. Wondering if anyone has flown LAX to PHL on A321? I'm primarily interested in the recline of the seat and the entertainment. The only seats left are the last row, 4 A&C or row 1 bulkhead A&C..
Thank you.
May 12, 2016, 12:31 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,038
No IFE. There is WIFI. The recline is the standard Domestic recline (don't expect lie-flat). The age of them can vary, but it should be from this century.
May 12, 2016, 1:26 pm
#51
Join Date: May 2012
Location: California
Programs: AA LT PLT, UA LT Gold, Hertz PC, 5 MM+ miles
Posts: 106
More Frequent Flyers Need to Speak Up
I sent a note to AA Customer Service about the lack of any entertainment systems on a 5-1/2 transcontinental flight. The response said they were sorry the entertainment system wasn't working. I think we all need to keep reminding them of the need to upgrade their legacy US Air A-321's, especially for long-distance service. Here's the followup email I just sent:
Michael (or whatever your real name is): You used the wrong script in your response.
The problem is that the legacy US Air A-321's have no entertainment systems of any nature installed on them (no audio, no video) and yet American is using these stripped down airplanes for transcontinental service.
I've flown over 2 million miles on American, over 1-1/2 million miles on United and another 1-1/2 million miles on other airlines. I know what is to be expected of First Class service. Either bring these A-321's up to proper standards for premium, transcontinental service or reassign them to shorter types of flights. At very least, hand out individual entertainment systems to First Class passengers on flights over, say, 2 hours. And for god's sake, don't charge us $5.95 for the joy of streaming a single movie, assuming we even have a proper device with us.
You carry our nation's name on your airplanes. You make our country look third rate.
Michael (or whatever your real name is): You used the wrong script in your response.
The problem is that the legacy US Air A-321's have no entertainment systems of any nature installed on them (no audio, no video) and yet American is using these stripped down airplanes for transcontinental service.
I've flown over 2 million miles on American, over 1-1/2 million miles on United and another 1-1/2 million miles on other airlines. I know what is to be expected of First Class service. Either bring these A-321's up to proper standards for premium, transcontinental service or reassign them to shorter types of flights. At very least, hand out individual entertainment systems to First Class passengers on flights over, say, 2 hours. And for god's sake, don't charge us $5.95 for the joy of streaming a single movie, assuming we even have a proper device with us.
You carry our nation's name on your airplanes. You make our country look third rate.
May 12, 2016, 1:35 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2012
Location: California
Programs: AA LT PLT, UA LT Gold, Hertz PC, 5 MM+ miles
Posts: 106
There's no built-in entertainment whatsoever
See the separate thread about LUS A-321's. I just flew one of these planes across country in First Class. 5-1/2 hour flight. No audio. No video. Cabin attendant told us we could stream some Wi-Fi assuming we had our own device and were willing to pay $5.95 per movie.
May 12, 2016, 1:45 pm
#53
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
May 12, 2016, 1:48 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 111
AA changed our routing to Barcelona (schedule change). We're now routed from LAX to PHL on an A321 in F class. There's only 4 rows in F class which makes me a bit nervous (as in old plane).
The AA reps don't seem to know anything about the A321 aircraft. There are 3 different versions of A321. Wondering if anyone has flown LAX to PHL on A321? I'm primarily interested in the recline of the seat and the entertainment. The only seats left are the last row, 4 A&C or row 1 bulkhead A&C..
Thank you.
The AA reps don't seem to know anything about the A321 aircraft. There are 3 different versions of A321. Wondering if anyone has flown LAX to PHL on A321? I'm primarily interested in the recline of the seat and the entertainment. The only seats left are the last row, 4 A&C or row 1 bulkhead A&C..
Thank you.
I prefer at least two AA transcon planes above the old 2-class 321 in terms of recline and IFE options - business in the 3-class 321 that AA flies from LAX-JFK, and First in the 738 that AA flies from LAX to BOS. However, I recall thinking that some of the PHL to Europe flights were on better equipment, relatively, than I could get transferring in other airports.
That said, perhaps if you can provide more details about the type of original ticket you had (rest of itinerary, fare class and whether award or paid) folks can provide other options.
May 12, 2016, 2:07 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
When I have flown LAX-PHL on the old 2-class 321, I found it very "meh" for an F product. Old leathery seat, very little recline (radically inferior to lie-flat J on the transcon 321), and on my flights there was no IFE (except for the streaming option some discussed - no back of seat).
I prefer at least two AA transcon planes above the old 2-class 321 in terms of recline and IFE options - business in the 3-class 321 that AA flies from LAX-JFK, and First in the 738 that AA flies from LAX to BOS. However, I recall thinking that some of the PHL to Europe flights were on better equipment, relatively, than I could get transferring in other airports.
That said, perhaps if you can provide more details about the type of original ticket you had (rest of itinerary, fare class and whether award or paid) folks can provide other options.
I prefer at least two AA transcon planes above the old 2-class 321 in terms of recline and IFE options - business in the 3-class 321 that AA flies from LAX-JFK, and First in the 738 that AA flies from LAX to BOS. However, I recall thinking that some of the PHL to Europe flights were on better equipment, relatively, than I could get transferring in other airports.
That said, perhaps if you can provide more details about the type of original ticket you had (rest of itinerary, fare class and whether award or paid) folks can provide other options.
Its difficult to make a comparison to the A321t to any other domestic product that is not a widebody aircraft. They're simply not equal in J or F - in any way, shape or form. You are also going to pay a substantial premium for flying the A321T over another J/F class product in the same route.
May 12, 2016, 2:10 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
May 12, 2016, 2:20 pm
#57
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
Depending on the date of travel, the OP can route through MIA, CLT, PHL or JFK. MIA and JFK will be on 777s.
On the random date I picked (27 May) it appears that JFK-BCN would be on a refurbushed 777, whereas the MIA flight shows the old cabin (and is the longest distance routing). The risk you take of course with the 777 is that you get equipment swapped at a late hour to the unrefurbished version if you choose the JFK routing.
CLT and PHL both use the A330-200 which doesn't have any random black sheep in the family - they're all the same configuration, and perfectly fine seats in business, with lie flat, IFE, aisle access, etc. If it were me, I'd choose to go via CLT as that would have the shortest domestic segment and longest on the international business class segment, assuming OP is indeed in business, though the shortest connection in CLT is a bit tight versus my preference, otherwise it's a relatively long connection on that date. If OP is in coach across the Atlantic but had MCE access, JFK is the way to go given that aircraft should have MCE barring a late substitution.
I would also add that I generally do everything in my power to avoid JFK during the evening rush in summer storm season. I've had some travel plans pretty much shredded there, whereas if I'd just stayed with PHL I would have been fine.
On the random date I picked (27 May) it appears that JFK-BCN would be on a refurbushed 777, whereas the MIA flight shows the old cabin (and is the longest distance routing). The risk you take of course with the 777 is that you get equipment swapped at a late hour to the unrefurbished version if you choose the JFK routing.
CLT and PHL both use the A330-200 which doesn't have any random black sheep in the family - they're all the same configuration, and perfectly fine seats in business, with lie flat, IFE, aisle access, etc. If it were me, I'd choose to go via CLT as that would have the shortest domestic segment and longest on the international business class segment, assuming OP is indeed in business, though the shortest connection in CLT is a bit tight versus my preference, otherwise it's a relatively long connection on that date. If OP is in coach across the Atlantic but had MCE access, JFK is the way to go given that aircraft should have MCE barring a late substitution.
I would also add that I generally do everything in my power to avoid JFK during the evening rush in summer storm season. I've had some travel plans pretty much shredded there, whereas if I'd just stayed with PHL I would have been fine.
May 12, 2016, 2:20 pm
#58
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I'm not sure if you can even do that! I looked at the fare rules on some JFK-LAX A class fares, and the fare rules absolutely forbid the agent from rebooking a passenger on A321T, 777 or 767-300 equipment.
its right in the rules.
its right in the rules.
May 12, 2016, 2:26 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
If the fare component includes travel between jfk airport and lax then that travel must be on one or more of the following any aa flight operated by aa but not on nonstop flights. And if the fare component includes travel between jfk airport and sfo then that travel must be on one or more of the following any aa flight operated by aa but not on nonstop flights. And if the fare component includes travel between mia and lax then that travel must be on one or more of the following any aa flight operated by aa but not on boeing 777 aircraft. And if the fare component includes travel between mia and lax then that travel must be on one or more of the following any aa flight operated by aa but not on boeing 777-300er aircraft. And if the fare component includes travel between mia and sfo then that travel must be on one or more of the following any aa flight operated by aa but not on boeing 777 aircraft. And the fare component must be on one or more of the following any aa flight operated by aa.