Originally Posted by
JimInOhio
Yes, I find it hard to believe UA would intentionally spec a mainline a/c that can't fly all lower 48 routes. Every UA 737 variant (AFAIK) can do that. This is why I was wondering if these were a/c already locked in by someone else's order but then canceled.
Seem to recall the original announcement and discussion, and IIRC there was no mention of picking up the order that someone dropped.
And I can see saving money by not paying for extra fuel tank as well as not paying for the extra weight (US Air removed seatback monitors to reduce weight and save on fuel
).
UA has plenty of hub to hub midcons as well as very popular routes like EWR-FLL or EWR-MIA that used 757s. PMCO used to fly 757 on IAH-SJO - and I suspect that the original A321 would fit the bill. As well as IAH-SEA (IIRC).