Shareholder

By offering the only real F transcons between NYC-LAX/SFO, AA has cornered the market on A-list celebs and studio execs over UA and DL who only offer business class (and economy) and thus get the B-list and lower (under SAG contracts). This move permits those corporate accounts to enjoy the comfort they are used to (even in the business cabin) and keep earning their AAdvantage miles. Smart move by AA, but also indicates how important TIFF is to Hollywood.

Flown both F and J on these AA transcons and it's a comfortable service though still a long way from the grand old days of flying F (back in the 60s, 70s and 80s). F seats are similar seats to AC's new J seats (and AA's new J seat on its 77Ws) and the J seat is similar to UA's J seat pairs on exUA widebodies, and the same seat UA uses on its similar transcons to LAX and SFO from EWR which only offer J and Y.

AC will still get its share of business. But one doesn't have to fly the "official carrier".

BTW I believe the plane is also designated as a 32B in schedules and booking engines.

Wpgjetse

Advertising?

cur

woah dramatic

i dunno if it's a real slap on the face if a competitor sees that there's a lot of traffic between two cities and decides to add a couple nonstop flights.

nor does being the head airline sponsor of a festival gives that sponsor monopoly on the nearest airport

i'm pretty sure aa and jetblue and ua do the same for slc around sundance, it's not really a 'slap on the face' to dl, just common sense

ACYYZ/SD

S/Tiff Competion?? It's merely an increase in capacity for 168 hours and a effort to make a few extra Shekels. YYZ-LAX has not had any lasting real competition for 30 years since the days of AA50/51 DC-10 Luxury Liner Service on the route. And certainly not for lack of trying. AA has maintained their daily narrow-body connector flight, we've seen AS, VX and even a tag-on with LY.

AA is neither testing the waters nor contemplating year-round First Class Flagship service on the YYZ route. If their marketing research confirmed that there was sufficient and sustainable demand, they'd add it in a nano-second. Y'all do recall that there has been full open skies between the US and Canada for over 20 years now? They are simply addressing a demand for a one week period for a portfolio of travellers who have been their target audience for Premium Transcontinental travel - South of the Border.

And at a cost of US$5635.00 return, the Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese and Wagyu Meatloaf should be good -- very, very good.

flybit

lol an AC 787-8 would have less J seats than AA 321. Also AA has really upped its game and AC is cutting lounges and service.
AC 787 has terrible pitch in coach, so even Y flyers would be disappointed.

Wpgjetse

But the 787 is a wide body and has benefits the A321 can't offer. I have not been in a AA lounge for a year or so, but if they are the same level as UA, MLL with their cut back would still be better.

Far Siren

When is the last time NA airlines "deployed" FAs on a flight? Isn't it a pretty convoluted, seniority based bidding system that decides which FAs end up on the flight?

Far Siren

I love the overall intimacy of the YYZ AA lounge in Terminal 3. And the staff is awesome.

The real perk is flying back from LAX - if you have OW Emerald status (or traveling F on these 3-class birds) you can access the Flagship Lounge, or better yet, the Qantas First Lounge. The latter is amazing, with a full menu sit down restaurant.

ACYYZ/SD

Seniority and a pulse will secure a 10-hour YYZ airport layover.

Bonaventure

Im already booked on one of these in F. Absolutely love flying them, though service can be hit/miss. Definitely superior to AC J, especially that embarrassment of a 767 they ply, let alone those pathetic 320s.

Wpgjetse

??? AA321 have 10F(Basically AC J pods) AND 20J(basically AC PY) seats. So, if AC switch in a 787 -8, they would have 20 pods(AA F seats) and 21PY (AA J seats). If they dropped in 787-9, AC would have 30 Pods to AA 10 pods.

Jumper Jack

WOW.. This guy... This guy...

Did you just say AA 321T J is basically AC PY?

LMAO. I will wait for 24left and other people who fly AA to smash down.

upgradesecret

The usual suspects have turned out again

canadiancow

The AA J seats on the 321 are lie-flat pods similar to UA's pods on the p.s. routes.

The F seats are bigger and better.

I learned all this from seatguru and AA.com.

Going off my UA p.s. experience, I'd say the J seats are probably not as good as AC's new (and possibly even old) pods, but the F seats are definitely not worse, and quite possibly better.

But there are 30 lie flat seats. None of those are similar to AC's PY.

Wpgjetse

Sorry about the AA 321 J seats. I had the wrong info. Even if AA pods are a bit bigger than AC, A wide body and 787 benefits would make that difference up over a A321.