A321XLR Signature Class suites, CR9/E75 and 787/777 refreshes (M. Nasr interview)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,437
A321XLR Signature Class suites, CR9/E75 and 787/777 refreshes (M. Nasr interview)
Just sharing some details on what's next in the AC product space, as revealed by AC execs in an interview
* A321XLRs to have "private flatbed suites" in business class (seven rows of 1-1 config)
* "New cabins" for Express 175s and CRJ900s from next year
* Work is also underway on second-gen widebody Signature Class as 789s come due for a retrofit
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
* A321XLRs to have "private flatbed suites" in business class (seven rows of 1-1 config)
* "New cabins" for Express 175s and CRJ900s from next year
* Work is also underway on second-gen widebody Signature Class as 789s come due for a retrofit
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,345
#3
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 9
Very interesting, thanks for sharing! They are taking note directly from the US based aircraft which has really stepped up their domestic first class offering
. I am not entirely sure though how applicable this would be for wide body aircraft..those design tend to be different for two aisle aircraft.
. I am not entirely sure though how applicable this would be for wide body aircraft..those design tend to be different for two aisle aircraft.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2022
Programs: Air Canada SE; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 56
Just sharing some details on what's next in the AC product space, as revealed by AC execs in an interview
* A321XLRs to have "private flatbed suites" in business class (seven rows of 1-1 config)
* "New cabins" for Express 175s and CRJ900s from next year
* Work is also underway on second-gen widebody Signature Class as 789s come due for a retrofit
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
* A321XLRs to have "private flatbed suites" in business class (seven rows of 1-1 config)
* "New cabins" for Express 175s and CRJ900s from next year
* Work is also underway on second-gen widebody Signature Class as 789s come due for a retrofit
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
#5
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AC SE*100K
Posts: 1,556
Super disappointing for me as someone who buys a lot of PY but never J. Their "well we'll use it on NA routes too where PY is in lower demand" answer is pretty weak - I guess they figure cramming in a few more Y seats will make them more money that a couple of rows of PY, but I think they'll be very substantially weakening their TATL product offering. I flew the SAS A321-XLR in PY and the hard product was pretty much identical to the AC A220 J seat and I was pretty happy with it, and the PY cabin was completely full. I guess I care a lot less about getting YOW-LHR/FRA back again now on these planes, thanks AC.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
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Super disappointing for me as someone who buys a lot of PY but never J. Their "well we'll use it on NA routes too where PY is in lower demand" answer is pretty weak - I guess they figure cramming in a few more Y seats will make them more money that a couple of rows of PY, but I think they'll be very substantially weakening their TATL product offering. I flew the SAS A321-XLR in PY and the hard product was pretty much identical to the AC A220 J seat and I was pretty happy with it, and the PY cabin was completely full. I guess I care a lot less about getting YOW-LHR/FRA back again now on these planes, thanks AC.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,310
Just sharing some details on what's next in the AC product space, as revealed by AC execs in an interview
* A321XLRs to have "private flatbed suites" in business class (seven rows of 1-1 config)
* "New cabins" for Express 175s and CRJ900s from next year
* Work is also underway on second-gen widebody Signature Class as 789s come due for a retrofit
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
* A321XLRs to have "private flatbed suites" in business class (seven rows of 1-1 config)
* "New cabins" for Express 175s and CRJ900s from next year
* Work is also underway on second-gen widebody Signature Class as 789s come due for a retrofit
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
[Quick disclosure: I'm the editor-in-chief at Executive Traveller, this info came from an interview with Mark Nasr during his quick trip to Sydney, and I'm happy to reply to questions or share anything else that comes up from this]
#9
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: AC, AS, BA Silver/OW Sapphire, DL, Bonvoy Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 125
Super disappointing for me as someone who buys a lot of PY but never J. Their "well we'll use it on NA routes too where PY is in lower demand" answer is pretty weak - I guess they figure cramming in a few more Y seats will make them more money that a couple of rows of PY, but I think they'll be very substantially weakening their TATL product offering. I flew the SAS A321-XLR in PY and the hard product was pretty much identical to the AC A220 J seat and I was pretty happy with it, and the PY cabin was completely full. I guess I care a lot less about getting YOW-LHR/FRA back again now on these planes, thanks AC.
An avid PY pax, and anyway not a great fan of narrow bodies on TATL/long-haul, the doing away with PY seems like a real miss
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,437
But you’re absolutely right, if Air Canada did want to swap like for like, then Elements would seem the obvious candidate.
Last edited by djsflynn; May 26, 23 at 7:17 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AC SE*100K
Posts: 1,556
It would seem difficult to market a 2-2 PY cabin when the aircraft is flying in North America and I am curious as to how you think they might market it? AA is reconfiguring their A321's that were used on transcon routes where they had F (1-1), J (2-2), and Y (3-3). 2-2 is marketed as J on domestic, transborder, and sun routes, so it what would be done if the XLR is put on those routes? I see it as a pretty big challenge from a marketing and fleet utilisation perspective if it was J, PY, and Y (although I am sure it could be done).
#12
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,437
if you’re referring to the part where they discuss, giving the narrowbodies and widebodies a common and consistent design approach, this is much about the seat itself than it is about more aesthetic ‘brand’ aspects for the sake of consistency, not just between aircraft, but in lounges etc - so you’re talking more about colors, textures, materials, mechanisms, UX, inspirations, design cues and a whole design language which creates a common thread right across the airline.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 160
having only 14 seats into which one could in principle upgrade from Y would be a major deterrent for me buying transatlantic Y on this plane. I guess the fact you wouldn’t have to worry about being behind someone in PY for a gate upgrade helps, but 14 non-Y seats for TATL seems very low. It’s like Ryanair with a very small j cabin upfront.
Last edited by Adam Smith; May 26, 23 at 1:04 pm Reason: Fixed quote
#14
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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It would seem difficult to market a 2-2 PY cabin when the aircraft is flying in North America and I am curious as to how you think they might market it? AA is reconfiguring their A321's that were used on transcon routes where they had F (1-1), J (2-2), and Y (3-3). 2-2 is marketed as J on domestic, transborder, and sun routes, so it what would be done if the XLR is put on those routes? I see it as a pretty big challenge from a marketing and fleet utilisation perspective if it was J, PY, and Y (although I am sure it could be done).
Short of re-branding all non-lie-flat seats to PY, the internal marketing would be inconsistent. And then it's "why would I pay the same price for PY on AC as business on UA?"
Lack of PY in NA might be tolerable yet TATL routes have a PY value proposition that is hard to ignore. Indeed, the TATL/TPAC PY cabins tend to be packed, hitting the sweet spot for many people.
An avid PY pax, and anyway not a great fan of narrow bodies on TATL/long-haul, the doing away with PY seems like a real miss
An avid PY pax, and anyway not a great fan of narrow bodies on TATL/long-haul, the doing away with PY seems like a real miss
I rarely buy Y on intercontinental flights, because the upgrade priority sucks. It's unlikely I'm going to buy Y on a TATL currently set to be operated by the XLR, because if there's an equipment swap, suddenly my "top of list" priority becomes "middle of list".