Comments, Complaints and Observations About Airbus A319/20/21N Seating (Old and New)
Jul 11, 2019, 10:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
Comments, Complaints and Observations About Airbus A319/20/21N Seating (Old and New)
make sure to avoid the bulkhead if you're over 5'10''. Row 1 now has the least legroom of any row on the plane, even less than any row in coach (row 6 bulkhead wall was removed and replaced with a curtain).
Jul 11, 2019, 1:30 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,551
i choose 1A. I always prefer to bulkhead seats since I can have a window seat and access the aisle without interrupting the person next to me. I'm only 5'7" so I think I'll be fine. I flew F on a DL 737 last month and sat in the bulkhead row and thought the space was fine. I doubt the pitch is worse than DL.
Jul 11, 2019, 1:50 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
i choose 1A. I always prefer to bulkhead seats since I can have a window seat and access the aisle without interrupting the person next to me. I'm only 5'7" so I think I'll be fine. I flew F on a DL 737 last month and sat in the bulkhead row and thought the space was fine. I doubt the pitch is worse than DL.
I flew in 1C last month, on a refurb A321, after a plane swap. Being 6' myself, it is quite uncomfortable on a 5 hour transcon.
Here's a photo of row 1 pitch.
Jul 11, 2019, 1:59 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
I'm 5'6 and flew in a reconfigured Airbus in 1C (but I believe on a 321 so there may be a bit more legroom there?) and while it was definitely a bit tighter than others, I don't remember necessarily feeling uncomfortable or cramped. The first row doesn't have the legrests, either, though.
Jul 16, 2019, 10:43 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: MVPG 75K
Posts: 50
Just sat down in 1C on a retrofit. I'm not sure if it's just me, but this is the least comfortable seat I've sat in period on a plane. Not just compared to other first seats. The seat itself and armrests are extremely hard with minimal padding. As for comments above about lack of pitch, I absolutely agree. There is hardly any legroom at all, and my feet are jammed into the bulkhead wall. I've quite literally flown hundreds of AS first class flights over the last decade plus and while the VX seats were absolutely dated and many of them unfortunately showing wear with mechanical issues, they were massively better than these. On SEA- IAD redeye, and not expecting much rest over night.
Maybe it's just me, but being a 75k for over a decade now seems to be an experience of constantly diminishing returns. The product seems to be continually being devalued.
Maybe it's just me, but being a 75k for over a decade now seems to be an experience of constantly diminishing returns. The product seems to be continually being devalued.
Jul 16, 2019, 11:06 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
Just sat down in 1C on a retrofit. I'm not sure if it's just me, but this is the least comfortable seat I've sat in period on a plane. Not just compared to other first seats. The seat itself and armrests are extremely hard with minimal padding. As for comments above about lack of pitch, I absolutely agree. There is hardly any legroom at all, and my feet are jammed into the bulkhead wall. I've quite literally flown hundreds of AS first class flights over the last decade plus and while the VX seats were absolutely dated and many of them unfortunately showing wear with mechanical issues, they were massively better than these. On SEA- IAD redeye, and not expecting much rest over night.
Maybe it's just me, but being a 75k for over a decade now seems to be an experience of constantly diminishing returns. The product seems to be continually being devalued.
Maybe it's just me, but being a 75k for over a decade now seems to be an experience of constantly diminishing returns. The product seems to be continually being devalued.
With the row 1 seats so far forward, they really should have copied the Q400 layout and left space open in front of row 1. Maybe AS execs are all 5'6" or shorter? Otherwise, I don't see how any of them could be okay with this new arrangement as their "flagship product".
Last edited by jjmadison; Jul 16, 2019 at 11:14 pm
Jul 16, 2019, 11:54 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 490
Definitely not just you--completely agree. I take no pleasure in saying negative things about the AS product, but the F retrofit is shockingly bad in the bulkhead. If you're over 5'10", row 1 is now the most uncomfortable on the airbus retrofit planes. Since AS removed the F/PC wall and significantly shrunk row 1 pitch, Row 6 PC is now much better than row 1 F (yes, I count the space underneath the seat in front of you, since I can stretch my legs out).
With the row 1 seats so far forward, they really should have copied the Q400 layout and left space open in front of row 1. Maybe AS execs are all 5'6" or shorter? Otherwise, I don't see how any of them could be okay with this new arrangement as their "flagship product".
With the row 1 seats so far forward, they really should have copied the Q400 layout and left space open in front of row 1. Maybe AS execs are all 5'6" or shorter? Otherwise, I don't see how any of them could be okay with this new arrangement as their "flagship product".
As for the uncomfortable padding, as noted in earlier posts this is typical of new airplane seats. They’re intentionally made to be broken in over time given they have an expected useful life of over 7 years. If they optimized comfort for day 1, they’d wear too early. That’s just the reality of that situation.
Jul 25, 2019, 4:57 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
I got what looks like a new-cabin A320 SEA-DEN (AS1670) on Sunday. Should I choose row 1 over row 3 in case of a swap back to old config? Does row 1 have legrests? Sorry if this has been answered already. Row 1 and row 3 are both open, aisles and windows available. Row 2 is full.
Edited to add that I chose 3C on the reports above of poor legroom in row 1. Guess I will take my chances on an aircraft swap!
Edited to add that I chose 3C on the reports above of poor legroom in row 1. Guess I will take my chances on an aircraft swap!
Last edited by Kurt; Jul 25, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Jul 25, 2019, 5:07 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
I got what looks like a new-cabin A320 SEA-DEN (AS1670) on Sunday. Should I choose row 1 over row 3 in case of a swap back to old config? Does row 1 have legrests? Sorry if this has been answered already. Row 1 and row 3 are both open, aisles and windows available. Row 2 is full.
Edited to add that I chose 3D on the reports above of poor legroom in row 1. Guess I will take my chances on an aircraft swap!
Edited to add that I chose 3D on the reports above of poor legroom in row 1. Guess I will take my chances on an aircraft swap!
Jul 25, 2019, 6:15 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
I got what looks like a new-cabin A320 SEA-DEN (AS1670) on Sunday. Should I choose row 1 over row 3 in case of a swap back to old config? Does row 1 have legrests? Sorry if this has been answered already. Row 1 and row 3 are both open, aisles and windows available. Row 2 is full.
Edited to add that I chose 3C on the reports above of poor legroom in row 1. Guess I will take my chances on an aircraft swap!
Edited to add that I chose 3C on the reports above of poor legroom in row 1. Guess I will take my chances on an aircraft swap!
I had a similar flight recently, chose row 3 without issue and noticed row three had foot rests but they dropped down from row two seat backs (I think). So I am not sure row 1 would have them. Since I am tall, the foot rests are useless unless they scooted way under the seat in front of me
Jul 25, 2019, 6:31 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
I had a similar flight recently, chose row 3 without issue and noticed row three had foot rests but they dropped down from row two seat backs (I think). So I am not sure row 1 would have them. Since I am tall, the foot rests are useless unless they scooted way under the seat in front of me
Jul 26, 2019, 12:51 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AS MVPG, WN A-List
Posts: 100
Definitely not just you--completely agree. I take no pleasure in saying negative things about the AS product, but the F retrofit is shockingly bad in the bulkhead. If you're over 5'10", row 1 is now the most uncomfortable on the airbus retrofit planes. Since AS removed the F/PC wall and significantly shrunk row 1 pitch, Row 6 PC is now much better than row 1 F (yes, I count the space underneath the seat in front of you, since I can stretch my legs out).
With the row 1 seats so far forward, they really should have copied the Q400 layout and left space open in front of row 1. Maybe AS execs are all 5'6" or shorter? Otherwise, I don't see how any of them could be okay with this new arrangement as their "flagship product".
With the row 1 seats so far forward, they really should have copied the Q400 layout and left space open in front of row 1. Maybe AS execs are all 5'6" or shorter? Otherwise, I don't see how any of them could be okay with this new arrangement as their "flagship product".
Also, the new seat belt airbag in the bulkhead is preposterously large. If the old ones were baguettes, these new ones are full-size ciabatta loaves. I think an overweight person would find it insufferable to have that pressing up on their belly.
Jul 26, 2019, 8:38 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,299
I'd be interested to know just what the difference in row 1 is between the 321 and the 319/320 versions - the pic upthread of the 321 doesn't look as bad as the description directly above this post. At 6'2", I hope to never find out in person. I have Row 2 for my next 6 trips, although currently they're all either old config Airbus or Boeing, but the odds of swaps are increasing.
Jul 26, 2019, 8:46 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
