Whither the A300s?
Jul 15, 2008, 6:02 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 1.5MM, Asiana Club Silver, KE Morning Calm, Hyatt Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 7,161
Count me in - I've flown in all of AA's and AE's current fleet except for the A300s. Doesn't do much when A300s doesn't fly to the West Coast
Jul 16, 2008, 7:53 am
#63
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: dublin,ireland AA ( 3mm)
Posts: 1,825
better hurry up- thye are all gone next year from the fleet, announced today
Jul 16, 2008, 8:27 am
#64
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Jul 16, 2008, 8:48 am
#65
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: NYC&RIC-AA LT PLT w/3.9mm
Programs: Ex-BA Silver; Ex-UA Premier
Posts: 1,135
In their current state, you haven't missed a thing. Just read a report that yesterday, on the walkaround inspection at JFK, the FO found a leak in a wheel well causing the plane to be taken out of service and a six hour flight delay. This is about par for the A300.
Jul 16, 2008, 10:37 am
#66
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MIA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC, Delta PM, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,031
6 were on time
2 were delayed by 5+ hours for mechanical issues
4 were delayed 1-2 hours for mechanical issues
However it's still a nice ride and beats any of the narrowbodies. There are definately running jokes in BOG, SJU, and MIA about trying to avoid AB6 flights but I schedule them on purpose to enjoy them while they last.
There are a few AB6s that have the LCD monitors instead of the old CRTs - these planes are much nicer and are just as nice as any AA aircraft.
Jul 16, 2008, 10:50 am
#67
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
You are all wrong! AA is going to refurbish this beauty (photo link) and this one (photo link) for it's "fly AA, feel the history" campaign. 
(I've actually flown in the latter model when a restored one in AA markings was being flown in the US, an Buchanan Field, Concord CA in the late 1960s - fuel gauges are housed on pods on each engine - makes for interesting fuel monitoring.)
(I've actually flown in the latter model when a restored one in AA markings was being flown in the US, an Buchanan Field, Concord CA in the late 1960s - fuel gauges are housed on pods on each engine - makes for interesting fuel monitoring.)
I once flew NW and got to experience the end of an era, it was an ORD-MSP flight on NW right arround 9/11 and I look out and see a 727, get on, old style Bins, etc. Well the Captain announces that its the last flight of the plane in NW livery, its going out of service when we get to MSP. They gave free drinks in Y (did not effect me I was in F) to celebrate. A nice touch.
The last 6 years has really been the end of an era. 727, dc-10, L-1011, and in the next year the last 733/5 and 300s. Only a few dc-9s and MD-80s will be left. Everything I flew on as a kid in the early 70s will be gone.
Aug 26, 2008, 4:07 pm
#68
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Caracas
Programs: Former AA PLT/GLD, A3 *G, Priority Pass
Posts: 1,144
*Takes a deep breath*
One of my primary concerns when choosing an airline.It is the type of aircraft they fly for a given route.You always try to have the best if possible.As you know being based in Caracas doesn't give much of an option.But well since the pleasure of going to vacations in US is greater than my fear for the Repairbus.So here i am;trying so hard to choose,i got the AB6 for 3 and half hours.AA flies with the 757 too.But because i am making connections in US and the schedule,that's what Ive got.
You just have to hope for the best^.At least i am getting a 738 on my connecting flight.
One of my primary concerns when choosing an airline.It is the type of aircraft they fly for a given route.You always try to have the best if possible.As you know being based in Caracas doesn't give much of an option.But well since the pleasure of going to vacations in US is greater than my fear for the Repairbus.So here i am;trying so hard to choose,i got the AB6 for 3 and half hours.AA flies with the 757 too.But because i am making connections in US and the schedule,that's what Ive got.
You just have to hope for the best^.At least i am getting a 738 on my connecting flight.
Aug 26, 2008, 5:03 pm
#69
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Repairbus! ^ A gem, should be immortalized as a fly in amber. 
The name certainly fits, with moman's 5:5 experiences.
The name certainly fits, with moman's 5:5 experiences.
Aug 26, 2008, 6:58 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2001
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 1,602
AA has now taken 3 A-300s out of service--#s 55,56, and 78. The last A300 left the fleet on 8/20 and is stored along with her sister ships at ROW. The first one had the following statistics TT 53,688 (total time in hours) and TC 20989 (total cycles--i.e. a take off and a landing). One of the ways the age of an airplane is evaluated is with these two statistics, and compared to other aircraft, this is a rather young (adult) aircraft. NW recently has sent a 747 to the desert that had about TT of 110,000 hours and some DC 9s with TT up to 105,000 hours: when structural tests were performed on the DC-9, the fuselage was found to be solid for over 200,000 hours. Here is the URL for the planes AA and other carriers that have changed owners:
http://www.airwaysmag.com/att.html?t...=145&junk=.pdf
However I heard from an AA captain that this first A-300 that was retire had some structual damage that required large amounts of $$$ to fix.
I never have liked the A-300s, in part because of the low ratio of first class seats to coach seats (i.e. the ease of getting an upgrade). Nor have I liked the first class cabin.
http://www.airwaysmag.com/att.html?t...=145&junk=.pdf
However I heard from an AA captain that this first A-300 that was retire had some structual damage that required large amounts of $$$ to fix.
I never have liked the A-300s, in part because of the low ratio of first class seats to coach seats (i.e. the ease of getting an upgrade). Nor have I liked the first class cabin.
Aug 26, 2008, 8:26 pm
#71
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: AA ExP
Posts: 119
I'll miss them if only because I was almost guaranteed to get at a mininum 4,000 extra miles for each flight flown. One time, unsolicited I got 10,000 miles for a 4.5 hour delay while at the gate. The FA's were very liberal with the booze on the ground that day (it was a flight to MBJ
).
).
Aug 26, 2008, 11:48 pm
#72
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 305
When I read that, this thread is what immediately your quote reminds me of.
As for the A300's, I spent this summer and the summer of 2007 buying up as many advance-purchase $150 r/t JFK-MIA econ tickets just to earn extra miles ... I just hope that I can do this again next summer. :-)
As for the A300's, I spent this summer and the summer of 2007 buying up as many advance-purchase $150 r/t JFK-MIA econ tickets just to earn extra miles ... I just hope that I can do this again next summer. :-)
Aug 27, 2008, 12:48 am
#73
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,513
Aug 27, 2008, 8:03 am
#74
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA GLD .25MM, CO, UA, US, DL, HH, SPG (all cardboard)
Posts: 1,951
Aug 27, 2008, 10:09 am
#75
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: AA EXP 4MM
Posts: 1,609
Going to miss the A300
I have flown the A300 from JFK, EWR, MIA, and SJU a bunch of times. Even had to take it from EWR to LHR. I have had my fair share of delayed/cancelled A300 flights. I still like the A300 F cabin better than the 757 or 738. Also, the oversized middle overhead bins can fit pretty much any bag. I'll take a widebody over a narrowbody any day.