Dec 24, 2012, 1:34 am
Last edit by: Prospero
AA Boeing 737-800, type 738D
(configured 16F, 144Y, including 30 MCE - including Exit rows). Current seats seem to be Zodiac 5751 slimline seats.
All aircraft have been converted to the type 738K Oasis/Kodiak configuration
Archived content
Under “Project Oasis” this type will ultimately be refitted to 737 MAX 8 “Project Oasis” standards, with 170 seats: 16 F / J seats with reduced pitch and recline, and 156 ultra-slimline Rockwell Collins (previously B/E Aerospace) Meridian seats with 30” pitch in Main Cabin, 33”pitch in Main Cabin Extra and ultra-slimline lavs, onboard served WiFi IFE (no seatback) IFE, etc.
All 738s delivered prior to 10 Dec 2013 are equipped with center ceiling mounted drop down screens;
738s delivered on or after 10 Dec 2013 currently have seat-back AVOD and 110 VAC plus USB seat power. The IFE will ultimately be replaced by WiFi served IFE.
Link to AA fleet list - 737-800 configuration information by registration ("tail") numbers.
738s (until modified to 7M8 standards) are laid out:
First / Business rows 3-6 (no rows 1 or 2)
Economy from rows 7-30; MCE from rows 7-9, and MCE exit rows 14 and 15. Row 15 has full recline.
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(configured 16F, 144Y, including 30 MCE - including Exit rows). Current seats seem to be Zodiac 5751 slimline seats.
All aircraft have been converted to the type 738K Oasis/Kodiak configuration
Archived content
Under “Project Oasis” this type will ultimately be refitted to 737 MAX 8 “Project Oasis” standards, with 170 seats: 16 F / J seats with reduced pitch and recline, and 156 ultra-slimline Rockwell Collins (previously B/E Aerospace) Meridian seats with 30” pitch in Main Cabin, 33”pitch in Main Cabin Extra and ultra-slimline lavs, onboard served WiFi IFE (no seatback) IFE, etc.
All 738s delivered prior to 10 Dec 2013 are equipped with center ceiling mounted drop down screens;
738s delivered on or after 10 Dec 2013 currently have seat-back AVOD and 110 VAC plus USB seat power. The IFE will ultimately be replaced by WiFi served IFE.
Link to AA fleet list - 737-800 configuration information by registration ("tail") numbers.
738s (until modified to 7M8 standards) are laid out:
First / Business rows 3-6 (no rows 1 or 2)
Economy from rows 7-30; MCE from rows 7-9, and MCE exit rows 14 and 15. Row 15 has full recline.
Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; wiki contents may be printed by using the
(lower right wiki corner) 
Unrefitted 738 / 737 pre-Oasis, non-MAX MCE / Main Cabin + Extra Seats
Jan 24, 2013, 12:16 pm
#106
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by pbjag
Most of this thread seems to be devoted to a discussion of the blocked middle seats in rows 16 and 17...
Can anyone comment on the difference in legroom in rows 8-13, as well as perceived pros and cons vs. the exit rows?
Can anyone comment on the difference in legroom in rows 8-13, as well as perceived pros and cons vs. the exit rows?
1) Row 15
2) Row 16/17 (assuming you don't get a A/C swap!)
3) MCE 9-13
4) Row 14
5) Row 8
6) All the rest of Y
Row 14 has reduced recline (as best I can tell), fixed armrests, and hard seats. MCE has standard recline and nearly as much legroom as the exits. Personally, I think the front half of the 737 just became about equal. You have to decide for yourself if the cons of Row 14 and 8 are worth the (marginal) benefits. I hate row 8, personally.
Jan 24, 2013, 6:43 pm
#108
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA & DL / SPG & HGP
Posts: 1,723
I would put it this way (most to least desireable Y):
1) Row 15
2) Row 16/17 (assuming you don't get a A/C swap!)
3) MCE 9-13
4) Row 14
5) Row 8
6) All the rest of Y
Row 14 has reduced recline (as best I can tell), fixed armrests, and hard seats. MCE has standard recline and nearly as much legroom as the exits. Personally, I think the front half of the 737 just became about equal. You have to decide for yourself if the cons of Row 14 and 8 are worth the (marginal) benefits. I hate row 8, personally.
1) Row 15
2) Row 16/17 (assuming you don't get a A/C swap!)
3) MCE 9-13
4) Row 14
5) Row 8
6) All the rest of Y
Row 14 has reduced recline (as best I can tell), fixed armrests, and hard seats. MCE has standard recline and nearly as much legroom as the exits. Personally, I think the front half of the 737 just became about equal. You have to decide for yourself if the cons of Row 14 and 8 are worth the (marginal) benefits. I hate row 8, personally.
Jan 30, 2013, 11:01 am
#110
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 904
Return flight shows Economy starting at Row 7 which would infer the old configuration, but the "Preferred Seats" have a cost assigned to it.
Questions:
1) How does AA know that the outbound flight will be a MCE configured aircraft vs the return flight?
2) Is it worthwhile booking the outbound "Preferred Seat" even though at flight time it may not be MCE?
Feb 9, 2013, 8:11 pm
#112
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PDK/ATL/TNG (ex-MIA)
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 664
Does anyone know how many 737s are configured with MCE? And why does AA's website omit 737s from the list of aircraft with MCE?
http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/mainCabinExtra.jsp
*in their defense, their Twitter account is typically very responsible and more knowledgeable than expected. Night and day compared to AA's official presence here.
Feb 9, 2013, 9:13 pm
#113
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 161
Feb 12, 2013, 8:11 pm
#114
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA (PPro/3MM/Admirals Club), AS, UA, Marriott (Gold), HHonors (Gold), Accor (Plat)
Posts: 2,602
However, there is always the chance of an issue that forces an equipment change. The swapped aircraft might have a different seating configuration. That makes gate agents have to reassign any seats that are different between the two.
I have sat in the restricted recline exit row aisle on a 738 with MCE and never again if I can avoid it. The very next time I flew in Y was a 763 in the MCE mini-cabin and it was heaven compared to that exit row.
I think I would pick the extra leg room over the open middle, but it's a close call. I have been picking non-exit rows if the only exit row that is open is the first exit row, but I will pick the second exit row if open. Ideal would be MCE with an open middle.
Feb 14, 2013, 9:04 am
#115
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
Looks like my Red Eye LAX to IAD might have MCE. 8A, 9F, 15A, 16/17AF are all open. I'm thinking either 8A so I can use the lav easily or 9F, because it sounds like that would be more comfortable for sleep (MCE + better cushioned seats). I'd like to be near the front so I can get off fast, catch the first shuttle to downtown DC, and be at the Library of Congress when it opens for a full day of research.
Any thoughts? I'm not big (neither vertical nor horizontal), so leg room isn't really an issue aside from a general feeling of roominess.
I'm hoping for a sticker u/g...generally, it has been easy for me to get u/gs on non-NYC Red Eyes as a Plat, but I take nothing for granted since there are so many EXPs now.
Any thoughts? I'm not big (neither vertical nor horizontal), so leg room isn't really an issue aside from a general feeling of roominess.
I'm hoping for a sticker u/g...generally, it has been easy for me to get u/gs on non-NYC Red Eyes as a Plat, but I take nothing for granted since there are so many EXPs now.
Feb 14, 2013, 10:12 am
#116
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 168
I personally find it almost impossible to work on a laptop in Y if there's somebody sitting next to me. With an open adjacent seat, it's at least feasible- even if the seat in front is reclined.
Feb 14, 2013, 10:47 am
#117
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Platinum, former AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Uber Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 249
Still curious on why you hate row 8? Reg width, recline, extra legroom on the aisle, first off the plane...
Feb 14, 2013, 11:26 am
#118
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 168
The bulkhead prevents you from stretching out as much as you think. 8C/D might be tolerable, but I also hate the tiny tray in the armrest and the lack of storage.... Much rather go with the other options available.
Feb 16, 2013, 8:35 am
#119
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,647
The 737-800 configuration is now complete. Effective March 1, flight attendant staffing on this aircraft will be reduced to three. Transcon flights with at least 85 passengers will be assigned a fourth flight attendant.