Nov 26, 2014, 4:51 am
Last edit by: IADCAflyer
Speculation: New Routes, Hubs, Flights (2017 Onward)
Because there is community interest in having a purely speculative discussion about whether other airports will pop up to become focus cities or hubs, new routes, etc. the following new thread has been amalgamated on this topic.Note:
Going: 9 A330-300, ER190, some older 757-200 and 8 767-300ER (leaving 17), MD-80
Coming: Remainder of 16 Boeing 26 787-8, 22 Boeing 787-9 (began later 2016). A320 family - 100 A321neo, and B737-800 (100 737-MAX8) aircraft.
See Cranky Flier article on 2016 fleet changes, AA-HP-US. Link.
Also see: HELP DESK: General questions about aircraft equipment, fleet, seats, IFE, etc.
Speculation fun time: Will xxx be the next AA focus city / hub? (consolidated)
Obsolete posts from 2015 on have been moved to ARCHIVE: Speculation: Possible Routes (Flights) and Hubs, Discussion - 2015 on
All posts prior to 2015 have been moved here: ARCHIVE: Routes (Flights) and Hubs (Speculation, News and Discussion)
Speculation: Possible Routes (Flights) and Hubs, Discussion - (2017 on)
Aug 17, 2017, 6:07 pm
#646
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,985
I've been flying DL a lot this year, and DL at ORD has yet to let me get to the baggage claim area without my bag being on the conveyor belt. Sure, it's a spoke city with no connecting flights except theoretically the ORD-CDG flight or some 2am flights to Mexico from T5, but the consistency DL has in baggage delivery is amazing. Between the speed and the messages to my app every step of the way, I check bags much more frequently on DL than on AA.
Aug 17, 2017, 6:25 pm
#647
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
Aug 17, 2017, 6:30 pm
#648
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: UA Million Mile, Mileage Plus Premier 1K, SkyMiles Gold Medallion, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 875
Edit:
I wonder if the enhancements to JFK-SEA/SAN/PHX are the introduction of the A321T on those routes. B6 already has Mint on JFK-SAN and announced they will put Mint on JFK-SEA in the future. This could be a catchup and preemptive move.
Last edited by DA201; Aug 17, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Aug 17, 2017, 7:04 pm
#649
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
You mean an A321 with only 72 coach seats on JFK-SEA/SAN/PHX?! There may be a market for an A321 with 16 lie-flat J/F seats, but 30 seems unlikely. This is one of AA's limitations in providing enhanced transcon service outside JFK-SFO/LAX. The A321T density may be right for those markets: they can sell premium seats and fill up the relatively few coach seats with expensive fares. Other markets may have a real market for fancy seats, but not that large a market, so they need more coach seats. But AA doesn't have enough narrowbodies with about 16 lie flat seats and a roughly-normal-sized coach cabin that could work in markets like JFK-SAN or BOS-LAX.
Aug 17, 2017, 7:17 pm
#650
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
You mean an A321 with only 72 coach seats on JFK-SEA/SAN/PHX?! There may be a market for an A321 with 16 lie-flat J/F seats, but 30 seems unlikely. This is one of AA's limitations in providing enhanced transcon service outside JFK-SFO/LAX. The A321T density may be right for those markets: they can sell premium seats and fill up the relatively few coach seats with expensive fares. Other markets may have a real market for fancy seats, but not that large a market, so they need more coach seats. But AA doesn't have enough narrowbodies with about 16 lie flat seats and a roughly-normal-sized coach cabin that could work in markets like JFK-SAN or BOS-LAX.
Aug 17, 2017, 7:20 pm
#651
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Not a coincidence, this announce is contained in a Q and A type thing that addresses:
Q: What does this say about JFK as a hub?
A: All nine hubs play a very important role in our overall network strategy, including the NYC market. JFK will continue to be an important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and focusing on the locations that are vital to our business customers is a must when you're the world's largest airline...
A: All nine hubs play a very important role in our overall network strategy, including the NYC market. JFK will continue to be an important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and focusing on the locations that are vital to our business customers is a must when you're the world's largest airline...
Aug 18, 2017, 2:51 am
#652
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
There's also the issue that most people find the service on DL better and that the Skyclubs are about an order of magnitude better than the Admirals Clubs.
Aug 18, 2017, 3:32 am
#653
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
You mean an A321 with only 72 coach seats on JFK-SEA/SAN/PHX?! There may be a market for an A321 with 16 lie-flat J/F seats, but 30 seems unlikely. This is one of AA's limitations in providing enhanced transcon service outside JFK-SFO/LAX. The A321T density may be right for those markets: they can sell premium seats and fill up the relatively few coach seats with expensive fares. Other markets may have a real market for fancy seats, but not that large a market, so they need more coach seats. But AA doesn't have enough narrowbodies with about 16 lie flat seats and a roughly-normal-sized coach cabin that could work in markets like JFK-SAN or BOS-LAX.
Aug 18, 2017, 6:58 am
#654
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Q: What does this say about JFK as a hub?
A: All nine hubs play a very important role in our overall network strategy, including the NYC market. JFK will continue to be an important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and focusing on the locations that are vital to our business customers is a must when you're the world's largest airline...
A: All nine hubs play a very important role in our overall network strategy, including the NYC market. JFK will continue to be an important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and important strategic hub for American and our joint business partners. New York is one of the world's best business markets, and focusing on the locations that are vital to our business customers is a must when you're the world's largest airline...
Aug 18, 2017, 7:20 am
#655
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
SAN use to get Flagship service to JFK, hopefully they will get it again, SAN use to be a huge money maker for AA.
Aug 18, 2017, 7:38 am
#656
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I stated, SAN use to be huge money maker didn't say it was. But I would assume AA could take shares away from B6 is they brought back Flagship Service to JFK and possibly MIA.
Aug 18, 2017, 7:42 am
#657
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
B6 only serves SAN with Mint from JFK and soon BOS. No FLL-SAN so I would strongly doubt you'll see any kind of upgraded AA offering on MIA-SAN.
Aug 18, 2017, 7:59 am
#658
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Aug 18, 2017, 8:29 am
#659
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA
Posts: 383
Well, one JFK-SFO 321T frequency was just cut earlier this year, so presumably that frees up some 321T's for other service. On JFK-SFO (unlike for JFK-LAX), I have been told AA has had difficulty filling up F (and to a lesser extent business + coach) so perhaps this may lead to a further reduction of frequencies that can be reallocated to these other cities.
Aug 18, 2017, 8:31 am
#660
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LTP, Bonvoy Titanium; AA CK before I retired
Posts: 1,597
Relative to what? Given a choice between PHL and JFK for I->D, I'd choose PHL. Or have you tried MIA at 5:30 am?