Jan 17, 2014, 9:47 pm

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Last edit by: JDiver

763 / 767 CIP New (2014) Thompson Vantage Business Seat
See post #1 for video demo

AA has carried out a Cabin Improvement Program for all of its 24 remaining 767-323ERs (the non-refitted aircraft have been retired from service. See seat map in post #35. (Rows 2-8, 28 seats J; MCE Rows 12 and 13 in the mini-cabin), and 20 and 21 are still exit rows. The new Business seat is the Thompson Vantage solo seat.

NOTE: Discussion, speculation, routing discussion etc. are in: Renovated 767-300 / 763 "CIP" with New Business Class Apr 2014 (Discussion)

Business cabin seat map:

Code:

 A    D G    J
 2 |0_| |0_0_| |_0| 2
 3 |_0| |_0_0| |0_| 3
 4 |0_| |0_0_| |_0| 4
 5 |_0| |_0_0| |0_| 5
 6 |0_| |0_0_| |_0| 6
 7 |_0| |_0_0| |0_| 7
 8 |0_| |0_0_| |_0| 8
 A    D G    J
 
 Legend: 0 = seat; _ = table

Blocked seats: On longer flights, it appears 8A is blocked for the pilot on rest break

Foot boxes vary, as consoles do. Window seats are best (even numbered rows) and those farther from aisles or center seats (even row G seats) for more spacious foot room.

Link to SeatGuru AA 767-300 v2 seat chart.

Program details:

24 (of the fleet of AAs 58 763 / 767-323ERs have been retained and upgraded with a Cabin Improvement Program through the end of 2015 [9 Dec. 14 AA statement on social media: fourteen refurbished 767-300's with lie flat seats are already in service, with a further 12 scheduled in 2015] - 28 new horizontal lie-flat Thompson Vantage solo business seats, 14 MCE seats (row 11 gets removed as the business cabin is enlarged), and 163 coach / economy (including 14 exit row) seats. Other upgrades include ~~international satellite Wi-Fi~~ (that apparently has been scrapped), 110V AC power outlets in the business cabin (MCE and coach will retain 15V DC cigarette-lighter style power), new overhead monitors and audio systems, and a refurbishment of lavatories and main cabin seats. No personal in-seat video system is being installed - the premium cabin will retain the Samsung Galaxy tablets (docked to seatbacks) on international flights, and the main cabin, as well as the premium cabin on domestic flights, will stay with shared overhead screens.
These aircraft are being refurbished for just one reason: the AA/BA/IB/AY transatlantic joint business agreement requires that AA have lie-flat seats for transatlantic routes.
Link to FT thread announcing the (Cabin Improvement Program (CIP) refitted Boeing 767-323ER with further details on conversion state, etc.
Link to post with artist's rendition of new J cabin. Link to post with new seat maps as they appear in AA.com
Link to airchive article including pictures, and Link to mycrewlife blog post with more renderings showing the business cabin.
Link to FT Trip Report with images
Link to AA's widebody CIP announcement. For 777 upgrades, see thread 777-200ER / 772 No First; New Business Announced 2014 (767 stuff moved).

(The 777-223ERs have their own CIP, the first article trialed the first half of 2014; the 772 CIP is eliminating First and go to fully flat Business similar to the 77W / 777323ER.)

AA 767-300 / 763 Full Flat Thompson Vantage Business Seat, Best, etc.

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Apr 4, 2014, 5:06 pm

#76

rog0978

Join Date: Apr 2014

Posts: 6

Sitting in AA64 now, heavily delayed due to broken brake... Not impressed with the new seat... Feels narrow, and no individual displays yet - good old portable players are still in use.
Pictures and video to follow one we arrive in Zurich ( god knows when that will be... )

Apr 4, 2014, 5:50 pm

#77

FAA1996

Join Date: Aug 2010

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 1,659

Quote:

Originally Posted by rog0978

Looking forward to the pictures and videos. It's been known since they announced the change that there would be no individual displays and the samsung galaxy tabs will be used. Hopefully there's a place to set these into so they don't take up valuable table space. A bit concerned about the width, but not too much, not a big person here....

Apr 4, 2014, 5:59 pm

#78

JonNYC

Suspended

Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST

Posts: 27,730

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAA1996

In one the photos in the link above you can see the photos that clearly show the tablet-holder in the seat-ahead-back:

As far as seat width goes, does anyone know what the general feeling is on the DL version of this seat-- same width. I'd assume it's "narrow but at least the space is all your own and a healthy buffer between you and neighbor (where applicable)" type reviews, but maybe someone's read more specific input.

Apr 4, 2014, 6:14 pm

#79

gegarrenton

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: ORF

Posts: 1,740

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonNYC

In one the photos in the link above you can see the photos that clearly show the tablet-holder in the seat-ahead-back:

Very narrow IMO, and zero foot room when in flat mode (ie. feet hit bottom of seat in front).

Apr 4, 2014, 8:17 pm

#80

ExpatExp

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: RBKC

Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche

Posts: 3,851

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa4ever

I've been on the DL seat (in the 764). Honestly, I really liked it and found it super-comfortable for sleeping… If I think back, I guess it's a bit narrow, but for anyone of average or below average weight, I would think it should be comfortable.

Sounds like it will be very comfortable for me ^

Apr 5, 2014, 10:09 am

#81

rog0978

Join Date: Apr 2014

Posts: 6

Here a first set of images from AA64 last night. Video is still uploading (I actually had 2 chances to take a video, since we had to board and de-board again after a broken brake has been detected...)

I really don't like the new seat - it i way too narrow. I have pretty wide shoulders, and I can't lie in there - I had to sleep on my side. Length-wise, I was OK (5'10).

Oh, besides the missing individual displays, my tray was broken too - it could not be closed anymore.

Video to follow.

Apr 5, 2014, 10:40 am

#82

JDiver

Moderator: American AAdvantage

Original Poster

Join Date: May 2000

Location: NorCal - SMF area

Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis

Posts: 62,948

rog0978, thanks for sharing!

Apr 5, 2014, 11:18 am

#83

NiceLanding

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Chicago

Programs: AA EXP, UA former 1K (1.9MM and gone), Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat

Posts: 1,111

Quote:

Originally Posted by rog0978

I'm lucky to not be so wide-shouldered, but can understand your problem. It would be nice if we could start getting some real measurements that would allow for objective comparisons of the dimensions that might be problematic for different people. For example, I loved the pmUA J seats for sleeping, but others found them quite tight. I wonder how their width compares at shoulder level to these new AA seats.

P.S. You'd think engineering diagrams from the manufacturers would be out on the web somewhere for the various seats.

Apr 5, 2014, 11:57 am

#84

FAA1996

Join Date: Aug 2010

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 1,659

Quote:

Originally Posted by rog0978

I'll fly back in one week's time, let's see if I can bring a my measuring tape

Here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hvW1ktOtgg&hd=1

Thanks for the pictures and video. I guess it would make sense the seats are narrower as they basically went from 6 across to 8 across...

Apr 5, 2014, 12:10 pm

#85

hillrider

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 1999

Posts: 12,097

Quote:

Originally Posted by rog0978

I'll fly back in one week's time, let's see if I can bring a my measuring tape

Here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hvW1ktOtgg&hd=1

A bit OT, but it's my first Google Glass video; very ^ ^ ^ !

Thanks for sharing.

Apr 6, 2014, 1:34 pm

#86

sky303

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: DCA

Programs: AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 1,851

Funny AA didn't do the trays DL installed on these seats after having so many issues with the spring-loaded ones. Maybe it was an in-house job, so it may not be a publicly available modification?