LMAO so true!!

And, MAH4546, your posts used to be so informative. As a PHX-based traveler, I've had quite a few flights on US Airways. Yes, a few years ago, they briefly experimented with paying for beverages. However, in recent years, the service on US has been decent and the employees in Phoenix helpful.

The IFE systems are always extra. So, an airline decides if they want to pay the additional expense. FT posters should understand this. And AA flyers should be very well acquainted with the non-IFE MD-80's that were used on 80% of AA flights! While other carriers had IFE on their 737's and 320's, AA continued to fly the IFE-less MD-80's almost everywhere.

Pulled 2 brand new US A321s this week, one painted in US colors, the other in AA (I'm guessing the AA one was newer, but the US one's interior was immaculate).

Isn't it a little ridiculous to have wifi but no power? It was a facepalm moment for me.

S80s never had IFE, even the industry leader for IFE among the US majors, DL, has never had IFE in its MD-88s. These planes were typically flying shorter flights where IFE would have been less important.

US on the other hand had plenty of aircraft capable of offering an IFE product, many with the systems already installed and rather than using them, had them deactivated system wide, at least domestically.

The IFE systems were extra for industry leaders B6, DL, and pmAA as well yet they were all able to offer them to customers on a complimentary basis. The village idiot though (UA) offers a for purchase system which I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone use before. Granted I don't fly UA often.

MAH4546's comment wasn't aimed at the absence of IFE on the legacy US planes - it was aimed at a post expressing disbelief that legacy US planes don't even feature in-seat power in 2014. And I have to agree with MAH4546 on this one.

Parker's philosophy has been to treat paying passengers like garbage. AA has featured in-seat power plugs for a long time. Now, legacy AA elites get to fly legacy US planes that don't feature MCE or in-seat power. On top of the nickel and dime cheapening of legacy AA meals. He is truly a brilliant CEO.

I think, rather, that Parker was an effective CEO at an airline that was heading towards bankruptcy and did what he needed to, to fix and repair that airline. He isn't stupid - he will not be culling AA service and quality - its a completely different airline.

It's a shame that the pmUS 321s don't have power but I imagine they will be retrofitted with them later (a la United).

You can generally tell if you're on a newer A321 by the seat belts in F. The new ones have the thicker belts with the built in airbag.

I'm sitting in one now. :)

They've also removed the US logo from the bulkhead.

Seriously?!? :rolleyes:

AA was never this great, outstanding airline that so many are making it out to be. Neither was US. But to call US ghetto?

Agreed. I've flown US quite a bit the last year and half from DCA and in most respects it's been as good or better then my typical AA experiences. Fairly short hops so the lack of power hasn't been a big deal. Now it will be more so as they start cross fleeting a lot more in the future. Even if they decide to put power on PUS planes. that will take years likely to complete so it will become a crap shoot if you have it on longer routes where it can matter.