Feb 5, 2016, 6:28 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Differences Between Two Class Airbus A321-200 Aircraft:
Legacy US Airways Airbus A321 (A321) and
Legacy American Airlines Airbus A321 "S" and "H" "32B" non-transcontinental
Legacy US Airways Airbus A321 (A321) and
Legacy American Airlines Airbus A321 "S" and "H" "32B" non-transcontinental
This is a basic guide to AA Airbus A321-200 / A321 aircraft. For specific seat and aircraft discussions, please follow links below to specific aircraft threads.
In AA schedules:
- A321 = non-Sharklets equipped LUU A321-200s
- "32B" = A321S Sharklets equipped A321-200
- "32B" = A321H Sharklets equipped A321-200 with ETOPS modifications
- "32B" is also used for the three class transcontinental A321-200
Mostly from AAerSTL:
LAA "32B" (A321S and A321H) Link to FT LAA A321S thread
- At most 18 months old (Jan 20-6)
- Clean, modern, interisland
- Sharklets
- Ample seat pitch / leg room
- WiFi (cellular based - even "H" ETOPS Hawai'i aircraft)
- AVOD, AC & USB power at every seat
- MCE / Main Cabin Extra
- First Class forward galley better separated from cabin
- FC closet to stow coats & F/A bags
LUS A321 Link to LUS A321 FT thread
- Could be as old as 2001, but some are much newer
- Less leg room
- WiFi (cellular based)
- NO power
- NO entertainment
- No MCE
- Galley is in the cabin and not shielded
- FC jackets stowed aft row 4 and May obstruct row 4 seats from full recline
Link to A321T transcon three class Airbus A321T / "32B" thread
Link to FT LAA A321H / ETOPS Hawai'i A321 aircraft thread
Link to A321T transcon First and Business thread
Link to A321T Main Cabin / Economy / MCE thread
[Difference between LUS and LAA] 2-Class A321
Nov 13, 2015, 4:01 pm
#16
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Booked! Following the very useful advice I'm doing DUB-JFK on 757 then JFK-LAX on A321T in J. There is no way I will sleep on the transatlantic flight so lack of flat bed is not a huge deal.
Coming home LHR-LAX-DUB on 77W (looking forward to trying the business seat here - could have done BA but want to try the AA77W business product and am willing to sacrifice the TBIT Oneworld first lounge to try it!).
Actually in March I'm doing JFK-LAX in A321 F so it will be nice to compare the F experience with J on that aircraft. Both look fantastic and I have heard very good things about them.
Thanks again for the advice and info. I was seriously considering the LUSA321 and am very glad that I have been steered clear of it.
Coming home LHR-LAX-DUB on 77W (looking forward to trying the business seat here - could have done BA but want to try the AA77W business product and am willing to sacrifice the TBIT Oneworld first lounge to try it!).
Actually in March I'm doing JFK-LAX in A321 F so it will be nice to compare the F experience with J on that aircraft. Both look fantastic and I have heard very good things about them.
Thanks again for the advice and info. I was seriously considering the LUSA321 and am very glad that I have been steered clear of it.
Nov 13, 2015, 9:33 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PHX
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[Difference between LUS and LAA] 2-Class A321
You definitely made the right choice for this particular itinerary. Just be aware that there are actually *3* configurations of A321 in the AA fleet right now
The LUS one, with no power, no IFE, etc.
The LAA A321T, which is the 3 class that operates between JFK and LAX/SFO
The LAA A321B, which is a 2 class plane on various routes.
I've been on all three and of course the T is by far the best but only operates on two routes. The difference between the other two is not that substantial except for power and IFE, and the overall youth of the 321B planes.
The LUS one, with no power, no IFE, etc.
The LAA A321T, which is the 3 class that operates between JFK and LAX/SFO
The LAA A321B, which is a 2 class plane on various routes.
I've been on all three and of course the T is by far the best but only operates on two routes. The difference between the other two is not that substantial except for power and IFE, and the overall youth of the 321B planes.
Feb 5, 2016, 12:22 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: US/TYO/LON
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Posts: 412
You definitely made the right choice for this particular itinerary. Just be aware that there are actually *3* configurations of A321 in the AA fleet right now
The LUS one, with no power, no IFE, etc.
The LAA A321T, which is the 3 class that operates between JFK and LAX/SFO
The LAA A321B, which is a 2 class plane on various routes.
I've been on all three and of course the T is by far the best but only operates on two routes. The difference between the other two is not that substantial except for power and IFE, and the overall youth of the 321B planes.
The LUS one, with no power, no IFE, etc.
The LAA A321T, which is the 3 class that operates between JFK and LAX/SFO
The LAA A321B, which is a 2 class plane on various routes.
I've been on all three and of course the T is by far the best but only operates on two routes. The difference between the other two is not that substantial except for power and IFE, and the overall youth of the 321B planes.
Feb 5, 2016, 1:48 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, Flying Blue-Silver
Posts: 727
No, the pre-retrofit LUS A319 has significantly less legroom in row 1 than either the A320 or LUS A321 (not sure if the reconfigured 8-F LUS A319s will be any better in row 1). I personally prefer row 1 on the LUS A321 (plenty of legroom IMO).
Feb 5, 2016, 6:30 pm
#22
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I like it better than the rest of the F cabin (at least in the aisle seats). Just be prepared to be a part of the galley operation during the flight because you're basically sitting with the FAs in the galley.
Feb 5, 2016, 6:50 pm
#23
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[Difference between LUS and LAA] 2-Class A321
The LUS 321s do vary a bit, with the newer ones having more space due to leg cutouts. The oldest ones tend to stay on short east coast hops due to range limitations (newer ones have more range). There is a lot of bashing of the LUS fleet, but the 321s are not THAT bad and the WiFi is a plus. The new transcon 321s are much better, but I do prefer the US 321s over say the AA md-80 first class due to seat width. The drop down IFE on the MD-80 is not needed when you have WiFi.
Feb 5, 2016, 9:05 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
The LUS 321s do vary a bit, with the newer ones having more space due to leg cutouts. The oldest ones tend to stay on short east coast hops due to range limitations (newer ones have more range). There is a lot of bashing of the LUS fleet, but the 321s are not THAT bad and the WiFi is a plus. The new transcon 321s are much better, but I do prefer the US 321s over say the AA md-80 first class due to seat width. The drop down IFE on the MD-80 is not needed when you have WiFi.
Feb 5, 2016, 10:32 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 129
The only bad thing about LUS A321 is lack of power outlets. Otherwise, its "F" seat is more comfortable than any domestic "F" seat I've seen on UA or AA (obviously, I'm not talking about A321T or any int'l widebodies on domestic routes).
Feb 6, 2016, 9:01 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2008
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The older F seat prior to HP merger is pretty good, lots of padding; the newer LUS F seat is just plain awful. I'd take any F seat in the LAA fleet over the latter.
Feb 6, 2016, 1:05 pm
#27
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The LUS 321s do vary a bit, with the newer ones having more space due to leg cutouts. The oldest ones tend to stay on short east coast hops due to range limitations (newer ones have more range). There is a lot of bashing of the LUS fleet, but the 321s are not THAT bad and the WiFi is a plus. The new transcon 321s are much better, but I do prefer the US 321s over say the AA md-80 first class due to seat width. The drop down IFE on the MD-80 is not needed when you have WiFi.
Feb 6, 2016, 1:12 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
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Not too long ago I flew on N568UW and N916US (newest -231 builds) between CLT and RDU- one of the shortest mainline routes in the system. I also flew N161UW from CLT-LAX, and N188US CLT-SFO (original -211 builds). A simple search of any LUS aircraft on flightaware will show they all move throughout the system.