Oct 16, 2018, 12:53 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Under “Project Oasis” all legacy AA Boeing 737-800 / 738 aircraft will join the densely configured 737 MAX 8 / 7M8 go on in the 2020s in their “densified” version with the oversized Boeing Space Bins. The densification began during late 2018 and is expected to be complete sometime in 2021.
See AA 737 MAX 8 SSW / 7M8 aircraft in service Nov 2017 (discussion)
For the A321-200 retrofit program under “Project Oasis” see A321 / 32B old to densified A321 / 32B Oasis Aircraft Swap - Seat loss, etc.
See registration numbers of retrofitted “Oasis” standard aircraft on the (unofficial) AA Fleet site in the two pages of 738s - “classic” and “enhanced” versions.
Those reported as refitted show F16, Y156 (MCE30) and “BSI - SPACE” denoting the new Boeing Space Bins, allowing 60 more carryons per aircraft). The pages also list type of IFE, WiFi, etc.
Types:
100 Boeing 737 MAX 8: (began arriving 2018 “out of the box”)
304 Boeing 737-800 737-800 / 738 (rapidly being retrofitted)
Configuration:
Final “Oasis” configuration: F16, Y156 (of which 30 are MCE) IFE WiFi streaming, Internet WiFi mostly? via ViaSat, seat power 110 VAC universal plug plus 5 VDC USB low output, oversized Space overhead baggage bins.
See here for SeatGuru seat chart.
First / Business: (16 seats in rows numbered 1-4, A , DF) Rockwell Collins MiQ (similar to AA Premium Economy seats without foot rests) with 37” seat pitch. NOTE unrefitted 737s have rows 3-6 in F).
Main Cabin Extra: (30 seats numbered rows 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17, seats ABC and DEF) Rockwell Collins Meridian seats with 33” seat pitch.
Main Cabin: (126 seats numbered rows 11-15 and 18-33) Rockwell Collins Meridian seats with 30” seat pitch.
SeatGuru claims
NOTE: AA does a poor job of retaining your booked or equivalent seats in equipment change situations, which will only increase until 152 aircraft are refitted.
See AA 737 MAX 8 SSW / 7M8 aircraft in service Nov 2017 (discussion)
For the A321-200 retrofit program under “Project Oasis” see A321 / 32B old to densified A321 / 32B Oasis Aircraft Swap - Seat loss, etc.
See registration numbers of retrofitted “Oasis” standard aircraft on the (unofficial) AA Fleet site in the two pages of 738s - “classic” and “enhanced” versions.
Those reported as refitted show F16, Y156 (MCE30) and “BSI - SPACE” denoting the new Boeing Space Bins, allowing 60 more carryons per aircraft). The pages also list type of IFE, WiFi, etc.
Gary Weissel, managing director of Tronos Aviation Consulting Inc., estimated that American could generate about $400,000 a year for each seat it adds to a plane, based on average fares and typical aircraft usage.
100 Boeing 737 MAX 8: (began arriving 2018 “out of the box”)
304 Boeing 737-800 737-800 / 738 (rapidly being retrofitted)
Configuration:
Final “Oasis” configuration: F16, Y156 (of which 30 are MCE) IFE WiFi streaming, Internet WiFi mostly? via ViaSat, seat power 110 VAC universal plug plus 5 VDC USB low output, oversized Space overhead baggage bins.
See here for SeatGuru seat chart.
First / Business: (16 seats in rows numbered 1-4, A , DF) Rockwell Collins MiQ (similar to AA Premium Economy seats without foot rests) with 37” seat pitch. NOTE unrefitted 737s have rows 3-6 in F).
Main Cabin Extra: (30 seats numbered rows 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17, seats ABC and DEF) Rockwell Collins Meridian seats with 33” seat pitch.
Main Cabin: (126 seats numbered rows 11-15 and 18-33) Rockwell Collins Meridian seats with 30” seat pitch.
SeatGuru claims
- First: Pitch 37”, width 21”
- Main Cabin Extra : Pitch 33”, width 16.6-17.8”
- Main Cabin: Pitch 30”, width 16.6-17.8”
NOTE: AA does a poor job of retaining your booked or equivalent seats in equipment change situations, which will only increase until 152 aircraft are refitted.
At shoulder height, the width of Rockwell’s Advanced Spacewall restroom -- made by the company’s B/E Aerospace unit -- is about the same as older economy-class restrooms. The space savings comes around sink level, as the wall curves in to allow a row of three seats to be tucked under the bend. The lavatory, which is just one available option, provides seven inches more of cabin space, according to a Rockwell spokeswoman. The company and several airlines declined to provide full dimensions.
The refitted aircraft sport the new “Spacewall“ ultra slimline lavatory (29” in F, 24” in Y). First / Business seats.
The smaller restrooms as installed “out of the box” on American’s 100 new 737 Max aircraft have prompted employees to dub it the Mini. - Bloomberg, 9 Jun 2018
The refitted aircraft sport the new “Spacewall“ ultra slimline lavatory (29” in F, 24” in Y). First / Business seats.
The smaller restrooms as installed “out of the box” on American’s 100 new 737 Max aircraft have prompted employees to dub it the Mini. - Bloomberg, 9 Jun 2018
FOR LIST OF CONVERTED Boeing 737-800 aircraft to densified 737-800 / 738 “Oasis” (all 737 MAX 8 / 7M8 aircraft arrive in the “Oasis” configuration out of the box): see American Airlines (unofficial) fleet site 738 Classic (link) and 738 Enhanced link listings. Old versions are 16 / 144, new “Oasis” are 16 / 156.
This retrofit is occurring fairly rapidly, and there are 304 738s. Rather than tediously updating a list here, look at the AA fleet site pages linked to above. The fleet site is updating their information in a timely manner.
This retrofit is occurring fairly rapidly, and there are 304 738s. Rather than tediously updating a list here, look at the AA fleet site pages linked to above. The fleet site is updating their information in a timely manner.
Unrefitted Boeing 738 to 7M8 or densified Oasis 738 aircraft Swap - Seat loss, etc.
Dec 24, 2018, 10:56 am
#76
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 68
Thanks to all who have posted very useful information here. My first business trip next year is a run to SLC (DFW-SLC) the week of January 7. At least one of the 737-8s on that route has been converted to the new layout as the exit rows are now 16-17.
Dec 24, 2018, 11:53 am
#77
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
There absolutely could be more room underneath the seats in Y. The issue in F is something specific with the way the seats were designed/built, and there is way less space than before because the center console extends so far down. I've flown United's new slimline F seats and they're way better.
Dec 29, 2018, 11:31 pm
#78
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 100
My trip from PHX to ORD was Oasised” last week. I had booked 6A/6B but received a dreaded equipment change notification the night before. They moved us to 1A/1B, which I was not happy about. Instead of simply shifting rows 3-6 to 1-4 they used some strange decision making instead. I was not happy with the bulkhead seat as there was less room to stretch my feet with no seat in front of me. The seat itself was meh. I could sure tell that a lot of padding was missing after sitting in it for 3 hours. 
I decided to not try the lavatory haha.
I decided to not try the lavatory haha.
Dec 30, 2018, 9:12 am
#79
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
My trip from PHX to ORD was Oasised” last week. I had booked 6A/6B but received a dreaded equipment change notification the night before. They moved us to 1A/1B, which I was not happy about. Instead of simply shifting rows 3-6 to 1-4 they used some strange decision making instead. I was not happy with the bulkhead seat as there was less room to stretch my feet with no seat in front of me. The seat itself was meh. I could sure tell that a lot of padding was missing after sitting in it for 3 hours. I decided to not try the lavatory haha.
I decided to not try the lavatory haha.
Jan 9, 2019, 10:39 am
#80
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,846
I had the displeasure of flying on an Oasis 738 from MIA-DFW. Quite a different experience than riding in the "PE" outfitted MCE section on a 772 on the way there a week prior.
1. The seat-back storage/device holder I thought was nifty until I found that with my phone, it only fit with an upward angle that was not only non-ideal for watching movies, but which had a bad glare from the overhead lights. I had to jerry-rig trash to prop the phone up in a way that didn't show this glare and not tip over my phone.
2. It was about an hour into the flight until the WIFI system was working. Not sure why. Neither my phone, my wife's phone, or my kids tablet could get logged in to the wifi network to access AA's entertainment, nor did I see anyone around me getting on.
3. The pretty much total lack of barrier between economy and first was more unnerving than I thought it would be. I was in the second row of MCE (row 9?) and didn't really enjoy seeing so openly first class get served meals, nuts and everything else just two rows in front of me (though, I am pretty sure they didn't get PDB). It's not so much a jealousy thing (though, that is part of it, compounded by the fact that my comp upgrade rate is nearly 0% with my travel patterns), but rather more of a distraction. The constant back and forthing of the flight attendant serving stuff to others is something I suppose never bothered me when I am in first myself (since I am getting served), but in coach its like having that annoying flyer nearby that gets up every 5 minutes to stretch, mess with stuff, and do things in the aisle. I always thought one of the minor benefits of being near the front in economy is having less motion occupy your field of vision. Oasis takes that away.
4. The MCE legroom seemed okay -- no different really despite the inch less, but the seat padding did feel thinner after a couple of hours of sitting on it.
I didn't venture into the bathrooms. I was going to, but I was at the window and getting up would require a very careful ballet of crossing over my daughter's and wife's laps while taking care not to bump their personal devices onto the floor. I think that is also an issue with the bring your device issue -- it makes getting in and out of your seat all the more difficult.....
1. The seat-back storage/device holder I thought was nifty until I found that with my phone, it only fit with an upward angle that was not only non-ideal for watching movies, but which had a bad glare from the overhead lights. I had to jerry-rig trash to prop the phone up in a way that didn't show this glare and not tip over my phone.
2. It was about an hour into the flight until the WIFI system was working. Not sure why. Neither my phone, my wife's phone, or my kids tablet could get logged in to the wifi network to access AA's entertainment, nor did I see anyone around me getting on.
3. The pretty much total lack of barrier between economy and first was more unnerving than I thought it would be. I was in the second row of MCE (row 9?) and didn't really enjoy seeing so openly first class get served meals, nuts and everything else just two rows in front of me (though, I am pretty sure they didn't get PDB). It's not so much a jealousy thing (though, that is part of it, compounded by the fact that my comp upgrade rate is nearly 0% with my travel patterns), but rather more of a distraction. The constant back and forthing of the flight attendant serving stuff to others is something I suppose never bothered me when I am in first myself (since I am getting served), but in coach its like having that annoying flyer nearby that gets up every 5 minutes to stretch, mess with stuff, and do things in the aisle. I always thought one of the minor benefits of being near the front in economy is having less motion occupy your field of vision. Oasis takes that away.
4. The MCE legroom seemed okay -- no different really despite the inch less, but the seat padding did feel thinner after a couple of hours of sitting on it.
I didn't venture into the bathrooms. I was going to, but I was at the window and getting up would require a very careful ballet of crossing over my daughter's and wife's laps while taking care not to bump their personal devices onto the floor. I think that is also an issue with the bring your device issue -- it makes getting in and out of your seat all the more difficult.....
Jan 9, 2019, 12:48 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: AA
Posts: 342
People will continue to defend it, but BYOD is pretty awful all around. It of course makes it more difficult and more annoying to get up because each row is cluttered with devices on tray tables.
I had a new one on a recent flight: the pilot's message interrupted the movie I was watching on my own device. Now, I don't really care about pilot or FA interruptions (unless it's a credit card spiel) but this is one of the reasons the BYOD-fans brought up as an advantage. Not anymore!
I had a new one on a recent flight: the pilot's message interrupted the movie I was watching on my own device. Now, I don't really care about pilot or FA interruptions (unless it's a credit card spiel) but this is one of the reasons the BYOD-fans brought up as an advantage. Not anymore!
Jan 9, 2019, 1:06 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,159
My recent 738 from SFO-ORD on December 31... not sure if that was Oasis'd? I was in Y (non-MCE), and the seat was decent enough, didn't feel thin or anything (although I'm not sure what metric to use to compare). There was no AVOD in front of me, although there were power ports. Didn't get a chance to use the lavatory, and I think there was a curtain between F and Y, although I wasn't paying close enough attention. This was the redeye. How can I tell if my 738 was Oasis'd or not?
Also, question: was Oasis an pmAA plan, or post-merger?
Also, question: was Oasis an pmAA plan, or post-merger?
Jan 9, 2019, 1:25 pm
#83
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA GLD (1MM), DL GLD, Marriott Plat, RCL D+, X Elite
Posts: 3,229
The new seats have a phone/tablet holder mounted in the back of the seat in front of you for your personal device as opposed to either a screen in the seat back or (in older models) an overhead monitor. There are other ways to tell, F starts at row 1 instead of row 3, no full bulkhead between F and Y, just a small ceiling mounted divider.
In all honesty, I could see the Y seats on the Oasis airplanes being perceived as OK, even if the cabin is a bit tighter. At least there's now power at all seats and that little device holder seems useful. First on the other hand, the differences are more drastic.
In all honesty, I could see the Y seats on the Oasis airplanes being perceived as OK, even if the cabin is a bit tighter. At least there's now power at all seats and that little device holder seems useful. First on the other hand, the differences are more drastic.
Jan 9, 2019, 1:38 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
People will continue to defend it, but BYOD is pretty awful all around. It of course makes it more difficult and more annoying to get up because each row is cluttered with devices on tray tables.
I had a new one on a recent flight: the pilot's message interrupted the movie I was watching on my own device. Now, I don't really care about pilot or FA interruptions (unless it's a credit card spiel) but this is one of the reasons the BYOD-fans brought up as an advantage. Not anymore!
I had a new one on a recent flight: the pilot's message interrupted the movie I was watching on my own device. Now, I don't really care about pilot or FA interruptions (unless it's a credit card spiel) but this is one of the reasons the BYOD-fans brought up as an advantage. Not anymore!
Jan 9, 2019, 1:44 pm
#85
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
I had a new one on a recent flight: the pilot's message interrupted the movie I was watching on my own device. Now, I don't really care about pilot or FA interruptions (unless it's a credit card spiel) but this is one of the reasons the BYOD-fans brought up as an advantage. Not anymore!
Jan 9, 2019, 1:50 pm
#86
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Jan 9, 2019, 2:20 pm
#87
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Jan 13, 2019, 10:47 am
#88
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
Does anyone know at what point a pre-Oasis seat map will start showing the new Oasis seat map once AA knows it is getting swapped? Is it usually like 4 hours before, or some other time (like once the inbound equipment departs it's originating airport)? I have a 738 pre-Oasis flight tomorrow and keep checking the seat maps to make sure I'm not being Oasised and thus having my FC seat assignment getting screwed up.
Jan 14, 2019, 6:37 am
#90
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
I'm reading on the interwebs that the government shut down is slowing down the Oasis conversion due to a lack of FAA inspectors. Truly, every cloud has a silver lining...