AA495 ORD-SFO - Are you kidding? (aircraft change, increased fare)
Jan 10, 2019, 5:30 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
AA, 2x 321, 2x 738
UA, 1x 738, 4x 739, 3x 753, 1x 772
Jan 11, 2019, 1:58 pm
#17
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
Ugh. I am regular on this route as well (although usually Tuesday mornings). Very disappointing to see this.
The 787 sure was nice while it lasted, but we always knew it was going to be temporary.
My country for a 738!
The 787 sure was nice while it lasted, but we always knew it was going to be temporary.
My country for a 738!
Jan 11, 2019, 2:35 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Platinum
Posts: 232
Jan 11, 2019, 11:27 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP 3MM; LH FT (*A Silver); Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite; Starwood Corporate Preferred
Posts: 782
Happy New Year, All. It's been a while since I posted here, but I just had to vent.
So I'm a frequent Monday AM ORD-SFO flyer and late last year, we had a few weeks of the 788. What a nice change as this meant more FF would get a chance at an upgrade. Did not mean a lot to me as I book in F anyway, but I thought it a good move as there are so many FF on that flight.
Fast forward to 2019. 788 gone; fare increased; flight moved about an hour earlier; replacement plane? Old USAir 321 - not an outlet in sight. Beyond annoyed that AA would offer this major downgrade on such a popular flight.
I really hate this airline sometimes!
*Vent over*
So I'm a frequent Monday AM ORD-SFO flyer and late last year, we had a few weeks of the 788. What a nice change as this meant more FF would get a chance at an upgrade. Did not mean a lot to me as I book in F anyway, but I thought it a good move as there are so many FF on that flight.
Fast forward to 2019. 788 gone; fare increased; flight moved about an hour earlier; replacement plane? Old USAir 321 - not an outlet in sight. Beyond annoyed that AA would offer this major downgrade on such a popular flight.
I really hate this airline sometimes!
*Vent over*
Jan 12, 2019, 4:39 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75k, AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Posts: 197
I have been taking the early morning flight from ORD-SFO for many years, and this seasonal reduction isn't new. The reality is that the loads are extremely light in the winter months on this route, even with <$100 advanced fares.
ORD-SFO on the 788 was a fun novelty, but the primary reason for that flight and the other DFW-SFO flights on the 788 was to have a surge in seats in order to maintain gate allocations. Yes, there is a bit of a spike in demand on the route in December, but for the rest of the winter the flights that remain have maybe 50% load. I've seen flights which have more passengers in First than in the Main Cabin in both directions on this route.
UA's flights are hub to hub and have a bit higher load factor, but it's just the complete lack of demand in this season. AS has the same problem, with three flights going down to one.
We really can't blame AA for the seasonal reduction, and I'm personally fine with the LUS A321. Armed with a 99 watt hour USB-C battery pack, the lack of power is no issue for me.
My only real complaint is that of the early timing - 6:30 AM is just a bit too early for me. Five years ago this flight was AA1585 and departed at 7:30 AM and it has bounced around between that and as early as 7:05 AM. Thankfully, with the ATS at ORD being shutdown, the shuttle buses from parking lot G go straight to the terminals which makes up for some of that time. The downside though is that there's still some rush hour traffic on 101 going into San Francisco when this flight gets in, but that's not added more than 10 minutes or so to my commute.
Hopefully we'll see the currently scheduled timing for the flights in May and beyond stick!
ORD-SFO on the 788 was a fun novelty, but the primary reason for that flight and the other DFW-SFO flights on the 788 was to have a surge in seats in order to maintain gate allocations. Yes, there is a bit of a spike in demand on the route in December, but for the rest of the winter the flights that remain have maybe 50% load. I've seen flights which have more passengers in First than in the Main Cabin in both directions on this route.
UA's flights are hub to hub and have a bit higher load factor, but it's just the complete lack of demand in this season. AS has the same problem, with three flights going down to one.
We really can't blame AA for the seasonal reduction, and I'm personally fine with the LUS A321. Armed with a 99 watt hour USB-C battery pack, the lack of power is no issue for me.
My only real complaint is that of the early timing - 6:30 AM is just a bit too early for me. Five years ago this flight was AA1585 and departed at 7:30 AM and it has bounced around between that and as early as 7:05 AM. Thankfully, with the ATS at ORD being shutdown, the shuttle buses from parking lot G go straight to the terminals which makes up for some of that time. The downside though is that there's still some rush hour traffic on 101 going into San Francisco when this flight gets in, but that's not added more than 10 minutes or so to my commute.
Hopefully we'll see the currently scheduled timing for the flights in May and beyond stick!
Jan 12, 2019, 6:20 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
Feb 6, 2019, 6:36 pm
#23
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
Flew this on Tuesday morning this week. Less than 100 people on the flight, all but one row had empty middles (naturally I was in the one row with a middle seat occupied).
Rows 5-8 were blocked for weight and balance issues, so row 9 was first occupied row in economy.
I was 14 of 31 on the upgrade list as PlatPro with middling EQD. Only 1 person cleared at the gate, as usual. So basically 1/3+ of the plane was likely elite.
Flight was over 5 hours as we had to do donuts around the Bay Area for almost half an hour waiting for SFO to clear us to land.
Good times.
Rows 5-8 were blocked for weight and balance issues, so row 9 was first occupied row in economy.
I was 14 of 31 on the upgrade list as PlatPro with middling EQD. Only 1 person cleared at the gate, as usual. So basically 1/3+ of the plane was likely elite.
Flight was over 5 hours as we had to do donuts around the Bay Area for almost half an hour waiting for SFO to clear us to land.
Good times.
Feb 6, 2019, 6:39 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Flew this on Tuesday morning this week. Less than 100 people on the flight, all but one row had empty middles (naturally I was in the one row with a middle seat occupied).
Rows 5-8 were blocked for weight and balance issues, so row 9 was first occupied row in economy.
I was 14 of 31 on the upgrade list as PlatPro with middling EQD. Only 1 person cleared at the gate, as usual. So basically 1/3+ of the plane was likely elite.
Flight was over 5 hours as we had to do donuts around the Bay Area for almost half an hour waiting for SFO to clear us to land.
Good times.
Rows 5-8 were blocked for weight and balance issues, so row 9 was first occupied row in economy.
I was 14 of 31 on the upgrade list as PlatPro with middling EQD. Only 1 person cleared at the gate, as usual. So basically 1/3+ of the plane was likely elite.
Flight was over 5 hours as we had to do donuts around the Bay Area for almost half an hour waiting for SFO to clear us to land.
Good times.
Feb 7, 2019, 11:56 am
#25
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
And to add insult to injury I am flying the same bird on the way home now, because the earlier flight is leaving later than this one.
Original flight also got switched to an Oasis 737, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise?
Can't win this week. :-(
Original flight also got switched to an Oasis 737, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise?
Can't win this week. :-(
Feb 7, 2019, 2:39 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT
Posts: 759
I was stuck in coach on a LUS 321 a few weeks back, and must say it was very comfortable. Not sure if the pitch is 31 or 32, but an inch or two really makes a different (I'm 6'0 tall), and my knees did not touch the seat in front of me. I'd much rather have that than have power, since I can always bring my own, or make sure I'm charged up before I go.
Feb 7, 2019, 9:24 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO/MIA/JFK
Programs: AA EXP/*wood Plat/Hilton Gold/Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 289
What clunker of a laptop does not last 4 hours? Or in 2019 someone doesn’t spend ~$100 for an extra battery vs. relying on an airplane to provide everything.
A stinker of a plane is what it is...but you generally know that in advance.
A stinker of a plane is what it is...but you generally know that in advance.
Feb 8, 2019, 4:59 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75k, AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Posts: 197
Flew this on Tuesday morning this week. Less than 100 people on the flight, all but one row had empty middles (naturally I was in the one row with a middle seat occupied).
Rows 5-8 were blocked for weight and balance issues, so row 9 was first occupied row in economy.
I was 14 of 31 on the upgrade list as PlatPro with middling EQD. Only 1 person cleared at the gate, as usual. So basically 1/3+ of the plane was likely elite.
Flight was over 5 hours as we had to do donuts around the Bay Area for almost half an hour waiting for SFO to clear us to land.
Good times.
Rows 5-8 were blocked for weight and balance issues, so row 9 was first occupied row in economy.
I was 14 of 31 on the upgrade list as PlatPro with middling EQD. Only 1 person cleared at the gate, as usual. So basically 1/3+ of the plane was likely elite.
Flight was over 5 hours as we had to do donuts around the Bay Area for almost half an hour waiting for SFO to clear us to land.
Good times.
Also got moved back from 8F to 19F, but that’s not really a big deal considering there’s no real MCE on the 321.
Not a bad flight, just wish this one had ViaSat.
Feb 11, 2019, 8:43 am
#29
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,037
I don't think I've ever cleared on an ORD<-->SFO flight during the week. You have to buy F on this route if you want to sit up front. I was lucky enough to get 10F exit row. At least the view was nice during the holding pattern
