Boeing 787-8 2nd Tranche as of March 2020 w/ Super Diamonds
May 2, 2020, 3:48 pm
#1
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Boeing 787-8 2nd Tranche as of March 2020 w/ Super Diamonds
The second tranche of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has begun to arrive. As expected, they’re delivered with the better Rockwell Collins (nee B/E Aerospace) Super Diamond Business Class seats.
This leaves AA with another split fleet in addition to the Boeing 777-200ER. 20 788 aircraft have the Safran (nee Zodiac) Concept D Business Suite (with the “motion over the ocean” seats and non-passengers adjusted privacy dividers) and 22 788 with enhanced Super Diamonds - once delivery is finished.
A look inside the newly delivered American Airlines Boeing 787-8 with ‘enhanced’ business class
Zach Griff, April 30 2020 — The Points Guy link
As well, the foot well in the enhanced version of this seat is reported to be larger than the existing 772 and 789 Super Diamond foot well.
American Airlines enhanced business class on the Boeing 787-8. (Photo courtesy of American Airlines, via TPG)
This leaves AA with another split fleet in addition to the Boeing 777-200ER. 20 788 aircraft have the Safran (nee Zodiac) Concept D Business Suite (with the “motion over the ocean” seats and non-passengers adjusted privacy dividers) and 22 788 with enhanced Super Diamonds - once delivery is finished.
A look inside the newly delivered American Airlines Boeing 787-8 with ‘enhanced’ business class
Zach Griff, April 30 2020 — The Points Guy link
AA has already received two of these new planes. On March 17, the first new 787-8 Dreamliner for AA since 2017, with registration N870AX, flew from the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington to AA’s mega-hub in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). Since then, the plane has been parked in Tulsa (along with a good portion of AA’s fleet).And just yesterday, April 29, AA took delivery of its second new Boeing 787-8, with registration N871AY. AA expects to receive an additional 10 of these “baby” Dreamliners by the end of 2020, joining the company’s existing fleet of 20 787-8s.
But the Boeing 787-8 features an ‘enhanced’ version of the seat — never before seen on any AA jet. So, what does that mean?
Related: Best American Airlines seats ranked from best to worst
Well, AA modified its standard reverse-herringbone seat by adding a retractable privacy divider between the two center seats. American’s other planes that feature the Super Diamonds don’t have any divider between center seats, making them unpopular for solo travelers.
But the Boeing 787-8 features an ‘enhanced’ version of the seat — never before seen on any AA jet. So, what does that mean?
Related: Best American Airlines seats ranked from best to worst
Well, AA modified its standard reverse-herringbone seat by adding a retractable privacy divider between the two center seats. American’s other planes that feature the Super Diamonds don’t have any divider between center seats, making them unpopular for solo travelers.
American Airlines enhanced business class on the Boeing 787-8. (Photo courtesy of American Airlines, via TPG)
Last edited by JDiver; May 3, 2020 at 12:48 pm
May 3, 2020, 11:52 am
#4
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May 3, 2020, 12:43 pm
#5
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AA was testing business suites. Could debut in 2023.
Potential AA business suites
Potential AA business suites
Practically, I don’t expect AA to do much other than bring them in OTB with Super Diamonds, given the likely position AA will be in after the novel Coronavirus’ catastrophic effects on airlines.
May 3, 2020, 7:54 pm
#7
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I'm not sure how practical a coat hook is in that position, and I'm wondering what that thing is to the left of the hook. It looks like a giant ashtray. Overall the seat looks pretty cramped, but if it eliminates the problem with your seat rocking and rolling when the adjacent passenger moves it will be a big improvement.
May 3, 2020, 8:10 pm
#8
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I'm not sure how practical a coat hook is in that position, and I'm wondering what that thing is to the left of the hook. It looks like a giant ashtray. Overall the seat looks pretty cramped, but if it eliminates the problem with your seat rocking and rolling when the adjacent passenger moves it will be a big improvement.
May 3, 2020, 8:19 pm
#10
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I'm not sure how practical a coat hook is in that position, and I'm wondering what that thing is to the left of the hook. It looks like a giant ashtray. Overall the seat looks pretty cramped, but if it eliminates the problem with your seat rocking and rolling when the adjacent passenger moves it will be a big improvement.
James
May 4, 2020, 1:40 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2010
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I'm not sure how practical a coat hook is in that position, and I'm wondering what that thing is to the left of the hook. It looks like a giant ashtray. Overall the seat looks pretty cramped, but if it eliminates the problem with your seat rocking and rolling when the adjacent passenger moves it will be a big improvement.
May 4, 2020, 3:40 am
#12
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Meanwhile AA is spending millions to continue to densify the rest of the 738 and A321s
Why can’t they spend this time and money to harmonize their premium cabins on their 777 and 787-8?
Why can’t they spend this time and money to harmonize their premium cabins on their 777 and 787-8?
May 4, 2020, 2:06 pm
#13
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May 4, 2020, 4:11 pm
#14
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AA was testing business suites. Could debut in 2023.
Potential AA business suites
Potential AA business suites
May 4, 2020, 5:26 pm
#15
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Longer term, I would expect the split fleets to stay until AA decides that it needs a new type of seat to be competitive. Given that they are likely only going to be flying 777s and 787s (and probably A332s for a while longer), it seems like it would be reasonable to replace everything with the same new seat. But airlines hang on to J seats for a long time -- EK has 2-3-2 J with middle seats!