Flying domestic routes with widebodies: “One Of The Best Decisions We Made”
Sep 24, 2021, 12:25 pm
#1
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Flying domestic routes with widebodies: “One Of The Best Decisions We Made”
https://simpleflying.com/american-widebody-redeployment-best-decision/
American Airlines took the decision not to return to a number of seasonal summer destinations in Europe this year. Instead, it focused on deploying its widebodies into the domestic market. Speaking with Simple Flying, American Airlines’ Chief Revenue Officer Vasu Raja explained why this was such a great decision.
The widebodies that American Airlines would usually have been flying to Europe and other long-haul destinations had a very different mission this summer. While the airline maintained its connections to some major points in the international market, many of its widebody aircraft were instead deployed onto domestic routes, giving the airline higher gauge while international travel remained tricky.
The widebodies that American Airlines would usually have been flying to Europe and other long-haul destinations had a very different mission this summer. While the airline maintained its connections to some major points in the international market, many of its widebody aircraft were instead deployed onto domestic routes, giving the airline higher gauge while international travel remained tricky.
Last edited by aztimm; Sep 24, 2021 at 1:06 pm Reason: FT Rule 7: Linking Content to other websites
Sep 24, 2021, 12:46 pm
#3
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You will get no arguments from me. As a mid-level elite, the free premium economy seating is the best bargain in the system right now. And, on the off chance that I shockingly get upgraded, there's a lie flat seat waiting for me. If I was in the regular Y cabin, however, I don't see how it would be any better aside from the seat back monitor.
Sep 24, 2021, 12:50 pm
#4
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One of things that keeps in Miami (at least for now) is the availability of wide body flights on AA out of MIA. I notice now that when you book a domestic flight that is a wide body route AA advertises "lie flat seats" as an incentive to pay for F.
Sep 24, 2021, 12:55 pm
#6
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This article is interesting, since it differs with what they said previously about domestic widebodies:
from: https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...-aug-sep-2021/
Speaking directly on the economics, it seems like they were able to actually use the widebodies domestically profitably. Whether that's specifically talking about DFW, ORD, and CLT to Hawaii flying, or the short ORD-DFW or DFW-LAX legs that I've done, or overall combined is unclear, but I'm certainly glad it's working out for them, as I love the lie flat seats, no matter how short the flight.
He said that “if you have a wide-body plane, you bought that aircraft for long-haul flying… I can fly two [single-aisle] Airbus A320s or A321s for the same price as one wide-body on a per-seat basis. Economically, if I can offer two different schedule options on a narrow-body… that’ll be better for passenger choice than a single domestic wide-body.”
Speaking directly on the economics, it seems like they were able to actually use the widebodies domestically profitably. Whether that's specifically talking about DFW, ORD, and CLT to Hawaii flying, or the short ORD-DFW or DFW-LAX legs that I've done, or overall combined is unclear, but I'm certainly glad it's working out for them, as I love the lie flat seats, no matter how short the flight.
Sep 24, 2021, 1:59 pm
#7
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At 3244nm, I didn't think OGG-DFW is in danger of being down-guaged to a narrow body with domestic F config. Your bigger concern should be them dropping that route and sending you through LAX or PHX, at which point you would more likely be getting the domestic F product.
Sep 24, 2021, 3:12 pm
#8
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I don't care how big or small the plane is, if the seat OPTIONS are the same. The takeaway? Put lie-flats on more planes, and have a decent amount of MCE legroom on all of them. Then sure, fly more times, on smaller planes.
Sep 24, 2021, 3:17 pm
#9
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Very happy with this and taking full advantage while it lasts! Thanks AA. DFW-PHX/PHL/ORD has been the most surprising and enjoyabe.
Last edited by SKYEG; Sep 24, 2021 at 3:23 pm
Sep 24, 2021, 3:28 pm
#10
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Sep 24, 2021, 4:35 pm
#11
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In fact, I'd pay a little extra or select a slightly less appealing routing (i.e. longer connection) to fly on a larger plane.
Sep 25, 2021, 1:57 am
#12
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Having flown an A380 in J from Dubai to Muscat, a <40 minute flight, and being served a hot, full, breakfast, I have personally experienced what is possible. US domestic carriers/flights are barely inching themselves off the bottom of the barrel. A shame they believe the only path to success is to pander to the absolute lowest common denominator and fly the worst, most outdated equipment.. Tiniest glimmer of hope with flying these widebodies domestically.
Sep 25, 2021, 2:51 am
#13
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Kudos to American also for maintaining Main Cabin only pricing, even at Basic Economy levels in the domestic market. I know many people are choosing to fly American over competitors for this, even if the service levels fall short. Widebody upgrades for elites too are very nice.
You're also paying 3x the price. I am not that impressed with ME3 customer service, both on the ground and in the air, either.
Having flown an A380 in J from Dubai to Muscat, a <40 minute flight, and being served a hot, full, breakfast, I have personally experienced what is possible. US domestic carriers/flights are barely inching themselves off the bottom of the barrel. A shame they believe the only path to success is to pander to the absolute lowest common denominator and fly the worst, most outdated equipment.. Tiniest glimmer of hope with flying these widebodies domestically.
Sep 25, 2021, 4:32 am
#14
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Kudos to American also for maintaining Main Cabin only pricing, even at Basic Economy levels in the domestic market. I know many people are choosing to fly American over competitors for this, even if the service levels fall short. Widebody upgrades for elites too are very nice.
You're also paying 3x the price. I am not that impressed with ME3 customer service, both on the ground and in the air, either.
You're also paying 3x the price. I am not that impressed with ME3 customer service, both on the ground and in the air, either.
Sep 25, 2021, 4:44 am
#15
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QR in-air J service is inarguably the best in the world. Every time. EK and EY are 9/10 far superior to any US domestic J. Aegean blows US carriers out of the water. US carriers J in-flight service is right there at the bottom, just above Turkish Airlines. It's a personal opinion, no doubt, as to which airlines you are impressed with.
AA should be providing lay-flat J/F on ALL flights over two hours.