New Flagship Suites coming to 77W, 789 & 321XLR; 3-class F and 321T sub-fleet to go
Sep 20, 2022, 7:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
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New Flagship Suites coming to 77W, 789 & 321XLR; 3-class F and 321T sub-fleet to go
New flagship suites coming in 2024 to 77W, 789 and the 321XLR.
77W F will go away
321T fleet will be eliminated
Per:
77W F will go away
321T fleet will be eliminated
Per:
Sep 20, 2022, 7:39 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM EXP, DL Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), Aeroplan 75K
Posts: 1,156
Press release is here.
Edited with some of my comments
A lot of content, but the key points I saw that were not in the summary bullets:
Edited with some of my comments
A lot of content, but the key points I saw that were not in the summary bullets:
- New deliveries starting in 2024 will get the suites. 20 on the XLR and 51 on the 789
- Lie flats will remain on JFK/BOS transcon flights (with the XLR or other lie-flat non-modified planes?). No mention of MIA-LAX. I can’t imagine they will be able to solely rely on the XLR given fleet size at the onset and in some cases may be hamstrung by 20 lie flats.
- Retrofitting the 77W (70 suites) and 321Ts to commence in late 2024. The 321T will become yet another 321.
- Based on this, F to be eliminated at some point in 2025 / 2026 unless they make a decision to stop offering it as soon as the retrofits begin. Too bad.
- No mention of retrofitting the 772, 788 and already-delivered 789s. My guess is that they will want to see how the process unfolds with the 77W and / or create a difference between flagship suites and flagship business.
Last edited by ryanbriar; Sep 20, 2022 at 8:12 am
Sep 20, 2022, 7:43 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
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Looks like they’re using the same product on the 789s that QR uses for their “business suite” 789 product. For me, this is pretty disappointing. I’ve flown this product a few times and while it has a ton of bells and whistles, the seat is really tight (especially around the shoulders) and the foot box is pretty small. I’d take the super diamond and definitely the current 77W J product over this (let alone Apex or qsuites). So unless AA does some serious customization to this, to me it’s kinda a downgrade.
Sep 20, 2022, 7:45 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 264
Part of me is sad to see F go but I don't really know why, lol. Guess it's just the end of an era.
Obviously we don't really know much yet, but is it speculated that they plan on using the XLR's much domestically or are they basically just going to do east coast TATL flights?
Edit: Actually, reading between the lines of the press release, guessing they'll use them on transcons as well.
Obviously we don't really know much yet, but is it speculated that they plan on using the XLR's much domestically or are they basically just going to do east coast TATL flights?
Edit: Actually, reading between the lines of the press release, guessing they'll use them on transcons as well.
Last edited by LlamaJesus; Sep 20, 2022 at 7:56 am
Sep 20, 2022, 8:00 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
I just don't get the current trend of a door on the J seats. What's the point? Anyone standing up can simply look over them. If you are sitting down, you're usually reclined enough except for maybe takeoff/landing to not be able to see or be seen unless you sit up and make an effort.
Just seems like another useless trend to me.
Just seems like another useless trend to me.
Sep 20, 2022, 8:05 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: AA, Marriott
Posts: 210
American will also retrofit its Airbus A321T fleet to align those 16 aircraft with the rest of its A321 fleet. American will continue to offer lie-flat seats on its transcontinental routes departing New York and Boston along with its Northeast Alliance partner, JetBlue Airways, providing travelers with a premium experience and the opportunity to arrive refreshed after a cross country flight.
Even if there are more J seats in the new planes they put on the route, this was the last place you could consistently get a reasonable seat and IFE even in Main Cabin.
Hope they don’t cede all premium transcon flying to B6, or if they do, hope they figure out Mint upgrades. 😛
Sep 20, 2022, 8:16 am
#8
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Location: NYC
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Sad to see the transcon fleet go; guess my username is vintage now.
Even if there are more J seats in the new planes they put on the route, this was the last place you could consistently get a reasonable seat and IFE even in Main Cabin.
Hope they don’t cede all premium transcon flying to B6, or if they do, hope they figure out Mint upgrades. 😛
Even if there are more J seats in the new planes they put on the route, this was the last place you could consistently get a reasonable seat and IFE even in Main Cabin.
Hope they don’t cede all premium transcon flying to B6, or if they do, hope they figure out Mint upgrades. 😛
though having a vintage handle is neat!Lie-flat will remain on the premium transcon routes,AA just won't rely on a specific dedicated sub-fleet for that purpose any longer. This is (probably) better from an operations and utilization standpoint.
Sep 20, 2022, 8:29 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
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Posts: 1,156
You can just become A321XLR though having a vintage handle is neat!
Lie-flat will remain on the premium transcon routes,AA just won't rely on a specific dedicated sub-fleet for that purpose any longer. This is (probably) better from an operations and utilization standpoint.
though having a vintage handle is neat!Lie-flat will remain on the premium transcon routes,AA just won't rely on a specific dedicated sub-fleet for that purpose any longer. This is (probably) better from an operations and utilization standpoint.
Sep 20, 2022, 8:35 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
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Personally (I'm 6' 1"), the Business seat looks a little tighter than the super diamond. The PE seat looks like a shell. Looks more upscale but could be less comfortable?
The XLR, looks like it'll be a nice ride in Business and PE to Europe. Wish it had slightly more PE seats but 20 & 12 kinda makes sense overall, though maybe not for a few routes (SNN, LIS). New color scheme is nice.
The XLR, looks like it'll be a nice ride in Business and PE to Europe. Wish it had slightly more PE seats but 20 & 12 kinda makes sense overall, though maybe not for a few routes (SNN, LIS). New color scheme is nice.
Sep 20, 2022, 8:40 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
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Personally (I'm 6' 1"), the Business seat looks a little tighter than the super diamond. The PE seat looks like a shell. Looks more upscale but could be less comfortable?
The XLR, looks like it'll be a nice ride in Business and PE to Europe. Wish it had slightly more PE seats but 20 & 12 kinda makes sense overall, though maybe not for a few routes (SNN, LIS). New color scheme is nice.
The XLR, looks like it'll be a nice ride in Business and PE to Europe. Wish it had slightly more PE seats but 20 & 12 kinda makes sense overall, though maybe not for a few routes (SNN, LIS). New color scheme is nice.
Sep 20, 2022, 8:46 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
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Im 5’ 10” and have size 11 feet and this product was really tight for me and pretty uncomfortable so much so I couldnt sleep on the few segments I’ve flown this product. So I’m assuming it will be pretty rough for you as well. It is def tighter than the super diamond, a product I’ve been easily able to sleep on.
Sep 20, 2022, 8:56 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2017
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its the same seats delta uses as first class class on their NEOs, and let me assure you, they are more comfortable than anything AA has in their domestic fleet. Everyone had their doubts about it too when Delta first announced the seat.