Saw on Frontier's Wikipedia page that they had several A320's on order, but hadn't heard anything more about it. One of my FA's last night provided some more details. She said that Frontier is going to take delivery of them starting in February, and that they are going to be put in service on the DEN-DCA route, which apparently has lots of demmand but is limited in expansion due to the small number of slots available at DCA.

Also worth noting, she believed that they would have two exit rows with 2 emergency doors on both sides, in a (2-3) configuration, so someone's going to end up with "infinite" legroom on each side. Looking forward to a ride on their new craft, and I'm glad to see Frontier continuing to do well and expand!

The F/A is correct - the first A320 is scheduled for delivery in February of 2008. I'm not sure that you can assume the F/A has first hand knowledge of what routes they're going to be placed on. There are other equally important domestic routes, such as DEN-LGA (red eye excluded), that could use the extra pax capability. Additionally, with F9's admitted focus on increasing their international biz, you may see these planes flying South of the border.

Now if we can just get some A321s ordered...

Would there be any kind of additional training required for the FA's to be able to work the 320? With an extra exit row and higher passanger count I would think so. Do airlines typically make sure that all their FA's are trained for new types of aircraft prior to any revenue service, or are their schedules made (during the training period) so that they are only flying on aircraft that they are "trained" on?

Agreed on the point that "half of what FA's say are just rumors", I guess the point I should have tried to make was that Frontier is going to be using the larger aircraft to expand capacity in cities where it can't or where it would be difficult to squeeze in additional flights.

On a side note, I've had a couple flights lately on the new leather seats and they are very nice!

I'm not sure if the A320 would require any serious retraining. F9 pilots, IIRC, are trained and certified for the A320 family in general. There isn't an A318 simulator, an A319 simulator, and a A320 simulator - there is just one A32X series simulator and subsequent rating. I believe that any pilot rated for the A320 can fly the A318, 319, 320, and 321. I'm sure the situation would be similar for the flight attendants as well. If the previous statements are incorrect, I'm sure someone will be more than happy to correct me.

What may change, however, is the number of flight attendants on board. If the A320 configuration is similar to that of Jet Blue, than there will be 150 seats on the plane. The law requires only three flight attendants for 150 pax, but F9 may increase the number of F/As to four, just to help with service. I'm trying to remember how many F/As are on Jet Blue's A320 flights.

With the previously-mentioned caveat about FA gossip in mind, the one I spoke to told me a number that was definately > 150... I believe that it was 164(?). She specifically said that they were going to have the double-exit row, which is why I thought about FA training, since it seems she might have seen the inside of one already. She also said that the range would actually be lower than that of the A319, as the A320 was using the same engines... though I'm sure why that would make a difference... wouldn't it be a function of the gross weight and fuel capacity?

I seem to recall reading somewhere about Frontier talking proudly about the mock-up of an Airbus interior that they built themselves, saving the cost of having to purchase one, or send their folks traveling to use it. Can't seem to find the article... do you know if this is the case? If so, I wonder if they're building an A320 model.

The A319 has significantly longer range than the A320 since the two planes have virtually the same wing, engines, and fuel capacity. But I don't think it would be a big issue for F9 since they only have to get to Denver from the east coast. JetBlue is well known for fuel stops on A320 flights JFK-west coast and UA favors A319's over 320's to avoid same.

Actually looking at F9's route map, it appears that their longest existing route is 2400 miles (DEN->ANC) according to WebFlier. That will shortly be eclipsed by their new Costa Rica route (2410, DEN->SJO). With BUR->JFK on B6 a stretch at 2460 MI (though takeoff weight limits for BUR might be part of the problem), it's probably a decent bet that F9's 320's won't be serving ANC or SJO.

F9 is beginning the training process for our current online FA's because there will indeed be 4 FA's on the 320's. The extra trainning has nothing to do really with the possible extra exit row (this is the first I've heard of it), but more to do wih the splitting of duties.
There are currently 5 training classes for new FA's planned (including the one that just started).

I thought there would be four F/As due to the increase in the number of pax. I'll be curious to see what the total number of available seats will be. F9s F/As are, by far, my favorite. I've hit 102K miles with F9 earlier this year; since then, I have been focusing on keeping my status with UA. F9's recent prices to LGA haven't been very good either, so for now I'm on UA. I'm anxious to ride on F9's new leather seats though - I hear they're very comfy.

...now if F9 would order my favorite of the A32x series, the A321.

Into Denver?

I would think "not likely". While the A321 may seem like an Airbus counter to the 757, there are considerable performance differences...

The 321 does not do well in "hot" and/or "high" airports. Denver qualifies as "high" in my book.... ;-)

U.S. Air has flown the A321 in and out of DEN alot.

Flightaware proof:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/USA1529

Photographic proof:
http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...ne_version=6.0

maybe i missed something, but why is there discussion about two exit rows? don't all 320s have two rows of over-wing exits? would love to see a photo of the mystery one exit row 320 everyone is talking about.

transcon fuel stops - what is this, the 1950s?

.

Yes, it is happens B6 was too many fuel stop in PHX or even other cities. I remember what happened due to high-winds over in the west coast. Because other airlines who want stop somewhere in different cities to get re-fuel the planes. Ongoing the aircraft will continuation flying to reachable final destination cities. I remember what happened last few years ago. Does you know this means about airlines was diverted.

-removed--

SEA, SEA, SEA, SEA, SEA, SEA,

and more SEA.

Also LGA and DCA would be good destinations for the A320