New Flagship Suites coming to 77W, 789 & 321XLR; 3-class F and 321T sub-fleet to go
Feb 5, 2026 | 11:31 am
#826
Join Date: Oct 2019
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Given that they had been planning to use MAX10s for the Coastliner, that it's a wider 321 is blessing enough for UA flyers.
Feb 5, 2026 | 11:38 am
#827
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,813
I think I got spoiled when United started using the true Polaris widebodies on EWR-SFO/LAX and got spoiled with aisle access from every seat with relatively large J cabins. But in reality that type of configuration isn’t very sustainable so it boils down to going back to 2-2 (though more than the pmCO 752 and more like the 28J pmUA 752) which were roomy and probably preferred for couples.
And as was pointed out, the A321T was also a good mix of 1-1 and 2-2, but again not super efficient and AA not being able to invest in premium experience to get premium revenue out of the product was bound to doom that configuration.
Or go with 1-1 but albeit super tight, probably not as comfortable and not as passenger friendly with the lav ratios.
Feb 5, 2026 | 12:50 pm
#828
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, DL Silver, UA
Posts: 552
Why didn’t AA update their A321T aircraft to be like UA’ Coastliner? With AA being short on international aircraft, it is strange that they are using such on transcon flights. I think UA is headed in the right direction.
Feb 5, 2026 | 2:46 pm
#829
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 2,383
You do bring up a good point, if AA was so short on international aircraft as they have been claiming, why not use the first XLRs on international missions only to bring international capacity online faster? It seems inconsistent, I've thought AA really doesn't know what to do with more international aircraft and has been using the "shortage" as a performance excuse.
Feb 5, 2026 | 3:34 pm
#830
Join Date: Sep 2024
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Not good. With so much negative press surrounding it, and the broader situation AA is in, at what point should they be thinking of an intervention?
Seems like AA should be thinking about some adjustments on future deliveries (like how QF is making adjustments), and even thinking whether to reassign current deliveries to TATL vs transcon, and keeping the 321Ts around. I still think the 321Ts are good if they just give the cabins a mid-life refresh. That mid-life refresh should've been done post-COVID as they were pulling the planes out of storage. (Keeping the Ts at this point would be very unlikely, but one can hope!)
As for me...I wouldn't know, I've been avoiding the XLR. It's pretty clear it's not better.
I am also curious how Y is. All discussion has been on J. But I saw a photo on Twitter recently of tray tables in Y that seem 2/3 the size of a "full size" tray table (i.e. smaller than a macbook) which would be awful for any full-service airline, much less for aircraft on 5+ hour flights.
Seems like AA should be thinking about some adjustments on future deliveries (like how QF is making adjustments), and even thinking whether to reassign current deliveries to TATL vs transcon, and keeping the 321Ts around. I still think the 321Ts are good if they just give the cabins a mid-life refresh. That mid-life refresh should've been done post-COVID as they were pulling the planes out of storage. (Keeping the Ts at this point would be very unlikely, but one can hope!)
As for me...I wouldn't know, I've been avoiding the XLR. It's pretty clear it's not better.
I am also curious how Y is. All discussion has been on J. But I saw a photo on Twitter recently of tray tables in Y that seem 2/3 the size of a "full size" tray table (i.e. smaller than a macbook) which would be awful for any full-service airline, much less for aircraft on 5+ hour flights.
I understand that F in the 321T was sub-optimal from a revenue standpoint, because the cabin (1/3 of the aircraft) would be filled with non-revs on certain flights. But the better solution here probably would have been to more proactively oversell J and bump people into the F cabin, which AA would do occasionally but not systematically.
Feb 5, 2026 | 7:02 pm
#831
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: MIA/BJX/SAN
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I genuinely don't get why people are making a big deal over the new XLR suites, while praising the Jetblue Mint suites which are the same seats. I flew the inaugural and I found the seats to be perfectly fine, I loved the privacy and amount of space.
Its also 100 times better than the 787-8 and 772 coffin seats which fly much longer routes and have the worst storage/design out of any lie flat seat in the US
Its also 100 times better than the 787-8 and 772 coffin seats which fly much longer routes and have the worst storage/design out of any lie flat seat in the US
Feb 5, 2026 | 7:09 pm
#832
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,813
AA hates subfleets and seemingly can't get enough of domestic Oasis-ified aircraft.
You do bring up a good point, if AA was so short on international aircraft as they have been claiming, why not use the first XLRs on international missions only to bring international capacity online faster? It seems inconsistent, I've thought AA really doesn't know what to do with more international aircraft and has been using the "shortage" as a performance excuse.
You do bring up a good point, if AA was so short on international aircraft as they have been claiming, why not use the first XLRs on international missions only to bring international capacity online faster? It seems inconsistent, I've thought AA really doesn't know what to do with more international aircraft and has been using the "shortage" as a performance excuse.
But, it wont start till 2027. Why? Cause it needs XLRs to replace the A321T first.
What a confused strategy
Feb 6, 2026 | 9:46 am
#833
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
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Posts: 6,437
I am a regular transcon corporate business flyer. I favor AA's transcon F on the 321T. However, the coffin seats on the 321XLR look horrible, and I don't think I will be ponying up for that cramped product. Delta's 763s and United's 777s look far better by comparison.
Feb 7, 2026 | 12:05 pm
#834
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,813
Interestingly enough, Delta announced that they are flying their lie flat 757 from JFK to SNA. And once AA is rid of their A321T, since they only have the XLR to replace a premium configuration, it will be too heavy to operate out of SNA (unless they block seats). So will AA pull out of SNA in the near future because they don’t have the proper aircraft? Or will stay in albeit with blocked seats.
And I think EWR-SNA is one of the candidate routes for United’s Coastliner.
And I think EWR-SNA is one of the candidate routes for United’s Coastliner.
Feb 7, 2026 | 12:53 pm
#835
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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Because this is the internet and people love to complain about everything.
Feb 7, 2026 | 2:54 pm
#836
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/SNA
Programs: AA, AF
Posts: 2,006
Last edited by NYC Flyer; Feb 7, 2026 at 3:50 pm Reason: spellling
Feb 7, 2026 | 3:12 pm
#837
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I understand that F in the 321T was sub-optimal from a revenue standpoint, because the cabin (1/3 of the aircraft) would be filled with non-revs on certain flights. But the better solution here probably would have been to more proactively oversell J and bump people into the F cabin, which AA would do occasionally but not systematically.
Then are keeping 20J, which matches the 321T. There was too much unused space for the 10 seat F cabin so now they can make some money with 12 PE seats. If it was one of their best performing routes before, I dont see why it wouldnt continue to be a moneymaker.
Feb 7, 2026 | 4:49 pm
#838
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL DM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,774
I genuinely don't get why people are making a big deal over the new XLR suites, while praising the Jetblue Mint suites which are the same seats. I flew the inaugural and I found the seats to be perfectly fine, I loved the privacy and amount of space.
Its also 100 times better than the 787-8 and 772 coffin seats which fly much longer routes and have the worst storage/design out of any lie flat seat in the US
Its also 100 times better than the 787-8 and 772 coffin seats which fly much longer routes and have the worst storage/design out of any lie flat seat in the US
While the DL ground experience for J on this route blows AA out of the water, I vastly prefer this seat over Delta One on the 763. I actually really like the D1 seat on the 764, but find this one slightly better as its more private.
Feb 7, 2026 | 6:19 pm
#839
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL DM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,774
A few more thoughts as Ive tested the seat in lie flat mode. To this day, I still find the Collins Diamond seat on the A321T incredibly comfortable to sleep in, lack of direct aisle access aside. So the XLR seat is a step down for sleeping- the foot well is a bit tight, and the length is going to be an issue for anyone over 59 or 510. And there is a very noticeable gap between seat cushions- so hopefully mattress pads will be provided for the transatlantic routes. But of course, its incredibly private when youre laying down, especially since your head is away from the aisle, so I guess its a trade off.
Feb 7, 2026 | 7:49 pm
#840
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/SNA
Programs: AA, AF
Posts: 2,006
I thought these were supposed to be 78 inch "beds"...so that must mean there's a 1-2 inch wide corner spot where a 6-footer can point their big toe (and speaks to the cramped perception being reported vs jetBlue). While I think this plane will serve transcon flights totally fine, I am skeptical all around that any of the cabins will be profitable on overseas flights. I am slightly more optimistic that UA can deploy them protitably, but I think they've also over-ordered the type.
Last edited by NYC Flyer; Feb 7, 2026 at 7:51 pm Reason: amplification, spelling