When will West Planes get Empower???
May 8, 2007, 8:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern California
Programs: US Airways,Hilton HHonors, Marriott, National
Posts: 1,341
When will West Planes get Empower???
I know this has been asked before and it was not definitive. As they get ready to mix more flights as East or West (and then start mixing fleets when the Certificate merges) it would be nice to have a consistent product. I would like to see that I am on a A319 or A320 and I am going to get Empower... I think they did a nice job at making the East more like WEst to cram more seats in, now lets try and keep the product the same...
I know they are going to add in flight entertainment, but let's add some power to those darn seats too... At least give us First and a Preferred zone that has power..
Any news?? Any idea if this is coming???
I know they are going to add in flight entertainment, but let's add some power to those darn seats too... At least give us First and a Preferred zone that has power..
Any news?? Any idea if this is coming???
May 8, 2007, 8:51 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: US Chairmans, Air Tran Elite, NWA Silver, HH Diamond, Starwood Gold, Marriott Silver, IHG Gold
Posts: 394
I know this has been asked before and it was not definitive. As they get ready to mix more flights as East or West (and then start mixing fleets when the Certificate merges) it would be nice to have a consistent product. I would like to see that I am on a A319 or A320 and I am going to get Empower... I think they did a nice job at making the East more like WEst to cram more seats in, now lets try and keep the product the same...
I know they are going to add in flight entertainment, but let's add some power to those darn seats too... At least give us First and a Preferred zone that has power..
Any news?? Any idea if this is coming???
I know they are going to add in flight entertainment, but let's add some power to those darn seats too... At least give us First and a Preferred zone that has power..
Any news?? Any idea if this is coming???
May 8, 2007, 9:03 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,304
Wasn't there a big brouhahas a while back that they were considering ripping 'em out of the US fleet? It may have even been pre-merger during BK2. Be careful wishing for a consistent product: you might get exactly what you ask for, but not what you want. 
May 8, 2007, 9:10 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: RIC
Programs: Delta Gold, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 889
I do hope they put it in at least in FC pretty soon for the A dub planes. I use the empower for my pc all the time and it is pretty nice to have.
Most likely they will just take it out of every plane to make the fleet all the same.
Most likely they will just take it out of every plane to make the fleet all the same.
May 8, 2007, 10:04 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Arizona USA
Programs: NetJets Marquis, Southwest Moo, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,652
I checked a US Club recently and it didn't seem to be frozen over, so I would say that there will be a long wait for this. 
I carry two batts that cover me for 5 hrs on my lightweight Dell. I don't think I want to work more than that on a rotten domestic flight.
I carry two batts that cover me for 5 hrs on my lightweight Dell. I don't think I want to work more than that on a rotten domestic flight.
May 9, 2007, 9:15 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, US CP, *W Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 449
Agree that this is a real pain and needs to be fixed...especially w/the PHL-SFO 'non-stop' flights making hour-long fuel stops more than 1/2 the time...
May 9, 2007, 10:27 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern California
Programs: US Airways,Hilton HHonors, Marriott, National
Posts: 1,341
I am just seeing the notifications on the new IFE,etc.. if they are making seat changes and "improvements" they should be able to add Empower to the seats (or even regular power).
May 9, 2007, 10:40 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tempe, AZ
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 310
I'm not an engineer but I suspect in-seat power is an option when the plane is built and would be costly to add as an after-market feature.
Besides, it means the west 319 and newer 320 fleet would likely have to swap-out those award winning squeaky FC seats.
Besides, it means the west 319 and newer 320 fleet would likely have to swap-out those award winning squeaky FC seats.
May 9, 2007, 11:56 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: 42mi from AMS
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott LT Au, Hilton C, IHG PtA
Posts: 576
Empower is just 12/24V power, so can easily be included in all the wiring for the IFE or controls in the seats. Issue would be though that they'd need a place for some fuses and would need to take into account the amount of amps all those ports could be wanting for and competing with other systems.
May 9, 2007, 1:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
it can't be *that* costly. the infamous pennypinchers at AA have installed it in every plane in the mainline fleet (700 of them), with the exception of the 19 757's that are being sold to DL.
May 9, 2007, 1:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tempe, AZ
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 310
Empower is just 12/24V power, so can easily be included in all the wiring for the IFE or controls in the seats. Issue would be though that they'd need a place for some fuses and would need to take into account the amount of amps all those ports could be wanting for and competing with other systems.
May 9, 2007, 2:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: RIC
Programs: Delta Gold, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 889
But really how many people use them? Less than 5% would be what Im guessing...
May 9, 2007, 2:17 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SNA
Posts: 9
Slim Chance
I doubt it will happen. Everything at US is about being cost neutral. I have even heard Doug say that they don't intend to add power to the west aicraft right now. However, with a new seat and IFE system that is allegedly coming out late this year or early next year, there may be a slim chance of power with the new seat. Time wil tell... don't hold your breath though.
May 9, 2007, 3:31 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
And I agree, if only because the vast majority of the planes are leased (all the West planes). That means they'll eventually be going back to the leasors.
What is possible (likely??) is that new airplanes will have empower so that the transition to having it on all the fleet will happen over time. That will depend, in part, on the cost of that option and competitive pressures.
Jim
What is possible (likely??) is that new airplanes will have empower so that the transition to having it on all the fleet will happen over time. That will depend, in part, on the cost of that option and competitive pressures.
Jim
May 10, 2007, 8:54 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ketchikan, Alaska
Programs: GSA City-Pair; emeritus AS MVPG/UA 1K/US Plat, etc.
Posts: 2,635
"Never" would be my guess, knowing the new management.