Comments

1. I’ve stopped flying on American Airlines so this doesn’t affect me.

2. There is more space being taken out of galleys and closets than from lavs. The implications of that should be carefully considered.

3. Should have called it Project Icarus, since this overly ambitious plan to increase premium seats will lead to less comfort and convenience for those who do fly in those cabins (tighter space, less lavatories).

4. No problem at all. Airline lavs are meant to be functional, not spacious. Also, fine shrinking pitch in the economy cabin. If they want more room buy a better class of ticket like I do.

5. Great for those who spend on the higher classes of service, terrible news for those who are limited to the economy cabin. Even their economy plus seats will be tight. So AA will treat their JFK-LHR and MIA-EZE fliers in back as if they’re on the DFW-LIT run. Miserable.

   Hard pass from me.

6. I see how utterly disgusting the narrowbody coach lavs look after a three hour flight, particularly the floors. I can only imagine what they would look like towards the end of a 12 hour flight.

7. Well, looks like it could be a sensible business ( revenue) decision. However, customer reviews on service and comfory will decide whether that is true

8. There really needs to be a federal regulation on the minimum lavatory size. I’m a small guy and I can’t even comfortably use the lavatories on Delta’s 737-900s. The 747s that Delta had were great because there were plenty of lavatories and they were spacious. The 350s that replaced the 747 have significantly fewer lavatories.

9. Boeing’s 737 lavs are ridiculously small but there isn’t any single airline that has a market on them.

   The A350 was not a direct replacement for the 747
   DL has changed (and is in the process of changing) its Pacific network from Asian-hubbed operation to US hubs – of which there are far more US hubs than in any Asian country.
   ICN will become a large JV hub and the A350-1000 will play a role in that – and be closer to the 744 in size than anything else but the A350 lavs are industry standard.

   and the point here still is that lav sizes are not shrinking near as much in AA’s refurb as the elimination of closets and galley space.

   Lavs only need to be as large as necessary to get the job done. Other than new Boeing 737 lavs
   which results in taking an unwanted bath, every other commercial aircraft lav works.

   Closets are not directly accessible to most customers but rather to FAs which sometimes use them to provide better service to premium customers – and sometimes not.
   Galley size matters because it indicates the level of service a carrier can do. Since AA intended to use its 77Ws on ultra long haul flights, they might not legitimately need as much galley space as they had but they might also be able to cut galley space by using smaller trays – which could mean less food on them.

10. I fly because I have to, not because I want to…ever.

11. American Airlines needs to pay for a lot of things so their passengers have to pay the price.

12. You can look to the UAL B77W seatmap on their website. It isn’t much different. UAL retains the midcabin Y galley but AA retains more lavatories. Front galley/lav setup on UAL is looks like what AA is going to do. Also keep in mind AA has 20 more seats in Y vs the higher premium config in the new AA setup

13. An airline’s main job is to provide transportation, not to provide a lounge in every bathroom.

14. lol, for the commenter suggesting that there should be a law about minimum lav size, I’ll gladly agree to that if it is accompanied by a law about maximum butt size for coach seats.

    Have a sizer thing at the gate and have it work just like carry-on luggage: if your butt doesn’t fit then you either pay more or you don’t go. Skinny people have been subsidizing the fuel consumption of people-of-size for far too long. The airlines would realize maintenance savings too, fewer broken seats.

15. I just completed a jetBlue flight from JFK to Amsterdam and I have to say that the loo was spacious although at the end of the flight, a bit worse for wear. I appreciate the extra space. I’ve been in sardine cans that make it nearly impossible to sit down and also urinate because there’s no “spread” (Sorry about the visual). I will take the jetBlue narrowbody A32x over any American Airlines flight They may be losing money but jetBlue has mine until they screw it up.

16. Doesn’t United have about 20 additional seats on their B773 aircraft then what AA is going to. Also, will AA still have Main Cabin Extra? Just curious.

17. All the more reason to just relieve yourself at your seat.

18. AA: “Let’s follow what our partner BA did, because their customer feedback and reputation is so positive!”

19. Might as well just cut a hole in the door as few will be able to fit themselves in to relieve themselves

20. Gary Leff writes, “American Airlines is introducing new business class suites with doors.” David comments, “All the more reason to just relieve yourself at your seat.”

    In the privacy of your American Airlines new business class suite, passengers can consider taking advantage of relieving themselves at their seat using the complimentary air sickness bag as suggested by David. Use the sick sack as needed, seal it securely, and press the flight attendant call button for prompt pickup and replacement. I am grateful that American Airlines’ Project Olympus represents a significant advancement in passenger conveniences and services, reinforcing the leadership of their C-suite in delivering innovative aircraft designs and services to the traveling public.

21. UA 777W has 360 seats
    AA 777W refurb will have 330 seats. 50 fewer Y seats than UA. There won’t be any reduction in pitch in the back, just more premium seats.

22. Are they shrinking or getting rid of the premium lavatories in the Flagship cabin, which are larger and have nicer finishes inside?

23. You know what I care the least about? Lav size. I want enough of them so the lines aren’t crazy. But, they will never build a lav too small for me. And, I love them using the space for other things. Having my first AA 787 J experience recently, I’m hoping the new J seats are better. That’s what affects my willingness to fly them.

24. Things like this is why my preferred transatlantic carrier is not American, British, United, or Virgin Atlantic, but rather Cunard.

25. I so hate this new American!! I feel so sorry for the old AA employees merging with such crap! Especially the management! God they are so terrible ! They destroyed AA and made this new moronic company!! Should rename it cause it sure isn’t AA… call it
    Trash airways
    Can’t run a airline airways
    We suck airlines…

26. “UA 777W has 360 seats [actually 350]
    AA 777W refurb will have 330 seats. 50 fewer Y seats than UA. There won’t be any reduction in pitch in the back, just more premium seats.”
    But UA is 60-24-266 and AA will be 70-44-216. So, 5 or 6 more rows of J and PE and 6 less rows of Y. That tradeoff ain’t free.

27. Dave,
    I would suggest that you look at Aerolopa’s map for the UA 777W.
    If you do, you will see that UA has 12 more business class seats between the first and second set of doors

    AA has 2 more lavs on their current 77Ws than UA and UA has a double lav forward of the L1 door while AA currently has only a single lav.

    According to this map, AA is pushing 2 lavs behind the 5th set of doors which frees up more space in the cabin.

    AA is also eliminating a couple of galley units including at the 4th doors.

    as much as you or others want to believe otherwise, AA is getting rid of galleys and lavs rather or at least more than cutting seat space. and AA still will have 20 fewer seats on their 777Ws than UA

28. It is amazing how AA is getting a hammering while UA gets away with a pass. As Tim correctly pointed out, with respect to UA, they have only 10 lavs on board for 350 passengers. How premium is that? AA will maintain 12 for 330. On a point of correction Tim, lavs are being relocated, not reduced.

    Furthermore, if you look at BA’s configuration, the way they angle the galleys in the back, allows enough space to relocate the rear lavs on either side, thus freeing up space for the addition of 4 seats

    Removing the half galley in the coach cabin allows for 12 additional seats for a total of 16.Poof, just like that! They can then take out the 16 from forward section of coach to make room for the additional premium economy.

    Similarly in the very forward cabin, If AA matches UA configuration, they free up room for additional business class seats, two maybe?

    The point is, people need to be objective and analyze properly instead of just ranting on and reacting from somewhat sensational headlines.

29. Not to be an AA apologist…however, think back to where the existing configuration came from. As I recall AA ordered these planes quickly near the end of 777-300er passenger production. Since the planes were available quickly AA as I read didn’t go through the full customization process they normally do. It was said they used the Cathay configuration nearly completely in order to get the orders built quickly. Granted there were a few exceptions (first 8 vs 6) one lav forward of the 1L door instead of 2), but there were fairly close.

    Cathay 777-300ers were configured for ULR flying and although AA tried that (e.g. DFW-HKG), they really now mostly use them on shorter LHR routes (SYD excepted). The ‘tightening’ of the configuration at the 10 year mark (when the mid life refreshes happen) makes sense given how low density these planes are and how they are now primarily used. We can complain about a lot, but the number of bathrooms in the premium (read Business) cabin seem fine to me…and since I’m not a flight attendant, it doesn’t impact me that the Purser no longer has access to a big closet (except I guess when I can’t hang up my suit jacket).

    I think this rationalization makes sense and it frankly borders on ‘nothing to see here.’

30. Why doesn’t American just say screw you to passengers. Especially ones in Coach.

31. They must serve these aircraft configurators cans of sardines at lunch each day.

32. @A Ken:

    You can trash your own barf bag. No flight attendant in their right mind should be handling yours or anyone else’s bodily fluids. Get up and trash it, 9r sit with it during your flight. What a pig you are.