American Airlines has started flying its newly retrofitted Airbus A319 with 12 first class seats instead of 8—and it got there without removing any coach seats. The result is visible in a new back-galley photo: flight attendants say there’s nowhere to stand or work, and they end up in the aisle while passengers queue for the lavatory.
The airline has started modifying their Airbus A319s – the smallest of their mainline jets – to have an additional row of first class. Currently there are just two rows with 8 first class seats total. That’s going up to 3 rows with 12 first class seats total. American hasn’t had enough premium seats to sell, and that’s hurt their ability to generate revenue.
They’re adding a row of first class but they aren’t taking out any coach seats to do it. They’re just squeezing in more seats.
The A319s that had been ordered by American Airlines before being taken over by US Airways management had seat back TV screens. These new, densified planes are having those seat back screens removed removed as part of the retrofit.
It’s passenger legroom that gets squeezed, and it’s lavatory and flight attendant work space. To make more room for the additional seats, two lavatories are being moved to where galley space used to be at the back of the aircraft.
They’re even putting a flight attendant jumpseat on one of the lavatory doors to make room (breaking a promise made by ex-CEO Doug Parker never to do this).
American Airlines has received the first retrofitted Airbus A319 and they placed it in service last month. That’s aircraft N9002U. What’s interesting is first-hand cabin crew reports of actually working on this plane. As one flight attendant puts it, they have “has nowhere to go other than stand in the aisle with all the other passengers looking to use the toilet.”
United Airlines operates Airbus A319s, and has 12 first class seats. The way they got there is with one fewer row of coach. And United is known for tight seating outside of its extra-legroom section. Delta seats on the A319, however, are just as tight.
This pivot to premium just keeps getting better and better.
Note to all you “little people” flight attendants are included in the new broad view of general population unwashed masses: “ You will have nothing, and you will enjoy it”.
@Mike Hunt — More like pivot to pee-mium…
It’s American. Whaddya expect?
She’s in the jumpseat. So it’s either take-off, landing, turbulence or deadheading. A non-issue here.
A day doesn’t go by with flight attendants having something to bitch about.
So they matched Delta….Big deal
“They’re even putting a flight attendant jumpseat on one of the lavatory doors to make room (breaking a promise made by ex-CEO Doug Parker never to do this).”
That’s ok, DUI Dougie also promised that AA would “never lose money again,” so I guess they’re even.
@Coffee Please — Well, maybe if you stopped bothering them… *wink*
A race to the bottom and.lower if possible
It’s tied with Americans customer relations Mission do nothing give back nothing for a dehumanizing experience
So they’ll have to do something other than hiding in the galley now?
The bathroom on Airbus 319 are alarmingly small. Whatever happened to oversight by the government of crappie like this. Just flew on Delta’s a319 and will never fly again.
This isn’t a race to the bottom. Sadly, UA’s new A321’s have this exact setup. It’s terrible. The restroom at the front of Economy has the toilet paper on the ground, and the two restrooms in the galley creates a total cluster. With nowhere for the two FAs to go.
Ridiculous
One, this is very dangerous for the flight attendants they can get hurt really bad!!!! Two , what idiot designed this crap. How are people going to get out in an emergency it’s to packed. Very uncomfortable for the passengers as well as the flight attendants. Again corporate America only thinking of themselves and profits. This is wrong and people need to stand up to this!!!! Very disappointed in the FAA.
@Joe D that’s basically the definition of race to the bottom.
It appears many commentors failed to read the last sentence in the article. Just like Delta, Isn’t this what people wanted?
Gary, you have beaten this horse to death. Checkout Deltas AEROLOPA layout. It’s the same, but reversed the aft galley. The FAs can stand by the opposite door.
@1990 STFU
American has the worst amenities of any American airline. I won’t fly them unless they are literally the only way to get there.
@MikeyB so the FAs are to stand, the entire flight, right next to that public toilet you just shat in? Btw when your poop particles land in the ice drawer in that galley you prob won’t taste it
What US Airways did to this once great airline is an abomination. Why anyone would choose them over pretty much any other carrier is beyond me. RIP.
To Brent. The asshole that made the comment stating the “unwashed masses” . Why do so many affluent people put their foot in their mouths on a regular basis. Your insults to the coach passengers says a lot about you. You are not above anyone on the plane and your insecurities are most evident. Why be stupid enough to put your feelings in writing for the world to see. I hope that you go broke. Your comments are vile. Just like you!
To clarify, UA’s A319’s and A320’s have a mixed configuration. The older original UA ones have one lavatory next to the galley (similar to the new A321’s) and one right behind the last row.
The newer (former china southern and leased) A319/A320’s have the more traditional configuration of two lavatories right behind the last row. Ship 4871 and higher as well as 4901/4902.
That’s Isom and his yes buddy Seymour. Horrible guidance and vision for American. Do the flight attendants open and close the door for tips? Cramming passengers even more cramped together. Those two need to go!
People are missing something. The last row of seats are often blocked for the FAs and only released by the airport if there are no overspill of pax/ non+revs. Most flights I see go out with a few empty seats. So the FAs block these last row seats with bags and have a great crew rest on several flights per day. Not always but often. Just saying…..