When I toured the brand new American Airlines Airbus A321XLR, which just debuted flying New York JFK – Los Angeles and will eventually fly transatlantic, I shared that the business class suite doors are locked in place and do not close because they aren’t yet certified by the FAA.
A reader shares that American is proactively notifying passengers booked in business class on this aircraft about the limitation, and compensating with 5,000 AAdvantage miles.
One additional wrinkle with the business class seats on the plane is that the TV blocks service by flight attendants and cabin crew have been instructed that TVs must be stowed in order to serve drinks, snacks and meals.
Indeed, FAs have been instructed:
“• For your safety and the safety of our customers, do not serve over or under the BC video screen if it is pulled out.. Kindly ask the customer to close it while serving them” https://t.co/mq3qGmILNN
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) December 18, 2025
This is a gorgeous aircraft. It makes the most of the limited space of a narrowbody plane.
Business class suites are tight. They face away from the windows, so your back is against the window and you look into the aisle. Business is a real improvement over the A321T that American has been using on cross-country routes, though I’d prefer first class on that aircraft (which American will no longer be offering), even without the doors, over the new business.
Premium economy is a real improvement over what American has been flying for years – a thoughtfully designed and attractive seat, with real foot rests (not just a foot bar). That’s probably the sweet spot.
Economy is attractive, but there’s almost no extra legroom seating (just exit rows and bulkhead). And you want to avoid row 25, which has no window. I’ll miss coach on the A321T, though, because of all the extra legroom seats it offered, and because standard coach seats had greater pitch, too.
The lavatories are tiny – domestic standard. There’s only one for business class, and premium economy is supposed to use the three at the rear of coach.
The plan is for American to use this plane first on premium cross-country routes: filling out the schedule to replace the Airbus A321T on New York JFK – San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Orange County and Boston – Los Angeles.
There’s also talk of “more transcon” routes that American might add. I’d love to see New York JFK to Las Vegas and San Diego, and Washington National to Los Angeles.
The first transatlantic route it will fly is New York JFK – Edinburgh. They plan to add secondary cities in France, Germany, the U.K., and Spain and Miami and Dallas to South America (presumably secondary cities like in northern Brazil).
I’m not an AA-shill, but… you said it right there, Gary: “they aren’t yet certified by the FAA”… ok, so, they ‘can’ close, but, they aren’t ‘allowed’ to, yet. What’s going on with all the pearl-clutching here?
The doors are certified. The problem is the FAA wants another FA on the minimum required crew to be able to use them.
The same thing happened at B6 with their XLR, they locked the doors instead of crewing another FA.
And, to those who think ‘lie-flat’ isn’t good-enough for them (because ‘ahh, there’s a door! eeek, a TV screen!’)… friends, buddies, pals, please do feel free to enjoy that Oasis ‘recliner’ or ‘MCE’ on a redeye or 5+ hour flight without IFE screens and paid WiFi… because, you know, if it’s ‘paid’ then Gary can get all the bandwidth while you peasants can ‘deal with(out) it.’ *rant*
I don’t understand the novelty in the door closing anyway. Anyone standing up can still see right into the “suite” so that kind of defeats the privacy of having the door closed
@Humdrum — Just because you don’t ‘understand’ doesn’t mean it isn’t a ‘nice’ thing. (Next, tell us how ‘locks’ on doors at home are ‘worthless’ because if burglars want to get in, they’ll find a way anyway… *facepalm*)
So, to sum up:
Overall Passenger Experience: A321T > A321XLR
Cargo: 321XLR > 321T
Also weren’t they giving 10k miles on the 787P for the doors?
I guess the waist-high doors could prevent wandering street urchins from entering the cramped cuddy, where they’d surely relieve you of your pocket watch and guineas. Until then, beware of this terrible hazard. And your double whiskey sour and slightly mashed potatoes can only be delivered to you if you kindly smoosh the soon to be half-broken and useless tv arm back into its cubby.
Ill forgo these bizarre punishment chambers in BC, and enjoy the impressively luxurious, spacious ‘premium economy’ thrones on my LAX-JFK trip next month, instead.
Am I missing something, or do the doors only prevent emotional support dogs from seeing into the pod?
@XLR – That is factually incorrect. AA is already staffing the aircraft with one more FA than would otherwise be required, in line with the FAA requirement for having doors. Staffing isn’t the problem; certification is.
What are they providing those folks who are not AAvantage members?
Did AA even try to get some passenger feedback on the proposed layout of the business class suite before adopting it? Who wants to sit in a seat with their back to the window and can’t be served a drink while watching the TV ??
I’ve, of course, have not been on this plane. But, having 4 lavs for 155 pax is certainly better than 4 lavs for 196 pax on the regular 321s. And, as an aisle person, I’d be quite happy to sit in 25 C or D knowing A or F can’t open a shade at a “bad time.” The aisle facing suites with the video screen issue is unfortunate, but May have been a necessary compromise. Given my travel trends, my only chance to see this is if I fly AA across the Atlantic. And, I’d only give it a try when there are no US to destination widebodies and it saves me a connection at a European hub.
AA certified this already with +1 minimum crew. 5, so what’s the issue?
What a disaster AA. Moving the TV screen every time I get a refill or food, etc. is bad enough but now others are reporting theTV has to be stowed during the entire meal service??
They should take out one row (3 seats) on one side of coach. That would allow for about 27-30 additional ”main cabin extra” seats.
Just flew this aircraft and beyond dissatisfied. As a loyalist and one of many EXP’s i think i speak for all of us in saying this is a major downgrade from the A321T. Cabin feels crammed. Crews are rightfully frustrated and this is a downgrade for this premium route. I know a lot of EXP’s are unhappy and quite frankly this makes many of us question using AA on this route versus the competitors who are stepping up not down. AA used to be the best offering on this route. Sad to see it lose this position. I will enjoy the A321T before it retires and im sure once it does many of us will walk away from this route on AA. A real bad call by management and someone should be held accountable for this disaster.