American Airlines is putting an additional row of first class into its Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. They’re about the start work on the prototype A319. They expect to retrofit the first group of planes in the fall – the ones due for heavy maintenance checks – and then will proceed with the ones that only need cabin interior work. That’s according to aviation watchdog JonNYC.
Prototype for the 32 legacy American 319s starts next week. They'll do the overhaul during heavy visits in the fall. Then the cabin only visits start in winter.
320s will come after that.
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) July 9, 2025 at 2:19 PM
LUS 319s coming last since they got the new interiors after the merger
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) July 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Jon says that the legacy American Airlines A319s will get new interiors first ‘because the legacy US Airways 319s got new interiors after the merger’ – they were configured like the American planes, but without seatback entertainment screens.
Legacy American Airlines Airbus A319 First Class, With Just 8 Seats And Entertainment Screens
Going first with the A319s that American had in its fleet before the merger means ripping out the last seatback TVs that remain in the airline’s standard domestic aircraft. That’s sad.
It’s also notable that American will be adding a third row of first class to its Airbus A319s, and a fourth row to Airbus A320s (these are all ex-US Airways planes, some that date to America West), but they will not be removing any coach seats in order to do it. On the A319s 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.
American has been talking about adding first class seats for four years. It looks like it is finally going to happen. And it needs to happen – American has limited its revenue potential without enough first class seats to sell to passengers. It’s not that upgrades are tough on these planes – buying first class can be tough on many routes. However they may have forgotten that most of heir customers are in coach, and that product will get stuffier.
I thought they were adding TVs not removing them?!
I’ll miss the small 8 seat first class cabin. It means a much higher percentage to get PDBs and better service versus F20 on a 321. Of course it was only a matter of time before the last of the screens would be ripped out.
This is laughable. The quality of AA’s product is moving relentlessly lower and lately they have been pricing flights I looked at, higher than competitors. And now they’re going to add more “premium” seating.
Well at least EXP’s will have a better chance of not getting their upgrade bumped by a deadheading pilot.
Well, an extra row of First is nice.
@Daniel — Seriously, this is a hill I’ll die on: IFE is a good thing, even if you, personally, don’t use it. There are pro-AA hawks on here that keep trying to pitch BYOD as ‘premium.’ It ain’t.
@George Romey — Thank you for the special attention to PDBs. What would we do without that G&T or Jake & Coke while the peasants fight for overhead space in the back…. /s
Are coach customers really customers though, or just cattle you move around to sell FF miles?
On IFE, I’ll accept the loss of seatback screens as long as a movie I don’t really want to see is projected on the bulkhead wall at the front of the cabin, or maybe on smaller screens that drop down from the bottom of the baggage bins..
Seriously though, I’m OK with BYOD as long as it’s coupled with solid charging options and solid WiFi interface to the plane’s server. In my experience, neither of those things happen in practice.
@Christopher J Raehl — Yeehaw. Apparently, best AA can do is charge for WiFi that works less than half the time. Take it or leave it.
The proud inauguration of the latest variant/sequel from a vaunted lineage.. “Project O-I-ACHE-sis !”
Is there any rationale why they need six jump seats for FAs on the 319?
BYOD vs IFE. My stance is simple. With IFE people who prefer utilizing seatback screens can use them and those that prefer BYOD can BYOD. I very much prefer IFE as it’s just a lot easier to use and does not get in the way on the tray table when I am eating or when I want to do some stuff on a laptop.
Back then when AA (among others) made the original decision to remove seat back screens the savings were significant due to the weight of those screens. Now they are much lighter.
@1999 no PDB in a “premium cabin” when that is the airlines service standard leaves Parker very unamused, especially what I’ve paid for that premium seat and it’s not an UG.
I really hate autocorrect. Makes me sounds more like a fool than I normally sound.
I wish Delta would remove screens, I don’t enjoy seeing a different movie at every seat around me, many of them completely inappropriate. The only good reason to have a screen provided is to let me use it as an external monitor, and to my knowledge, no airline had yet thought of doing that.
@Parker — I’ve learned to ‘stop worrying and love the (autocorrect).’ More more…Yee-hawww! (Dr. Strangelove, anyone?)
American removing the last of its seat-back screens? As a passenger, I’m not pleased. As a shareholder, I’m not pleased. As a person trying to schedule 3 vacations within the next 11 months, this is good info. I need to make more of an effort to buy better experiences, not just the cheapest seats.
The seatback display makes up for MANY other seating discomforts. Can’t imagine why American thinks removing the TV screens is an improvement. What a disaster.
@1990 I agree.
I didn’t think it’s a big deal until I traveled on AA on a couple of flights two years ago. It was torture.
My theory is that with IFE AND free Wi-Fi the cattle class passengers (I’m mostly in that class) are entertained, distracted and otherwise kept subdued to have a positive experience for them and overall easier to manage for the crew. Why wouldn’t you do it.
No one doesn’t have a phone or tablet and the IFE screens I’ve encountered lately need poor quality wired ear buds and have scratched screens and poor quality picture. Give me a device holder and USB-a/c port any day. Also, increase under seat space (ever try to get a back under a seat in coach on DL). AA’s Viasat 2 system is almost Starlink fast now and along with Live TV and onboard programing most domestic flight entertainment is at my finger tips on my device and with noise cancelling earbuds.
Time to let go of the past and move forward, better quality and sound with my own device then any airline supplied 3×3 screens. United is going the wrong way and DL will spends millions fixing their outdated systems. Asia, Europe, Australia and other parts of the world are investing in highspeed connectivity to the passenger’s device. Rather have more FC seats and fewer screens and under seat boxes for more space and comfort.
So 154 seats on the 320?…I’m sure it chaps their hide though that they will be required to a 4th FA on them. Maybe they’ll ask for a waiver from the FAA.
good
I’m never on a domestic flight longer than 3 hours, and typically have half that. I usually “save” some Netflix series to have already downloaded on my tablet for a trip. I watch some at airports and the rest in the air. If they have something to stream that interests me, and I otherwise can’t access, I’ll call an audible. Bottom line for me is IFE is nice domestically, essential across oceans.
Folks, I think AA just lost @Lindy. Maybe, the ole Jedi Mind Trick would help: ‘you don’t want (IFE)… you want to go home and (book with AA anyway).’ Episode 2 anyone? @L737?
@IsaacM — Exactly. I think this is where Delta and jetBlue shine. Delta now has IFE and free WiFi on most aircraft (sorry CRJ, ERJ, 717s). JetBlue has free WiFi on most of its, and was one of the first to do the IFE screens with live TV (they’ve had it for decades!) United is catching up on IFE, but hasn’t managed the free WiFi as much. AA has basically ditched both ideas, which is wild for all the reasons you mentioned. It’s really only folks that remember air travel in the 90s and earlier (smoke-filled aircraft and all) that just had newspapers practically who can ‘live’ with the AA-lacking model.
@sunviking82 — Ah, one of those ‘less is more’ types, but in reality, more is actually more when it comes to IFE screens and actual Free WiFi. C’mon.
@This comes to mind — Never longer than 3 hours?! You practically don’t ever have to use the lavatories either! Impressive.
Damn corporate crooks. Risking flight attendants safety. This is wrong. I feel bad for the passangers also.
@Lamont — Look on the bright side, that one lucky FA (on the lav door) gets to face forward at least… /s
I believe that AA times everything perfectly wrong, and we’re about to enter a period where customers want to forgo first class, and would rather settle for a solid coach product.
Yea the IFE thing sucks but it is what it is. My sympathy is for anyone over 5″7 and more than 140lbs trying to use those “space flex” bathrooms. They should have a disclosure advising NPO 12 hours before your flight in Y.
The headline is misleading. Seatback IFE is only disappearing on the 319’s which serve mainly domestic and some near-in international. The 321XLR will still have seatback IFE when it replaces the 321T on transcons. It has been my observation that most, not all, passengers can stream content on their phones or ipads. Its worth remembering seat back entertainment has two big problems. First, IFE isn’t utilized by everyone and at off peak hours, when people are sleeping. Its a lot of weight to be carrying around, requiring more fuel burn. Secondly, its often broken on planes that do have it. For those who can’t stream content on their phones, AA is launching free wifi in January so that will keep people occupied.
Regarding the FA jumpseat, its important to look at the competition. UA has already installed the spaceflex galley with the seat on the lavatory door on their 320 fleet. Sure it isn’t loved, but these planes serve a mission which is mainly short haul, under 2 hours. The added door jumpseat is a spare that is used by commuters. Its a minor inconvenience to FA’s who have to work around PAX trying to do yoga in the galley.
More than UA or DL, AA is better at gaslighting its customers when it comes to customer experiences. When they removed the seatback entertainment systems from most of their narrow-body fleets, they repeatedly stated that it was only a result of listening to customer feedback. I know not all passengers use built-in IFE, but I have never heard any customer asking airlines to remove that option.
@Steve – I can’t imagine they will go to 154 on an A320. Likely add a row or two of MCE and keep it at 150.
@Pat — “customers want to forgo first class, and would rather settle for a solid coach product.” Naw, everybody wants lie-flat (at affordable prices.) Think La Compagnie, but for short-haul, NY-FL. That’s what folks ‘want,’ but it certainly isn’t what anyone ‘needs.’
Barry – I heard Ed speak at a Salesforce conference in Chicago. I think it was 2 years ago. He said they’re working to make it so that you can use the screens as an external monitor for your phone.
@Tvjames — If so, I’m sure that won’t be abused… (sounds like an unlimited content unlock for Gary’s blog)
DJ
the same tired IFE argument is incessantly been made by AA fans.
The simple fact is that 2/3 or more of DL and B6 domestic passengers use AVOD even if only for the moving map. The ratio is similar on UA equipped AVOD aircraft.
and the most advanced seatback AVOD systems such as DL has on multiple fleets are tablet based wireless systems that only need power from the seat. They are not heavy and do not impede customer space any more.
and you can still stream DL’s content on your own device if you wish.
AVOD is a choice to use – but it is there for those that want it. If there is no AVOD, you have no choice.
Re: extra jump seats… I consider it a treat tossed to the FAs. The 319 flies into a lot of smaller cities with fewer frequencies. With crew members living all over the country and commuting to base and home, they will have less stress commuting with a couple extra jump seats available. Though they will lose their valuable sanctuary space with passengers moving in and out of their former space.
Aaah yes… Cramming more seats in, reducing pitch, and calling that a premium product… Honestly, this is why I believe there needs to be government intervention to set a minimum pitch for each class of service. By the time the airlines are done cramming more seats in, we will all be in standing positions with handles over our heads (like in a subway), dry humping the passengers around us.