Jul 23 2018

Airlines could schedule longer ground time for aircraft, but that’s expensive. I’m not sure that’s how I’d most want them to invest in passenger experience since it would ultimately mean buying more planes for the same flight schedule. Ultimately I’m just glad they clean the planes at all.

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Jul 22 2018

A week ago I wrote about American’s super gross ‘barbecue chicken sandwich’ that they sell in coach. I suggested that for an airline based in Texas this is doubly embarrassing since it doesn’t even constitute barbecue.

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Jul 22 2018

At American’s ‘Crew News’ employee forum on Wednesday a Lima-based flight attendant asked about the airline’s plans to send new aircraft to Lima — the 757s and 767s they’re getting just aren’t reliable. The airline’s CEO Doug Parker began answering by saying “there are challenges with Lima because of the altitude” (although it’s worth noting that British Airways, Air France and KLM all fly Boeing 777s there) but they recognize that the Boeing 767 “doesn’t look like the rest of the airline” in terms of customer experience. Parker has talked in the past about the need to get rid of the Boeing 767s from the fleet although while I think the business class experience is subpar coach is roomier. American Airlines Boeing 767 Business Class The airline ordered 787s which will replace 767s in a…

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Jul 22 2018

This makes awards and upgrades super difficult on the aircraft (awards are nearly impossible now in business class as it is). A 20 passenger business class cabin is a loss of 28% of the business class seats on the aircraft. In contrast United’s Boeing 787-8s have 36 business class seats. British Airways 787-8s have 35 business class seats.

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Jul 22 2018

Recently I saw someone’s comment on my Facebook feed that what you think about American Airlines corresponds directly to whether you fly mostly international business class and premium cabin transcon flights (New York – Los Angeles / San Francisco) or whether most of your travels are on their domestic network. That seems right to me.

American Airlines has made a huge investment in its product — but not where most people sit. Internationally we get good fully lie flat business class seats, better bedding, and better lounges while domestically even in their premium cabin we get less legroom and removal of seat back entertainment. They’re moving seats closer together throughout their aircraft which they say they’re making up for with thinner, less comfortable seats that have less recline.

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