American Airlines Flight

[Claire M]

I will rule out the Manchester flight!

Claire

[Katys Grandad]

Very wise I think!

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Claire M
I will rule out the Manchester flight!

Claire
[/quote]

Good move!!![msnwink]

[Robert5988]

Although there has been no official announcement, I have been told that starting from March this year American Airlines are to reduce the seat pitch(legroom) on all their domestic and international flights to 32 inches. I had this confirmed verbally by AA on the phone.

I know for many of us the extra legroom - “more room in coach” – was the main, if not only, reason for flying with AA. It will make their flights a lot less attractive.

[Robert5988]

The AA Manchester - Boston route operated last year and I used the route twice. It operates in the summer only - May to October and then is replaced by the Manchester - Miami route for the winter. I contacted AA and they said there were provisional plans to make this an all year service - but it hasn't yet happened.

The 757 is Coach Class only, and as Katys Grandad said it 3-3 configuration with a 6 rows of 2-2 configuration at the front; i.e USA domestic configuration.

Early last year AA reduced the seat pitch on the 757 for internal flights, but did not do so on the 757 used last summer on this transatlantic route(it was one of the "more room in coach planes")However I am told that starting from March AA are going to reduce the legroom on all domestic and international flights to 32 inches. - See separate post.

The 757 has the old drop down screens(on domestic flights as well) - but then so does their 767 used on the Manchester to Miami and Manchester to Chicago route.

As for unsuitable. Well the 757 is used on the direct East to West coast flights in America. Manchester to Boston is only about 40 mins more flying time than, say, Boston to Los Angeles.

Personally I found the short flights outweighed any other disadvantage - it took only 5 hours on one return trip - and I have already booked for May on this route and will be using it a couple of times more this summer.

[Katys Grandad]

Robert

I would agree that the short flight time is a big plus and a 5 hour transatlantic crossing is something that appeals to me. However, if the seat pitch is changed as you have said, an overnight in fairly cramped surroundings won't be much fun.

Because I happen to know that you are a practised user of the AA Advantage scheme, can I ask whether you flew home in the 3-3 seats or managed to get yourself in the front?

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I would agree that the short flight time is a big plus and a 5 hour transatlantic crossing is something that appeals to me. However, if the seat pitch is changed as you have said, an overnight in fairly cramped surroundings won't be much fun.

KG

Because I happen to know that you are a practised user of the AA Advantage scheme, can I ask whether you flew home in the 3-3 seats or managed to get yourself in the front?[/

I am lucky enough to be able to book the front 2 - 2 seats in advance which is why I like that route. It also means that I don't have to use up my miles on upgrades; or of course pay the new US$250 co-pay to upgrade.

However I wouldn't have thought that the seats will be any more cramped in the 3 - 3 configuration than any other future AA flights; or for that matter any of the other major transatlantic operators. A seat pitch of 32" is slightly better than some of the others.

Robert