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American Airlines Will Have Lie-Flat Business Class Seats on All of Its 757s by the End of 2019
JT Genter
Contributor
JT is a location-independent digital nomad traveling 250,000+ miles each year with his wife Katie.
Jan. 29, 2019
•
4 min read
American Airlines Will Have Lie-Flat Business Class Seats on All of Its 757s by the End of 2019
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Over the past two years, American Airlines' management has been obsessed with fleet simplification -- from retiring older aircraft types (like the MD-80) to ditching smaller aircraft types (Embraer E190s) and "harmonizing" aircraft seat arrangements on all of its other aircraft.
Indeed, simplification was a significant reason behind American Airlines cancelling its Airbus A350 order and doubling-down on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in its place. AA's goal is to reduce its aircraft types and unique seating arrangements from 52 different sub-fleets to just 30 sub-fleets by 2022.
This should help the airline when it comes to aircraft scheduling, strategic placement of spare aircraft and easier swap-ins when there are mechanical or crew issues. From "seat harmonization" alone, airline management has told investors that it expects to achieve at least $500 million per year in benefits to the bottom line.
While these changes may eventually lead to smoother operations for passengers, this initiative has been bad news for the passenger experience so far:
- 12 more seats are being crammed into hundreds of Boeing 737-800s to match the 172-seat arrangement of AA's 737 MAX through a project called "Project Oasis"
- 3 to 9 more seats are being added into existing A321s to "harmonize" both the legacy American Airlines (181 seats) and legacy US Airways (187 seats) at 190 seats to match AA's new A321neo
- 8 business class seats were ripped out of some Boeing 777-200 to standardize the seating arrangement at 37 business class seats
- 8 business class seats are being removed from all Boeing 787-8 aircraft
However, there's one upcoming fleet simplification that is moderately flyer-friendly. An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed to TPG this week: AA is retiring all 10 of its Boeing 757 aircraft that don't have lie-flat business class seats.
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Currently American Airlines has 34 Boeing 757-200 aircraft split into two sub-fleets. 24 Boeing 757s were retrofitted with lie-flat business class seats to operate on transatlantic and other intercontinental routes. The remaining 10 aircraft weren't retrofit, leaving these with standard "domestic first class" recliner seats up front. Since then, these 10 have been relegated to operating flights to Hawaii.
Now, AA has decided to retire all 10 of these Hawaii sub-fleet in 2019. This is a slight acceleration from the previous plan to retire these aircraft in 2020. The remaining 24 Boeing 757s with lie-flat business class seats are expected to remain in the fleet through at least 2021.
I've had a hunch that something was brewing with these aircraft. Over the past year, American Airlines has undergone a Wi-Fi revolution, installing high-speed satellite-based Wi-Fi on more than 700 of its mainline fleet so far. However, each time I've checked with AA for an update, the Gogo 2Ku retrofits on the 757s have been stalled at just five of the 10 in the Hawaii fleet.
With the acceleration of these aircraft retirements, it makes sense that AA wouldn't invest in a costly Wi-Fi retrofit just before offloading them.
What's going to replace these 757s on flights to Hawaii? An internal aircraft document was leaked online in December noting that American Airlines' new Airbus A321neo "will fly PHX to Hawaii as it replaces retiring Boeing 757s, and also from LAX to Hawaii." So, passengers flying to Hawaii on these routes still won't have lie-flat seats. However, passengers will know for sure that they're getting a lie-flat seat when booking a 757 and a recliner seat when booking an A321.
Check out TPG's reviews of both economy and business class on the international Boeing 757s:
Featured image by JT Genter
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.