Why I prefer flying wide-body planes when traveling cross-country
Though now's not the time to travel, it hopefully won't be too long until we (safely) get back in the air again.
And once travel restarts, odds are that we'll be taking many more domestic trips than usual , before venturing abroad. That's one of the reasons we are running more flight reviews focused on domestic products.
Right before the coronavirus halted travel, I made a trip to the West Coast to attend the grand opening of the Amex Centurion Lounge at LAX. I reviewed United's Polaris product on the Boeing 787-10 on the way there, and American's Flagship First on the Airbus A321T on the return (both publishing next week).
Though I'll have a full comparison of these two products (along with JetBlue Mint) publishing shortly, there's one thing that I preferred about flying United, and it was the plane type.
Specifically, I much prefer flying on wide-body aircraft than single-aisle jets. And here's why.
For more travel tips and news, sign up for our daily newsletter
Cutting-edge hard product
In general, airlines reserve their best products for wide-body planes. That's because the jets are capable of flying a carrier's top-traffic, long-haul routes. Plus, there's much more space available to install industry-leading products.
Delta and United are the two carriers that regularly fly the Boeing 767, 777 and 787 on the premium routes between New York and Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Related: Ultimate guide to United Polaris
In business class, each seat features direct aisle access, as well as a more private and spacious version of biz compared to flying on a narrow-body like the Boeing 757.
American and JetBlue fly only one plane type across the coasts — the Airbus A321. I definitely prefer this narrow-body plane to its chief competitor, the Boeing 737, but the comforts available on a wide-body far outweigh those of the A321.
(Note that AA is the only carrier to fly a true first-class product cross-country, so if you're looking for the best way to fly commercially in America, you'll be flying Flagship First on the A321T.)
Better coach experience
Though it'd be great if we could all enjoy the lie-flat seats up front, most passengers will find themselves in coach. And the economy experience on a Boeing 787 is generally much better than that on an A321.
For one, there are many more aisle seats compared to a single-aisle jet. On an A321, there's an equal distribution of aisles, middles and windows. On a 787, there are many more aisles, then middles and finally windows.
Related: The best and worst transcon economy seats
More overhead space and volume
As the names imply, a wide-body is much larger than a narrow-body jet.
That's great for those who frequently need to gate check their bags since wide-bodies have much more overhead storage space.
Additionally, I personally feel much less claustrophobic on a twin-aisle plane. The added volume in the cabin makes me feel more comfortable and enhances my perception of personal space.
Two aisles compared to one
When you're flying for five-plus hours across the country, you're definitely going to want to stretch your legs and move about the cabin.
On a narrow-body, you've got just one aisle and a small galley at the back of the plane in which to stretch. There's always so much foot traffic in these single-aisle planes that moving around can feel like you're playing a game of human Tetris.
Wide-bodies have two aisles. Yes, they have more passengers as well, but at least there's another aisle in which to walk around. Plus, the galleys and lavatories on these twin-aisle jets are typically a bit larger than their single-aisle counterparts, making them much more comfortable overall.
Novelty
As an aviation enthusiast (follow my Instagram for all my pics!), I find that there's something special about getting on a twin-aisle plane.
Most run-of-the-mill domestic flights are operated by narrow-bodies, and I like to change it up from time-to-time. Getting a chance to fly a wide-body domestically is a privilege to me.
Related: American to retire 100 more planes early amid pandemic
Also, as the industry recovers from the coronavirus, odds are that we're going to see many fewer domestic flights operated by wide-bodies. During the pandemic, we've seen American Airlines retire a lot of its international fleet. The carrier previously used these wide-bodies for many domestic flights, but now that they've been retired, AA will probably be flying many more Oasis 737s with dense seating layouts on routes that used to feature the Boeing 767.
Bottom line
If faced with the choice, I'm on team wide-body.
You'll typically enjoy a better hard product in biz, an improved coach experience and more overhead space. Plus, when it's time to head to the lavatory, the two aisles on a wide-body help ease the congestion.
And finally, if you're an AvGeek like me, you'll enjoy the novelty of flying some of the biggest planes on domestic routes.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.