For the final leg of my trip home from Hong Kong, I flew on American Airlines on a “reverse redeye” onboard the A321T in business class from New York to Los Angeles.
American Airlines A321T Reverse Redeye Business Class Review (JFK-LAX)
A “reverse redeye” flight is a flight that departs at night from East to West. Due to time zone differences, the arrival time may be in the early morning hours, as was the case here. I generally like these flights because I can get a decent rest onboard, then go home and sleep some more. Unlike a traditional rest eye, these flights actually extend your overall rest, even if that rest is interrupted between landing and getting to a real bed.
After landing late in New York on Finnair, I had to rush to make my connection to Los Angeles… thankfully at 8:00 pm JFK Terminal 8 was pretty quiet. I breezed through security and was even able to stop at the Admirals Club to use the restroom before boarding (where thankfully, I did not see any dogs).
I shared about this flight shortly after it happened and I’ve also reviewed this particular aircraft many times, but since AA continues to fly it and continues to poorly maintain it, I feel the need to write about it again.
American Airlines 117
Thursday, February 6
Depart: 8:30 PM
Arrive: 11:59 PM
Duration: 06hr, 29min
Distance: 2,475 miles
Aircraft: Airbus A321T
Seat: 9D (“Flagship” Business Class)
I had encountered all sorts of problems on my prior three AA transcontinental flights, including broken power ports, broken seat cushions, and broken IFE systems. Would today be any different?
Nope.
Seat
Business class features 20 B/E Diamond seats in a 2-2 configuration. These seats 20.6 inches wide, have 43 inches of legroom in the upright position, and recline into a lie-flat bed that is 78 inches (6 feet, 6 inches) long.
I was assigned seat 9D but I found someone else in my seat…he was assigned 9C, so I took it…and then I sat down. It felt like one of those easy chairs that your uncle has sat in for decades and there’s a depressed, hallowed out place for his tush. It was late and I was tired, so I did not make the guy across from me switch…who knows, maybe his seat would have been worse and his power port may have been out. Besides, I just intended to eat dinner then sleep.
Unfortunately, I could not sleep. Not because the seat was lumpy, but just because I was jetlagged and wired. Kudos to AA for great bedding on this route, including a soft duvet and pillow, but when you’re jetlagged, sleeping can be very difficult even with the perfect cabin temperature and nice bedding.
In that sense, the fundamental purpose of this flight…to sleep…was a failure.
Service
The service on this flight was particularly poor, though I would not call it hostile.
A flight attendant came through before we pushed back, taking dinner orders, and this dear man was not happy when some folks told him they had not looked at the menu yet. He reminded me of an impatient school teacher scolding his pupils.
This was confirmed when he walked through the cabin after takeoff with linen placemats over his arm, yelling, “Trays out! Trays out! Trays out!”
I looked at my seatmate and we both laughed. Only on AA these days…
When it came to beverages, I asked for club soda and he grabbed a large bottle of sparkling water that was sitting on top of the beverage cart. I (nicely) asked him if he had a can of Canada Dry Club Soda instead and this seemed to annoy him, though he found one without much effort. I dared not ask him for a lime wedge…isn’t that terrible that I was too afraid to ask him for a lime because I feared he might spit in my food?
Food + Drink
Since I was rebooked by Finnair onto this flight at the last minute, I did not order food in advance. Dinner was served after takeoff with four choices:
Service began with a hot towel followed by a beverage and mixed nuts (not warmed…).
The appetizer was fine…green salad and sweet buffalo chicken in a chili sauce with red cabbage slaw…
I ordered pesto grilled chicken served with zucchini, sunburst squash, cilantro jasmine rice, and lemon and herb
beurre blanc sauce. It’s hard to mess up a chicken breast and the sauce was not bad.
And yes, I could not resist an ice cream sundae…AA still does those so well. I had strawberries, caramel, whipped cream, and nuts on mine.
Before landing, a hot cookie was served.
IFE + Wi-Fi
Unable to sleep, I looked for something to watch and decided to watch Matlock (the more recent series with Kathy Bates, not the original Andy Griffith version). Unfortunately, though, the system did not work…the picture and sound were choppy just like a satellite dish during rain. Sadly, I tried other programming too and it found the same problem across the system…another flight, another defect.
I was too tired to work and Wi-Fi was $29.95 anyway…ridiculous when United charges $8 and Delta charges nothing.
Amenity Kit
I didn’t bother to open it, but AA still offers amenity kits on Flagship transcontinental flights in business and first class.
Lavatory
I got up to use the lavatory before landing and was pleased to see that it appeared to be clean.
CONCLUSION
As I’ve said over and over again, American Airlines won’t be trusted with the big things if it cannot get the little things right. All the maintenance issues on this plane really make me question if other corners are being cut. Planes should be clean, seats functional, tray tables wiped, IFE and power ports working. Is that really too much to ask?
And the poor service onboard is really unacceptable. Yelling at passengers like school children to pull their tray tables out could not be more unprofessional.
At least we landed close to on-time in LA and I was soon on my way home…no wait for a gate this time.
@Matthew, I’m curious. Were you eligible for EU261 for the delay/rebooking? If so, who do you file the claim with? AA or AY? If not, was it because you started your trip with CX from HKG?
Bigger issue is how stupid are passengers like your seatmate who can’t figure out his correct seat? You have enough money, status, or miles for this seat but aren’t smart enough, or care enough to sit in the right seat.
As for the FA’s I agree they shouldn’t be scolding customers but one can only imagine how frustrating it is dealing with some of these entitled “elites”. See above guy that can’t even figure out the proper seat.
I assumed that pax had sat in his assigned seat & realized how inadequate/uncomfortable it would be and just hopped over to try it again. Poor choice, however, in not clearing it with the flight crew or at least waiting for boarding to cease. But he played his cards right and got lucky with Matthew’s jet-lagged state … I wouldn’t be so patient and call him out on it .. .. Rude …. or stupid at best for not sitting in his original seat ..,,
The male Nazi AA FA is training to be the next Scott Shoup, the Nazi FA AA that kicks people off AA LHR flights. Seig Heil, Heil Shoup. I am prisoner 43-592056-2
Was not Scott Shoup. Seemed less malicious and more clueless than Shoup.
AA …… Never forget !!
Were you concerned asking for a lime with club soda would invite the FA telling you exactly where to put it?
Yes, I was. And I think for good reason.
How shameful is that?
Considering the valid reports of how dirty much of the fruit we put in drinks is, it’s about one and the same. No thanks!
Did they land safely?
“All the maintenance issues on this plane really make me question if other corners are being cut. Planes should be clean, seats functional, tray tables wiped, IFE and power ports working. Is that really too much to ask?”
I realize you had no choice in flying them on this trip, but is any of that enough to make you reconsider flying them again in the future?