Days after United Airlines added service from Orange County to Honolulu, American Airlines is adding new premium transcontinental service between Orange County (SNA) and New York (JFK) aboard the luxurious Airbus A321T.
American Airlines Adds A321 Premium Transcontinental Route Between SNA And JFK
Orange County is an affluent enclave of Southern California that encompasses many beautiful seaside cities including Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine. John Wayne Airport (also known as Santa Ana or Orange County) is limited by its short runway, but is centrally located off I-405 and an extremely easy airport to park and navigate.
Just last week, United Airlines announced new daily service between Orange County and Honolulu, Hawaii. American Airlines has now responded by not only adding new service between Orange County and New York JFK, but utilizing its premium-heavy Airbus A321T.
The aircraft includes:
- 10 first class seats
- 20 business class seats
- 72 economy seats
- including 36 Main Cabin Extra (extra legroom)
> Read More: American Airlines A321T Review
As I’ll argue in a subsequent post, I would have thought Burbank (BUR) would be a more appropriate route than Orange County, but I do expect this will be a popular flight. However, I also predict this will be a good flight for elite upgrades. Even with only one flight per day, I am not convinced that
Service will begin on June 2, 2021 and run year-around. American Airlines has not announced the schedule of the new flight. Being a more leisure-influenced market, I would expect a morning departure from Orange County and evening return from New York.
Should the new route be a success, we might see a redeye from Orange County and morning return from New York.
CONCLUSION
American’s new A321 route between JFK and SNA will be a great test to see if offering a premium product will stimulate premium demand. Expect attractive introductory prices ones the fares are loaded into the system over the weekend.
Are you excited to see American Airlines serve Orange County with an A321T?
While preparing for your BUR post, some points to mull over for inclusion:
*B6 has been flying to BUR since 2005, and at one point tried BUR-MCO thinking it’d capture Disney employees, but that soon failed
*At its peak around 2007/2008, B6 ran 5 daily BUR-JFK flights
*pre-pandemic B6 was flying an A321 in the all-core config – if Mint was viable here, it’s likely they would’ve flown a Mint A321 to BUR before cities like PSP
*I’m partial to BUR (I know you are, too) but is that a viable airport right now due to the pandemic? B6 has cut all JFK/BOS-BUR flights and other carriers have pulled back service (i.e. DL ATL-BUR)
*What’s the catering situation at BUR? Unlikely that an A321T could be double catered due to space, and is the lack of a catering kitchen in BUR an issue (or would Gate Gourmet LAX cover?) – I know at one point B6 was having Mint catering for their PSP flights trucked in from SAN.
I think another reason why they won’t do Burbank, is they don’t have any admiral club there. The one at SNA is extremely weak, but they still have a club there, and they are going to offer valet and curb side drop off to make the first class service in line with what lax has. (in this sense this is better than lax) while no fancy lounge, most people will probably get there a hour before their flight drop off the car with the valet and check in and head right over to the gate. Probably very little time waiting at the lounge, if any.
Matthew, you in SoCal should know that south OC (Irvine, etc) is home to many corporations including large global headquarters and regional campuses. This is the home of many biotechnology, Med device, and pharmaceutical companies as well as consumer and automotive companies and their associated advertising agencies and supporting businesses. This flight is more business focused than you think…. more publicly traded headquarters are near SNA than BUR, not to mention US hq campuses of other large companies. It also captures the huge biotech and medical businesses in North San Diego county. Many people will drive slightly farther in less traffic through Pendleton in less time than to SAN. This is a smart move.
I sure hope this new route is a success.
all i can say is goooooood luck to AA with that. Prior to this, even DL struggled on its JFK-SNA, always kinda on, then kinda off, in some tick tock fashion. meanwhile, UA keep cruising along with its 3x daily SNA-EWR.
One of those most amazing stories on how 3 airlines at JFK, *collectively*, can’t even match the EWR rival, let alone beat it. Demand is there else UA wont be flying 3x daily for nothing on such a long route with LAX right up the road.
And they tell us premium fliers prefer JFK.
Personally, I am wondering what on the ground experience they will offer. At least in pre pandemic times, Biz had access to the Flagship lounge + First had access to Flagship Dining. SNA just has a small Admirals Club. Although, perhaps the draw will be arriving to the airport with ~ 1 hr to boarding (or even less), like BUR.
I think the biggest ground perk to this flight will be the lack of one! I can see them pitching arriving at the airport 20 minutes before a flight: Pull up, get the car valeted, fast track through security, and walk straight on the plane.
Without special assistance, arriving an hour before a flight there is the standard, though you can push that especially if you aren’t checking bags. There are rarely any lines of significance at security. Parking is a complete breeze, OR an Uber is affordable from nearly any area of the county and drop off is easy. Also, the terminals are so easy to navigate.
This whole experience will rely on speed. I’ll be really interested to see how they price it.
Could a UA 757 with lie flat make it on the runway? I’ve always been surprised no one else has flown it SNA/NYC. As a 1K I rarely get an upgrade since people pay for first and economy is usually 100+ more than lax
Yeah. A 757 is the largest plane that can service SNA, though it doesn’t happen on a regular basis. I think the last one that landed there was Trump in October when he landed there in a C-32, which is the military equivalent of a 757. Though, interestingly, when he was campaigning in OC prior to his election in 2016, his personal 757 landed at LGB, despite the event being in Costa Mesa. Not sure why that decision was made, but it was.
UA hasn’t flown any 757 to SNA in 3 years. Before that it was 4 times in 2018 and 2 times in 2017 nothing in 2016. So they are probably not going to be bringing back that aircraft there ever again. The 757 for united at SNA was always active till 2015.
Wow!!
Great news!
Love AMERICANS A321T.
LUXURY!
Flew Delta’s old 767. Dated and Warnock!
Way to go AA!