In February 2019, United Airlines announced a fleetwide initiative to add premium cabin seats. That included enlarging the first class cabin on the Airbus A320 from 12 seats to 16 seat. But the first retrofit is now flying and still has 12 seats, with one insider claiming the issue is staffing levels.
Will United Airlines Airbus A320 First Class Cabin Grow To 16 Seats Or Remain at 12 Seats?
United is in the process of retrofitting its entire narrowbody fleet to add seatback screens, mood lighting, and other features to modernize the cabin its calls United Next. Even before that initiative began, United indicated it would increase the number of first class seats on its Airbus jets (from eight to 12 on the A319 and from 12 to 16 on the A320).
While the A319 project is complete (in terms of making all first class cabins 12 seats), not a single A320 first class cabin has been enlarged. Interestingly, earlier this week the first A320 retrofitted with the United Next cabin took to the skies (registration number N438UA) and it only has 12 first class seats.
As aviation insider JonNYC explains, the issue is likely staffing:
It’s 12F on these. Some are leaving room for it to be changed to 16F at some point and some point to the issue being FA staffing of F having been the determiner and an explanation as to why UA stated, pretty unequivocally, 16F, and then reversed course on that.
— 🇺🇦 JonNYC 🇺🇦 (@xJonNYC) June 1, 2023
The Staffing Dilemma
Earlier this week I shared about my regrettable experience, specifically concerning service, in first class on American Airlines. The biggest problem of the flight was that one flight attendant was assigned to 10 passengers. That included doing everything, from warming up and plating food to refilling drinks to handling any service-related needs (and dealing with pilot requests as well). It was simply too much and service was regrettably bad.
Not coincidentally, United has configured its Airbus A320 with 150 seats: 12 seats in first class and 138 seats in economy class. That is because the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets minimum staffing at two flight attendants per 100 seats and one flight attendant for each additional 50 seats. At 150 seats, United can staff the A320 with only three flight attendants.
But that means that one flight attendant works first class while two work economy class. Already, one flight attendant is forced to do everything for 12 passengers. Imagine increasing that number to 16. Can you imagine how long it would to properly serve all 16 passengers? In that sense, perhaps the Association of Flight Attendants, which purportedly has balked at increasing the footprint of the first class cabin, is doing both United and customers a favor if United is unwilling to add a fourth flight attendant.
CONCLUSION
As much as I would like four more first class seats on the A320, which of course would mean a better shot at upgrades or discounted first class fares, I understand why flight attendants are reluctant to embrace four more seats in first class (they will be blamed for the slow service).
The long-term solution is for United to add a fourth flight attendant, but with 12 first class seats on both the A319 and A320, it is much easier to swap aircraft without needing to downgrade passengers, which used to be a frequent problem when an A320 was swapped for an A319 at the last minute.
My prediction is that the A320 will remain at 12 seats in first class.
Poor FA’s can’t just play candy crush 80% of the time.
It’s a lot of work being purser on an airbus. I tend to avoid it because I don’t like business class that much . You must also keep in mind that the purser is the lead and also goes back to help in economy once they complete service in business. 16 passengers plus being lead is too much on one person. Especially if you’re wanting quality service and not rushed service.
Also keep in mind that American has a rotating reserve system. Some senior flight attendants still have to serve reserve after 30 or 40 plus years and will get forced into positions they probably prefer not to work. That may be why you encountered such indifference on your AA flight from a senior flight attendant.
Well, there’s never any danger of getting quality service on United, American, or any other US-based airline except Delta at times.
If you can’t handle the job, quit. There’s hundreds to replace you.
I am currently living in Iran and I do not have access to my identification documents
And I know that America is one of the best countries in the world and I love the American continent and I want to immigrate to America tonight. How can I come without a passport and visa? Tell me.
One FA can handle 16 pax if they tried.
Lol depends on the person. On one of my flights I worked in economy and we finished all of economy service and the purser (lead) wasn’t even close to finishing the service so we had to go up there and help them. This kept happening the entire trip. It’s so wonderful you can just speak for all flight attendants though. *rolls eyes* gtfo
No, YOU “gtfo” you lazy c*nt.
Glad to see that United are back offering Tito’s (as well as Wheatley vodka). Hopefully the latter will be gone once the stocks run out. Maybe they do listen to customer feedback. GS 18 years.
United’s domestic F service is so simplified anyway, especially on short routes that the A320s fly, that I really don’t have a great deal of sympathy for them here. No more full PDB, no more coursed service, no more separate dessert course, etc.
How much more difficult would it be tk serve a 16F A320 at current service levels than it was a few years ago with one FA on a 12F transcon A320 with salad/app tray setup, galley-plated entree AND ice cream service? Because it wasn’t that long ago we had that. And the AFA didn’t stand in the way of United rolling out that service.
On the other hand, the staffing cuts for a more elaborate service, especially on widebody longhauls (even though that has been ‘streamlined’) is a little easier to understand.
I think the latter (unrestored pre-COVID WB staffing) is the reason for the pushback on the former (320 16F). I bet if the international staffing goes back, they’d compromise on this. But then again, what do I know?
I’d also add that today, even on a transcon, United’s F service is a pre-pour PDB (if you even get it at all), then single-tray setup, pre-played dog bowl entree, packaged dessert, often all at once. No warm cookie, maybe a snack basket if the FA feels like passing them. Maybe a few drink runs.
Sorry, I’m not buying the “too much work” angle. If a 16F 320 F position is so undesirable, let it go super junior and have the youngest, most motivated FAs hustle to work it.
What routes used to have the sundae cart that don’t have it now? I thought it was fully restored?
The sundae service has been restored, but other transcon routes did have ice cream with topping.
Many years ago all transcons had sundae service. I’ve got the pictures to prove it!
Right, I was just referring to transcons the A320 shows up on (EWR-PDX, IAD-SEA, SFO-PHL, etc.), not the premium transcons. As of now, only the EWR-LAX/SFO flights get the sundae cart. I don’t expect this to change. In 2016 or so, United even did ice cream/sorbet service on midcon flights like EWR-DEN… though those were all hand-run from the galley with limited toppings.
Obviously, you don’t have a clue of how this works. The younger ones that you think are so motivated to do the work are the ones that AREN’T doing the work to get it done. This causing the rest of the crew to work extra.
The 320 is the best domestic plane
F has a pitch of 39 inches compared to 37 on other mainline planes
BA staff an A320 with 5 cabin crew: 2 for business/first and three for economy/coach. The US airlines just need to up their service. And passengers need to be prepared to pay for it. Nothing’s free in life – and a one crew first is lousy…..
Of course BA starts its FAs at under 20K quid per year! 😉
I’ve never flown BA long haul so won’t comment on that, but BA (and pretty much all the European airlines) are a joke on short haul. They charged me for a bottle of water. The legroom is a joke, the bins are tiny, the Wi-Fi doesn’t work, the “business class” is a joke, everything about BA short haul is a joke. Literally isn’t much better than Ryanair.
I am frankly rather surprised that the major airlines in the USA are still retaining a separate front cabin on these planes as opposed to going the eurobusiness route. It’s been a long time since I last visited the US, but. from what I read here and on FT etc, it’s not like they have fabulous food or service, plus it would make it easier to hand out, or even sell, upgrades on flights that aren’t full.
14 CFR 121.329 is based on passenger seats — not the number of passengers.
That’s what I meant to convey…
While i’d rather see an additional FA, slow service isn’t the issue.
No follow up is and it doesn’t really need an additional FA.
On a 3+ hour flight there’s no lack of time for one FA to handle 16 people with a proper 2-3 step dinner service and offer refills throughout the remainder of the flight.
Maybe they’re jealous AA has kept its Airbus cabins smaller.
Let me correct that. The A321 on AA has over 20 seats and according to Gary is staffed with just one FA, and they offer a 2-3 step service on midcon and longer flights.
UA get with the program here – uncompetitive – make your FAs do their job.
same with DL A321, 20 seats, 1 FA (on flights with hot meal service)
Oh honey and know that many Delta flight attendants dread the flight leader position because of it. Y’all are clueless
God forbid FAs actually have to work sometimes. Glad I fly Delta and not UA with FA run by union thugs, like you.
We’re not here to minimize dread for flight attendants. You’re clueless to what makes benefits viable for flight attendants – an airline that’s competitive with service and costs.
This just comes across as more indications of Kirby being cheap. I’ve seen painfully few instances of his willfully spending money to provide a better travel experience without direct proof of payback. How can you expect a revenue premium if you’re offering a mediocre to bad product? The answer is pretty apparent: improve the experience by bringing on a second FA for your 16 seat first class section.
Why would a 16F need an additional FA for A320 but not for 737 or A321 operated by other airlines?
Actually, a UA 16F 737 DOES require a 2nd FA. But you can’t swap an A319/320 without hunting down a 4th FA for FAA minimum staffing.
Some of the comments on this board really affirm why so many crew don’t even LIKE to fly domestic trips. The attitude and self-entitlement is disgusting coming from so many Americans. You don’t experience this with most other cultures that fly on United.
Just know that the contempt you hold for some workers is mutual. Fair or not.
Well that’s a lovely comment. I’m sure you must be an enjoyable person to travel with. Try being a little nicer and maybe you will get that in return! OR maybe not!
Noted; I hope you don’t blindside the poor pax with your (unfair) contempt on your next assignment.
I don’t really care about service in domestic F. Just give me more space and don’t make me battle for the armrest with the jerk who thinks window/aisle gets both of them.