New East A320 configuration.

[PHX-F/A]

In 11 years I have never had a to stop on an Airbus for fuel! Sounds like the seat configuration is costing more than they planned. What worked for the West doesn't work for the East. Sorry.

It was happening to everyone last year. BOS, JFK, DCA, IAD making fuel stops at MCI, OMA when enroute to the west.

 

[PHX-F/A]

Was America West even in business back then?!

Maybe someone should show them photos of that particular plane crash -- may make them rethink cramming so many passengers in a plane before considering evacuations.

I believe there was a charter plane crash (European) where people also died while trying to evacuate - and it was mainly because of the AMOUNT of passengers they had to evacuate that they just simply ran out of time & useable exits.

(this is one reason why I try to always be near a door when I fly... I NEVER fly Mid-Section.. EVER!)

LAX was when 1989? Yes we were in business then 8/1/83 was our first day of ops.

Seat pitch and separation at exit rows are set by the FAA. As usual, government safety minimums are never optimum. Simply minimum, they can always be better. But businesses always balk at this and lobby for the lesser.

An example: The entire urban freeway system in Phoenix was initially built without any kind of barrier system to prevent head on crossover collisions. The federal guidelines don't require them. It was'nt until a certain segment in Scottsdale was nick named the "highway of death" that they started installing cable barriers. They selected cables because they were cheaper, and faster to install. Now the upkeep in repairing the cables will eventually exceed the cost of installing a concrete barrier.

Write a letter to the FAA. Will it do any good? Probably not. They take forever to make any kind of ruling, say that they need to study the issue. Meanwhile, people get hurt or worse die, then they make their rulings. Because the airlines have such strength in their lobbying efforts, they can delay or kill an issue.

 

[Travelpro72]

I remember doing two 757 trips from PHL to LAS last year and we had to stop in PIT for the first trip and the same week we stopped in MCI for fuel. It wasn't just the airbus to be fair. The 757 is much better to the west coast in my opinion. As a f/a working you can honestly feel the power of the 757. The A321 feels like its going nowhere. You sort of wanna have everyone give a scoot forward on t/o to get it up in the air. I think I can, I think I can.... wait until they add more seats and bags. 🙄

 

[BuffaloJoe]

I remember doing two 757 trips from PHL to LAS last year and we had to stop in PIT for the first trip and the same week we stopped in MCI for fuel. It wasn't just the airbus to be fair. The 757 is much better to the west coast in my opinion. As a f/a working you can honestly feel the power of the 757. The A321 feels like its going nowhere. You sort of wanna have everyone give a scoot forward on t/o to get it up in the air. I think I can, I think I can.... wait until they add more seats and bags. 🙄

Back in 1998 my flight from PHL-SFO had to stop in LAS for fuel. The other flights that week and day stopped at MCI or IND. And it was mostly ALL flights to the West Coast.
And back in 1995 All flights from PHL-SFO were 757's and the eastbounds mixed with 733's. BWI could do SFO W/B but PHL couldn't. But eastbound the 733 could make it with the tailwinds.

 

[slipnutwrench]

The 321's have been like that every since they arrived, built for stuff like PHL-florida US decided to spend millions to make the 2L door bigger for the use of a jetbridge then discoverd it was not going to work because of the engine proximity and also spent more $$$ for extra fuel tanks so that the pig could fly transcon. Does anyone remember when the 321 flew to LAS and all of the delays and issues when taking off from LAS, always had to take-off to the East and sit and wait for hours for the clearance or take off to the West (like normal) and stop for fuel in MCI or STL, that didn't last for long but what a cluster. I can't imagine those things doing transcon after they put even more seats in. Maybe they will redeploy them on PHL/CLT/PIT-florida and PHX-westcoast/midwest and put more F on the 57 and use it where it belongs.

The only FULL Size door on the A321 is th 1L door. If US paid extra for a larger 2L door then they got ripped off big time!! The 2L is the same size as 3L, 2R and 3R doors, which are considered emergency exits.

 

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

The only FULL Size door on the A321 is th 1L door. If US paid extra for a larger 2L door then they got ripped off big time!! The 2L is the same size as 3L, 2R and 3R doors, which are considered emergency exits.

2L is bigger than 2R, and 3L and R. It is a full size door.

 

[USCREW]

I worked this new 320 for the first time this morning. As soon as the FAMs boarded, the overheads in first were full. BAM!

 

[ggiby]

its scary to think that Southwest and Jetblue now are more comfortable than USAirways :wacko:

Make Delta our "####" !! LOLOLOLOLO hahahahaha

 

[FCYTravis]

I'm flying my last US metal flights for the foreseeable future in a couple weeks - MCO-CLT on a 757, CLT-SFO on a 321. I'll be crediting them to UA M+, so I'm really looking forward to my wonderful middle seat in Row 70 :down:

 

[JAXPax]

Oh swell, looks like I'm on one next week to JAX.

Does ANYONE in the Sandcastle ever look up from their spreedsheet and ask, "What will the impact be on our best customers"

PB is coming to the JAX?

 

[slipnutwrench]

2L is bigger than 2R, and 3L and R. It is a full size door.

Since we all cannot carry tape measures with us while at work, here are the dimensions for the 1L and 2L doors.

1L Door- 38" wide / 73" tall

2L Door- 31" wide / 72" tall

Also at the 2L door there is an enclosure for the escape slide bottle which restricts headroom quite a bit for avg. and tall people.

 

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

Since we all cannot carry tape measures with us while at work, here are the dimensions for the 1L and 2L doors.

1L Door- 38" wide / 73" tall

2L Door- 31" wide / 72" tall

Also at the 2L door there is an enclosure for the escape slide bottle which restricts headroom quite a bit for avg. and tall people.

2L could be used for boarding.

 

[AstroLounge]

There are sooooooooo many issues with the A320 that need to be addressed to rectify this problem configuration. I can't beieve AWA has had their a/c config like that and NOT had angry pax to deal with.The galley is way too small to fly transcon/caribbean with minimum space and an inept Catering Dept that still can't cater an a/c correctly on a given day. Preparing a meal in F/C is like Emirl doing a LIVE cooking demonstation before a studio audience <BAM>. The lack of a closet is sheer stupidity. Emerg equipment throughout the F/C overheads- a total disregard for F/C pax convenience. This a/c is an absolute freakn' joke to work now! And try working a redeye where even the light above the F/A jumpseat illuminates the front of the cabin......and the lack of curtains :down: Yeah, and by the way "Enjoy your flight you filthy animal and thanks for flying US!" Keep the CUSTOMER in mind when you make decisions that really matter......this 320 mkakes the DC9 of years ago look better. Dumb sh*ts!

 

[Travelpro72]

I am on an airbus trip as we speak and have to say that is totally blows. The 320 is WRONG all the way around. The galley, first class, no closets, equipment in the overheads, the cart....ugggg I don't care what ANYONE says it does NOT work and you have absolutely NO room to do anything. Why should we have to hang snacks off the drawer, use cups for cream/sugar in the drawer, pile everything on top of the cart in a bad way. Why should we have to sit in the back galley looking at the top of the cart trying to find a way. Folks why do we have to makeshift the cart. A way that works for all is NOT this cart. The person responsible for the f/c on the 320 should be fired immediately. What a circus.

 

[SS255]

I had the misfortune of flying on one of these birds today from LAX-PHL. I carried on two small bags , yet I still had to struggle to find overhead space in the F cabin (I was in row 1). I was very glad I did not bring my rollaboard suitcase as originally planned, or I would have had to stow it in Y.

Next on the agenda was to figure out what to do with my coat: I noticed a man reach over seat 3D for a hanger...lo and behold, there was a hook on the bulkhead behind 3D, and another behind 3C. 3C had 3 hangers, and 3D had 4. I snagged one of the 2 remaining hangers over 3D, and hung my bulky winter coat. By this time, the line of people waiting to board the Y cabin was backlogged, as those of us in F tried to maneuver around the lack of overhead space, and jockeyed for the few remaining hangers. Once we were all boarded, the FA took one remaining coat, and - since there were no remaining hangers - doubled up on one of the other hangers. And what a comedy of errors when the poor FA tried to figure out whose coat belonged to whom...That was the first time I've ever witnessed an FA try to hand the wrong coat to anyone.

I was chatting with a couple of the FA's in the galley - or at least what was left of it, shortly before we landed. They basically reiterated all of the gripes I've been reading on this board and on Flyertalk. All of you FA's truly have my sympathy, and if I ever must fly on one of these disasters again, I will go out of my way to try to make your job easier!