American Airlines has a large mainline fleet comprising of single isle and widebody aircraft. When flying domestically American Airlines operates a mixed fleet of Airbus A320 family of aircraft as well as Boeing 737-800s and the Boeing 737-Max 8. American Airlines inherited Airbus aircraft from the US Airways acquisition and run these aircraft on short to medium haul routes. The economy product onboard American Airlines Airbus A320 will be reviewed from Boston Logan (BOS) to Charlotte (CLT).
Ground experience
American Airlines operates out of terminal B in Boston. During the early morning the check in desks were busy but had an adequate amount of kiosks and staff members. Boarding passes and luggage were tagged at the full service desk. Staff working the desk were efficient but not overly friendly. Post security is an AAdmirles club along with various food and retail options near the gate areas. Boarding commenced on time with boarding divided into groups. American offers priority boarding for elite members including Concierge Key. The boarding process was smooth thanks to passengers keeping the boarding area clear until their group was called.
First impressions
American Airlines A320s feature older style seats in a dark blue and grey color pallet. Seats have a very dated look compared to some of the newer seats on other airlines. When sitting down it is noticeable how much cushioning the older seats have compared to newer slimline seats found on other American’s aircraft. The seatback contents are basic and contain a safety card, air sick bag and menu pamphlet. The crew working this flight did not acknowledge passengers much during the boarding process.
Inflight experience
After an hour after takeoff the crew started the snack and beverage service. Coffee, tea, soda and juices were available for selection. Biscoff cookies were the only complimentary snack option to select. Inflight entertainment is through WIFI streaming. This feature worked without difficulty and had a large selection of TV and movies to choose from. The interface was fast and had a section where the flight details can be tracked. AC power outlets are located at the floor area of every seat. Full WIFI is available for purchase. A half hour after the snack and beverage service the crew came by to collect trash. A second service was not conducted however, this was only an 1.5 hour flight. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. The crew and passengers were asked to remain seated as there was rough weather expected ahead into the approach into Charlotte.
Final approach
The flight on American Airlines was unremarkable yet some aspects stood out. The crew working this flight had a very lackluster demeanor. They hardly acknowledged passengers during boarding and deplaning. It seemed like the snack and beverage service took a while to start. There is no explanation to this, there was no turbulence or weather during the climb out. Snack selection was extremally limited especially when compared to competing airlines. The inflight entertainment streaming platform exceeded expectations though. There was a wide selection of tv and movie options to choose from. It was fast and had no connectivity issues for the entire duration of the flight. The seats are beginning to show their age in terms of design and appearance. Despite the older design, seats were kept in good shape and had a much more plush feel then slimline style seats. American Airlines offers an average product with some shortfalls in terms of snack offerings and onboard service.