4/14/2016

TheStateofLieFlatBusinessClassonAmericanCarriersThePointsGuy

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TheStateofLieFlatBusinessClasson
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April23,2014

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SeemsliketheresasenseofchangeintheproverbialairoveratDelta:in
advanceoftheairlinesintroductiononJuly1,2014ofnewBusinessEliteand
Economyseatsaboardits757200sforJFKLAXroutes,theairlineannounced
todaythattheyvejustcompletedupdatestotheBusinessElitecabinsontheir
A330200/300s,Boeing767300ERsand400ERs,747400sand777200ERs
andLRs,andclaimsthismakesthemtheonlyUScarriertoofferfulllieflat
seatswithdirectaisleaccessinbusinessclassonallwide
bodyinternationalflights.
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bodyinternationalflights.

Thatsquiteaqualifiedfirst,sinceUnitedclaimedasimilarhonorbackinJune
whenitannouncedtherevampofallitsinternationallonghaulaircraftwith180
degreeflatbedseats.However,itsstillagoodstepintherightdirectionforDelta,
andcertainlysomethingworthcelebrating.
HerearetherestofthedetailsandhowtheotherUSlegacycarrierslonghaul
internationalfleetsstackupatthemoment:

PopularStories
ThisWeek LastWeek ThisMonth

AAdvantageNow
LetsYouRouteto
DeltaslieflatBusinessEliteseatsaboard

IndiaandMaldives

its777200ER

viaHongKongon
CathayPacific

Delta

JetBlueAnnouncesa

DeltanowusesthreeversionsofitsBusinessEliteseat,eachfeaturinga
15.4inseattouchscreenmonitorwithondemandentertainment:

MassiveLieFlatMint
Expansion

767s:21incheswidewitha76.581.4inch,lieflatpitchand21incheswide,

GoogleFlightsNow

arrangedinastaggered1x2x1configuration(picturedbelow)

ShowsCheaper
FaresFromDifferent

777200ERandLRs:20.5incheswidewithan82inch,lieflatpitch,arranged

Services

inaherringbone1x2x1pattern
A330sand747400s:Reverseherringbone1x2x1configurationwithdirect

HiltonHHonors

aisleaccessand15.4monitorforseatbackentertainmentand82inchesof

MatchingStatus

pitch,20.5incheswideonthe747,80inchesby21inchesontheA330.

ThroughMarch2018
TPGtv:Opulenceat
35,000Feetin
EmiratesFirstClass
for90kMilesand$58

Deltas767BusinessEliteseats.
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TheStateofLieFlatBusinessClassonAmericanCarriersThePointsGuy
Deltas767BusinessEliteseats.

TheBusinessEliteseatsthatDeltawillnowemployonits757sfortransatlantic
routesare21incheswidewithan80inch,lieflatpitch,arrangedina2x2
configurationwithallaisleaccess,aswellas16inseattouchscreenmonitors
withondemandentertainment.

ThePointsGuy
LikePage

BusinessEliteseatsonDeltasA330s.

1Mlikes

Bethefirstofyourfriendstolikethis

UpdatestobothBusinessEliteandEconomyseatsonDeltaslonghaulflights
includepersonal,ondemandentertainmentsystemsateveryseat,Westin
HeavenlyinflightbeddinginBusinessElite,andnewamenitykitsinboth
BusinessEliteandinternationalEconomy.

DeltasnewSleepKit,availablein
internationalEconomy

Thelatterisasleepkitthatincludesaneyemaskandearplugs.Interiorupdates
to225ofDeltasdomesticnarrowbodyaircraft,includingtheadditionofmore
baggagespaceandaccesstopower,willcontinuethrough2016.
American
DeltascompletionofthisupgradetoitsBusinessEliteseatsinparticularputs
DeltaaheadofAmericanAirlines,whichisalreadyintheprocessofmaking
improvementstoitspresentinternationalbusinessclassserviceandslowly
beginningtorolloutupdatestoits767300swithanallnewinternationalbusiness
class.

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ThenewAmerican767300businessclass
cabin.

However,thisnewversionofbusinessclassonthe767300hashas26inchwide
lieflatseatsina1x2x1staggeredconfigurationwithallaisleaccessisonly
beingrolledoutstartingthismonthontheJFKZurichroute.Thecabinwillhavea
totalof28seatsin7rowsandthenewseatswillbefullyhorizontallieflatswithout
IFEscreens.Americanhasplanstoretrofitabouthalfofthe58767300sinits
fleetnowthroughtheendof2015,andtoretiretherestasitreplacesthemwith
currentgenerationaircraftliketheA321.

BusinessclassseatsaboardAmericans
777300ER

Americansflagshipnewbusinessclassisalreadyavailableonsome
internationalroutesonthe777300ER.The52businessclassseatsarearranged
ina1x2x1herringbonepattern,andeachseatis26incheswidewithalieflat
pitchof7576inchesandthesame17inchpersonalscreen,Wifiandpower
offeringsasintheFlagshipSuites.TheplanespresentroutesareJFK,LAX,MIA
andDFWtoLondonHeathrow(LHR),aswellasfromJFKandDFWtoSaoPaolo
(GRU)thissummer,theyllintroduceaDFWtoHongKong(HKG)route,andin
November,MIAGRU.

Americans777300FlagshipFirstClass
Suite

Americansfleetof777300ERsalsooffertheairlinesnewFlagshipFirstClass
Suites,aswellastheupgradedbusinessclassproduct.Theplanes8Flagship
Suitesareconfiguredinatworow1x21herringbonepatternwithdirectaisle
access,andeachseatis29incheswide,has80inchesinpitchwithafulllieflat
lengthof68,andfeaturesa17inchpersonalentertainmentscreen,international
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Wificapability,universalACpoweroutletandUSBjack.Turndownservice
includesamattress,comforterandlightblanket,andseatsareareleftopentothe
aisle,withoutanyenclosures.

Postretrofit,thisiswhatAmericansnew
internationalbusinessclassseatwilllook
likeaboardits777200s

Laterthisyear,Americanwillbeginretrofittingitsinternationalservice777
200swithtwoclassconfigurationsofbusinessclassandeconomyseating.The
adjustablefrontandrearfacing64.5lieflatbusinessclassseatswillhaveall
aisleaccess,andtheMainCabinExtraseatswilleachhavewithsixmoreinches
oflegroomthantheregulareconomyseats.Bothclasseswillfeaturepersonal
entertainmentsystemsandinternationalWiFi.
United
InJanuarythisyear,Unitedfinallycompletedanoverhauloftheirentirefleetof
757p.s.(PremierService)planesthatonlytravelcoasttocoastbetweenJFKand
bothLAXandSFO.Eachp.s.planenowoffersaBusinessFirstclass(a
combinationofBusinessandFirstclasses)with28seatsthatare180degreeflat
bedwith64ofspacewhenfullyextended,andhave15.4inchentertainment
monitors.Firstclasswasphasedoutontheseaircraft.
Unitedalsolonglaggedintermsofpremiuminternationalcabins,butitsbeen
tryingtomakeupforlosttime.Aswestatedabove,overthesummer,it
announcedithadinstalledallflabbedseatson183internationallonghaulaircraft
operatingonallscheduledinternationallonghaulflightsfromitseightNorth
AmericanhubsandbetweenSeattleandTokyoNarita.Thenewlyretrofitted
cabinsincluderevampedGlobalFirstandBusinessFirstcabinswithover7,000
flatbedseatstotalfleetwide.

UnitedsflagshipGlobalFirstsuite.

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GlobalFirstistheairlinesflagshipfirstclasssuite.Seatsarearrangedina1x2
x1configurationwiththeouterseatsfacingoutwardtowardsthewindowsandthe
seatsinthemiddlerowoftwofacingeachother(onthe767,its1x1x1).Each
Suiteincludesagrayfabriclieflatseatthatreclinesto6feet6inches(almost
longenoughforme)withaduvetandpillowforsleeping,andaBackCycler
lumbarsupportsystem.Eachseathasitsown15.4inchvideomonitor,laptop
powersource,andUSBchargingports(exceptforsome777s).GlobalFirstseats
are66whenfullyreclinedto180degreesandare2223incheswide.

UnitedsBusinessFirstlieflatproduct.

BusinessFirstistheairlinesflagshipbusinessclassproductandisbasedonthe
premiumofferingsContinentalusedtohave.Unitedsplanesconfigurethese
seatsinavarietyofwaysrangingfrom2x1x2onthe767400sto2x4x2on
the747(2x2ontheupperdeck)andmost777200s(thoughsomeold
Continentalplaneshavethemina2x2x2),socheckoutyouraircraftsseat
map.Passengersgetamenitykits,duvetsandpillows,andtheseatsreclinetoa
full180degrees.Seatshave76inchesofpitchwhenfullyreclinedandare20
incheswide.Eachhasa15.4inchvideomonitorwithprogrammingcontrolledby
thepassenger,aswellasalaptoppowersourceandaUSBport.
Justnote,thereareacoupleversionsofvariousaircraftsuchasthe767300sthe
airlinefliestoEuropewheresomehaveaGlobalFirstcabinandsomedonot,and
wheretheBusinessFirstcabinhasrowsofeither5or6seatsacross,soitpaysto
lookatyourparticularaircraftsseatmaptoseehowcrowdedyoullbe.
Therearealso3versionsofthe777accordingtoUnitedsaircraftpagewhere
thereareoldfirstclassseatsandnoGlobalFirstorBusinessFirst.Thatsaid,the
airlineistryingtoretrofitthesequicklyandnearlyalloftheairlines777200sare
convertedalready.

Uniteds787sonlyhaveBusinessFirst,not
GlobalFirst.

TheairlinesBoeing787sallhaveBusinessFirstcabinsbutnoGlobalFirst

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TheairlinesBoeing787sallhaveBusinessFirstcabinsbutnoGlobalFirst
onboard.
USAirways
USAirwayssEnvoySuitewasdesignedtocompetewiththelatestbusinessclass
offeringsonmajorinternationalairlines(eventhelikesofCathayPacificBusiness
class,whichhasthesameseats),andisavailableontheairlinesentirefleet
ofA330200sandA330300s,whichoperateonalmostallflightsbetweenthe
USandvariousEuropeandestinationsincludingLondonHeathrowandGatwick,
Paris,Madrid,Frankfurt,Munich,Manchester,RomeandTelAviv.

USAirwaysEnvoySuiteisamongthetop
premiumproductsofferedbyUSairlines.

Justbeware,althoughtheairlines767listtheirbusinessclasscabinEnvoyas
well,theseatsinitareangledlieflats,andnottotallyhorizontalliketheyareon
theAirbuses.
A330300shave28seatsina1x2x1configurationwhileA330200shavejust
20oftheseseats.Theseatsalongthefuselageareangledout,whilethetwo
seatsinthemiddlerowareangledslightlytowardeachotherinareverse
herringboneconfiguration.
EnvoySuiteseatsreclinebetween7680inchesdependingontheseatslocation
inthecabin.Eachisalso20.5incheswide(25incheswiththearmrestsdown),
andreclinetoafull180degrees.Thetouchscreenentertainmentsystemsare
olderandsmallerthantheotherlegacieslistedonhereatjust12.1incheswide,
butseatsalsohave10voltuniversalpoweroutletsandUSBportstopluginyour
gadgets.
The18Envoyseatsonthe767areina2x2x2configurationandonlyreclineto
170degreeswithapitchof62inches.Theyarealso20.5incheswide,andflight
attendantspassoutSamsungGalaxyTabswith10.1inchscreensforinflight
entertainment.
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TheStateofLieFlatBusinessClassonAmericanCarriersThePointsGuy

Theairlines757sareequippedwith12oldschoolbusinessclassreclinerseats
ina2x2configurationwith60inchesofpitch,19.5incheswideandareclineof
upto160degrees.IFEisprovidedonSamsungGalaxytabsonthesetoo.
SothatsthecurrentstateofaffairsonthemajorUSairlinesandtheir
internationalbusinessandfirstclassproducts.Whathaveyouflownlately,and
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EditorialDisclaimer:Opinionsexpressedhereareauthor'salone,notthoseofanybank,creditcardissuer,
airlinesorhotelchain,andhavenotbeenreviewed,approvedorotherwiseendorsedbyanyofthese
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Jointhediscussion
JoeS. 2yearsago

IwouldreallyliketoknowwhatAmericanplanstodowithalltheseold
757'sIflyfromMIAtoalldifferentpartsofSouthAmerica.Iamsick
andtiredof[payingfor]crappyBusinessseatson67hourflights
south.
2

Reply Share

Al>JoeS. 2yearsago

NotsurewhichroutesyoutaketoSouthAmericafromMIAthat
takeyou67hours.Quitois4hrs,forwhichstandardbusiness
isfine.Limais4.5/5hrswhichiskidofathresholdnumberbut
theydohave763sforthatroute,althoughIbelieveitisonly
oneoftheflights.Santiagois7.5hrsanditiscoveredby763s
aswell,andmostBrazilianandArgentineroutesarecovered
bythe777200s.So,Imcuriouswhatyouarecomplaining
about....
5

Reply Share

Gabriel>Al ayearago

Limais5:15.Takethedomestic757firstclassredeye
(insteadoftheInternational757)andyouwillseehow
horribleitis.

Reply Share

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admin>Al 2yearsago

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Reply Share

BenPrice>Al 2yearsago

C'mon,youknowexactlywhathe'scomplainingabout.
Regardlessofthetimecited(7hours),AA'shard
producttoSAisterrrrrible.Didn'tevenknowthatwas
uptodebate.
Can'trememberthelasttimeIsearchedforanAAflight
toSAwherelieflatseatswereonthetable.

Reply Share

augias ayearago

thisarticledoesnottakeintoaccountthatallaisleaccessmeans
fewerseats.That'sfewerawardseats,fewerseatsforupgrade,higher
prices.Isthatworththeaisleaccess?It'snotforme.
Unitedhasnotlaggedbehindtheothers,UAandCOwereinfact
amongthefirstamericancarrierstofeaturelieflatseatsandUnitedis
theonlyonetofeaturelieflatseatsoneveryinternationallong
distanceflight.SinceIthinknonlieflatbizseatsaretotallyworthless,
withtheothercarriersthere'salwaysthedangerofbeingcheated
becauseofsomelastminuteairplaneswap.
AtthetimeUAandCOputintheirlieflatseats,allaisleaccesswasn't
evenathingyet,soyoucanhardlyblamethem.
TheformerUAaircraftbizseats(arrangedinthe242layout)are
actuallythemostcomfortableonUAastheseatsareverylong.The
lackofstoragespaceisaconcernbutIlikehowmanyseatsthey
managedtofitin.Also,backwardfacingseatsaremuchmore
comfortableandeasiertosleepin,nottomentionmorecomfortable
duringlanding.TheformerCOseatsarejustok,abitshorterandless
comfortablebutwithlessstoragespace.Iwassadthatthisistheseat
designthatUAputinforthe787.
1

Reply Share

austin1805 2yearsago

ThePointsGuyIhavebeenaloyalreaderformanyyearsandIam
extremelydisappointedbyyourlogicinthisarticle.Iunderstandthat
youareobsessedwithAmericanAirlines(whyIcannotunderstand).
However,currentlytheyhavetheWORSTbusinessclass.Imeanon
a14hourflightIexpectalieflatbusinessclassflight.Goodluck
findingthatonamajorityofAmerican'sroutesasoftoday.Unitedhas
agreatbusinessclassproduct.Whiletheseatsareabitnarrowandit
doessuckhavingtostepoversomeone,Ihavealwaysbeen
impressedwithUnited'sbusinessfirst.Inaddition,thefactthatthey
havebeenrolledoutfleetwidebeforeanyotherAmericancarrieris
impressive.Inaddition,UAhasbusinessfirstlieflatonlonghaul
domesticflightssuchasIADHNLorEWRHNL.Thisisgreatfora
10+hourflight.While,IagreethatAmericanAirlineswillhaveagreat
productinthefuture,asoftodayitistotalcrap.
1

Reply Share

wal184>austin1805 2yearsago

Icouldn'tdisagreewithyoumore.United2x4x2configurationis
themostuncomfortablebusinessclassoutthere.Theyhave

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themostuncomfortablebusinessclassoutthere.Theyhave
narrowedtherowstoallowforthisconfigurationtothepoint
thatyoucannotrollyourrollerboardcarryondowntheisle.
Thishascreatedmanyuncomfortablesituations.Ifyouhavean
isleseatyouwillalwaysbebumpedwhenflightattendants
passbyitalsomeans,becauseofreverseseating,thatyouwill
spenda14hourflight18inchesawayfromsomeoneyouare
lookingrightat.Theonlycomfortableinternationalbusiness
classonUnitedisthe787oranoldContinental2x2x2
configuration.

Reply Share

augias>wal184 ayearago

Ipreferthe2x4x2oldUnitedlayouttothe2x2x2
continentallayout.The242seatsaremuchlonger,
andsomearebackwardfacing,whichmakesiteasier
tosleep.Butyes,theyaremorecramped,soaslongas
you'renottootall,you'llfeelbetterontheContinental
configuration(whichbythewayiswhatUnitedisgoing
withgoingforward).Fortallpeople,the3classold
Unitedlayoutispreferable.
ImightalsoaddthatUnitedfeaturedlieflatseatson
everyintercontinentalflightbeforeDeltaandAmerican
did(andlongbeforeLH,AF,KLMwhichstilldon'thave
theiracttogether)

Reply Share

JayV>wal184 ayearago

IagreewithyourassessmentofUnited'sseriously
awful242bizclass.Aslim,shortandnarrowperson
mightfinditOK,therestofushavenoprivacy,no
storage,nolateralroom,andnocomfortwhiletryingto
sleep.

Reply Share

hillrider 2yearsago

Thisarticlewouldbeeasiertoreadifyoustuckto"first"and
"business".Theuseofalltheseemptyuselessmonickersmakeit
difficulttofollow:allIcareiswhatkindofseatIgetwhenIbuya
businessclassticket(whichistheinformationyoupromiseinthe
threadtitle),notwhatconfusingnametheairlinecallsit.
1

Reply Share

CBlanco 4monthsago

Doesanyonehaveapictureofthe777200thatisusedforMadrid
Miami?Isbusinessclassalllieflatwithnoangle?Intheseatselection
thereare3seatsinthemiddle,sohowcanitbethattheyhaveall
directaisleaccess?

Reply Share

BruceWayne ayearago

Deltaisontopoftheirgame.

Reply Share

admin 2yearsago
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greatstuff

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