bettyk

Does anybody know why AA has taken the 777 out of service on this route? We are booked on flights in September and received notification of a schedule change from AA. Found out that they are no longer using the 777. We are booked in Economy going over and Biz Class on the return.

Besides being smaller, what else is different from the 777's?

DonTopaz

One would surmise that it's because AA can't sell enough seats on the 777 to justify using it on that route.

Business cl on the 767 stinks. The seats are very narrow (6-across seating compared to 7-across in economy ... and it's not as if you get a decent flat bed). I've avoided AA 767s in business for several years, but for the in-flight entertainment they used to hand out portable DVD players that you had to sort of balance on your lap or tray. Dunno if that's still the case.

J62

Overhead space in many of the AA 767s is quite limited - among the lowest per pax on any plane I've come across. If you don't have priority boarding status you may find it difficult to get space for your larger carryon, especially if you are in group 5 or 6.

Gardyloo

The big difference is that you'll have overhead video screens in economy (as opposed to individual screens on the 777s) and in business class you'll get individual video players with a more limited set of programming (and - gasp - no in-flight maps) than on the 777s. Economy seats are slightly narrower than on the 777s; on the other hand in business class the seats are basically the same ("Next Generation Business Class" - something of a laughable term compared to other airlines' current offerings) as you'd get on the 777, maybe a little bit narrower, but not as narrow as the old business class seats were on the 767s. I find them quite comfortable (love the tray table configuration) and far less claustrophobic than business class on BA 777s (or especially 767s) on comparable routes.

In business class on the 767s the seats are set up 2-2-2, so the middle pair are good since both have aisle access - no climbing over someone to go to the loo. Like many others, I find the service in business class on AA's long-haul 767s to be superior (usually) compared to the 777s; it feels closer to a first class experience than a business class one.

AA is opening some new routes that require the greater range of the 777s (LAX - Shanghai and JFK - Haneda for instance) and apparently have decided that the only European destination worthy of the 777s is Heathrow. With the new joint operating arrangements with British Airways and Iberia, Heathrow (and to a lesser extent Barajas) are the main focus hubs for connecting traffic. Frankfurt never was; it's a Star Alliance/Lufthansa fortress hub with minimal Oneworld connecting service.

bettyk

Thanks, everyone. We've been flying AA to Frankfurt for years and I guess we've gotten spoiled with the 777. The only time in recent memory we've flown the 767 was from ORD. This was in economy and I remember it not being very comfortable.

I like the 2-5-2 or 2-3-2 configuration of AA's planes in economy rather than the 3 on each side that CO and others have. This way, DH and I can have two seats together w/o having to worry about another seatmate. Plus the individual entertainment screens are great.

swisshiker

Hi bettyk

I found out a couple months back about our aircraft change for DFW-FRA this coming August. I was actually very pleased, as I prefer the 767 vs the 777 for the long haul.

With only two classes on the plane, this biz class definitely has more of a first class feel.

Plus I like the exit rows for coach. The 767 has a nice row at 21; but the 777 has that quirky row 31 with no window.

Win-win to me!!

Happy travels!

bettyk

Thanks, Swisshiker. I think we're in row 24 in Coach going over and row 4 in Biz class coming home. Wish I could have booked Biz Class both directions but didn't have enough miles at the time.

Underhill

We flew business class on a 777 from DFW to Heathrow last December and came back on a 767. Both were comfortable, but we preferred the 767.

Underhill

Also, our 767 had nearly the same video-screen set-up as we'd had on the 777, but the controls were different. No video-discs, however.

AAFrequentFlyer

<b> Underhill</b>.

they're flying economy on the way out.....

bostickb

Are the Business Class seats on this route upgraded to the newer lie flat seats?

Gardyloo

Not currently showing up as such but might be by the time you fly. Which is....?