sevendown

Does anyone know if American has redesigned the 767's they use on the Chicago-Brussels route yet with the new business class (lie flat) seats. See here: www.aa.com/content/utility/new_business.jhtml. How about Dallas-London (or another route)?

I am planning a trip in late June to Europe on American, most likely to Brussels or London, and would like to snag a new business class cabin if possible.

If not, I assume that the 777 would be a better choice in business class, right?

Gardyloo

Something less than half of the fleet (last I heard) have been modified; around one a week is the current pace (I think.) There's no knowing whether a given route/day will have old v. new.

No 767s to London, all 777s. No new biz cabin on those (yet.)

Gardyloo

Meant to add, many people think the front cabin on the 767s offers superior service to business on the 777s, as the 777s have a first class cabin while on the 767s business is as good as it gets. The seats on the (old) 767s are narrower than those on the 777s.

sevendown

Thanks Gardyloo.

I thought that on the long haul routes, the planes usually fly back and forth between just those cities. So if a plane was modified it would stay on that route unless moved for some reason. Am I just imagining that?

From LGW to DFW it appears that AA is still flying both 767's and 777's, at least on the date I am flying, so I'm not really certain what to do. Would certainly want to choose the 767 if it was modified.

Gardyloo

They move the equipment around quite a lot; - a 767 might go ORD-BRU-JFK-ZRH-DFW-CDG-ORD... etc.

If you have a lot of spare time/brain cells you can follow the NGBC master thread on flyertalk: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567053

sevendown

Thanks. Those threads are helpful. I can see on AA's website the different seat availability charts for the flights I am considering, and note that the ORD-BRU flight is not NGBC, while the LGW-DFW flight is (half closet versus full closet in front of seats 2D,G). I know this may change, but it tells me what I want to know for now.

Interesting, the 777 flight from LGW to DFW on the day I am flying is wide open in business class, and the 767 with NGBC is almost full. Also, discounted price class (I class) is completely gone for the 767 flight, but available on the 777 flight. It looks like other people are in the know on this subject.

Thanks so much for your help.