Rumour on FT - AA to fly JFK - NCL??

[Nottingham Nick]

This thread on FT is a fast growing rumour that, tomorrow American Airlines will announce flights from JFK to Newcastle (I assume they mean the Geordie one [}:)] )

Interesting developement(if it is true) [8D]

Nick

i heard that as well- interesting seeing as many thought CO would chosse this route over BRS and then went to bristol. AA doing a CO it seems

[preiffer]

Now confirmed on aa.com

"NEWCASTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
TAKES A BITE OF THE BIG APPLE!

American Airlines Launches Daily Route to the City That Never Sleeps

Today Newcastle International Airport announced a new daily, scheduled service to New York JFK. Commencing May 2006, American Airlines, the worldÕs largest airline, will link the two cities with a non-stop service for the first time in the airportÕs history.

Daily flights to New York will be operated by American Airlines using Boeing 757 aircraft offering, an all-economy class service with 188 seats. Seats will go on sale early August 2005. Click here for more information on American Airlines"

BBC news story also, here.


Tentative schedule for the service as follows:

JFK-Newcastle:
Flight 230 -- Departs: 7:45 p.m. -- Arrives: 7:30 a.m. (next day)

Newcastle-JFK
Flight 231 -- Departs: 11:00 a.m. -- Arrives: 1:35 p.m.

Wow, AA going even more low cost carrier class.

AA used to be a great airline ... gone to the dogs now.

What is this sudden 'fad' with airlines using 757's on transatlantic routes?
Continental do it, BMI do it, dirt cheap charters do it/have done it and now AA.
You wont catch me on a single asile 757 on a transatlantic flight!!!

In a time where all flights except VS have one asile, VS could adopt the phrase '2 asiles 2 be more comfy!'

Kev.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by kkempton
What is this sudden 'fad' with airlines using 757's on transatlantic routes?
Continental do it, BMI do it, dirt cheap charters do it/have done it and now AA.
You wont catch me on a single asile 757 on a transatlantic flight!!!

In a time where all flights except CVS have one asile, VS could adopt the phrase '2 asiles 2 be more comfy!'

Kev.

as i said in another thread somewhere,the idea of sitting for 7 hrs in a 752/3 is right up there with having my toe nails pulled out with pliers

Hold on dont slag off the 757 lets have a look at the facts.

Early 90's 757's were used by Air 2000, Monarch and Airtours to get people across to Orlando via Bangor- this was prior to getting wide bodied aircraft. It opened up Florida and long haul travel to the masses. And today you wont see any dirt cheap charters operating across the pond- only the luxury of the TCX 757.

Today the 757 is being used very successfully to open up new regional markets in the UK which so many people are crying out for- how many times do people complain that they have to travel down south to get a transatlantic? Taking a 757 to NYC or BOS is no different to flying a 757 from LAX to BOS or NYC- or even from London to Egypt. the 757 will have the same seat pitch as the long haul fleet in Y. How does 2 ailses mean more comfort? It doesnt at all- remember that VS will cram as many people into a 747 as they can- just because its got 4 engines doesnt mean its got more comfort. In fact- Thomas Cook currently fly a 757 to Toronto with a massive 36inches of leg room in Y- somehow i think that is way more comfy than a BA 777 or a VS 747!??!??

It is also worth noting- that current trends seem to show that smaller planes on long haul routes are the way forward- look at Air France and its a319lr dedicate service- they fly them on successful routes like CDG-Kuwait with both Y and Business.

Come on guys dont complain about the 757 till you have tried it- or if you do- then dont complain that you have to travel down to london to fly.

On a side note- im surprised theres not a row of business class!

These regional routes are great news for the UK- it really is super and to be honest- if i want to fly to EWR from home, i would be very tempted to use the CO service from Bristol over VS from LGW. Means an hour journey to airport- not 5, i get the same legroom as iwould on vs, a shorter flight time, get better conections and flying club miles!

Can I just mention air scandic? they fly 757's across the atalantic (bleurrgh!) (http://www.airscandic.com)
I didnt really intend to bring 'luxuary' configurated 757's into this.
Also, I guess i am predudiced into hating the 757, purely bacause I was stuck on an air2000 one with 28" legroom for 2 hours plus the 4 hour flight a few years back whilst we waited for LGW to open its main runway, as fog had shut the emergency runway.
Bottem line is, the 744, 777 and other widebodies have a wide cabin, making it feel a bit wider and more open + light, whereas the 757 feels a lot tighter and less open.

[Scrooge]

Ok Will,just to answer your post

Im not slagging off the 757 in general,what I said was the idea of sitting for 6-7 hrs in coach with a 31 inch seat pitch on a single aisle airliner that was designed to be used as a medium range domestic aircraft and has since found a use as a long range trans oceanic airliner is enough for me to go out an shot myself(something along those lines anyways).

Seriously though,your right it is no different,but here's thing,if I want to fly cross country for that long im going to be found on JetBlue.
Until AA removed the "more room in coach" that what we used,now if we are flying coach it will be with JETBLUE,I wish VS would start offering miles for JetBlue flights.

If thomas cook is offering 36 inches of seat pitch then hell yes grab it over BA offering 31 inches.

As Kevin said the widde body jet feel more open,even if they have the same seat pitch .

Hmm ... I'm on an AA 777 LHR to JFK on Tuesday. It's wide, it's airy, it's quiet, it's roomy, the overhead bins are huge, and it's 7 hrs.

Contrast with a 757, well I'll take the 777 anytime.

Access is good, but when you have a choice I know which one I will choose.

[Scrooge]

dont get me wrong,I think it's great that more airports are now getting access to direct flights,just more room would be great.

I understand what you are all saying- basically you prefere to have 2 asiles than 1 but the whole arguement about legroom is rubbish. VS offer 31inches- CO offer the same so seating on a 757 will be the same as seating on a 747. In fact in some cases you even get the same number of people next you, 1 on each side, though on the 747 your more crampt with 2 on one side and 1 on the other if you seat in the middle.

[Scrooge]

it's not just the 2 asiles,it's the in seat screens rather than having to bend my neck to see a movie,also dont confuse seat pitch with legroom,seat pitch is the distance between the same point on two seats not how much room you have for your legs.

Having flown in Co 777 AA 752 VS 744 and BA 744 IMHO the CO 777 is the most comfortable in coach.The BA 744's seats are better than VS's and now that the more room through coach has gone away on the 752's,well they suck as much as anyother airlines 752's.

With US air offering 34 inches of pitch they make a good alterative and with America West taking them over we should? still be able to get our FC miles.

Just as a note and not wanting to sound snobbish or an idiot,I save my money and fly first or PE nowdays,you wont find me in coach on any longhaul unless I get a stupid price (last one was LAX-LHR $200 rt in 2003) im sorry but flying from the westcaost is bad enough without having to deal with zero personal space.

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by preiffer
Now confirmed on aa.com

"NEWCASTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
TAKES A BITE OF THE BIG APPLE!

American Airlines Launches Daily Route to the City That Never Sleeps

Today Newcastle International Airport announced a new daily, scheduled service to New York JFK. Commencing May 2006, American Airlines, the worldÕs largest airline, will link the two cities with a non-stop service for the first time in the airportÕs history.

Daily flights to New York will be operated by American Airlines using Boeing 757 aircraft offering, an all-economy class service with 188 seats. Seats will go on sale early August 2005. Click here for more information on American Airlines"

BBC news story also, here.


Tentative schedule for the service as follows:

JFK-Newcastle:
Flight 230 -- Departs: 7:45 p.m. -- Arrives: 7:30 a.m. (next day)

Newcastle-JFK
Flight 231 -- Departs: 11:00 a.m. -- Arrives: 1:35 p.m.

Nick/Paul: Read a bit more on this last evening: AA will charge about US400 (low season) for "F" on this route and all service, even in "F", will be "Y". I assume that means one should plan to eat at the airport before boarding. Still, $400 for a roomier seat is a bargain.

Dave, as for the 757, like you I am not a fan. On long haul flights it's the pits, and I much prefer "four over the ocean"; that said, have flown the 757-200 LAX-OGG, LAX-HNL, SNA-JFK and, as long as my 6'5" frame is in F, I am okay; in coach, just call it "torture" for tall people. On AA and UA, where certain rows of seats have been removed for Gold/Platinum flyers, legroom's certainly better. There's still something very claustrophobic about that airplane, however; perhaps the one aisle and the length. Reminds me of the old DC-8 "flying cigar". The 787 can't arrive soon enough.

Chuck-