WHAT A JOKE | Flying American's 737-800 from Chicago to Calgary

[@Bacchaaviation]

I believe that AA wants to be the “budget” full service carrier. I believe they are following in British Airways steps on competing with the low cost airlines. It is sad to see AA removing “free” amenities, and still charge their prices. Also I would like to add that I see AA price their flights at the same price as Southwest, which means they are trying to compete head on.

[@kentfrederick8929]

First, I flew ORD-YYC on an MD-80, back before Wi-Fi, as well as SEA, PHX, and LAS. Those were long flights with no movie or audio. Second, all of the airlines wrestle with the seat back entertainment issue. I have friends who say they have not used on-board entertainment in at least 10 years, using a playlist on a device for music or downloaded movies/TV shows on a laptop. Seat back entertainment adds a lot of weight, between screens and boxes. Take out the weight of entertainment, and you either use less fuel or can increase the amount of mail and freight that goes in the cargo hold. I just flew ORD-DFW-ORD. Going down, I read that day's Chicago Tribune and WSJ and started a book. Coming back, I made a major dent in the book.

[@Bacchaaviation]

@@kentfrederick8929 for majority of passengers they prefer inseat entertainment, and majority of passengers do not want to read a book on their flight. I am not arguing that it doesn’t save fuel, and thus decreases the ticket price. But I am arguing about how they decrease the amount of amenities they serve on their flights, and how they are starting to look more “low cost”.

[@Seedh]

It's always been that way since the merger with US Airways. The current AA leadership leads way back to America West (which essentially took over US Airways in the 2000s), including current chairman Doug Parker who served as CEO of all three airlines. America West was known as _the_ "budget full service carrier" of its time, so it's not too surprising that same ethos has been carried through to today. For me personally, the issue of the "budgetization" of the carrier is more so that travelling with them is sometimes unavoidable due to being the largest carrier in the US. Downgrading of a product in an industry where many people don't really have a choice because of market presence and geography. When the only choice I have is a "full service" airline with a downgraded experience and money-grab feel with credit card pestering and incessant nagging for upgrades twofold as bad as other airlines, it's hard not to be the "roll eye" airline of the industry. When I fly Southwest, I know the type of airline I'm travelling on and I don't have an issue with it. If you're gonna go that route be honest about it.

[@ASAviation]

It's unfortunate to see these full-service brands ditching comfort in favor of profit. Can't blame them of course, but other competitors like United and Delta here...and even Turkish over in Europe are making it work.

[@carterpaulson2257]

@@ASAviation AA had a really good interior right after the bankruptcy but before the Parker takeover. A very high percentage of their narrowbodies had in seat IFE which was far superior to what DL and UA were offering at the time, I flew in an a321 from HNL-LAX and was pretty impressed with the hard product. UA is aggressively trying to rebuild its reputation as they were the worst legacy carrier for quite some time but are rapidly improving. The issue is if your product is indistinguishable from that of Spirit people will just chose Spirit since AA will never match them on price anyway, they are chasing an imaginary target trying to compete with the ULCCs. I can understand not having IFE on regional aircraft (hence why southwest doesn't draw as much rebuke) but to have transcon flights with no IFE is ridiculous.

[@peterdatz6210]

It’s definitely disappointing what AA is doing to cut costs. Living in Chicago, I end up flying them more than any other airline. They’re not that bad, and their loyalty program is probably one of the best in the US, but the removal of seatback screens really takes away from the experience. I’m flying to Peru next week with a layover in Miami and neither of the flights (9 hours total each way) will have seatback screens. Guess I’ll have to bring a good book.

[@ASAviation]

That's truly disappointing, especially when you consider that you have to go all that time without a seatback screen. Trivial to complain about, but in this day and age, it seems to be the norm on most airlines especially Delta and United who operate such cabins to Lima. AA is also my most-flown carrier and it sucks to see them evolve this way.

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

You might consider seeing if United will status match you.

[@deagen2026]

the slowest turn was caused by the pilot. since the plane was turning left o to the runway he didn’t add power to the right engine which helps the plane turn faster apparently they missed that?

[@Yukis.aviation]

On my first ever flight with AA last year from DTW to DFW, there was ONLY a drink service. Nothing else. But strangely, a month later I got both a drink and snack on a 45 min flight from ORD to DTW

[@PakistaniAvgeek]

Great Video AS I always love your reviews and inspire me to make my own! 18:44 Is exactly what happened on my Southwest flight a couple months ago MDW-STL! 😅

[@ASAviation]

Thanks a lot bro! No kidding, this was surely a first for me.

[@PakistaniAvgeek]

@@ASAviation yeah it’s pretty rare this situation even happens

[@Thatguyjack758]

I’ve also flown on this route with American in September 2022 when it was a year-round destination. I kid you not it was less than a week or two later when it was downgraded to seasonal.

[@eric5680]

Just a little paint chipping. Could be that section wasnt perfectly prep’d during painting and had some dirt which caused a small chip and with the airflow eventually it grows. Wing flex also probably plays a role over time

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

[@Blank00]

Sadly, all 737 MAX users have the same lavatory. Not only does United use this lavatory in newer 737NGs, but this lavatory is also found in many of Delta's 737-900ERs, Southwest's 737-800s, and Alaska's 737-900ERs

[@ASAviation]

Oh wow. Most of the rage I heard regarding these new lavatories were in the context of American haha. I'm supposed to fly Southwest next week on either the MAX or -800, so I'm interested to see if that same model of lavatory is on that jet.

[@SweetlyFaith]

Funny trip report, very interesting, thank you for the great review!

[@K4Ediamond]

Nice review man. I actually flew on one of the twin sister ships of that aircraft from LaGuardia to Dallas (N943AN). About the service though, it certainly isn’t great. But you should see Lufthansa’s. They don’t even offer a choice of drinks. And don’t even get me started on Iberia 🤣

[@robertmeyering1379]

Great video thank you

[@zoebells767]

4:30 wrong. All AA 737s have 172 seats.

[@ASAviation]

Planespotters.net has failed me

[@wingviewproductions]

Im surprised AA flies ORD-YYC, and on a mainline aircraft too.. Usually this would be a 1-stop in DFW or a non-stop on a CRJ. ORD is 5th place in the AA hub rankings. They've dropped a ton of service out of ORD the since the merger with USAirways.

[@copa-jungle-jet4030]

I did this route in 1999 with an MD-80

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Cattle cars today, that's why I stopped flying after 911

[@nealcopeland9]

Sad but true!! I use to fly just for the fun of it.its just too c omplicated!

[@ScimitarAviation]

Those bathrooms are the EXACT same as the new 737-800 southwest ones 😂

[@beauhathaway6627]

I also flew American dfw to msy they only had water for a short flight they said apparently catering issues with American Airlines

[@eqplanes]

Great trip report to my favourite city 💪

[@canyonoverlook9937]

The snack choice isn't that big of a deal to me. I had a pop and Stroopwafel on United ord to Phoenix in 2019. It was a 3-hour flight. Maybe years ago they would have had a meal but I don't like to eat a lot on the plane anyways. I flew Ord to San Francisco in 1990 on United but don't remember if we had a meal or not.

[@ASAviation]

I don’t mind it either, and tbh usually have something of my own. We’ve gotten used to it here but someone visiting from abroad would find it comical.

[@canyonoverlook9937]

@@ASAviation European carriers don't seem to give you much in coach within Europe from what I have seen on the various youtube videos. I flew Alitalia in 2001 from London to Milan and I can't recall getting much either.

[@deagen2026]

Did anyone else see that part of the flap was missing?

[@jcspotter7322]

The aa 737-800s actually have 172 seats after their oasis and kodiak "upgrades" (downgrades)

[@zf5167]

i don't think much of personal entertainment. Air New Zealand have IFE screens on international config aircraft not necessary on short flights domestically in NZ

[@CTravelsAviation]

Nice video! Do you know about Alex Praglowski? He's an aviation KZbinr who lives in Calgary. He's really tall, he is 6'8".

[@ASAviation]

Thanks! Yes, I love his channel! Didn’t get to spot with him in Calgary but maybe next time.

[@CTravelsAviation]

@ASAviation Yeah, hopefully you plane spot with him one day.

[@CTravelsAviation]

@ASAviation I'm flying on United's Boeing 757-300 from Chicago to Orlando in August. I'll make a trip report on that.

[@Blank00]

The only silver lining is that AA's older 737s still have some character since the sidewalls retain the classic AA wallpaper. When it comes to United's NEXT non-BSI 737s, United's is objectively better, but United took the character out of their plane because they relaminated the sidewalls, replacing the Continental blue wallpaper with a generic white wallpaper, and just like AA, United is only installing partial moodlighting for those planes, and if that was United's plan since 2021, I think United should've at least kept the Continental wallpaper because the white wallpaper on a plane without full moodlighting makes the cabin look soulless

[@brandonaviationhd]

I think pilots didn't like the eyebrow windows cause of the sunlight so thats probably another reason why airlines choose to plug them. Also surprising to see AA arrive early for once lol.

[@ASAviation]

Yes that was a big issue also. I remember seeing safety cards covering them on the MD-80’s!

[@redcomusic]

If you think all of that was a joke, come watch what they served me on my Business Class inflight meal on a United Express from Edmonton to Denver LOL! - Red

[@michaelsharp3615]

Gate K13 at Chicago O'Hare is known as the Home Alone gate where Kevin bumps into a lady and thinks he saw his dad and hopped on board a flight to New York Kennedy instead of Miami where his family was going and was on

[@JustinPinedaIRL]

It's sad to see American fall from grace with their amenities. I miss those screens on their a321s. And their catchy safety video borrowing a lot from Virgin America (minus the dancing).

[@ASAviation]

IMO the OG safety videos from the pre-merger days and even 2014 were the best. The new ones are either too robotic and annoying.

[@zionismisterrorism8716]

It needs real IFE. "personal device entertainment" is a joke.

[@canyonoverlook9937]

Didn't Indiana choose American to advertise on? Why wouldn't American take a sponsored video from Illinois if Illinois wanted to pay for it?

[@ASAviation]

I understand, I was joking

[@canyonoverlook9937]

@@ASAviation Oh It went over my head,

[@MikeTobler9624]

United and delta are far better even in Lavatory No wonder Pointsguy and Jeb Brooks ranked Delta number 1 and tied for first but in second United and Alaska Airlines 3 but American Airlines 4 I would think Jetblue would come in at 4

[@OrdAviation]

Man that stinks, but I don’t really know about the stuff on the wing my guess is just old age

[@Blank00]

Another contributing factor is that AA's older 737s have been in storage for some time. They were originallg supposed to be retired, but due to MAX and NEO deliveries being slower than expected, AA yanked these 737s out of storage and retrofitted them with Oasis

[@TheAviator808]

🤣🤣🤣

[@SkyHighGuys]

I knew American was weird

[@RobertSmith-f3v]

As soon as IFE is installed on all or most aircraft it is obsolete. That is why AA doesn't do it. They've tried many times, only to have the latest systems go obsolete in the process. This happens on all airlines that have installed IFE which is why many screens on airplanes that have IFE that is over a few years old don't operate correctly or operate at all. Have any of you young folks ever heard of a book? Those skinny lavs are on all 737's. This was a decent flight. You were not in a good mood and were expecting poor experiences. If you read books you would know that it has been psychologically proven you get what you expect. This trip report is misleading. I have enjoyed all of your other videos, but this one is just misleading.

[@SRRC245]

they chose indiana but not purdue….. smh

[@ASAviation]

If it was Purdue I would have been even more insulted.

[@kikopoo1]

AA is a joke

[@mjaviation17]

Definitely a little crazy that I flew up to Calgary the same day as you! I flew the inaugural IAD-YYC flight later that night. Actually, the video of that WestJet 738 in front of the Eurowings was my aircraft! Small world!

[@ASAviation]

Wow what a small place!! Didn’t even know that plane was the inaugural IAD.