Updated American A300 Is Here

flybyguy · Sat Jan 01, 2005 2:27 pm

Hi all,

Just came back from a trip to Puerto Rico an hour ago and I flew on the updated A300. It has the same navy blue seats with the adjustable headrests as the Boeing 767, the carpet is navy blue (if I remember correctly), the sidewalls are the same, the overhead lockers are the same, the CRT displays were replaced with similarly sized thin LCD monitors. I tell you this was a welcomed change to the A300 that I flew out of JFK, the interior of that plane that was so tattered and old.

FLY2LIM · Sat Jan 01, 2005 3:14 pm

Just flew A300 on the MIA-LIM-MIA portions of my trip. Same ol' Airbus, same old tattered everything, disgusting bathrooms (were not cleaned in LIM). I guess you did get lucky.
FLY2LIM

Xkorpyoh · Sun Jan 02, 2005 4:02 am

during my the last trips on AA A300 there was a stinky smell coming from the bathrooms that lasted througout the flight. My travel companion aslo smelled it but didnt want to say anyting until i mentioned. What is wrong with those planes? it only happens on the AA A300 (as per my experience)

gearup · Sun Jan 02, 2005 4:09 am

There is nothing wrong with the aircraft. AA are not keeping them clean, simple as that.

GU

solnabo · Sun Jan 02, 2005 4:44 am

Where is Mr Muscle when you need him?

Jjeeeehhhhhh........

Mike / SE Insane

FLY2LIM · Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:25 am

There is nothing wrong with the aircraft. AA are not keeping them clean, simple as that.

You could say that again. My daughter wanted to use the bathroom in LIM before takeoff for MIA. My wife took her and explained to me later that the restroom was full of pee, everywhere except the actual toilet seat. Not a pretty sight.
Why doesn't AA clean their toilets?
FLY2LIM

blsbls99 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:36 am

Sounds to me like it is whomever AA contracts their aircraft cleaning to in LIM.

jumbojet · Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:36 am

write letters to AA. you'll get a response.

https://www.aa.com/apps/utility/contactAA/ContactAAHome.jhtml?fileName=aaCustomerRelations.jhtml

https://www.aa.com/apps/utility/contactAA/EmailCustomerRelations.jhtml

WesternA318 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:38 am

Thank goodness the only time I fly the grand ol' A300's are on the JFK-MIA runs...

B757capt · Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:52 am

THIS IS NOT TO JUSTIFY THE FLIGHT BUT, Some of us airlines try to quick turn, even on international routes. What that meens is that the aircraft may fly 4 legs before it gets cleaners on board. For example and aircraft could fly: ORD-MIA-CUN-MIA and then finally in MIA it might be cleaned.

WesternA318 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:56 am

So very true, B757capt. Isnt that how Southwest does it? They do their 8 flights a day and then clean it at the next overnight stop?

swadispatcher · Sun Jan 02, 2005 6:14 am

But at least our lavs are mopped out and straightened up at each provisioning stop..

ChiGB1973 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:12 am

TZ cleans at every stop (even MDW-MSP), I find it hard to believe, though I was wrong that one time, that AA does not clean lavs at every stop.

The lavs on the 757 without vacuum toilets are pretty horrendous too until the engines are running and the air is being circulated better than sitting on the ground. It would be quit an undertaking to replace the lavs to a vacuum system.

Could be a problem with the cleaners? The staff may be too lazy to complain and let management know and the customers would rather put a posting on here than complain to management on the AA web site.

M

Pronto · Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:29 am

It was brought up during the comments, so here goes! If you can't pee(into the toilet) standing up, SIT DOWN!! This isn't just aimed(no pun!!) at the women, but obviously some of the men too!! It doesn't help if so many members of the public are such pigs these days...

EmiratesUK · Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:38 am

Flew on one of those A300 MIA-JFK in 1999, they were a little tatty back then. Can't believe they've only just started to update the interior.

A340600 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 8:01 am

Where is Mr Muscle when you need him?

I know where he is. I see him everyday. He's one of my theatre teacher! He doesn't look like him in real life without his hair gelled! Did you know they actually film Mr Muscle ads in South Africa because it's cheaper and Phil (Muscle) gets first class seats!

AA obviously don't keep the busses in good shape!

Sam Big thumbs up

UNDAEROSPACE · Sun Jan 02, 2005 8:13 am

The A300's shakes and rattles like a 1955 Thunderbird.Those things need to be replaced badly...Hopefully with the 7e7 eventually..

tommy767 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 8:31 am

Yep. Those new interiors can make all the difference.

A340600 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 8:37 am

The A300's shakes and rattles like a 1955 Thunderbird.Those things need to be replaced badly...Hopefully with the 7e7 eventually..

Sounds like AA don't treat these birds nicely! MON keep them in very good condition, as with their old 1983 757's, all in tip top shape!

Sam

LGA777 · Sun Jan 02, 2005 1:11 pm

My last two flights on AA A-300's (July and Nov 2004) both had the new AA interior's, big improvement and on both flights the lavs where clean/normal !

Regards LGA777

flybyguy · Sun Jan 02, 2005 3:34 pm

I would have to say that I agree with those who say that the AA a300's lavs stink strongly of urine. On both legs of my trip I had stinky bathrooms. Things must really be bad for AA.

N62NA · Mon Jan 03, 2005 1:47 am

It isn't a problem with the lav per se, it must be a problem with the passengers using and abusing the lavs!

I've been on dozens of AA Airbus flights and have yet to notice anything wrong with the lavs. Granted, I've only flown the Airbus between Miami and JFK, EWR (up until a year ago) and SJU, but having logged probably 20+ flights over the past year and a half on these birds, I have never seen (or smelled) any problem with the lavs.

FLY2LIM · Mon Jan 03, 2005 1:53 am

Thanks for all the comments. I think the comment about the cleaning contract in Lima may be accurate. Does anyone realize that AA now outsources the security for their flights arriving/departing LIM? In other words, it's people who wear the same ol' blue and white uniforms but they are not AA staff. I have a good friend at AA in LIM and she tells me that they are outsourcing everything. The only thing that AA personnel does at this time is ticket counter, baggage service, and reservations. They also have a local F/A base in LIM.
As far as wanting to turn the plane around quickly, my aircraft landed from MIA on time, around 10:30 p.m., for an 11:50 p.m. departure. This flight arrived full and left full. There is no way that you wait to clean the toilets in a bird that carries 250 pax and that has flown one 5 hour leg. In one bathroom, I didn't find any soap to wash my hands. That is bad. I may find myself writing to AA.
Thanks for the comments.
FLY2LIM

NumberTwelve · Mon Jan 03, 2005 2:04 am

@UNDAEROSPACE: I know that for the US the 7e7 is a wonder aircraft - and we will see how it performes.

But I didnt know that a 7e7 would clean itself.

If AA has no more money for cleaning staff etc, their planes will look bad. So next time fly with an airline that cleans the lavatories - very simple thing.
And I don't wonder why AA isn't satisfied with the 300, if maintenance and pilot training is as bad as lavatory cleaning Wink/being sarcastic

AA787 · Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:45 am

AA does a quick turn around in LIM and in UIO. They do not consider those airports to be extremely safe. That is why no AA plane ever spends the night at either of those airports and that is also why they turn around so quickly.

Source: AA ticketcounter representative when I asked about the quick turn arounds.

AA787

akjetBlue · Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:23 am

I'll probably get smacked for this one but...

JetBlue cleans the Lavs on every turn, even our 35 min turns Smile/happy/getting dizzy

Fly JetBlue ! Fly New Clean Planes that don't shake and rattle like a 1955 Thunderbird

Smile/happy/getting dizzy

aerobalance · Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:27 am

Akjetblue,

Given enough turbulence, every plane, old or new, shakes and rattles. They're designed too. Now let's see if you know why they are designed that way....

[Edited 2005-01-05 00:28:39]

AA787 · Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:24 am

Another problem that B6 may not have to deal with as much as AA is the inexperience of the passengers. I have heard stories of places like LIM and PAP where people don't know about the lav's and all of those things. It isn't AA's fault that people have bad aim.

AA787

WesternA318 · Wed Jan 05, 2005 11:38 am

"It isn't AA's fault that people have bad aim."

Nope, its all blamed on the parents! And the own adult in a LOT of cases, as I realized on a flight from BOG to JFK a few years back when Avianca still flew 747's.

DAYflyer · Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:04 pm

Nymbertwelve,

I have a good friend who works for AA, and the problem is not pilot training. Airbus is not exempt from liability, albeit a lousy toilet design or a faulty rudder input system.

BIGBlack · Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:51 pm

My experiences on AA A300's have led me to be one for the retirement of all A300 a/c

WesternA318 · Wed Jan 05, 2005 1:25 pm

Off the topic slightly, but can anyone tell me where CO/EA's 300s went?

klkla · Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:54 pm

I flew an American A300 from San Jose Costa Rica to MIA two months ago and although the interior was 'dated' it was clean and well-maintained. I would think these cleanliness issues are the exception rather than the rule. The plane did not shake and rattle any more than any other plane of that age (and nothing compared to an Aeromexico MD80 I flew about a month ago from GDL-LAX).

Scorpio · Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:30 pm

Off the topic slightly, but can anyone tell me where CO/EA's 300s went?

They're all over the place really. Some have been scrapped, others are stored, some are flying for charters like Onur Air, some were converted to freighters and are with the likes of DHL, Tradewinds and TNT.

OHLHD · Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:09 pm

The A300 is work horse. Every A300´s interior I have been in was quite misrable, but the A/C brought me to my destination, and that is what counts.

Does A300 have PTV??????? IFE yeah on screens (which the last time I travelled didn´t work.

I guess they will be around for a long time with AA, since they cannot afford buying or ordering any new planes.
The 7E7 is def the replacement for them since I cannot imagin AA to buy the A330 or A350.

BIGBlack · Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:55 am

Once again, I need to do a trip report on my A300 flight from Miami to BOS. People were praying for shits sakes. Quite the turn off. Anyway, I am glad they are updating the interiors. Is the NTSB investigaion on what caused the 2002 crash complete yet?

gilesdavies · Thu Jan 06, 2005 1:03 am

U2 and FR only have 20min turnarounds and their aircrafts are cleaned when they return to base at the end of 8-10 rotations and they manage to keep the toilets clean.

You will see a cabin crew member cleaning it just before landing or just after deplaning.

Why did AA stop operating the A300 on the LHR-JFK routes and replace them for 763's?

NYCAAer · Thu Jan 06, 2005 1:11 am

The A300 tranatlantic was a temporary measure until the 777s were delivered. The last A300 flight to LHR was flown in 2001. The 10 A300s that were used on JFK-LHR, EWR-LHR, BOS-LHR and BOS-ORY are the aircraft that have received the new interiors, when they were converted from 3-class back to 2-class. The other 24 in the fleet will still have the older, original interiors.

A350 · Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:02 am

@Flybyguy

I hope you have uploaded some pretty pics at a.net Smile/happy/getting dizzy

A350

slvrblt · Thu Jan 06, 2005 8:05 am

A lot of it has to do with the passengers themselves, unfortunately. Some poorer countries lack more than you realize.

If you look at the interior condition, and the lavs of an arriving flight from PAP, LIM, SDQ, vs an arriving flight from NYC, it is really amazing.

Try checking out the restrooms around concourse D at MIA. Same thing. Disgusting. How can anyone miss hitting a urinal????? But they do, it's all over the floor.

Poor airplanes.....

NumberTwelve · Fri Jan 07, 2005 2:58 am

@SLVRBLT, so people from South America are dirty , sleazy and pi****g onto the floor?
In Germany we had a game called "Wer hat Angst vorm schwarzen Mann" (Who fears the black man) - and it was part of prejudicy. You working for an international company???

Poor people, poor company!!!

[Edited 2005-01-06 18:59:43]

gilesdavies · Fri Jan 07, 2005 3:04 am

If AA dont want the A300's sure Monarch will take them on and give them some TLC which is what they sound like they desperately need.

Monarch's were delivered around the same time and can guarantee as they are a charter airline their A300's work a dam site harder than AA's.

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jfkaua · Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:13 am

Does A300 have PTV??????? IFE yeah on screens (which the last time I travelled didn´t work.

Yeah some of them did at one point... anyone have shots of this new interior yet? When will they all be done?

N328KF · Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:12 am

When I flew to San Juan last year, it was on 757s. Still the case? (Out of ORD)

malaysia · Mon Jan 10, 2005 1:24 pm

I even brought a bottle of LAV juice with me once non revving on an 747-200, cause I knew the blue juice would get old. I personally poured more deoderizer in the bathrooms, since it was turning green and I wanted a nice clean ride for 12 hours in cattle class. Maybe if I have fly on an AA A300, I will bring an extra bottle with me. Definitely need one on Aeroflot, they sometimes just use plain water without any deoderizer to flush and fill even its a vacuum system.

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