Review of American Airlines flight Newark Charlotte in Economy

Airline American Airlines
Flight AA1615
Class Economy
Seat 20F
Aircraft Boeing 737-800
Flight time 01:50
Take-off 23 Jul 16, 10:30
Arrival at 23 Jul 16, 12:20
AA   #69 out of 95 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 591 reviews
aussenrist
By 1159
Published on 30th March 2017
Hi and welcome to the Second Chapter of American Vacation Story!

Heart of Dixie: American Southern Story



This series will cover my annual vacation to the US in summer 2016, which contains 4 journeys in 3 different sets of tickets with 2 alliances.

As per my practice, I will reveal the routing as we go on. The series will be broken down as follows:

Chapter 1 - CX890 HKG-EWR, Boeing B777-300ER in J [Here]
Chapter 2a - AA1615 EWR-CLT, Boeing B737-800 in Y [You are here!]
Chapter 2b - AA5164 CLT-BHM, Bombardier CRJ-200ER in Y [Here]
Chapter 3a - DL ATL-ATL, Boeing B767-200 Spirit of Delta in J/Y [Merge into 3b]
Chapter 3b - UA5865 ATL-ORD, Embraer E-175 in Y [Here]
Chapter 4a - CX807 ORD-HKG, Boeing B777-300ER in J [Flight cancelled and merged to 4b]
Chapter 4b - CX807 ORD-HKG, Boeing B777-300ER in J [Here]

This is the first part of my flight from Newark to Alabama which I would have a stopover at CLT. This chapter is all about the boring US domestic flights, so there will be my travel bonus of Alabama in the second part of each report.


Background



This chapter started back after I successfully redeemed the CX long-haul J ticket in Aug 2015. Only travel date was confirmed and I was flexible for my itinerary. Doing some googling, my initial draft plan would be the Northwestern:

a. Seattle: 2016 was Boeing’s 100th anniversary and it should have some special events in the Everett Plant.
b. Boise ID: at that time Delta in HK started a heavy and weird promotion flying to there as low as USD400 (this place is little known in HK…), which seduced me to travel there to find out why Delta promoted this place in HK.
c. Portland: because of Portlandia and the infamous PDX carpet lol

I explored different routing options on Googles Flights to construct a 4-leg AA/AS itinerary from EWR in order to complete 4 CX/partnered flights for my 2016 Marco Polo membership renewal. Of course, things could not be happened so straightforward…

In late Sep 2015, CX announced the changes to the MPC wef Apr 2016 which adopts a BA-like tier points system instead of miles/segments for status qualification. It entirely affected my planned itinerary which was 100% impossible to meet the new MPC renewal requirement. Moreover, from 2016 onwards I began my business travel to the US on *A. Those incidents made me not so keen on keeping the MPC membership and flying to the West Coast at my own cost.

Therefore I scrapped all my initial travel plan and kept looping on the Google Maps to explore other attractive places. Suddenly one day in Mar 2016 I was aware the state shape of Alabama looks kawaii, which encountered me to visit there. At Newark both UA and AA do not have direct flights to Alabama. Even though my UA Sliver status gives me one free checked bag, I opted AA (my favorite livery airline^^) because of the UA’s unfavorable schedule and routing to Alabama.

Newark Liberty International



Previously on last report, I had my OLCI once arrived at my hotel after the HKG-EWR flight and I chose the window seat 20F.

photo 201607_01272 copy

The next day I woke up early and had my breakfast in the hotel.

photo 201607_07141 copy

Then I went to recharge myself. The hotel should be very care about my health as it installed a sprinkler next to the entrance of smoking house lol

photo dscf8375 copy

I took the hotel shuttle to the airport. I was dropped at Terminal A 2 hours 15 minutes before departure.

photo 201607_08144

I headed to the American counters. Several passengers were queuing but the lane was not long.

photo dscf8385 copy

Since I needed to pay for my checked baggage I preferred check-in at the counters rather than the kiosk.

photo dscf8389 copyphoto dscf8390

About 5 minutes later I was greeted by the agent. I handed my passport and credit card to her. She swiped my card, tagged my baggage to the final destination and handed me my travel items back. My boarding pass.

photo 201607_09251

Still had time after check-in, I went outside for another break.

photo dscf8378 copyphoto dscf8380 copy

And then walking around inside the Terminal A. The United counters

photo dscf8394 copy

Passing through the shopping corridor

photo dscf8395 copy

So many AA wheelchairs

photo dscf8384 copy

Time to the A3 security checkpoint.

photo dscf8391 copy

The FIDS at the TSA entrance. It showed my flight had an 10:29 departure from Gate 36 on time (in the top of the right FIDS).

photo dscf8397 copy

There was already a line but it was fast where I only waited for 10 minutes

My turn. The TSA staff said good morning and reminded I had to take out all the required items for the scanner check. In return I joked I was a law-abiding passenger. But once entered the scanner I got a "Beep". The humorous TSA staff replied that he knew I was nice and cooperative but please did not forget to take out my phone! Luckily mine is not a Note 7 lol I successfully passed it in the 2nd time.

Once in airside there is only one way to Terminal A3

photo dscf8398 copy

Retail store airside

photo dscf8403 copy

The main lobby of Terminal A3. Passengers sat aside and waited

photo dscf8411 copy

I reached my gate which was not ready for my flight yet

photo dscf8406 copy

Strolled around the Terminal. The Port Newark and the Manhattan skyline .

photo dscf8409 copy

Those VX and AS gates.

photo dscf8415 copy

A VX A320 from SFO

photo dscf8414 copy

The ceiling lights show the age of EWR

photo dscf8420 copy

A coffee shop in the central lobby

photo dscf8413 copy

There are several charging desks in the Terminal

photo dscf8430 copy

Finally our bird (N934NN) arrived and the agents came to work. Those standbys queued immediately. The FIDS showed that the aircraft would do a turnback to CLT.

photo dscf8428 copy

What attracted me was the conversations between father and son

photo dscf8433 copy

Later the father’s colleague came and chatted with the pair.

photo dscf8436 copy


Flight Report



Thanks to the late arrival of our aircraft, boarding did not start until the original time of departure. It was a mess since the disembarking had not finished and passengers were standing everywhere. I was in group 2 but could not find any boarding lanes.

photo dscf8438 copy

Embarking

photo dscf8442 copy

The fuselage shot

photo dscf8444 copy

A FA welcomed us at the door

photo dscf8446 copy

The First-class cabin

photo dscf8447 copy

The Y cabin

photo 201607_10131 copy

I found my window seat 20F

photo dscf8450 copy

Later my seatmates came and they are pair of sisters wearing leggings

photo dscf8454 copy

View from the wing. A B737 to PHX at the adjunct gate. The AA tail was very spectacular^^

photo dscf8451 copy

The armrest

photo 201607_10161 copy

Seat pitch is adequate for domestic flight

photo dscf8452 copy

Although I love AA… livery, it doesn't mean that AA would also love me in return. Aw jeez the margin of my seat was dirty!

photo dscf8535 copy

The seat back materials.

photo dscf8457 copy

Safety card

photo dscf8459 copyphoto dscf8460 copy

Today our flight was 100% full. There were 4 FA on this flight. They urged the passengers to settle down quickly for takeoff since a lot of passengers (including me) would have next flight in CLT.

Ironically, we pushed back at 10:53 but then stuck at the tarmac. The captain apologized that our plane had some technical issue and had to delay awhile since some paperwork was doing. Our neighbor to PHX even took off ahead of us.

photo dscf8468 copy

Safety video was played

photo dscf8471 copy

We finally taxied again at 11:15

photo dscf8473 copy

We took off! An AI B77W parked at Terminal B

photo dscf8482 copy

Nice weather today. My seatmates joined me to photograph the take off.

photo dscf8484 copyphoto dscf8489 copy

Once we leveled off, the cabin kept looping the Aadvantage Card promotion.

photo dscf8491 copy

Time to read those seatback materials. Inflight BOB menu, the Wi-Fi entertainment guide and American Way



Beverage services started when we were over IAD. I apologized for the misleading caused by the picture below lol

photo dscf8507 copyphoto dscf8493 copy

I asked for OJ. A pack of snack mix was given, which was a little improvement from my 2015 experience ;)

photo dscf8509 copy

Elliot Alderson was looking at us!

photo dscf8512 copy

Soon we were descending.

photo dscf8519 copy

Eventually we touched down at runway 23 on 12:14 which was still earlier than scheduled arrival time.

photo dscf8521 copyphoto dscf8524 copy

We parked next to an AA A321

photo 201607_12202 copy

Disembarking.

photo dscf8538 copy

The FA gave me a very special thanks and goodbye^^

photo dscf8540 copy

Last view of my bird

photo dscf8544 copy

I’ll leave off this series here as I started my layover in CLT.







Bonus: Birmingham the Magic City



One of my travel places in Alabama is Birmingham, while all my friends mistakenly thought I went to the UK lol As a former history student, I always like to revisit the city’s past story.

Birmingham is previously one of the industrial and railroad center in the South. Thus I went to the Sloss Furnaces, a former pig iron-producing blast furnace.



After visiting the Sloss Furnaces I desired to walk back to the downtown.

photo dscf8933 copy

The Rotary Trail

photo dscf8953 copyphoto dscf8955 copy

The Railroad Park

photo dscf8972 copy

I was listening Alabama Shakes in Alabama^^

photo dscf8973 copy

Vulcan Park and Museum

photo 201607_20326photo 201607_20328

View of the city from the top of Vulcan Statue aka Iron Man Tower

photo 201607_20321

This picture tells one of my goals with this American Vacation Story^^

photo dscf8799 copy

Alabama Theatre

photo dscf8951 copyphoto dscf8950 copy

Birmingham Civil Rights District

photo 201607_20446photo dscf8961 copyphoto 201607_20443

Birmingham City Hall

photo dscf9082 copy

16th Street Baptist Church

photo 201607_20325

MLK statue in Kelly Ingram Park

photo 201607_20327

Five point south, the neighborhood of my Airbnb stay in Birmingham

photo dscf9081 copyphoto dscf8966 copyphoto dscf9080 copy

Stunning sunrise view from my apartment

photo dscf8708 copy

English Village and a nice café in that neighborhood

photo dscf8911 copyphoto dscf8912 copyphoto 201607_20323

The Japanese Garden in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. You can find a lot of pokestops and gyms there^^

photo dscf8906 copyphoto dscf8907 copyphoto dscf8908 copy

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

photo dscf9062 copy

The UAB Children Hospital

photo dscf9064 copy





This is the second part of flight report and thanks for reading! You should probably know where did I fly next…

photo 201607_12583
See more

Verdict

American Airlines

6.9/10
Cabin6.5
Cabin crew8.5
Entertainment/wifi6.5
Meal/catering6.0

Newark - EWR

7.8/10
Efficiency8.0
Access8.5
Services7.5
Cleanliness7.0

Charlotte - CLT

8.6/10
Efficiency8.0
Access9.0
Services8.5
Cleanliness9.0

Conclusion

An uneventful domestic flight on AA. My seat is dirty despite it is comfortable. Standard seat pitch and seat back materials. The crews are friendly. We departed late but fortunately arrived on time.
For EWR, the Terminal A is dated but clean. Clearing the TSA is fast in a Saturday morning.

Information on the route Newark (EWR) Charlotte (CLT)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 3 avis concernant 2 compagnies sur la ligne Newark (EWR) → Charlotte (CLT).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est American Airlines avec 7.2/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 1 heures et 53 minutes.

  More information

5 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 391874 by
    NGO85 SILVER 1963 Comments
    Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing this FR with us^^

    Let me be the first to say: Birmingham? Wow, talk about an unexpected destination for a foreign tourist^^ I actually can’t remember if I’ve ever been there before, definitely used to always pass through Montgomery.

    “Boise ID” <== Was it for Boise in specific or for Sun Valley?

    “the infamous PDX carpet lol” <== It will probably be there for another 20 years so you still have time ;)

    “My boarding pass.” <== Group 2^^ Probably like Group 9 with their new boarding scheme, lol. Quite a full FIDS for AA being in the home of UA.

    “The ceiling lights show the age of EWR” <== That’s not the only thing that shows the age of EWR, but at least Terminal A looks to be in better shape than the last time I flew through there on B6, which also uses the same terminal.

    Bait and switch by AA on this flight. New livery, new BSI plane, and old seats^^ The seat is disgusting, but any complaint to AA would be responded with “we can only guarantee white glove cleaning on the first flight.” Standard catering^^

    “The FA gave me a very special thanks and goodbye^^” <== That kid is just staring horrified at you^^

    Excellent bonus on Birmingham, nice to see the old iron furnaces and am glad you are getting in touch with your Deep South historical roots^^

    “I desired to walk back to the downtown.” <== I hope you made it home with your wallet intact^^
  • Comment 391924 by
    jetsetpanda 2283 Comments
    Hi Ashley and thank you for sharing this new series with nice pics as usual.

    "The next day I woke up early and had my breakfast in the hotel."
    - It's hard to get used to disposable plates and utensils where breakfast at most hotels outside of the U.S. use proper chinaware and metal utensils.

    "The humorous TSA staff replied that he knew I was nice and cooperative but please did not forget to take out my phone!"
    - Glad to see nice TSA agents at EWR.

    "Later my seatmates came and they are pair of sisters wearing leggings"
    - Good thing that they were not flying UA. :P Seriously I think this social media incident was completely blown out of proportions. The pax was riding as an employee and UA has every single right to dictate how they should be dressed and make them abide by regulations.

    "Aw jeez the margin of my seat was dirty!"
    - One of the reasons that I carry alcohol swabs and disinfecting wipes. ;)

    Standard catering aboard but great crew which made a difference.

    Very unusual and well photographed bonus. Alabama is certainly one of those states that fly under most international traveler's radar. Good for you that you enjoyed your visit there.

    Thanks for sharing this FR.
  • Comment 392320 by
    aussenrist AUTHOR 225 Comments
    Thanks for your comment NGO85!

    “Birmingham? Wow, talk about an unexpected destination for a foreign tourist^^ I actually can’t remember if I’ve ever been there before, definitely used to always pass through Montgomery.”
    - I chose Birmingham because it is very cool to say you are going to Birmingham in Alabama instead of Birmingham in the UK :P So I guess you are used to pass through Montgomery to Atlanta?

    “Was it for Boise in specific or for Sun Valley?”
    - Boise exclusively. I think in HK people would prefer skiing in Japan/Korea rather than the Sun Valley lol

    “It will probably be there for another 20 years so you still have time ;)”
    Good to hear that! I might visit there when I travel to SF in the future.

    “Group 2^^ Probably like Group 9 with their new boarding scheme, lol. Quite a full FIDS for AA being in the home of UA.”
    Not only Group 2, but Group 1 also like Group 9 for this flight! IMO in Newark if you are not flying on UA, all the Groups are Group 9 lol And AA just put those code shared BA flights in their FIDS so that it looks like they have many flights @@

    “but at least Terminal A looks to be in better shape than the last time I flew through there on B6, which also uses the same terminal.”
    - Maybe. Based on my Newark experience, the landside of both Terminal A and B are much better than their airside. For Terminal C, airside is better than landside while the TSA checkpoints are super horrible lol

    “The seat is disgusting, but any complaint to AA would be responded with “we can only guarantee white glove cleaning on the first flight.””
    - I am a little sad that not being an Aadvantage member. Otherwise I would write to AA for the apology miles despite with those robotic responses from them^^

    “That kid is just staring horrified at you^^”
    - OMG is she the only survivor in the Roanoke Territory, North Carolina (Flora!!!)???

    “I hope you made it home with your wallet intact^^”
    - Yes I did make it and I am fine in HK now ;) BTW the Sloss Furnaces is not far from the Downtown, to me it is just a 25-minutes’ walk^^
  • Comment 392321 by
    aussenrist AUTHOR 225 Comments
    Thanks for your comment Adan! I am now much anticipated to your UA1 report (UA1 is one of my wish list)!

    “It’s hard to get used to disposable plates and utensils where breakfast at most hotels outside of the U.S. use proper chinaware and metal utensils.”
    - Considering the electricity and water charges for the plate washing machine, I understand the reason for using those disposable tableware…

    “Glad to see nice TSA agents at EWR.”
    - He is one of the nicest TSA I met so far :)

    “Seriously I think this social media incident was completely blown out of proportions.”
    - Agreed. IMO this incident is due to a tweet by a celebrity who is not familiar to airline internal policy together with the United’s robotic response to it. Thus it led to the 關公災難 (PR crisis in HK slang^^)

    “One of the reasons that I carry alcohol swabs and disinfecting wipes. ;)”
    - I would seriously consider your suggestions in my future travel...

    “Standard catering aboard but great crew which made a difference.”
    - Totally agreed! It is my pleasure to have a nice crew on this flight even no real food provided.

    “Alabama is certainly one of those states that fly under most international traveler's radar.”
    - When I mentioned I traveled to there, most of my friends have no idea what Alabama is :P Up to now some of them still assume I traveled to the UK lol

Login to post a comment.