Who can tell me about the Airbus 319/320?? Are they small and cramped or OK?

[BeanoC]

I can get an unbelievable fare from United Airlines, but I've never flown on an Airbus 319 or 320. Who can tell me what they're like? Can they be compared to, say, an S-80 or a 737??

The fare is amazingly low but if these planes are miserable
I'd sooner pay more to fly Delta...

Any info would be appreciated!!!



'Beano' :cool:

[olena]

I've been on many A-320's. They're mid-sized to me. Then again, I don't know what you consider 'small'. Airbus makes smaller aircraft than A-320, if that helps.

[TravelSheryl]

The A-320 is closest to a 737 and when I flew UA A-320s last summer I was not cramped at all. The S-80 is AA's version of an MD-80 and currently AA's S-80 will have a greater amount of legroom than any UA plane unless you are in the Economy Plus section, because AA removed a few rows of seats on all their planes last year and now have More Room Throughout Coach.

I doubt any UA plane is more cramped than Delta's.

[Beverly Lynn]

united has moved some of the seats out too in competition for AA. I got to ride in one of those aircrafts last may of 2000 and it wasn't bad at all. the airbuses are actually pretty nice. I think 737's are more cramped than the airbuses.

[TravelSheryl]

UA has adjusted seat pitch only in their Economy Plus section, which is reserved for advance seating for their Premier members of their FF program and full fare paying passengers. At airport checkin, it is sometimes possible to get one of those seats if you are neither a Premier or a full fare paying passenger.

As to the 737, the seat pitch varies widely, depending on which carrier and the model of the 737. For example, there is no comparison between the seat pitch on Southwest's 737-700s and their 737-200s.

[caitycaity]

As I recall, when we were on an airbus 319 the armrests wouldn't go up all the way (only about half way).

hth!

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I love them! They are so comfortable! Much nicer than a 737 or MD80.

[TravelSheryl]

caitycaity, that's only for certain rows, not all of them, as can be the case on any aircraft type.

[caitycaity]

sorry sheryl - i didn't know. In 20 years of flying I have never had a seat that the rests didn't go up (except communter flights) until this one time! :)

[sgtdisney]

The A319 and A320s are actually pretty nice aircraft. They are similar in size and appearance to a Boeing 737. They have 6 across seating with a single aisle and 1 jet engine mounted on each wing. The 319 is the smaller of the 2 and seats 120, where the A320 seats 138 . The aircraft is also slighter wider than a Boeing 737 or 727 so the seats are slightly wider by about an inch. As others have said the pitch will be pretty much the same as any other major carrier (except American Airlines) unless you are lucky enough to get the Economy Plus section of the coach cabin which is typically reserved for members of United's frequent flier program. The last United A320 I rode on had video equipment on the aircraft which many of their 737s and all their 727s do not have.

If you feel comfortable flying on a 727 or 737, you will be fine on an A319 or A320.

Here are some links to United Web site with information about the aircraft and seat charts.

United's A319
http://www.united.com/site/primary/0,10017,1077,00.html

United's A320
http://www.united.com/site/primary/0,10017,1078,00.html