The Airbus A321XLR is the European manufacturer’s latest long-haul, narrow-body plane.
With its 11-hour range and smaller size, the jet is set to revolutionize how people travel.
Airlines can now more easily fly to lower-demand markets previously unprofitable with a widebody or to far-away places previously unreachable with other single-aisle planes.
The A321XLR first entered service with Spanish flag carrier Iberia in November. The airline flew seven hours from Madrid to Boston, equipping the plane with lie-flat business class and economy.
With 550 orders, the plane has garnered interest from both mainline and budget carriers — but not all experiences will be equal.
European budget carrier Wizz Air is not far behind Iberia, with its first A321XLR expected to trek seven hours from London to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, starting in March — but it won’t be close to high-end.
The two carrier’s plans for their new planes showcase the model’s versatility.
Iberia will offer business class.
Iberia wanted to provide luxury onboard its long-haul A321XLR with business class. It’s similar to JetBlue Airways’ Mint cabin but without popular sliding doors.
The high-dollar cabin, which can cost $5,000 or more roundtrip, comes with a large Bluetooth-capable television, linens, hot meals, alcohol, and a lie-flat recliner.
Other A321XLR buyers, including United Airlines and American Airlines, also plan to offer lie-flat business class to target premium travelers. American’s will have a door.
Economy will offer decent space and amenities.
Iberia’s economy cabin has comforts like an adjustable headrest, deep recline, a Bluetooth-capable screen, charging ports, extra storage slots in the seatback pocket, and 30-31 inches of seat pitch.
The legroom is on par with other mainline carriers, but taller travelers can choose a bulkhead or exit row with 40 inches of pitch.
Iberia’s Bluetooth feature is rare on airlines and it allows Iberia flyers to connect their own wireless headphones to the screen.
Hot meals and linens are included on Iberia.
Iberia offers what is typical on a mainline, long-haul flight. This means travelers will get linens and hot meals included in their fare.
The airline also offers free messaging via WiFi, with internet browsing and streaming available for a fee.
Wizz’s A321XLR approach is very different.
Wizz is a low-cost carrier that built its business on offering cheap fares at the expense of onboard comforts — and the airline continues to push the limits of flyer tolerance.
“Fifteen, 20 years ago, I thought three hours would test passenger tolerance, and then we pushed it to six hours, and we are still fine,” Wizz CEO József Váradi said during a September press conference in London. “You kind of suffer the pain, if you wish, for the economic benefits that you are deriving from the transaction.”
Iberia’s A321XLR has 182 seats. Wizz’s will cram in 239.
The all-economy cabin will offer minimal space.
Wizz said its A321XLR cabin will resemble that of its A321neo, which already flies across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The plane doesn’t come with business class seats or Iberia’s amenity-heavy economy cabin. Instead, travelers can expect slim, cramped coach seats with no headrest, no television, and a tiny tray table.
The seat pitch is only 28 inches, and there is no recline. It’d be like flying on Spirit or Frontier, but for seven hours.
The cramped, all-economy cabin will be cheap, but it’s an experience Wizz’s CEO described as something customers must “suffer” through to save money.
Not even water is free.
Like its ultra-low-cost counterparts in the US, Wizz flights come with nothing included, except a personal item. This means any food or drinks — including water — costs extra.
“When you take a legacy carrier and you get a coffee for free, that is probably the most expensive cappuccino in your life,” Varadi said. “We don’t want to do that.”
According to Wizz’s online menus, food bundles start at £11.50, or about $12, and include a sandwich, drink, and snack. Soups start at £3.70, while a water bottle costs £3.20. Alcohol, chips, and coffee, among other items, are also on sale.
Don’t expect any internet or entertainment.
Wizz keeps its fares low because it does not carry the extra weight many mainline carriers do, like seatback screens or WiFi. Flyers can pre-download content to a phone or tablet to watch during the flight.
“If you want to have more fun, you have to create the fun for yourself,” Váradi told Bloomberg in September. “It’s not going to be us who create it.”
Some Wizz planes have a messaging platform, but it doesn’t connect to the internet. It’s uncertain if this will be on the A321XLRs.
Bags cost extra and unprepared flyers risk other fees.
Wizz flyers who want a carry-on or checked bag must pay extra. For the London to Jeddah flight in April, a 10-kilogram checked bag costs £95, or $120, and a carry-on costs £66, or $83, roundtrip at the time of booking.
The bags must also meet specific size and weight requirements or flyers risk even more fees at the airport.
Another fee is for assigned seats, which cost between £18 and £42 on the same flight. Flyers also need to check in online at least three hours before the flight or pay £40 at the airport per ticket.
Wizz customers willing to ‘suffer’ can save hundreds of dollars.
Major airlines British Airways and Saudia are the only other carriers that fly nonstop between London and Jeddah.
According to Google Flights, Wizz’s basic fare is regularly a few hundred dollars cheaper than both mainline options.
That’s without any add-ons like bags and seats, so customers should be sure to do the math for all options before booking.
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