American Airlines' newest jet, the Airbus 321neo, takes off

Phoenix passengers on American Airlines flight 682 to Orlando on Tuesday morning had the rare opportunity to experience "new airplane smell" as they were the first passengers to ride on American Airlines’ newest addition to its fleet: the Airbus A321neo. American put the new plane into service on the 8:45 a.m. April 2 flight after receiving approval from the FAA. The sticker price is $129.5m, though airlines typically negotiate discounts when they buy in bulk. The plane is part of Airbus' A321 line and the "neo" stands for "new engine option." According to Airbus' website, the aircraft has trademarked fuel-saving wingtips called “Sharklets” and two new engine choices that deliver "per seat fuel improvements of 20%, along with additional range of up to 500 nautical miles/900 km or 2 tonnes of extra payload." Those fuel-savings specs might be lost on most passengers, but people will notice the upgraded amenities such as high-speed WiFi, power outlets at every seat and built-in holders for tablets and phones. <br/>