American Airways Flagship First evaluate, and the place you possibly can nonetheless discover it

I’ve had a delicate spot for American Airways Flagship First for greater than a decade. It is the final true worldwide first-class product being flown by any American service. However Flagship First has been round for the reason that early 2010s, and American plans to formally retire the product within the coming years.

The truth is, from what we have discovered, the primary of the Airbus A321T planes with top notch that American flies between cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Santa Ana in California and New York and Boston within the Northeast have already been retrofitted and returned to service in a extra typical A321 configuration.

However for now, you possibly can nonetheless fly in true three-cabin top notch on each the Airbus A321T and the Boeing 777-300ER jets. These planes additionally provide Flagship Enterprise, however there are some enjoyable differentiators between the cabins.

The American Airways Flagship First cabins remind me of the glory days of my early entry into the factors and miles pastime. I will always remember with the ability to improve to Flagship First on a flight from New York to London, and the way excited I used to be about that flight.

That nostalgia nonetheless in thoughts, I jumped on the alternative once I was provided a great worth to improve from enterprise class to top notch on an American 777-300ER from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO).

Here is what we learn about how lengthy these enjoyable cabins can be round, what the replacements are, how the product is totally different from enterprise class and the place you possibly can nonetheless discover these throwback seats.

The top of an period: Why American Airways is eliminating Flagship First

American is eliminating its first-class cabins for an overhauled enterprise cabin — one that may broaden the variety of premium seats — on all of the Boeing 777-300ER plane in its fleet. The Airbus A321T’s distinctive first-class cabins will even be going away in some unspecified time in the future in favor of all-new plane, with the premium-heavy A321Ts being transformed into Mission Oasis-style layouts with extra coach seats.

American has beforehand stated that it will ditch the true first-class product on each the A321Ts and the 777-300s by late 2024, however that timeline has slipped. I requested American for an replace on the retirement timelines, however AA stated it had nothing extra so as to add right now. The airline has stated the overhaul got here, partly, due to clients’ need for a extra premium expertise.

The 20 remade 777-300ERs could have 70 Flagship Suite business-class seats and 44 premium financial system seats. At the moment, these planes have a complete of 60 seats between first and enterprise class.

AA’s newly delivered Boeing 787-9s will see the rollout of a brand new business-class cabin, and finally, the three-class 777-300ERs can be retrofitted with the brand new cabins, and the distinct first-class cabins can be slowly phased out. Nonetheless, that might be a methods off. American delayed the rollout of its Dreamliner Flagship suites in April resulting from manufacturing delays. These retrofitted 777-300ERs will even have what AA is asking Flagship Suite Most well-liked seats on the bulkhead, basically a business-class seat with a bit of additional house.

“We’re enhancing the shopper expertise throughout their total journey with American,” American’s Vice President of Buyer Expertise Julie Rath stated in a assertion. “The arrival of latest long-haul plane and the custom-made seat design of the Flagship Suite® seats will provide clients a very non-public premium expertise on our long-haul fleet.”

Ultimately, AA will exchange the transcon A321Ts with Airbus A321XLRs with a brand-new Flagship business-class cabin, premium financial system and Predominant Cabin Further seats, however no true top notch. Airbus informed TPG’s Sean Cudahy it should ship its first A321XLR throughout the third quarter of 2024. AA stated it did not have extra data to share simply but.

How I booked American Airways Flagship First

I initially booked a round-trip flight in enterprise class from Rome to New York. You possibly can usually guide tickets for cheaper when originating in Europe, particularly if you happen to can guide your return as far out within the schedule as you possibly can. I had booked a one-way Air France business-class award to Paris again in October of final 12 months, so I wanted to get house. One-way flights originating in Europe had been priced outrageously in miles and cash, so I went into my bag of methods to determine a enjoyable workaround for the excessive ticket costs.

As an alternative of reserving an costly one-way flight in coach, I booked a spherical journey in a premium cabin.

In my case, I paid $3,033 for my round-trip ticket from Rome to New York, with a departure date in October 2023 and a return in July 2024. After I flew the primary leg again in October of final 12 months, it was on a 777-200, a flight I reviewed for The Factors Man.

However when the schedule was loaded for my return journey within the excessive summer time season, AA put a Boeing 777-300ER on the Rome flight. The 777-300, in contrast to the 777-200, has a first-class cabin along with enterprise class.

I paid $600 for the improve to first from enterprise class, which isn’t low cost, however I knew it will probably be one in all my final alternatives to fly in Flagship First. I used my Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® and earned 1,800 AAdvantage miles for the acquisition (and 600 Loyalty Factors).

The data for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

What is the distinction between Flagship First and enterprise class on AA?

There aren’t big variations between enterprise class and top notch, although there are some enjoyable ways in which the first-class cabin and predeparture course of provide a extra elevated expertise.

Listed below are the first variations:

• Entry to Flagship First lounges and check-in (the place out there)
• Bigger seats
• Extra intimate first-class cabin with fewer seats
• Swivel seat that turns right into a workstation
• Pajamas out there
• Particular Flagship First amenity equipment
• Elevated meal service

My flight began with a extra premium expertise at New York’s JFK airport, which has a particular Flagship First check-in space that operates in tandem with Oneworld and joint-venture companion British Airways. These flying in Flagship First on transcontinental A321Ts or worldwide 777s can use this check-in space.

After giving my identify to an worker standing guard out entrance, I skipped the strains after exiting the particular check-in space and headed proper to the TSA PreCheck checkpoint. “It will have been good to have an escort via safety,” stated Michael Mosley, a TPG reader who simply took a 14-hour flight to Delhi Indira Gandhi Worldwide Airport (DEL) in Flagship First, “however it’s pretty to have a separate entrance at JFK’s Terminal 8 which feels very premium.”

The Chelsea Lounge at JFK is likely one of the nicest U.S. lounges I’ve skilled. To enter, you will should be flying top notch on a world American Airways, British Airways or different Oneworld service, be in Flagship First on one in all American Airways’ premium A321T flights to San Francisco or Los Angeles, or have the unpublished Concierge Key standing to achieve entrance to the Chelsea Lounge.

You possibly can have a particular meal served fine-restaurant fashion or select from a slew of menu choices within the Chelsea Lounge.

Flagship First comes with Group 1 boarding, so you will be among the many first passengers on board.

The primary huge distinction within the cabins is house. As you possibly can see within the pictures beneath, there’s simply extra legroom across the Flagship First seats in comparison with business-class seats.

On these massive jets, there are simply eight seats in top notch versus 52 in enterprise class, organized in a 1-2-1 structure.

Meaning you will normally get higher service. “It is the extra customized service,” stated Mosley once I requested him in regards to the greatest distinction between enterprise class and first. That was certainly the case on my flight. I could not have requested for higher, extra attentive service throughout the flight. Two flight attendants work the first-class cabin. Meaning there’s a flight attendant for every set of 4 passengers.

I like the truth that the seat rotates and turns right into a full desk house.

The amenity youngsters had been the identical as in enterprise class on my flight. Nothing too thrilling right here, although there have been just a few flights I have been on in Flagship First that had a barely upgraded amenity equipment. Pajamas had been additionally handed out to Flagship First passengers.

There have been additionally three home windows as an alternative of two like at most business-class seats.

The mattress itself is longer than in enterprise class, and there aren’t any super-narrow footwells like there are in enterprise class.

It is a smaller, extra non-public cabin.

Mosley additionally cherished the truth that there is no true footwell; it is extra like a shelf, so “you possibly can simply pop your ft up there. It is great. The truth that you possibly can have a buddy seat the place the ottoman is. Somebody can come be part of you for a meal.”

The flight attendants confirmed me how company touring collectively may be capable to share a meal throughout their seats.

The truth is, the couple sitting throughout from me had been capable of just do that. “We’re on our honeymoon,” stated the brand new bride, who had chosen the seats and was shocking her new husband, who did not even know their remaining vacation spot or that they had been flying in Flagship First.

The meals is barely upgraded in comparison with enterprise class. You may have a further course — a soup course — in between the salad and the entree. There was additionally a further appetizer. I had olives and warmed nuts (the nuts are customary in enterprise class, too).

The entrance galley additionally had a barely elevated number of snacks, together with sandwiches, bottled water and goodies like Blue Diamond almonds, Hippeas chickpea puffs and Thinsters cookies.

The drinks flowed steadily on my flight with attentive flight attendants refilling my membership soda and cranberry on the common.

Similar to in enterprise class, there was a big plastic-wrapped pillow and Casper blanket ready for me at my seat. The blanket was delicate and cozy, although not so heavy that I used to be overheated whereas sleeping.

Not like in enterprise class, first-class passengers additionally obtain a Casper lumbar pillow and a mattress pad.

The seats recline by way of numerous in-seat controls to completely lie-flat or a variety of different settings. That is just like enterprise class, however, once more, you will have a wider, longer mattress. I discover the seats far more comfy.

There was additionally much more workspace while you absolutely prolonged the tray desk.

There was loads of room within the overhead bins the place I might put the facilities once I wasn’t making an attempt to get some shut-eye.

My favourite characteristic in top notch was with the ability to order cappuccinos. First-class passengers are capable of request specialised espresso drinks made in an actual espresso machine. I requested for a number of after a too-brief sleep.

The purser helps limit entry to the first-class toilets, so there was by no means a wait for a loo.

Why I nonetheless love American Airways Flagship First

I believe my fascination with American’s Flagship First product dates to across the time I fell in love with American Airways and actually started to pursue the factors and miles pastime. My obsession with American Airways was impressed, partly, by the 2009 movie “Up within the Air,” which closely featured American Airways and one man’s obsession with airline standing and amassing miles. I relate.

That film got here out only a few years earlier than American Airways launched the cabin on its newly delivered 777-300s in 2011. Not lengthy after, I first realized I might emulate the character Ryan Bingham and go for top-tier AA standing.

Flying within the huge cabin on the entrance of the aircraft grew to become a bucket listing merchandise — and one I have been fortunate sufficient to examine off a number of instances now by upgrading numerous flights through the years.

I additionally acquired to expertise the Flagship First enjoyable with a number of flights to and from San Francisco on journeys house to see the household on the A321Ts. Flagship First has been part of my life for greater than a decade, and I nonetheless get a thrill once I’m fortunate sufficient to fly in it.

I’ll miss it when it is gone.

Here is the place you possibly can nonetheless guide Flagship First

These premium cabins may be leaving us quickly, however it’s not too late to fly in Flagship First earlier than it fades away.

Here is the place American Airways continues to be flying the 777-300ER:

• Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) — Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
• New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) — Delhi Indira Gandhi Worldwide Airport (DEL)
• New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) — Sydney Airport (SYD)
• Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) — Sao Paulo/Guarulhos Worldwide Airport (GRU)

Come November, American Airways can be flying the 777-300 on the next routes:

• Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) — Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini Worldwide Airport (EZE)
• New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) — Sydney Airport (SYD)
• Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) — Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini Worldwide Airport (EZE)
• Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) — Sao Paulo/Guarulhos Worldwide Airport (GRU)
• Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) — London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR)

When will Flagship First go away for good?

We do not but know when American Airways will absolutely retire its distinctive and growing old first-class cabins, however the day is coming.

“Past the brand new inflight facilities, bedding and eating choices on board … clients can stay up for an much more elevated expertise onboard future Boeing 787-9, 777-300 and Airbus A321XLR plane, that includes a brand new inside with the Flagship® Suite seat,” the airline stated in a press launch earlier this 12 months. American is not prepared to inform us once we can anticipate the ultimate fadeout of Flagship First.

Within the coming 12 months or two, although, there can be new jets with the flamboyant new Flagship Enterprise suites, however nonetheless no timeline. You may be positive, we’ll be the primary to let you recognize.

Backside line

Whereas we do not know when the Flagship First product goes away, we all know that it’s not lengthy for this world. Within the meantime, I will proceed to search for alternatives to fly this distinctive and enjoyable product. If you happen to get the prospect to purchase up at an honest worth or use an improve, I extremely suggest it — if just for nostalgia’s sake.

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