First look: Inside American’s all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Flagship Suites and extra

It is the daybreak of a brand new period for American Airways.

The Fort Price-based provider is making maybe its largest funding but in premium, and that begins with the debut of all-new Flagship Enterprise Suites aboard the swanky new Boeing 787-9P jet.

The brand new long-haul business-class suite is not nearly a much-improved pod with sliding doorways, upgraded tech and extra private house. (Although that is actually a welcome improve from the alternating rear- and forward-facing “coffins,” as some flyers describe the airline’s most dated biz product that is nonetheless flying.)

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It is also concerning the sheer variety of Flagship Suites you may discover onboard the brand new Dreamliner. Whereas American already flies practically 60 Dreamliners, the airline is doing one thing totally different with all the brand new 787s it receives from Boeing.

The brand new ones shall be designated 787-9P (for “premium”) and can characteristic a whopping 51 Flagship Enterprise Suites and 32 newly upgraded premium economic system recliners, providing a complete of 83 premium seats on these jets.

That is an almost 65% enhance in premium capability for American in comparison with the airline’s present 787-9s, and underscores that the airline is severe about investing in premium, maybe the business’s largest buzzword proper now.

Prematurely of the airline’s inaugural 787-9P flight, the provider invited a handful of media to its upkeep headquarters close to Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW) to spend an hour within the hangar with the brand new jet.

Here is what you may anticipate inside.

American’s new Flagship Enterprise Suite Most well-liked

As you enter the 787-9P from door 2L, you may see American’s signature flight image emblem illuminated behind a slatted black design welcoming you onboard. This supplies a pleasant trendy welcome contact and can hopefully assist usher in a way of serenity in the course of the boarding course of.

Turning left brings you into the primary nine-row biz cabin.

Already from this second, it is fairly clear that this aircraft is in contrast to another. Whether or not it is the fake wood-lined doorways or the black Flagship backdrop on the bulkhead wall, this cabin simply feels extra premium than something American has provided earlier than.

And that extends to the seats themselves, particularly on the very pointy finish of the aircraft.

The primary row of each business-class cabins options the so-called Flagship Enterprise Suite Most well-liked, which is designed as a “business-class-plus” expertise that is designed in American’s case to interchange Flagship First.

Due to the format of the bulkhead, these eight seats provide further private house and extra storage areas. American says that the Flagship Suite Most well-liked options 19% extra mattress house and 42% extra dwelling space than the common Flagship Suite.

Flagship Suite Most well-liked sadly would not characteristic buddy seats such as you’d discover in JetBlue’s Mint Studio or United’s upcoming Polaris Studios, however they’re extra spacious and fascinating in comparison with the remainder of the cabin. (Simply notice that the proximity to the galley may very well be bothersome throughout in a single day flights.)

In addition they do not characteristic double beds (nor does the common Flagship Enterprise Suite), which is a bummer contemplating that United simply debuted this characteristic for its new Polaris cabins debuting subsequent 12 months.

However, the Flagship Enterprise Suite Most well-liked expertise will change into American’s top-of-the-line product. The seat itself undoubtedly feels extra spacious and splendid in comparison with the others.

For one, I really like the darker gray tones that American is utilizing to demarcate the Most well-liked suites. Even the black suite trims and sliding doorways assist talk that these are the fanciest seats. The quartz-style tray tables additionally seem like extra refined than these only a row behind.

You undoubtedly really feel all the extra house within the Flagship Suite Most well-liked in comparison with the common pods a row behind. The one draw back is that you will solely take pleasure in one window in the event you’re seated alongside the window.

American gave the complete aircraft an enormous tech improve, together with Bluetooth connectivity, common AC shops, USB-A and USB-C shops at each seat.

Flagship Enterprise Most well-liked and Flagship Enterprise additionally take pleasure in a Qi wi-fi charging pad.

The 17.5-inch 4K TV had crisp screens and a newly upgraded person interface that may very well be managed utilizing your finger or an leisure distant.

Except for the extra house, American will even provide elevated facilities for passengers seated right here. This features a Nest Bedding-branded mattress pad, a throw blanket and a reminiscence foam lumbar pillow. Flyers splurging for these seats will even take pleasure in Nest-branded pajamas and an unique amenity equipment with further skincare merchandise from 13 Lune by Joanna Vargas and Related.

Proper now, American is not charging extra for the Flagship Suite Most well-liked, but it surely presumably will begin charging a further charge for these seat assignments within the coming months.

American’s new Flagship Enterprise Suite

Maybe the most important enchancment is ready for the 43 passengers seated within the Flagship Enterprise Suite product.

These seats, a custom-made model of the favored Adient Ascent product, are unfold throughout two cabins. The ahead nine-row cabin feels fairly giant, whereas the rear five-row mini-cabin is the place you may discover me making an attempt to zen out once I finally fly on this aircraft.

All seats are organized in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, which means that they face away from the aisle. This association is nice for solo vacationers, but it surely would not bode effectively for {couples} and households who need to spend time collectively in the course of the flight.

There’s a retractable full-length privateness divider that may be prolonged between the 2 middle seats, however your heads will nonetheless be fairly far aside if you’re seated within the middle. (Word there’s a small, albeit minor, hole between the tip of the privateness divider and the seat in entrance of it.)

The seats themselves ought to be fairly acquainted to anybody who has flown the Adient Ascent product earlier than. Airways providing related seats embody Qatar Airways and Hawaiian Airways on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Simply notice that seats in Row 6 are lacking home windows.

All seats convert into 79-inch-long lie-flat beds, and the sliding doorways lengthen for privateness. Nonetheless, the sliding doorways will not be enabled from day one as a result of the airline remains to be ready for FAA approval to make use of them as doorways.

Word that if you’re in mattress mode, the seats may also be used as a chaise lounger, which means that your again shall be up in opposition to the wall of the seat. American put in a second seat belt on this space to make it simpler to loosen up on this configuration.

American clearly thought concerning the particulars with these seats. I liked the 2 cocktail trays, considered one of which has the flight image etched into the floor.

The seats characteristic two enclosed storage compartments — a bigger one with a mirror that tilts, in addition to a smaller one constructed into the armrest.

The aisle armrests may be raised and lowered, however they do not characteristic a water bottle holder such as you would possibly discover on different related merchandise.

Even the movable headrest feels way more premium than something American has achieved earlier than. The tan coloring mixed with the white flight image affords a pleasant distinction and provides the cabin a pleasant pop of shade.

American’s customizations even lengthen to the silver sconces, which admittedly assist the product really feel way more luxurious than the airline’s present mish-mash of business-class merchandise.

The 17.5-inch 4K TV screens are lots giant, and really feel adequately sized for the seat.

The brand new 787-9P is provided with satellite-based Viasat Wi-Fi, which shall be free for all AAdvantage members starting in January.

There are three bathrooms out there for business-class vacationers, all of which have an attention-grabbing cloud wallpaper that I have never seen earlier than on an American jet.

I am unable to resolve if it feels cheesy or luxe, however you may make your personal name if you fly on the aircraft.

American’s new premium economic system recliners

Whereas the brand new business-class cabins are undoubtedly the star of the present, American additionally has some upgrades in retailer for the seats behind the flamboyant suites.

It begins within the premium economic system cabin, which now options winged headrests for elevated privateness.

Do not be fooled, although. Whereas the wings actually assist promote a way of non-public house, you may nonetheless be capable to see your neighbor in the course of the flight.

Premium economic system shall be unfold throughout 5 rows in a 2-3-2 format.

All seats characteristic a 13-inch 4K TV, a common AC outlet, a USB-C outlet, a USB-A outlet and a Qi wi-fi charging pad. Apparently, the wi-fi charging pad is enclosed beneath the seat TV, so it stays to be seen if that may result in system overheating points.

American infused the identical cabin design from Flagship Enterprise into the brand new premium economic system part, which actually elevates the texture of the premium economic system expertise. As an illustration, the tan headrest covers with the flight image emblem contrasted with the deep blue seat covers with intricate stitching promote a luxe vibe for this cabin, one thing that is sorely wanted relative to American’s present sterile premium economic system expertise.

As premium economic system turns into extra fashionable for these trying to improve from economic system with out splurging on enterprise, it is nice to see American making some investments in these recliners. It stays to be seen if the airline will match the exhausting product funding with related ones within the tender product (i.e., the eating and bedding), however at the very least the seats shall be extra snug than earlier than.

American’s new economic system cabins

Final however not least, American is even giving economic system flyers one thing to get enthusiastic about: main tech upgrades.

The 143 slimline economic system seats will characteristic 11.5-inch 4K TVs with Bluetooth connectivity, in addition to a handful of charging choices: common AC shops, USB-A and USB-C ports.

The seats themselves characteristic purple accents, which add a refreshing pop of shade, however in any other case, they’re nonetheless very a lot economic system seats.

Count on 31 inches of pitch within the common economic system part.

Word that there are simply 18 Foremost Cabin Further seats on this, and so they’re all situated within the bulkhead, so in the event you do not love this association (otherwise you e book late), you may in all probability find yourself in an everyday economic system seat.

American Boeing 787-9 routes

American will inaugurate the Boeing 787-9P on June 5 with a home round-trip between Chicago and Los Angeles. When the aircraft returns to Chicago, it’ll function each day to London.

Going ahead, the airline’s preliminary deployment schedule for the 787-9P is as follows:

As extra new Dreamliners are delivered, American is predicted to deploy these planes on further premium-heavy routes. American has 30 787-9Ps on order, and it expects to obtain eight of those jets in 2025.

Along with the brand new 787-9s, American will even be retrofitting present Boeing 777-300ERs with the brand new Flagship Enterprise seats. These planes will commerce eight Flagship First seats and 52 Flagship Enterprise seats for a whopping 70-seat Flagship Enterprise Suite cabin. These retrofits are reportedly already underway, and the brand new cabins ought to begin popping up on present 777-300ER routes within the coming months.

Moreoever, American’s new Airbus A321XLR plane will characteristic a modified Flagship Enterprise Suite expertise, however extra on that when the primary aircraft lands at DFW later this 12 months.

Backside line

It is an thrilling time to be an American Airways flyer.

The airline will quickly launch its hotly anticipated Flagship Enterprise Suite expertise, that includes absolutely enclosed pods for the very first time. Plus, with large tech upgrades and fancier cabin finishes, it is clear that these planes had been designed for the trendy traveler.

Higher but, the business-class suites are an enormous improve in comparison with the present merchandise that American affords on long-haul flights, and they need to be a welcome improve for any longtime American traveler. Even the premium economic system and economic system cabins are getting a welcome refresh targeted on improved tech, which means that many flyers ought to take pleasure in a greater expertise onboard the Boeing 787-9P. (It is only a disgrace there are so few Foremost Cabin Further seats on this aircraft.)

All in all, the brand new Flagship Suites will permit American to extra fiercely compete on product in opposition to its Huge 3 rivals and a few of the main worldwide airways. As increasingly carriers are investing in premium, each by investing in new seats and by increasing the premium cabin footprint, American has simply made its large transfer.

Now, it is solely a matter of time to see if American can match these investments with commensurate enhancements in onboard eating, facilities and repair.

If it may possibly, American’s premium long-haul expertise shall be among the many greatest within the U.S.

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