A have a look at American’s all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Flagship Suite seats and extra

American’s new Flagship Suite Most popular

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

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

Already from this second, it is fairly clear that this airplane is not like 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 supplied earlier than.

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

The primary row of each business-class cabins options the Flagship Suite Most popular seating possibility, 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 every Flagship Suite Most popular seat options 19% extra mattress house and 42% extra residing space than the common Flagship Suite.

American’s new Flagship Suite

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

These seats, a personalized model of the favored Adient Ascent product, are unfold throughout two cabins. The ahead nine-row cabin feels fairly massive, 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 airplane.

All seats are organized in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone configuration, that means they face away from the aisle. This association is nice for solo vacationers, nevertheless it does not bode effectively for {couples} and households who wish to spend time collectively through 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 while you’re seated within the middle. (Notice that there’s a small, albeit minor, hole between the tip of the privateness divider and the seat in entrance of it.)

American’s new premium financial 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 flowery suites.

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

Do not be fooled, although. Whereas the wings actually assist promote a way of private house, you may nonetheless be capable to see your neighbor through the flight.

Premium financial system will probably be unfold throughout 5 rows in a 2-3-2 format.

Every of those seats encompasses a 13-inch 4K TV, a common AC outlet, a USB-C outlet, a USB-A outlet and a Qi wi-fi charging pad. Curiously, 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 its Flagship Suite into the brand new premium financial system part, which actually elevates the texture of the premium financial system expertise. As an example, 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 current sterile premium financial system expertise.

As premium financial system turns into extra fashionable for these trying to improve from financial 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 onerous product funding with related ones within the comfortable product (i.e., the eating and bedding), however at the very least the seats will probably be extra snug than earlier than.

American’s new financial system cabins

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

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

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

Anticipate 31 inches of pitch within the common financial system part.

Notice that there are simply 18 Essential Cabin Further seats on this plane, they usually’re all positioned within the bulkhead, so in the event you do not love this association (otherwise you e book late), you may most likely find yourself in a daily financial system seat.

American Boeing 787-9 routes

American will inaugurate the Boeing 787-9P on June 5 with a home spherical journey between Chicago and Los Angeles. When the airplane returns to Chicago, it’ll function day by 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 may also retrofit current Boeing 777-300ERs with the brand new Flagship Suite seats. These planes will commerce eight Flagship First seats and 52 Flagship Enterprise seats for a whopping 70-seat Flagship Suite cabin. These retrofits are reportedly already underway, and the brand new cabins ought to begin popping up on current 777-300ER routes within the coming months.

Furthermore, American’s new Airbus A321XLR plane will characteristic a modified Flagship Suite expertise, however extra on that can come later this yr when the primary airplane lands at DFW.

Backside line

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

The airline will quickly launch its hotly anticipated Flagship Suite expertise, that includes absolutely enclosed pods for the very first time. Plus, with massive 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 a giant improve in comparison with the present merchandise that American gives on long-haul flights, and they need to be a welcome enchancment for any longtime American Airways traveler. Even the premium financial system and financial system cabins are getting a much-needed refresh that focuses on improved tech, that means many flyers ought to get pleasure from a greater expertise on board the Boeing 787-9P. (It is only a disgrace there are so few Essential Cabin Further seats on this airplane.)

All in all, the brand new Flagship Suites will enable American to extra fiercely compete with its Huge Three rivals (Delta Air Traces and United), in addition to a few of the main worldwide airways, within the product house. As extra carriers put money into premium choices, each by including new seats and increasing the premium cabin footprint, American has simply made its massive transfer.

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

If it could, the provider’s premium long-haul expertise will probably be among the many finest within the U.S.

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