American Airways is the US airline that I fly most, provided that I dwell in Miami. I’ll be the primary to confess that I generally give American Airways a tough time, although that doesn’t imply I feel the airline is horrible.
For instance, on steadiness I don’t suppose United is any higher than American, each by way of passenger expertise and the loyalty program. In the meantime I’d argue that Delta truly is best than American by way of passenger expertise, although the loyalty program is a deal-breaker for me.
Anyway, within the spirit of constructive reinforcement, on this submit I wished to share 12 issues that I feel American Airways does effectively. In no specific order, beneath is what I like about American Airways…
Excessive velocity Wi-Fi
Because it stands, American Airways has the most effective total Wi-Fi providing of any of the “massive three” US carriers, in my view. A overwhelming majority of American’s slender physique fleet is provided with Viasat Wi-Fi, which is the most effective you’ll discover within the {industry}.
American has extra planes with Viasat than Delta, although admittedly Delta is catching up, and is getting ready to introduce free Wi-Fi for all passengers. In the meantime United is a distant third in relation to Wi-Fi.
Worldwide lounge entry
American Airways gives glorious Flagship Lounges in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, that are the most effective simply accessible worldwide airline lounges provided by any US airline.
In step with oneworld lounge entry insurance policies, these lounges will be accessed by oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members touring internationally, in addition to all oneworld first and enterprise class passengers. As a degree of comparability:
- Delta Sky Golf equipment are superior for home lounges, however Delta doesn’t have any particular worldwide lounges (that ought to change in 2023), and for that matter Sky Golf equipment have critical crowding points
- United Polaris Lounges are superior to Flagship Lounges, however are solely accessible by worldwide enterprise class passengers, and no elite standing will get you into these lounges
So there’s one thing to be stated for American having very good lounges which might be additionally simply accessible.
oneworld Emerald standing
It’s not that American deserves full credit score for this, because it’s extra concerning the alliance than American. Nonetheless, oneworld Emerald standing is my favourite alliance standing that exists, and I really like the lounges it will get me entry to. From the Qantas Lounge First Lounge Los Angeles, to the Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo, I pinch myself each time I get to make use of considered one of these lounges when not flying top quality.
Different alliances don’t have an elite tier that may compete. Whereas Star Alliance Gold standing is beneficial as effectively, it’s not practically as useful.
Flagship First Eating
Whereas it’s anybody’s guess what the long run holds for these, American gives superb Flagship First Eating amenities in Dallas, Miami, and New York. These are personal, beautiful areas with a la carte eating. The meals and repair are typically fairly good, however greater than something I simply admire how tranquil these amenities are. These are among the many greatest lounge areas you’ll discover in the USA.
Flagship First Eating is open to “premium” top quality clients, touring both on Boeing 777-300ERs or Airbus A321Ts. With American anticipated to eradicate worldwide top quality as of late 2024, it’s anybody’s guess what the long run holds for these amenities. Within the meantime, I’ll proceed to take pleasure in them when I’ve entry.
Worldwide enterprise class seats
Whereas not notably flashy, I’d say that on steadiness American has the most effective and most constant worldwide enterprise class seats of the “massive three” US airways. American’s broad physique fleet consists completely of Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s, and all of these planes have totally flat beds with direct aisle entry.
To match this to Delta and United:
- Delta’s most typical broad physique plane is the Boeing 767, and people have a not-great enterprise class product, with extraordinarily slender seats and plenty of with outdated interiors; Delta now additionally has ex-LATAM Airbus A350s, which don’t even have direct aisle entry in enterprise class
- United has made good progress with putting in Polaris enterprise class seats, however the airline nonetheless has Boeing 767-400s that haven’t been reconfigured, and United additionally has a considerable fleet of Boeing 757s, that are used for transatlantic flights however don’t have direct aisle entry
Citi AAdvantage Government Card
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (assessment) is my favourite airline co-brand bank card. It has a $450 annual charge, and comes with an Admirals Membership membership.
That’s doubtlessly deal in and of itself, although what makes this card so particular is you can add 10 licensed customers to the cardboard at no additional price, and every licensed consumer is ready to deliver as much as two company or their speedy household into Admirals Golf equipment when flying American or an eligible associate airline the identical day.
So for a single $450 annual charge you not solely get lounge entry for your self, but additionally in your family and friends. This is without doubt one of the all-around greatest bank card perks on the market.
American’s small enterprise rewards program, Enterprise Further, is the most effective such program provided by any of the “massive three” US airways. This lets you earn additional rewards for the flights you ebook anyway, and I exploit the factors earned to verify upgrades on flights the place I don’t suppose my complimentary improve would in any other case clear. I actually admire the additional worth provided by this program.
Priceless associate award tickets
Among the many “massive three” US airways, American AAdvantage is the one program that provides some industry-leading associate award redemption values. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that each one AAdvantage awards are a tremendous worth, however American has some actual candy spots.
Particularly, with the ability to fly from the USA to the Center East, India, Africa, and many others., on Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, is a tremendous worth. These awards price 70,000-75,000 miles one-way in enterprise class, and also you gained’t discover a higher worth for these sorts of awards via different applications.
In the meantime to check that to different applications:
- Delta SkyMiles actually gives little or no worth for associate redemptions, to not point out associate award availability is proscribed
- Whereas United MileagePlus has some okay associate award redemption values, you’ll nearly all the time get a greater deal via Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles
Transparency & honesty
Whereas I’ve my justifiable share of criticism for American’s administration, I do have to provide them credit score for typically being clear, not less than in comparison with different airways. This is applicable in a number of methods:
- When American makes modifications, the airline usually present advance discover of them, which is one thing I admire
- As of now AAdvantage is the one one of many “massive three” US applications to nonetheless have award charts
- I discover that after I make a media request with the airline, American is the almost definitely to provide me an trustworthy reply (even when it’s not within the firm’s favor), fairly than attempting to sugar-coat or keep away from answering
- Within the worker intranet, American typically overshares with staff
Broad physique planes on home flights
Extra so than at Delta and United, American operates variety of internationally configured planes on home flights. This implies you can rating a flat mattress even in markets that aren’t usually thought of “premium” markets.
For instance, I dwell in Miami, and searching on the schedule for this winter, there’s not less than one day by day flight operated by a large physique to Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. With the ability to get flat beds on routes like that is fairly superior.
Transcon product & upgrades
By way of the general worth to frequent flyers, American has the most effective transcon product of the “massive three” US airways. American flies specifically configured Airbus A321Ts with simply 102 seats, together with three courses of service. Usually talking:
- Upgrades are fairly simple, since you’ve gotten 30 premium seats and solely 72 economic system seats
- Enterprise class passengers get entry to American’s glorious Flagship Lounges, whereas top quality passengers get entry to American’s unbelievable Flagship First Eating (in the meantime at United, premium transcon passengers don’t get Polaris Lounge entry, and Delta doesn’t but have premium worldwide lounges)
- Elite members are eligible for complimentary upgrades on these routes at their regular improve window, in contrast to at Delta and United (at United they’re not eligible in any respect, whereas at Delta they’re solely eligible day of departure)
Admittedly American is predicted to reconfigure these planes in late 2024, and likewise eradicate top quality on transcontinental routes (and as a substitute provide enterprise class as the best cabin). Nonetheless, these planes ought to be changed by jets with a fair higher product (presumably Airbus A321XLRs).
AAdvantage Loyalty Factors system
New as of 2022, American Airways fully overhauled its AAdvantage program, with the introduction of Loyalty Factors. As I’ve defined, this program is completely good, even when it doesn’t work nice for me. You may earn elite standing totally via bank card spending, in case you’d like.
Given the state of Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus, I’d argue this system is the all-around most rewarding — standing is best to earn, and perks are aggressive.
Backside line
Whereas American Airways has its justifiable share of weaknesses, the airline additionally does many issues effectively. Frankly so long as American operates on-time, I’m a reasonably blissful passenger. Between the Wi-Fi, Flagship Lounges, worldwide enterprise class seats, and many others., there are a whole lot of constructive components to the airline.
I’m curious to listen to what OMAAT readers suppose — what do you suppose American Airways does effectively?
