To kick off my journey to Japan through Mongolia, I flew American Airways’ Boeing 737-800 top notch on the 2hr30min flight from Miami to New York. American’s 737 top notch might be the only premium product I fly most frequently, but for no matter cause, I’ve by no means really reviewed it, so I figured it’s time to alter that.
So, how is American’s 737 top notch? I’d say it does the trick. The seats are comfy and pretty spacious, and the Wi-Fi is often quick. Nevertheless, the service is usually a combined bag, the meals isn’t nice, and there’s no seat again leisure. Nonetheless, in the end I worth home top notch for the additional area, and that’s an space the place this product delivers.
How I booked my American top notch ticket
I booked my ticket from Miami to New York with money. Particularly, I paid $138 for a one-way economic system ticket on the next flight:
1/24 AA2347 Miami to New York departing 2:03PM arriving 5:03PM
Then because of my American AAdvantage Government Platinum standing, my complimentary improve cleared about 24 hours upfront. These have gotten more and more uncommon these days, in my expertise, although I assume mid-afternoon on a Wednesday is an efficient time to fly.
American top notch lounge & boarding
An everyday home top notch ticket on American doesn’t include Admirals Membership lounge entry. Nevertheless, I do have a membership by the Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (evaluate), so was ready to make use of the Admirals Membership Miami.
The opposite lounge choices within the terminal are the Amex Centurion Lounge or Turkish Airways Lounge, relying on the bank cards and memberships you will have.
My flight was departing from gate D16, with boarding scheduled to start out at 1:28PM, 35 minutes earlier than departure. Boarding solely ended up beginning at 1:45PM, on account of a late inbound flight for the plane (the aircraft solely arrived from Dallas round 1:20PM). Concierge Key members had been invited to board first, adopted by Group 1, which incorporates top notch passengers.
American 737 top notch cabin & seats
American’s Boeing 737-800 top notch cabin consists of a complete of 16 seats, unfold throughout 4 rows in a 2-2 configuration. These seats function 37″ of pitch, 20″ of width, and 5″ of recline.
American’s 737s have the Collins MIQ seat in top notch, which you’ll discover on fairly a couple of airways, because it’s a generic seat with some minor customization alternatives.
I assigned myself seat 3F, the window seat on the appropriate aspect within the third row.
So far as seat options go, beneath the middle armrest you’ll discover a slim however deep storage compartment. That’s additionally the place the AC energy outlet is positioned, which is simple to entry, if you realize the place to look (it appears to throw off lots of people, who don’t assume to look there).
The middle console additionally has a fundamental drink tray, in addition to the seat recline button.
The tray desk folds out from the far armrest, and may be prolonged utterly, or folded over in half.
When you solely fold it over in half, you’ll discover there’s somewhat panel that may be flipped up, in order that this will act as a private system holder, for viewing leisure.
The seat again accommodates the literature pocket, and a USB-A outlet.
The seat again has an extra private system holder, the place you possibly can place a smartphone to look at leisure.
Lastly, between the seats in entrance is a small tray that may be folded down, if you need an additional place to retailer a drink.
The overhead consoles have each studying lights and particular person air nozzles, which is a function I all the time worth.
American’s 737s additionally comprise Boeing’s up to date bins, which means you possibly can retailer luggage on their aspect, to maximise carry-on area. You’d assume this is able to restrict the variety of luggage that should be gate checked, although plainly even with greater bins, the elemental drawback hasn’t been solved.
There’s not a correct bulkhead between top notch and economic system class, however reasonably there are just a few partitions hanging from the overhead bins, after which there’s a curtain (extra like a see by internet) within the aisle between the cabins.
As a lot as I usually rag on American’s lack of funding in its premium product product, let me give the airline some credit score:
- I admire American’s fleet consistency, as a result of you realize precisely the product you’re going to get once you board any of American’s 360+ Boeing 737s
- Whereas Delta deserves credit score for having private televisions all through many of the fleet, American’s top notch is extra spacious, and I discover it makes a fabric distinction by way of consolation
- Whereas United is on target with reconfiguring its slim physique jets, the present state of United’s home slim physique fleet is inconsistent, and a few of United’s 737s have very outdated interiors, with seats which are downright uncomfortable to sit down in
American top notch facilities
Lol, what facilities? Except for choose transcon flights, don’t anticipate a lot in the way in which of facilities on American’s home top notch flights. There are not any pillows, blankets, or another type of amenity. The closest factor you’ll get to an amenity is a pre-departure beverage, and I’d say crews are 50/50 on offering these.
When pre-departure drinks are provided, typically the crew will simply come by the cabin with a tray of water, whereas different instances they’ll do drinks of alternative. On this flight there have been no pre-departure drinks to talk of.
American 737 top notch leisure & Wi-Fi
American’s Boeing 737s all function Viasat Wi-Fi, which is among the many quickest Wi-Fi you’ll discover within the skies. Not like on Delta, Wi-Fi isn’t free. You may both purchase a month-to-month plan, or there are Wi-Fi passes out there on the market on every flight, with pricing being dynamic. On this flight, a one hour move value $15, whereas a full flight move value $19.
I’ve a month-to-month membership, so was ready to make use of that to remain related all through the flight. The speeds had been glorious.
Since American doesn’t have seat again leisure on its 737s, the airline as an alternative has streaming leisure, so you possibly can hook up with American’s Wi-Fi portal, after which select from a wide range of motion pictures, TV reveals, and extra. Whereas I’ve a robust choice for seat again leisure, the choice is no less than fairly good, with numerous present motion pictures, TV reveals, and even dwell TV.
American 737 departure from Miami
Boarding is rarely actually environment friendly on US airways, and this flight was no exception. Boarding took round half-hour, and wrapped up round 2:15PM. The principle cabin door was closed instantly, after which we pushed again a second later.
At that time the guide security demonstration was carried out. American has an audio observe for the protection info, after which the flight attendants stand within the aisle throughout that point.
Our taxi began at 2:20PM, and was tremendous fast.
By 2:25PM we had been holding wanting runway 8R, and a minute later, had been cleared for takeoff.
We had a easy climb out, and as common when departing Miami, the views had been attractive.
As is normal on US airways, the seatbelt signal stayed on for round half-hour. At that time we leveled off, and the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of 2hr20min, and our cruising altitude of 35,000 toes.
American top notch lunch service
Lunch was being served in top notch on this American flight. American allows you to pre-order your meals in top notch, which supplies you entry to a bigger number of choices than onboard. Beneath had been the choices for this flight. It all the time is smart to pre-order, since chances are you’ll very effectively not get your first alternative when you don’t achieve this.
Service started about 40 minutes after takeoff, with heat towels being distributed.
At that time drink and meal orders had been taken. For what it’s value, beneath is American’s drink choice (that is additionally what’s out there in economic system, which is why pricing is listed as effectively).
I ordered a Eating regimen Coke to drink, which was served with heat combined nuts, a staple of American’s top notch expertise.
For my meal, I chosen the harvest vegetable and grain bowl with roasted garlic dressing, roasted greens, pickled onions, lentil salad, inexperienced beans, and roasted shiitake mushrooms. This was served with some packaged sourdough flatbread crackers, veggies and hummus, and a few type of cake for dessert.
That is normally my go-to meal in American top notch. It’s not nice, however it’s moderately wholesome, and I’m normally not seeking to eat on home flights anyway. I consider American has lastly modified its meal cycle prior to now couple of weeks, which is lengthy overdue, as a result of the airline doesn’t alternate choices usually sufficient.
American 737 top notch bathroom
American has a rest room on the entrance of the primary class cabin on the 737. Notice that this bathroom isn’t reserved for top notch passengers, however can be open to passengers in economic system. The one exception is on inbound worldwide flights to the US.
American’s 737 bathrooms are sadly tiny, so anticipate to be a bit claustrophobic. Oh, yet another factor — on this flight the primary class bathroom was really out of service from the time the flight departed. So this image was taken from one other flight, as the one choice on this flight was to make use of the bathrooms in the back of the cabin.
American top notch service
Service in American top notch is usually a combined bag. Some crews are nice, whereas some are not-great. The flight attendant working top notch on this flight was pleasant. She was doing her finest, and had a optimistic perspective. Admittedly I deliberately restricted my consumption throughout this flight to keep away from utilizing the rest room, so there wasn’t a lot service to talk of past the meal.
American 737 arrival in New York
I loved the views enroute to New York, and at cruising altitude, it certain was a reasonably afternoon.
We began a gradual descent at 4:15PM, and quarter-hour later, the flight attendants had been advised to arrange the cabin for arrival.
I used to be on Flightradar24 for the complete descent, and the views would have been wonderful, I’m certain, on condition that we flew proper over Manhattan. Nevertheless, there was nearly no visibility, so beneath is what the view was like out the window for many of the descent.
We lastly broke out of the clouds a couple of hundred toes above the bottom, and landed at 4:55PM. We had a really tough touchdown, and slowed down shortly, previous to exiting the runway.
From there we had a brief 5 minute taxi to our arrival gate, the place we pulled in at 5PM.
Imagine it or not, this was my first time visiting LaGuardia Terminal B, so my first order of enterprise was trying out the Chase Sapphire Lounge New York LaGuardia.
Backside line
American’s 737 top notch is fundamental, however does the trick. I admire American’s fleet consistency with regards to 737 interiors, in addition to the excessive pace Viasat Wi-Fi and pitch that’s higher than on Delta. Nevertheless, apart from that, American top notch isn’t a lot to get enthusiastic about.
Service is usually a combined bag, meals isn’t nice, there aren’t facilities, and on this flight there was even a damaged bathroom. But dwelling in Miami, American is often your best option, so on steadiness I’d contemplate American’s 737 top notch to be first rate sufficient.
What’s your tackle American 737 top notch?
