A take a look at American’s all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Flagship Suite seats and extra
It is the daybreak of a brand new period for American Airways.
The Fort Value, Texas-based service is making maybe its largest funding but in premium, and that begins with the debut of all-new Flagship Suite seats 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 definitely 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 in regards to the sheer variety of Flagship Suites you may discover on board the brand new Dreamliner. Whereas American already flies almost 60 Dreamliners, the airline is doing one thing totally different with all the brand new 787s it receives from Boeing.
The brand new ones might be designated 787-9P (for “premium”) and have a whopping 51 Flagship Suites and 32 newly upgraded premium financial 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 current 787-9s and underscores that the airline is critical about investing in premium, maybe the business’s largest buzzword proper now.
Prematurely of the airline’s inaugural 787-9P flight, the service invited a handful of media to its upkeep headquarters close to Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) to spend an hour within the hangar with the brand new jet.
Here is what you may anticipate inside.
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American’s new Flagship 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. This supplies a pleasant fashionable 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 business-class 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 supplied earlier than.
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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 Flagship Suite Most well-liked seating choice, a “business-class-plus” expertise that is designed, in American’s case, to interchange Flagship First.
Due to the structure of the bulkhead, these eight seats provide extra private house and extra storage areas. American says that every Flagship Suite Most well-liked seat options 19% extra mattress house and 42% extra dwelling space than the common Flagship Suite.
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Sadly, Flagship Suite Most well-liked would not function buddy seats like JetBlue’s Mint Studio and United Airways’ upcoming Polaris Studios, however they’re extra spacious and fascinating in comparison with the remainder of the cabin. (Simply be aware that the proximity to the galley might be bothersome throughout in a single day flights.)
In addition they do not function double beds (nor do the common Flagship Suites), which is a bummer contemplating United simply debuted this function for its new Polaris cabins coming subsequent yr.
However, the Flagship Suite Most well-liked expertise will develop into American’s top-of-the-line product. The seat itself undoubtedly feels extra spacious and opulent in comparison with the others.
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For one, I really like the darker grey 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 look like extra refined than these only a row behind.
You undoubtedly really feel all the extra house within the Flagship Suite Most well-liked seats in comparison with the common pods one row again. The one draw back is that you will solely get pleasure from one window for those who’re seated alongside the aspect of the aircraft.
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American gave all the aircraft a giant tech improve that features Bluetooth connectivity, common AC retailers and USB-A and USB-C retailers at each seat.
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Flagship Suite Most well-liked and Flagship Suite seats additionally get pleasure from a Qi wi-fi charging pad.
The 17.5-inch 4K TV had a crisp display and a newly upgraded consumer interface that might be managed utilizing your finger or an leisure distant.
Other than the extra house, American may also 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 may also get pleasure from Nest-branded pajamas and an unique amenity equipment with extra skincare merchandise from 13 Lune by Joanna Vargas and Related.
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Proper now, American is not charging extra for the Flagship Suite Most well-liked seats, nevertheless it presumably will begin charging a further price for these seat assignments within the coming months.
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 after I finally fly on this aircraft.
All seats are organized in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone configuration, which means they face away from the aisle. This association is nice for solo vacationers, nevertheless it would not bode properly for {couples} and households who wish 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 once you’re seated within the middle. (Observe that there’s a small, albeit minor, hole between the top of the privateness divider and the seat in entrance of it.)
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The seats themselves needs 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.
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Simply be aware that seats in Row 6 are lacking home windows.
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All seats convert into 79-inch-long lie-flat beds, and the sliding doorways prolong for privateness. Nevertheless, the sliding doorways will not be enabled from day one as a result of the airline continues to be ready for Federal Aviation Administration approval to make use of them as doorways.
Do not forget that once you’re in mattress mode, the seats will also be used as a chaise lounger, together with your again up towards 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.
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The service clearly thought in regards to the particulars when designing these seats. I beloved the 2 cocktail trays, one in every of which has the flight image etched into the floor.
The seats function 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 might be raised and lowered, however they do not function a water bottle holder such as you would possibly discover on different related merchandise.
Even the movable headrest feels much more premium than something American has finished earlier than. The tan coloring mixed with the white flight image affords a pleasant distinction and offers the cabin a pleasant pop of colour.
American’s customizations even prolong to the silver sconces, which admittedly assist the product really feel much more luxurious than the airline’s current mishmash of business-class merchandise.
The 17.5-inch 4K TV screens are a lot massive and really feel adequately sized for the seat.
The brand new 787-9P is supplied with satellite-based Viasat Wi-Fi that might be free for all American Airways AAdvantage members starting in January.
There are three bathrooms out there for business-class vacationers, all of which have an fascinating cloud wallpaper that I have never seen earlier than on an American jet.
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I am unable to resolve if it feels cheesy or luxe, however you may make your individual name once you fly on the aircraft.
American’s new premium financial system recliners
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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.
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Do not be fooled, although. Whereas the wings definitely assist promote a way of private house, you may nonetheless be capable to see your neighbor in the course of the flight.
Premium financial system might be unfold throughout 5 rows in a 2-3-2 structure.
Every of those seats contains 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 which may result in gadget overheating points.
American infused the identical cabin design from its Flagship Suite into the brand new premium financial system part, which definitely 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 standard 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 arduous product funding with related ones within the delicate product (i.e., the eating and bedding), however no less than the seats might be extra snug than earlier than.
American’s new financial system cabins
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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 function 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.
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The seats themselves function pink accents that add a refreshing pop of colour, however in any other case, they’re nonetheless very a lot financial system seats.
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Count on 31 inches of pitch within the common financial system part.
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Observe that there are simply 18 Important Cabin Further seats on this plane, they usually’re all situated within the bulkhead, so for those who do not love this association (otherwise you guide 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 aircraft returns to Chicago, it can function each day to London.
Going ahead, the airline’s preliminary deployment schedule for the 787-9P is as follows:
| Departure | Arrival | Service begin |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | London | June 5 |
| Philadelphia | London | Aug. 6 |
| Philadelphia | Zurich | Sept. 3 |
| Dallas-Fort Value | Brisbane, Australia | Oct. 26 |
| Dallas-Fort Value | Auckland, New Zealand | Winter 2026 |
As extra new Dreamliners are delivered, American is anticipated to deploy these planes on extra 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 function a modified Flagship Suite expertise, however extra on that may come later this yr when the primary aircraft 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 totally enclosed pods for the very first time. Plus, with large tech upgrades and fancier cabin finishes, it is clear that these planes have been designed for the fashionable traveler.
Higher but, the business-class suites are a giant improve in comparison with the present merchandise that American affords 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, which 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 Important Cabin Further seats on this aircraft.)
All in all, the brand new Flagship Suites will enable American to extra fiercely compete with its Large Three rivals (Delta Air Strains and United), in addition to among the main worldwide airways, within the product house. As extra carriers spend money on premium choices, each by including new seats and increasing the premium cabin footprint, American has simply made its large 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 might, the service’s premium long-haul expertise might be among the many finest within the U.S.
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