American Airways’ new Flagship Suite enterprise class evaluate

After years of anticipation, American Airways lastly unveiled its all-new Flagship Suite enterprise class in Could. The airline is slowly rolling out the brand new fixtures aboard Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with a premium configuration.

Heralding a brand new period for the airline, the suites have closing doorways and radically completely different finishes and styling from the airline’s older seats, to not point out some very well timed tech options.

What’s extra, the airline additionally launched Flagship Suite Most popular seats within the first row of every part of enterprise class aboard the “78P” (that is how the airline denotes planes within the new configuration in its schedule). That includes extra private area, bigger sleeping surfaces and upgraded facilities, these seats will ultimately go on sale individually from the remainder of the common Flagship Suites — however for now, you may nonetheless simply assign your self one in every of them for no additional price.

That is how two TPG staffers — journey content material director Eric Rosen and principal spokesperson Clint Henderson — examined the brand new Flagship Suite Most popular and Flagship Suite business-class seats on back-to-back flights.

Eric began the day flying from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), and Clint hopped aboard a equally configured aircraft to return to London for an in a single day flight that very same day. Actually, they crossed paths within the American Airways Flagship Lounge.

This is how the flight expertise and facilities evaluate, in addition to what it’s essential to learn about American Airways’ new Flagship Suite and Flagship Suite Most popular seats.

The bottom expertise

American Airways Flagship Suite and Flagship Suite Most popular clients obtain an identical service on the bottom, together with:

• Entry to the airline’s Flagship check-in, the place obtainable
• Precedence bag tagging and dealing with
• Entry to American Airways Flagship Lounges and Oneworld accomplice lounges
• Two free checked luggage weighing as much as 70 kilos

On his journey to London, Clint loved the particular check-in entry and VIP safety line escort, plus entry to the Flagship Lounge in Chicago.

For his half, Eric obtained to Heathrow early and lounge-hopped round Terminal 3, visiting the Qantas and Cathay Pacific lounges earlier than ducking into American’s personal lounge.

There aren’t any additional particular companies for Flagship Suite Most popular vacationers that differentiate them from vacationers in Flagship Suites.

American Airways’ new Flagship Suites enterprise class: The fundamentals

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners geared up with American Airways’ new Flagship Suite enterprise class are in what’s known as a premium-heavy configuration. That is as a result of they include a whopping 51 Flagship Suites out of 244 seats whole on the plane.

That is over a fifth of the seats on the jet — they usually take up quantity of actual property, unfold throughout two completely different cabins.

The entrance cabin has 32 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, with 9 rows of single seats on both aspect of the cabin and eight pairs of seats working down the center.

The aft part is extra intimate, with simply 19 seats — 4 rows of 4 seats every, plus one row up entrance with simply three seats.

The seats have been manufactured by Adient on their Ascent platform, and they are going to be acquainted to those that have flown Hawaiian Airways’ new Dreamliner enterprise class.

All of the seats have the identical 21-inch width, they usually recline to 79-inch lie-flat beds.

Their footwells, the place your ft go in lie-flat mode, are about 16 inches broad at their mouth and slim to 10 inches, so in case you have massive ft, turning over whereas in mattress would possibly show a problem.

The cabin finishes are a daring departure from American Airways’ earlier variations of enterprise class, with extra contrasts of their palette and upscale new touches.

Various shades of grey dominate the airline’s present long-haul business-class cabins — a pointy, if muted, look. However whereas these new cabins nonetheless have graphite-gray paneling, new touches of purple and silver abound, plus lighter-hued wooden grain paneling on each the suites’ doorways and their tables and armrests.

There are white faux-marble ledges to position drinks or small gadgets, and stylized metallic sconce lights with three settings: dim, medium and shiny.

The seats’ upholstery can also be fairly completely different from the airline’s earlier seats, with darkish and light-weight grey tones and toffee-colored leather-based headrests that really feel like a reference to classic baggage.

General, the impact makes the cabin really feel hotter and fewer scientific than the all-gray palette of American Airways’ typical long-haul business-class cabins.

That is very true when strolling on board, which Clint described as feeling like stepping onto a wholly completely different airline. A big lighted American Airways “flight image” greets passengers as they stroll onto the plane and switch left or proper.

The cabin is elevated, with the suite doorways including a contemporary look to the inside.

The place the expertise breaks down somewhat, for now, is in the truth that the doorways usually are not purposeful on some flights. On the daytime LHR-ORD flight, the doorways have been locked within the open place, and the crew mentioned that they’d not acquired approval to let passengers use them.

Nonetheless, on the in a single day ORD-LHR flight, the doorways have been operational. About half-hour after departure, a flight attendant got here by to unlock the sliding doorways however requested passengers to maintain them open throughout service. The door was a bit awkward to function, however a minimum of it labored.

We’re nonetheless not sure what the difficulty is because it doesn’t seem like regulatory, however for now, do not plan on having the ability to use your suite’s door.

The power to deploy the sliding doorways made a distinction throughout Clint’s flight, the place it felt like a further layer of privateness to assist get some shut-eye.

One factor to notice is that there are simply three toilets for all 51 passengers. The one up entrance is usually cordoned off for crew and pilot use, so that you would possibly discover strains at busy instances, akin to after meal service. One enjoyable contact: The airline put in cloud wallpaper within the toilets for somewhat whimsy.

The no-touch taps and bathroom flush features are a welcome sanitary ingredient, and D.S. & Durga cleaning soap provides an upscale contact.

American Airways Flagship Suite Most popular

The primary row in each sections of enterprise class — with eight seats whole — consists of a particular set of suites the airline has dubbed Flagship Suite Most popular.

American Airways touts these as having 42% extra space and 19% extra sleeping area. That is as a result of these are bulkhead seats, so moderately than having compact cubbies in your ft in lie-flat mode, they’ve bigger, extra open ledges that the seat reclines into.

Although this won’t look like a major differentiator, it’s. It provides you much more room to maneuver in a reclined place. In keeping with Eric’s measurements, their additional padded sections add 8 to 10 inches (the width varies) to the sleeping floor; this could make all of the distinction between banging your knees and rolling over from one aspect to the opposite freely.

There are extra refined variations as properly, together with the darker tones of the seats’ shells, cubbies, doorways and different finishes. These are understated visible cues that nonetheless demarcate these seats as completely different.

These seats even have much more floor space than the common seats.

There are nonetheless the big armrests with wooden grain finishes and white faux-marble ledges. However additionally they have darkish faux-marble consoles below their leisure screens, the place you may stash a number of issues throughout meal service, and additional seatside cubbies for small objects.

Apart from these variations, the Flagship Suite Most popular seats really feel almost an identical to the common ones in that they’re 21 inches broad on the shoulders and waist, they usually recline to 79-inch, lie-flat beds.

Their bigger armrests have vertical wi-fi charging pads, and you will find the common energy plugs and USB-A and USB-C ports in the identical locations as within the common suites. These seats have the identical little compartments embedded within the armrests, too.

Their seatback cubbies are the identical measurement and stay good locations to stow the offered noise-canceling headsets.

The tables are 14 inches deep by 22 inches broad and slide out from below the leisure screens, that are additionally 17.3 inches broad like these of the traditional seats.

Facilities in American Airways’ Flagship Suite and Flagship Suite Most popular

Though Flagship Suite Most popular seats usually are not offered at an upcharge but, there are a number of “gentle” factors of distinction as properly.

Vacationers in common Flagship Suites obtain a Re-Thread pillow and blanket together with a further throw blanket; these in Flagship Suite Most popular seats additionally obtain a gentle, breathable padded seat cowl and a fleece blanket from Re-Thread’s John Horsfall line, in addition to a lumbar pillow.

The straightforward bedding for normal suites is comfy sufficient, however the additional items for the Most popular passengers actually do set the bar a lot larger. Nobody helped Eric make up the mattress, however as soon as he obtained all of the accoutrements on, it was a welcoming surroundings for a restful snooze, even on a daytime flight.

That mentioned, for those who do choose a Most popular seat, will probably be nearer to a galley and toilet. So, anticipate additional noise, gentle and exercise which may stop gentle sleepers from getting a lot relaxation.

The shortage of a mattress pad within the common business-class seats could also be a bit irritating whereas attempting to sleep.

The amenity kits that passengers obtain additionally differ between the common and most well-liked suites.

These within the common seats get a Brandon Blackwood-branded nylon bag with a primary eye masks, a dental package, earplugs, socks, hand and physique moisturizer from Pholk Magnificence and lip balm from Buttah Pores and skin.

The popular passengers obtain a extra strong package that is available in a extra sturdy leather-based case. It contains the merchandise that different passengers get however presents Joanna Vargas and Related Pores and skin merchandise as an alternative of the Pholk Magnificence and Buttah Pores and skin ones.

Apart from these factors of distinction, all passengers obtain fancy Bang & Olufsen noise-canceling headphones. (The jack is within the seatside cubby below the hook the place you may hold the headset once you’re not utilizing it.)

All seats’ leisure screens are 17.3 inches throughout diagonally, which, to be trustworthy, feels a bit small at this level; another carriers, like Japan Airways, are placing screens as much as 24 inches broad in enterprise class.

Not like another airways that provide a “enterprise plus” choice much like the Flagship Suite Most popular class — akin to Lufthansa’s Allegris suites — American Airways didn’t put greater screens in its extra spacious suites.

Nonetheless, the system stays fairly good, with each Bluetooth and touchscreen functionality, plus hundreds of leisure choices, together with current releases like “Inside Out 2” and TV collection like “The Pitt.”

Clint had no bother getting his AirPods to pair with the leisure system.

Wi-Fi was obtainable on each flights. You could possibly buy a two-hour move for $16 or 2,500 American Airways AAdvantage miles or a full-flight move for $25 or 3,800 AAdvantage miles. Clint chosen the paid full-flight move and located speeds to be first rate, and it was simple sufficient to modify between gadgets simply utilizing an e mail deal with to log in.

Eating in American Airways’ Flagship Suite enterprise class

You will not discover any differentiation within the eating supplied to common Flagship Suite flyers versus these in Flagship Suite Most popular.

Meals can be found for preordering as much as 24 hours earlier than the flight in case you need to be certain you get your first selection.

On each flights, flight attendants served predeparture drinks, together with glowing wine, orange juice and water, although you would request different choices. They offered heat towel service on each flights, too.

On the daytime flight from London to Chicago, the primary meal began about 45 minutes after takeoff with a selection of drinks and ramekins of heat nuts and olives. About 20 minutes later, flight attendants served a starter of salad and sizzling smoked salmon with Thai rice noodles and veggies.

The primary dish decisions included:

• Sluggish-cooked beef with cauliflower mash, sauteed broccoli, pickled onions, tomatoes and smoky jus
• Corn-fed hen breast with creamy saffron risotto, sugar snap peas and romesco sauce
• Pan-seared salmon with seven-grain rice, sauteed spinach, dried tomatoes and truffled hollandaise
• Indian lentil dal with basmati rice and peas, sweet-and-sour eggplant and naan

Eric selected the hen, which was surprisingly juicy. The risotto was very creamy, so he left most of it, however the dish was satisfying and felt gentle in any other case.

After all, Eric may have had a cheese plate or chocolate mousse to finish his meal, however he could not resist a made-to-order sundae (although the ice cream was rock onerous).

Through the flight, snacks — together with fruit, chips and cookies — have been obtainable within the galley between the 2 business-class sections.

Then, about two hours earlier than touchdown, a second gentle meal was served. It included both a grilled hen sandwich with mayo on a three-cheese crust or a quinoa-eggplant salad with carrots, garlic hummus and candy peppers. Eric went for the lighter choice, and it was tangy and scrumptious. He completed with a small bowl of minimize fruit.

On the flight to London, Clint had the next decisions:

• Smoked beef brisket with roasted broccolini sauteed with wild mushrooms with romesco sauce
• Seared sea bass with turmeric and lemongrass rice, roasted broccolini and child carrots with chimichurri sauce
• Mustard-crusted lamb with roasted turnips, peas and child carrots in a recent herb discount sauce
• Vegetable and garbanzo bean tagine with butternut squash, apple chutney, garlic couscous and pomegranate seeds

Clint’s meal began with an appetizer of pan-seared shrimp with a tropical fruit garnish and a mango gazpacho.

An arugula salad got here on the identical tray, as did bread and butter. His principal dish of smoked beef brisket was scrumptious and cooked properly.

Sadly, the primary course did not come till virtually two hours into the flight. That is fairly a anticipate a comparatively quick in a single day flight the place passengers attempt to maximize shut-eye time; it did not go away a lot time for sleep. That is not a dig on the flight attendants who have been working effectively, although. It is simply that 51 business-class seats meant there have been a variety of passengers to serve.

Clint additionally selected the traditional sundae, served with butterscotch sauce and additional whipped cream, for dessert. The opposite choices have been a connoisseur cheese plate or a Belgian chocolate cheesecake tart.

Employees served breakfast an hour and quarter-hour earlier than touchdown. The choices have been an egg frittata with potatoes and a aspect fruit plate, or fruit and yogurt. The flight attendants additionally served a heat bread choice, which included a cinnamon bun or croissant.

Clint’s breakfast was high quality, however he all the time finds airline breakfasts a bit disappointing.

The crew deserves one huge shoutout for managing to serve Clint a number of espressos, which American introduced again on some transcontinental and long-haul flights after disappearing for some time.

The drink menus have been nearly an identical on each flights, too, and Flagship Suite and Flagship Suite Most popular passengers have been supplied the identical menus. Among the many highlights have been:

• Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve brut
• Mon Frere chardonnay
• Bodegas Salentein Reserve cabernet sauvignon
• Quinta da Pacheca tawny port
• Dos Equis beer
• Goose Island India pale ale

There was additionally a number of spirits, akin to Jack Daniel’s, Bacardi rum, Aviation Gin, Tito’s vodka and Socorro Tequila, in addition to nonalcoholic decisions like Coca-Cola, Weight-reduction plan Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite and Dr. Pepper.

Flight attendants on Eric’s London-to-Chicago flight have been proactive about providing refills at any time when they handed by means of the cabin, they usually answered name button summons inside 30 seconds.

The pleasant flight attendants on Clint’s Chicago-to-London flight have been additionally fast to supply refills (together with making a number of of these espressos previous to touchdown).

Actually, the service was among the many finest Clint has had on any American Airways flight. Mariano, Kelly and David deserve particular reward for going out of their technique to be pleasant. Mariano was really working this as his final flight after 40 years with American. He retired not lengthy afterward.

Reserving American Airways Flagship Suites

American Airways’ Flagship Suite enterprise class is presently flying sure frequencies between LHR and each ORD and Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL).

When looking for flights, you will need to be certain that your aircraft is designated as a “78P” and never only a “789.” You may also need to double-check with Google Flights that the precise flight has “particular person suite” listed in enterprise class. Lastly, you may all the time have a look at the person flight on American Airways’ web site and ensure there are 51 business-class seats whole.

Tickets to fly the brand new product can price upward of $6,000 every manner. Nonetheless, there have been pockets of excellent award availability the place seats have been bookable for 55,000 Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles or 62,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles every manner. Taxes and charges from the U.S. to the U.Okay. ought to solely be $5.60 per ticket, however beware that surcharges mount to almost $400 in the wrong way.

For now, there is not any upcharge for the Flagship Suite Most popular seats, so for those who can snag one, do it for the additional room and soft bedding. As soon as these go on sale individually from the common seats, we anticipate the upcharge to be about $300 to $700 in every course.

Backside line

American Airways’ new Flagship Suite enterprise class is a welcome evolution of the airline’s present business-class seating.

The brand new suites really feel spacious but personal, due to their (generally) closing doorways, they usually have a hotter palette than the airline’s present business-class cabins. Clint sees them as a serious improve to American Airways’ enterprise class and did not thoughts the inflight leisure display measurement because it labored properly. Eric appreciated all the additional room these Most popular suites afford passengers — a particular step ahead for the airline.

There are nonetheless a number of hiccups to work out, together with whether or not or not the doorways will really shut on particular flights and a few one-off points like nonfunctioning leisure remotes. Hopefully, the airline is on high of these, although, in order that the expertise begins to really feel a bit extra standardized as these suites go into wider operation.

On the upside, you may presently guide the extra spacious Most popular suites at no additional cost and luxuriate in their added facilities — simply do not anticipate that to final lengthy. With frequent award availability, although, you won’t thoughts paying a surcharge for one in every of these nicer seats if the remainder of the ticket was booked with miles. Hopefully, that award availability will stay widespread so extra folks get to expertise these thrilling new seats.

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