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How to Fly American's Best Business Class Seats Domestically in January and February

Dec. 15, 2017
11 min read
AA new 777-200 retrofit (JT Genter photo)
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American Airlines' fleet can be frustratingly inconsistent. Some long US domestic routes will lack power or in-flight entertainment, even in first class. Meanwhile, you can find lie-flat seats sold as economy on one-hour flights. If you've got some flexibility to your travels, knowing American Airlines' fleet schedule can mean getting a superior experience.

Problem is, AA's schedule can vary from month to month. So, we at The Points Guy dig into the airline's schedule to unveil where you can find these excellent seats.

Whether you splurge on a first class award or paid ticket, get a free upgrade using 500-mile upgrades or get a complimentary upgrade as an Executive Platinum member, here are the ways to fly on American Airlines' best business class seats without having to bring your passport.

777-200: B/E Aerospace Super Diamond or Zodiac

American Airlines has four versions of the 777-200 in its fleet — some with "rocking" Zodiac seats and others with new B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seats. Some have been retrofit with premium economy, while others are still in the queue. These can be frustrating to try to tell apart. And, even if you do book a particular version, equipment changes means there's no telling which type will show up at your gate.

However, all four versions have some form of lie-flat business class seats. So, looking for 777-200s on domestic routes is sure to provide a better-than-average first class experience. Here are the routes on which AA is using these aircraft:

FromToFlight #DepartArriveStartingEndingFrequency
DFW
HNL
5
10:55
15:31
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
DFW
HNL
123
9:05
13:45
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
DFW
LAX
1257
22:15
23:53
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
DFW
MIA
367
16:50
20:35
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
DFW
MIA
2680
17:05
20:45
8-Jan
14-Feb
Daily
DFW
MIA
2791
17:05
20:45
15-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
DFW
OGG
7
9:50
14:08
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
DFW
OGG
7
9:50
14:15
13-Jan
10-Feb
Saturday
DFW
OGG
7
9:50
14:15
16-Feb
24-Feb
Fri & Sat
DFW
OGG
119
11:10
15:41
8-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
HNL
DFW
8
18:45
6:01
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
HNL
DFW
102
21:00
8:22
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
HNL
LAX
144
23:35
7:00
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
LAX
DFW
2184
6:30
11:36
9-Jan
9-Jan
One-off
LAX
DFW
2459
8:35
13:49
8-Jan
8-Jan
One-off
LAX
DFW
2462
14:15
19:17
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
LAX
HNL
143
15:00
18:51
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
LAX
MIA
225
7:45
15:36
15-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
MIA
DFW
969
11:05
13:24
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
MIA
DFW
2691
13:50
16:08
15-Feb
15-Feb
One-off
MIA
DFW
2706
9:05
11:25
16-Feb
16-Feb
One-off
MIA
LAX
270
17:25
20:23
16-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
MIA
ORD
364
8:35
10:51
6-Jan
6-Jan
One-off
OGG
DFW
6
18:50
5:53
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
OGG
DFW
116
21:30
8:37
13-Jan
10-Feb
Saturday
OGG
DFW
116
21:30
8:37
16-Feb
24-Feb
Fri & Sat
ORD
MIA
334
12:00
16:00
6-Jan
6-Jan
One-off

787-9 B/E Aerospace Super Diamond

After originally testing its 787-9s on the domestic route between Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles, American Airlines has mostly assigned its efficient 787-9 Dreamliners to international routes. However, periodically the airline will have to position these aircraft between hubs due to scheduling needs. This opens up a golden opportunity to try AA's newest business class seat out for yourself.

For January-February, you'll find these three-cabin (economy, premium economy, business) aircraft flying domestic routes between Dallas (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Chicago (ORD):

FromToFlight #DepartArriveStartingEndingFrequency
DFW
ORD
1233
12:35
14:52
15-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
DFW
ORD
1258
11:55
14:09
16-Feb
16-Feb
One-off
ORD
DFW
2331
15:15
17:37
15-Feb
16-Feb
Thurs & Fri
ORD
DFW
2349
16:55
19:26
15-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
LAX
DFW
2459
8:20
13:20
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
DFW
LAX
2489
18:50
20:20
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily

Upgrade didn't clear? Or, don't want to pay for first class? AA has made the decision to not sell premium economy on domestic routes (except to Hawaii), so the premium economy seats found on these aircraft are sold as part of the economy cabin. However, these seats are labeled as Main Cabin Extra, so you'll need AA elite status to choose these for free.

777-300ER Zodiac

Long considered to have one of the best business class seats in the sky, American Airlines' Boeing 777-300ER (77W) is a great way of traveling anywhere. Problem is, it's typically expensive to buy an international round-trip on this aircraft; award availability on these flights is especially hard to get; and upgrades are highly sought after.

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If you want to see what all the buzz is about, there are just four domestic flights across the two months where you can find American Airlines' 777-300ERs:

FromToFlight #DepartArriveDate
DFW
JFK
2188
7:20
11:44
7-Jan
DFW
MIA
2686
10:25
14:03
16-Feb
MIA
DFW
2213
15:45
18:04
16-Feb
MIA
JFK
2493
7:00
9:56
9-Jan

A330 Envoy Suite

While not the newest business class seat in the fleet, the legacy US Airlines A330s are a solid business class product — and certainly more than sufficient for a domestic flight.

Image courtesy of American Airlines.

Here's where to find these domestically:

FromToFlight #DepartArriveStartingEndingFrequency
CLT
PHL
559
16:35
18:23
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
CLT
PHL
830
11:20
12:58
1-Jan
1-Jan
One-Off
CLT
PHL
1796
22:25
0:05
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
CLT
PHL
1798
20:20
22:00
1-Jan
14-Feb
Daily
CLT
PHX
692
7:30
10:27
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
HNL
PHX
693
22:00
6:58
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
MCO
PHL
720
9:30
11:57
16-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
PHL
CLT
566
13:05
14:54
8-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
PHL
CLT
650
8:15
10:21
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
PHL
CLT
765
6:55
8:44
8-Jan
14-Feb
Daily
PHL
CLT
1965
6:50
8:42
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
PHL
MCO
1786
18:15
21:04
15-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
PHL
SFO
877
15:30
18:49
15-Feb
28-Feb
Daily
PHL
SFO
1743
15:20
18:40
1-Jan
14-Feb
Daily
PHX
CLT
743
9:35
15:30
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
PHX
HNL
692
12:05
16:00
1-Jan
28-Feb
Daily
SFO
CLT
2112
6:48
14:45
1-Jan
7-Jan
Daily
SFO
PHL
878
8:20
16:43
8-Jan
28-Feb
Daily

Where do you hope to take AAdvantage of international business class seats domestically?

Featured image by JT Genter

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  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.