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How to Fly American's Best Business Class Seats Domestically in March and April

Feb. 17, 2018
14 min read
AA new 777-200 retrofit (JT Genter photo)
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American Airlines is in the process of revolutionizing its fleet — both in good ways and bad — and that means its planes can still be frustratingly inconsistent, especially on US domestic routes. Some long 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 in 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 it 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.

If you're looking to score one of these seats in February, here's that schedule.

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

American Airlines has three versions of the 777-200 in its fleet — some with "rocking" Zodiac seats and others with new B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seats. All but 13 of these have been retrofit with premium economy. 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 three versions have some form of lie-flat business class seat. 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
MIA
2791
17:05
20:45
1-Mar
3-Mar
Daily
DFW
MIA
1289
17:05
20:45
4-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
DFW
MIA
222
15:55
19:40
2-Apr
23-Apr
Daily
DFW
MIA
1294
16:55
20:43
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
JFK
DFW
1223
14:55
17:55
3-Apr
3-Apr
One-off
LAX
MIA
225
7:45
15:36
1-Mar
25-Mar
Daily
MIA
DFW
969
11:00
13:25
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
MIA
DFW
2808
9:10
11:24
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
DFW
222
10:15
12:27
4-Apr
4-Apr
One-off
MIA
DFW
222
10:15
12:27
25-Apr
25-Apr
One-off
MIA
LAX
270
17:25
20:23
1-Mar
3-Mar
Daily
MIA
LAX
275
17:30
20:28
4-Mar
24-Mar
Daily

787-9 B/E Aerospace Super Diamond

While American Airlines mostly keeps its efficient 787-9 Dreamliners on international routes, 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 March-April, 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
LAX
2489
18:42
20:14
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
DFW
LAX
2649
20:30
22:02
24-Mar
24-Mar
One-off
DFW
LAX
1281
18:55
20:23
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
DFW
ORD
1233
12:35
14:52
1-Mar
24-Mar
Daily
LAX
DFW
2459
8:20
13:27
1-Mar
23-Mar
Daily
LAX
DFW
2459
14:10
19:18
25-Mar
30-Apr
Daily
ORD
DFW
2349
16:55
19:26
1-Mar
24-Mar
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.

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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.

Here's where to find these domestically:

FromToFlight #DepartArriveStartingEndingFrequency
CLT
MCO
581
14:37
16:19
2-Mar
2-Mar
One-off
CLT
MCO
1870
17:54
19:39
28-Apr
28-Apr
One-off
CLT
PHL
559
16:35
18:23
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
CLT
PHL
1798
20:24
22:04
2-Apr
2-Apr
One-off
CLT
PHX
692
7:30
10:27
1-Mar
10-Mar
Daily
CLT
PHX
692
7:34
9:25
11-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
LAX
PHL
670
8:15
16:34
25-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
LAX
PHL
2083
8:25
16:54
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MCO
CLT
1739
11:49
13:37
2-Mar
2-Mar
One-off
MCO
CLT
1725
10:23
12:10
29-Apr
29-Apr
One-off
MCO
PHL
720
9:30
11:57
1-Mar
3-Mar
Daily
MCO
PHL
1666
17:19
19:50
2-Mar
2-Mar
One-off
MCO
PHL
562
9:30
11:57
4-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
MCO
PHL
1879
9:25
11:51
3-Apr
3-Apr
One-off
PHL
CLT
566
13:05
14:53
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
PHL
CLT
1995
9:46
11:35
25-Mar
25-Mar
One-off
PHL
LAX
751
15:45
18:57
24-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
PHL
LAX
700
15:50
18:54
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
PHL
MCO
1786
18:15
21:04
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
PHL
MCO
1728
8:10
10:49
2-Mar
2-Mar
One-off
PHL
SFO
877
15:30
18:49
1-Mar
3-Mar
Daily
PHL
SFO
771
16:10
19:30
4-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
PHL
SFO
1977
15:50
19:05
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
PHX
CLT
743
9:49
15:50
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
PHX
PHL
766
9:00
16:36
3-Apr
3-Apr
One-off
SFO
PHL
878
8:20
16:43
1-Mar
3-Mar
Daily
SFO
PHL
770
8:20
16:43
4-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
SFO
PHL
1984
8:30
16:59
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily

767-300

The fourth and final aircraft we're going to take a look at is American Airlines' old Boeing 767s. While these are far from the best AA business class seats — actually, these rank #6 in our rankings — at least they've got lie-flat seats.

FromToFlight #DepartArriveStartingEndingFrequency
CLT
MIA
1234
9:55
12:13
26-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
DFW
MIA
2686
10:25
14:07
1-Mar
4-Mar
Daily
DFW
MIA
1462
12:35
16:17
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
DFW
MIA
2336
7:15
11:10
3-Apr
3-Apr
One-off
DFW
MIA
1057
14:35
18:31
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
DFW
MIA
2427
10:25
14:12
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
DFW
PHL
2748
20:35
0:41
2-Apr
2-Apr
One-off
DFW
PHL
2748
7:30
11:47
3-Apr
3-Apr
One-off
JFK
MIA
369
15:30
18:59
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
JFK
MIA
2230
6:00
9:14
24-Mar
24-Mar
One-off
JFK
MIA
65
15:30
18:53
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
JFK
MIA
942
11:05
14:11
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
LAS
MIA
2746
12:35
20:18
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
CLT
348
6:40
8:49
26-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
MIA
DFW
2213
15:45
18:08
1-Mar
3-Mar
Daily
MIA
DFW
2427
17:35
20:02
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
MIA
DFW
2455
11:00
13:21
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
DFW
263
7:00
9:17
4-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
JFK
391
13:05
16:04
1-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
MIA
JFK
2493
7:00
10:00
4-Mar
4-Mar
One-off
MIA
JFK
942
7:00
10:01
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
JFK
2458
19:35
22:41
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
LAS
1470
8:45
11:16
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
ORD
1090
13:50
16:16
25-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
MIA
ORD
2439
10:05
12:31
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
PHL
320
13:40
16:30
24-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
MIA
PHL
196
16:00
18:56
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
PHL
1266
6:50
9:41
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
MIA
PHL
2626
13:35
16:29
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
ORD
MIA
342
17:19
21:23
25-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
ORD
MIA
2439
13:47
18:01
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
PHL
MIA
97
17:40
20:43
25-Mar
2-Apr
Daily
PHL
MIA
2582
10:45
13:48
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
PHL
MIA
2785
15:35
18:41
3-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
PHL
MIA
2683
17:45
20:55
4-Apr
30-Apr
Daily
Featured image by JT Genter

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

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)

Pros

  • 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.