I took a nostalgia flight in American Airlines’ soon-to-be-retired international Flagship First: Here’s where you can still find it
I've had a soft spot for American Airlines Flagship First for more than a decade. It's the last true international first-class product being flown by any American carrier. But Flagship First has been around since the early 2010s, and American plans to formally retire the product in the coming years.
In fact, from what we've learned, the first of the Airbus A321T planes with first class that American flies between cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Santa Ana in California and New York and Boston in the Northeast have already been retrofitted and returned to service in a more typical A321 configuration.
But for now, you can still fly in true three-cabin first class on both the Airbus A321T and the Boeing 777-300ER jets. These planes also offer Flagship Business, but there are some fun differentiators between the cabins.
The American Airlines Flagship First cabins remind me of the glory days of my early entry into the points and miles hobby. I'll never forget being able to upgrade to Flagship First on a flight from New York to London, and how excited I was about that flight.
That nostalgia still in mind, I jumped at the opportunity when I was offered a good price to upgrade from business class to first class on an American 777-300ER from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO).
Here's what we know about how long these fun cabins will be around, what the replacements are, how the product is different from business class and where you can still find these throwback seats.
The end of an era: Why American Airlines is getting rid of Flagship First
American is eliminating its first-class cabins for an overhauled business cabin — one that will expand the number of premium seats — on all the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in its fleet. The Airbus A321T's unique first-class cabins will also be going away at some point in favor of all-new aircraft, with the premium-heavy A321Ts being converted into Project Oasis-style layouts with more coach seats.
American has previously said that it would ditch the true first-class product on both the A321Ts and the 777-300s by late 2024, but that timeline has slipped. I asked American for an update on the retirement timelines, but AA said it had nothing more to add at this time. The airline has said the overhaul came, in part, because of customers' desire for a more premium experience.
The 20 remade 777-300ERs will have 70 Flagship Suite business-class seats and 44 premium economy seats. Currently, those planes have a total of 60 seats between first and business class.
AA's newly delivered Boeing 787-9s will see the rollout of a new business-class cabin, and eventually, the three-class 777-300ERs will be retrofitted with the new cabins, and the distinct first-class cabins will be slowly phased out. Still, that could be a ways off. American delayed the rollout of its Dreamliner Flagship suites in April due to production delays. Those retrofitted 777-300ERs will also have what AA is calling Flagship Suite Preferred seats at the bulkhead, essentially a business-class seat with a bit of extra space.
"We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American," American's Vice President of Customer Experience Julie Rath said in a statement. "The arrival of new long-haul aircraft and the customized seat design of the Flagship Suite® seats will offer customers a truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet."
Eventually, AA will replace the transcon A321Ts with Airbus A321XLRs with a brand-new Flagship business-class cabin, premium economy and Main Cabin Extra seats, but no true first class. Airbus told TPG's Sean Cudahy it will deliver its first A321XLR during the third quarter of 2024. AA said it didn't have more information to share just yet.
How I booked American Airlines Flagship First
I originally booked a round-trip flight in business class from Rome to New York. You can often book tickets for cheaper when originating in Europe, especially if you can book your return as far out in the schedule as you can. I had booked a one-way Air France business-class award to Paris back in October of last year, so I needed to get home. One-way flights originating in Europe were priced outrageously in miles and money, so I went into my bag of tricks to figure out a fun workaround for the high ticket prices.
Instead of booking an expensive one-way flight in coach, I booked a round trip in a premium cabin.
In my case, I paid $3,033 for my round-trip ticket from Rome to New York, with a departure date in October 2023 and a return in July 2024. When I flew the first leg back in October of last year, it was on a 777-200, a flight I reviewed for The Points Guy.
But when the schedule was loaded for my return trip in the high summer season, AA put a Boeing 777-300ER on the Rome flight. The 777-300, unlike the 777-200, has a first-class cabin in addition to business class.
I paid $600 for the upgrade to first from business class, which is not cheap, but I knew it would likely be one of my last opportunities to fly in Flagship First. I used my Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® and earned 1,800 AAdvantage miles for the purchase (and 600 Loyalty Points).
The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
What's the difference between Flagship First and business class on AA?
There are not huge differences between business class and first class, though there are some fun ways that the first-class cabin and predeparture process offer a more elevated experience.
Here are the primary differences:
- Access to Flagship First lounges and check-in (where available)
- Larger seats
- More intimate first-class cabin with fewer seats
- Swivel seat that turns into a workstation
- Pajamas available
- Special Flagship First amenity kit
- Elevated meal service
My flight started with a more premium experience at New York's JFK airport, which has a special Flagship First check-in area that operates in tandem with Oneworld and joint-venture partner British Airways. Those flying in Flagship First on transcontinental A321Ts or international 777s can use this check-in area.
After giving my name to an employee standing guard out front, I skipped the lines after exiting the special check-in area and headed right to the TSA PreCheck checkpoint. "It would have been nice to have an escort through security," said Michael Mosley, a TPG reader who just took a 14-hour flight to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Flagship First, "but it's lovely to have a separate entrance at JFK's Terminal 8 which feels very premium."
The Chelsea Lounge at JFK is one of the nicest U.S. lounges I've experienced. To enter, you'll need to be flying first class on an international American Airlines, British Airways or other Oneworld carrier, be in Flagship First on one of American Airlines' premium A321T flights to San Francisco or Los Angeles, or have the unpublished Concierge Key status to gain entrance to the Chelsea Lounge.
You can have a special meal served fine-restaurant style or choose from a slew of menu options in the Chelsea Lounge.
Flagship First comes with Group 1 boarding, so you'll be among the first passengers on board.
The first big difference in the cabins is space. As you can see in the photos below, there's just more legroom around the Flagship First seats compared to business-class seats.
On these large jets, there are just eight seats in first class versus 52 in business class, arranged in a 1-2-1 layout.
That means you'll usually get better service. "It's the more personalized service," said Mosley when I asked him about the biggest difference between business class and first. That was indeed the case on my flight. I couldn't have asked for better, more attentive service during the flight. Two flight attendants work the first-class cabin. That means there is a flight attendant for each set of four passengers.
I love the fact that the seat rotates and turns into a full desk space.
The amenity kids were the same as in business class on my flight. Nothing too exciting here, though there have been a few flights I've been on in Flagship First that had a slightly upgraded amenity kit. Pajamas were also handed out to Flagship First passengers.
There were also three windows instead of two like at most business-class seats.
The bed itself is longer than in business class, and there are no super-narrow footwells like there are in business class.
It's a smaller, more private cabin.
Mosley also loved the fact that there's no true footwell; it's more like a shelf, so "you can just pop your feet up there. It's wonderful. The fact that you can have a buddy seat where the ottoman is. Someone can come join you for a meal."
The flight attendants showed me how guests traveling together might be able to share a meal across their seats.
In fact, the couple sitting across from me were able to do just that. "We are on our honeymoon," said the new bride, who had selected the seats and was surprising her new husband, who didn't even know their final destination or that they were flying in Flagship First.
The food is slightly upgraded compared to business class. You have an additional course — a soup course — in between the salad and the entree. There was also an additional appetizer. I had olives and warmed nuts (the nuts are standard in business class, too).
The front galley also had a slightly elevated selection of snacks, including sandwiches, bottled water and goodies like Blue Diamond almonds, Hippeas chickpea puffs and Thinsters cookies.
The drinks flowed frequently on my flight with attentive flight attendants refilling my club soda and cranberry on the regular.
Just like in business class, there was a large plastic-wrapped pillow and Casper blanket waiting for me at my seat. The blanket was soft and comfy, though not so heavy that I was overheated while sleeping.
Unlike in business class, first-class passengers also receive a Casper lumbar pillow and a mattress pad.
The seats recline via various in-seat controls to fully lie-flat or a range of other settings. That's similar to business class, but, again, you'll have a wider, longer bed. I find the seats much more comfortable.
There was also a lot more workspace when you fully extended the tray table.
There was plenty of room in the overhead bins where I could put the amenities when I wasn't trying to get some shut-eye.
My favorite feature in first class was being able to order cappuccinos. First-class passengers are able to request specialized coffee drinks made in a real espresso machine. I asked for several after a too-brief sleep.
The purser helps restrict access to the first-class lavatories, so there was never a wait for a bathroom.
Why I still love American Airlines Flagship First
I think my fascination with American's Flagship First product dates to around the time I fell in love with American Airlines and really began to pursue the points and miles hobby. My obsession with American Airlines was inspired, in part, by the 2009 film "Up in the Air," which heavily featured American Airlines and one man's obsession with airline status and collecting miles. I relate.
That movie came out just a few years before American Airlines introduced the cabin on its newly delivered 777-300s in 2011. Not long after, I first realized I could emulate the character Ryan Bingham and go for top-tier AA status.
Flying in the big cabin at the front of the plane became a bucket list item — and one I've been lucky enough to check off several times now by upgrading various flights over the years.
I also got to experience the Flagship First fun with several flights to and from San Francisco on trips home to see the family on the A321Ts. Flagship First has been a part of my life for more than a decade, and I still get a thrill when I'm lucky enough to fly in it.
I will miss it when it's gone.
Here's where you can still book Flagship First
These premium cabins might be leaving us soon, but it's not too late to fly in Flagship First before it fades away.
Here's where American Airlines is still flying the 777-300ER:
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
- New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
- New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — Sydney Airport (SYD)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Miami International Airport (MIA) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Miami International Airport (MIA) — Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Come November, American Airlines will be flying the 777-300 on the following routes:
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE)
- New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — Sydney Airport (SYD)
- Miami International Airport (MIA) — Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE)
- Miami International Airport (MIA) — Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
- Miami International Airport (MIA) — London's Heathrow Airport (LHR)
When will Flagship First go away for good?
We don't yet know when American Airlines will fully retire its distinctive and aging first-class cabins, but the day is coming.
"Beyond the new inflight amenities, bedding and dining options on board ... customers can look forward to an even more elevated experience onboard future Boeing 787-9, 777-300 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft, featuring a new interior with the Flagship® Suite seat," the airline said in a press release earlier this year. American isn't ready to tell us when we can expect the final fadeout of Flagship First.
In the coming year or two, though, there will be new jets with the fancy new Flagship Business suites, but still no timeline. You can be sure, we'll be the first to let you know.
Bottom line
While we don't know when the Flagship First product is going away, we know that it is not long for this world. In the meantime, I'll continue to look for opportunities to fly this unique and fun product. If you get the chance to buy up at a decent price or use an upgrade, I highly recommend it — if only for nostalgia's sake.
Related reading:
- Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines
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