4 things this American elite member was surprised by on the new 'premium' Dreamliner

As a frequent flyer and longtime AAdvantage elite member, I've followed American Airlines' plans for a premium Dreamliner since they were leaked in 2022. Even so, when TPG's Zach Griff and I stepped onboard the new American Airlines 787-9P last Thursday for a media preview in a hangar near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), a few things about the aircraft stood out to me.

You've likely already read about the new Flagship Suite cabins on this new premium Dreamliner (if not, read Zach's first look at American's new 787-9P aircraft and then come back to this story). But, although the business-class suites are indeed beautiful and a serious upgrade over what American currently offers on its long-haul aircraft, I found surprising elements in each cabin. Here's a look at what surprised me most.

Chaise lounge option for Flagship Suites

One aspect you might miss about the Flagship Suites — especially if you don't read the seat materials or study up on the product ahead of your flight — is the chaise lounge option that gives you a different way to sit upright in your seat. Unlike Finnair's no-recline business-class seat, which most travelers either love or hate, the chaise lounge option on American's 787-9P Flagship Suites is available once you fully recline your seat.

Once your seat is fully flat, you'll likely notice an additional seat belt around where your head would be if you lay down. You can use this seat belt in chaise lounge mode, which consists of sitting on the headrest with your back against the seat's shell. Alternatively, flip the headrest against the shell and use it as lumbar support.

I tried both chaise lounge options in a Flagship Suite and didn't find either particularly comfortable. As such, while I expect most travelers won't realize the chaise lounge is an option, I also believe that even those who know about it won't use it for long. This being said, more options for getting and staying comfortable on long-haul flights are a positive in my book, so I applauded American for trying something different.

Related: Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers

Premium economy seat design

I was particularly interested in seeing the premium economy cabin on American's new 787-9P, as that's realistically where I'll likely fly the most miles on this aircraft type. Many premium economy seats have a leg rest or a footrest, but not both. So, I was surprised to see both on this plane, including in the bulkhead seats. The footrests are customizable so that you can set them depending on your height and desired knee bend.

These premium economy seats have a standard 38-inch pitch, which increases to 43.25 inches when you recline. Of course, the flipside of this substantial recline is that your space will decrease substantially when the passenger ahead of you reclines. This decrease in space makes it difficult to get out of a window seat; I certainly wouldn't be able to get out without asking the aisle seat passenger to get up. So, although I usually dislike bulkhead seats, that's where you'll likely find me, as then I won't have to worry about the passenger ahead of me reclining.

I was also surprised by the storage options at each premium economy seat. There's even a wireless cellphone charging pad in a clear compartment ahead of each premium economy seat. Plus, a slim slot to the side of each seat should fit a laptop or tablet (or maybe both if they're thin).

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Related: Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage

Severe lack of Main Cabin Extra seats

But perhaps what surprised me the most while touring the American Airlines 787-9P is the extreme lack of Main Cabin Extra seats.

As an AAdvantage Platinum Pro elite member, I can select Main Cabin Extra seats when booking economy tickets. But, since there are only 18 Main Cabin Extra seats, I expect these seats will fill up quickly. Plus, all the Main Cabin Extra seats are bulkhead seats, which I don't prefer since it means the tray table and inflight entertainment screen are in the armrest.

To put these 18 Main Cabin Extra seats in perspective, here's how many you can find on other American Airlines wide-body aircraft:

• 777-200: 66 Main Cabin Extra seats, including 18 bulkhead seats
• 777-300 (three-class): 24 Main Cabin Extra seats, including 18 bulkhead seats
• 777-300 (four-class): 28 Main Cabin Extra seats, including 16 bulkhead seats
• 787-8: 48 Main Cabin Extra seats, including 18 bulkhead seats
• 787-9: 36 Main Cabin Extra seats, including 18 bulkhead seats

Especially considering the amount of Main Cabin Extra seating on American's other wide-body aircraft, I find it surprising — and disappointing as a member with AAdvantage elite status — that American Airlines didn't decide to put at least a row or two more of Main Cabin Extra seating on its premium 787-9.

Related: American AAdvantage miles vs. Loyalty Points: What's the difference?

Minicabin economy seats are a mixed bag

Between the premium economy seats and the large economy cabin is a small two- to three-row economy section with nine Main Cabin Extra seats (denoted by brown headrests) and 12 economy seats. Bulkheads, but not curtains, separate this 21-seat section from the premium economy section.

What I found particularly interesting about this minicabin is that it contains the best and worst economy seats you can select. For example, row 21 has over an inch more pitch in seats D, E and H than every other non-bulkhead seat in the economy cabin. These three seats have 32 1/2 inches of pitch while every other economy seat has 31 inches. As such, 21D or 21H will be my seat of choice in economy if other passengers have already selected all the Main Cabin Extra window and aisle seats.

On the other hand, seats A, B, C, L, H and K in row 22 are more than an inch narrower than every other economy seat. This decreased width is likely because American needed to widen the aisles before the four lavatories that separate this small section from the primary economy cabin. Unless you are smaller than average, I highly recommend avoiding these seats as the decreased width is noticeable.

Related: Best credit cards for economy-class flyers

Bottom line

The new American Airlines 787-9P looks great and includes American's first business-class seats with a closing door. But, although many travelers want to fly in business class, most of us will be flying in premium economy or economy. After all, especially if you're redeeming American miles for your flight, rates are often reasonable in economy and premium economy, but sky-high in business class.

You can redeem American miles for business-class upgrades when space is available. This is likely how I'll eventually fly in the new Flagship Suite product. Until then, I'll be opting for bulkhead premium economy seats, one of the limited Main Cabin Extra window or aisle seats, or one of the few standard economy seats with more pitch.

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
• American Airlines basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more