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AA will install 'enhanced' business-class seats on newly-delivered Dreamliners starting in 2020

Jan. 27, 2020
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4 min read
20191028_DFW Airport_American Airlines 788 787-8 taking off from DFW_JTGenter
AA will install 'enhanced' business-class seats on newly-delivered Dreamliners starting in 2020
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American Airlines placed a blockbuster order for 47 new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in April. The order — which would be valued at more than $12 billion at list prices — will more than double AA's existing Dreamliner fleet.

American Airlines expects to take delivery of the first 12 Boeing 787-8 from the order this year. However, we've wondered since since AA placed this order: what seats would the airline use for business class?

Across its fleet, AA has many different types of premium-cabin seats. However, since American Airlines abruptly terminated its contract with seat maker Zodiac in September 2015, it has installed only one type of business-class seat: the Rockwell Collins (formerly B/E Aerospace) Super Diamond seat.

You'll find this business-class seat on all of American Airlines' Boeing 787-9 aircraft and about half of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft.

Rockwell Collins Aerospace Super Diamond business class on an American Airlines Boeing 777-200 aircraft. (Photo by JT Genter / The Points Guy)

The Super Diamond is a solid lie-flat reverse-herringbone business-class seat, well-designed storage areas and an integrated shell to help provide a sense of privacy.

In fact, the Super Diamond has become somewhat of the industry standard recently; airlines such as Air Canada, British Airways, Fiji Airways and Virgin Australia all have recently opted to install a version of the seat in business class.

RELATED: American Airlines (777-200) Business With B/E Aerospace Super Diamond Seats

Since American Airlines already uses this seat on other Dreamliners, it would seem like an obvious choice for AA to opt to install the Super Diamond. That's why I was intrigued in August 2019 when AA declined to say which seat it would install on its new Dreamliners.

I followed up on this question last week after American Airlines released its financial statements. "We have chosen a seat for the 787-8s that we’ll receive in 2020," a spokesperson told us. "It’s an enhanced version of the Collins Super Diamond seat model that we have on our current 787-9 and some 777-200s."

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Now the question is: how will AA enhance this seat?

One option would be for American Airlines to copy its UK-based partner British Airways by adding a closing door to enhance the seat's privacy.

(Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)
The new British Airways Club World Suite (Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)

Another detail that is missing from AA's current versions of the Super Diamond seat: a retractable privacy divider between the middle seats. While having an unobstructed view of your neighbor could be a positive if you're traveling with a companion, this isn't a positive if you're flying next to a stranger.

JT and Katie on American Airlines 777-200 business class
Katie and I have enjoyed sitting next to each other in the middle seats on American Airlines' Boeing 777-200.

AA could opt to use the same middle-seat divider that British Airways is using on its new Club World Suite:

The divider between the Super Diamond middle seats on British Airways' new Club World Suites. (Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)

Unfortunately, for now, all we can do is speculate about which enhancements will be made to the seat. For now, American Airlines isn't ready to share further details.

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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • $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.
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