Leaked plans reveal a posh Boeing 787 Dreamliner coming to American
American Airlines is preparing to (eventually) receive a batch of new 787 Dreamliners from Boeing, and when they enter the fleet, they'll likely be sporting an ultra-premium configuration.
The Fort Worth-based carrier is planning to outfit its new 787-9 Dreamliners with 51 business-class pods, 32 premium economy recliners, 18 extra-legroom coach seats and 143 standard economy ones, according to a leaked flight-training document that was viewed by TPG.
The new 787-9 configuration will skew significantly more premium than American's existing -9 Dreamliner, which features just 30 biz pods and 21 premium economy recliners. In total, the new 787-9 configuration, internally dubbed the "787-9P" (which likely stands for premium), will sport 244 seats, or 41 fewer seats than the existing -9 fleet.
Several other details about these new jets were leaked as well. American will install both a new business-class and premium economy product on the new 787-9, though the details remain a tightly kept secret.
That said, the document confirms that the business-class "suites include sliding doors." While we don't yet know which product American will install, the two top contenders would appear to be the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seat with a door, which is essentially the British Airways Club Suite.
Alternatively, American might go with the customizable Adient Ascent seat, which recently launched on Qatar's new 787-9 and will also be installed on Hawaiian's new Dreamliners.
The economy seats on the 787-9P will be the same as those on American's new-and-improved 787-8 "baby" Dreamliner, four of which are already flying for American. (American debuted a new cabin configuration on the smaller -8 Dreamliners in November 2020, but those reverse-herringbone business-class pods don't feature sliding doors.)
Other elements of the upgraded onboard experience include new trim and finishes throughout the jet, along with an updated Flagship design that includes a walk-up bar area behind the business-class cabin.
In terms of connectivity, American will ditch its partnership with Panasonic in favor of Viasat Wi-Fi, which offers faster speeds and superior performance compared to the existing provider. Furthermore, the jet will sport seat-back screens across all three cabins, which will run Thales' latest inflight entertainment, as previously announced.
"We have not finalized details but are excited to deliver a premium travel experience for customers when we take delivery of our new aircraft in 2023," an American Airlines spokesperson shared about the leaked plans.
All in all, these updates should be a notable improvement compared to American's existing 787-9 Dreamliner. The focus on premium cabins should better the odds for those looking to score award and upgrade availability, thanks to the 21 additional business-class seats on the plane.
Unfortunately, it isn't immediately clear when American will actually receive its first new Dreamliner from Boeing.
The Chicago-based plane-maker has faced setbacks in its Dreamliner assembly line after production issues were first identified in the manufacturing process.
The Federal Aviation Administration launched a review of the entire Dreamliner production process in 2020, and Boeing has since halted nearly all deliveries of its 787 jets. (The airline did take delivery of one new 787-8 Dreamliner in April 2021.)
In February, the FAA said that it would not let Boeing self-certify its newly built Dreamliners, and it’s waiting for a “systemic fix” to address the production issues.
Until the regulators are satisfied, American won’t be able to take delivery of the new jets. The airline is currently hoping that these jets will enter the fleet sometime in 2023, but it's possible that the timeline slips due to additional delays.
That said, it's exciting to see American investing in its premium cabins. There's no indication yet of what routes will see the upgraded jet, but it'll likely be focused on long-haul destinations with plenty of demand from corporate customers and deep-pocketed leisure customers, which could include London, Sao Paulo and Tel Aviv.
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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
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- 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.
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- $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.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.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.