American shuffles wide-body schedule with 18-route Latin America expansion
This winter, you'll find plenty of American Airlines' largest planes flying south of the border.
Over the weekend, the Fort Worth-based carrier loaded its schedule for November through the winter, and it contains good news news for flyers headed to Latin America: 19 routes are getting upgraded with wide-body jets.
You'll find the full details below, but offering more widebodies on short-haul flights is a welcome improvement to the onboard experience. In the business-class cabin, flyers can expect lie-flat pods with direct aisle access. In coach, each seat has a personal seat-back screen, and there are power outlets and USB ports for charging.
Plus, most of these planes have a premium economy cabin as well, which features similar recliners to the ones installed in domestic first class. Better yet, these seats are often sold as extra-legroom Main Cabin Extra on these routes, allowing you to score discounted or even complimentary access based on your elite status.
First-ever service to Jamaica
Jamaica is a big winner in American's latest wide-body schedule adjustment. The country's Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (MBJ) will see American's Boeing 787 Dreamliners for much of the winter.
Specifically, the carrier's routes from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA) and Philadelphia (PHL) will all be operated by a 787. Be sure to check the seat map before booking to confirm the plane type. While schedules are still subject to change, flights are currently scheduled as follows, per Cirium timetables:
- DFW: A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner nearly every day between Nov. 2, 2021, and Jan. 3, 2022, as well as a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Feb. 17, 2022, through March 26, 2022.
- MIA: A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Jan. 4, 2022, through March 26, 2022.
- PHL: A mix of the Boeing 787-8 and -9 Dreamliner on varying days between Nov. 2, 2021, and March 26, 2022.
Though American has previously flown a wide-body to Jamaica from both Miami and Philly, Nov. 2 will mark the first-ever regularly scheduled service, from Dallas per Cirium schedules which go back to August 2003. American is anticipating lots of passenger (and cargo) demand to this Caribbean nation — enough to warrant sending a Dreamliner from three of its U.S. hubs.
"This is a direct result of the continued strong leisure bookings we're seeing there this winter," a carrier spokesperson confirmed to TPG regarding the upgauge.
In addition to Jamaica, AA is gearing up for a busy winter travel season to the Dominican Republic. Flights from Charlotte (CLT) and Miami (MIA) to Punta Cana (PUJ) will be operated by a Boeing 777-200. (Service will last from Nov. 2, 2021, through Jan. 3, 2022, from Charlotte and from Nov. 2, 2021, through March 26, 2022 from Miami.)
Colombia continues to win
Earlier this year, American began flying its twin-aisle jets to Colombia thanks to strong VFR ("visiting friends and relatives") traffic, as well as leisure-focused tourism.
Though this limited-time (plane) upgrade was slated to end this summer, American has now extended the schedule through the winter as there's seemingly still higher-than-expected demand.
From Nov. 2, 2021, through March 26, 2022, you'll find the widebodies deployed on the following routes:
- Bogota (BOG): All DFW flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-200, while one daily MIA flight will be on a 777-200.
- Cali (CLO): One daily MIA flight will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
- Medellin (MDE): One daily MIA flight will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Along with Colombia, Ecuador will also feel the love from AA. One daily service from Miami to Guayaquil (GYE) and Quito (UIO) will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner between Nov. 2, 2021, and March 26, 2022.
The flagship goes to India
American is gearing up for a splashy (re)launch of India service. The carrier is slated to begin serving New Delhi (DEL) from New York-JFK on Oct. 31 and Bangalore (BLR) from Seattle (SEA) just days later on Nov. 2.
Previously, AA had planned to fly a Boeing 777-200 on the Delhi route, but that's now been upgraded to the flagship Boeing 777-300ER through March 25, 2022. American's 777-300ER is the airline's only wide-body to feature a dedicated Flagship First cabin, in addition to 52 business-class pods, 28 premium economy recliners and 216 coach seats.
If you're lucky enough to score one of the eight seats at the pointy end of the plane, you can expect AA's most elaborate service, including access to the pre-departure Flagship First dining facility in JFK.
American's Seattle to Bangalore flight remains scheduled on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Both India flights are made possible by expanded partnerships: with JetBlue on the East Coast and with Alaska Airlines and Qatar Airways on the West Coast.
Philly gets the love
Though much of AA's wide-body growth is in Latin America, two domestic routes will also receive a notable, limited-time upgauge.
Transcon routes from Philadelphia (PHL) to both Las Vegas (LAS) and Los Angeles (LAX) will be flown by a wide-body this October and November. One daily Las Vegas flight will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 between Nov. 2 and Nov. 17, while one daily Philly to LAX flight will see a Boeing 777-200 from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30, and a mix of the Boeing 787-8 and -9 Dreamliner from Nov. 2 through Nov. 30.
Though AA has previously flown many of its highest-profile domestic routes with wide-body jets, these two from Philly haven't historically made the cut.
Below you'll find the full list of 18 upgauged Latin America routes for the winter season beginning on Nov. 2. Remember to confirm the plane type before booking, and note that schedules are always subject to change.
| Origin | Destination | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | Bogota (BOG) | 1x daily Boeing 777-200 |
Miami (MIA) | Bogota (BOG) | 1x daily Boeing 777-200 |
Miami (MIA) | Cali (CLO) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | Cancun (CUN) | A mix of Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
Chicago (ORD) | Cancun (CUN) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | Lima (LIM) | 1x daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
Miami (MIA) | Lima (LIM) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
Miami (MIA) | Guayaquil (GYE) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
Miami (MIA) | Havana (HAV) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
Miami (MIA) | Medellin (MDE) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | Montego Bay (MBJ) | A mix of Boeing 787-9 and 787-9 Dreamliners (schedule above) |
Miami (MIA) | Montego Bay (MBJ) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (schedule above) |
Philadelphia (PHL) | Montego Bay (MBJ) | A mix of Boeing 787-9 and 787-9 Dreamliners (schedule above) |
Charlotte (CLT) | Punta Cana (PUJ) | 1x daily Boeing 777-200 |
Miami (MIA) | Punta Cana (PUJ) | 1x daily Boeing 777-200 |
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | San Juan (SJU) | 1x daily Boeing 777-200 |
Miami (MIA) | San Juan (SJU) | 2x daily Boeing 777-200 |
Miami (MIA) | Quito (UIO) | 1x daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner |
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