American has eliminated most Flagship First service elements -- could they be gone for good?
The pandemic has changed flying for both airlines and passengers alike.
Passengers care more about onboard cleanliness and safety than ever before, even at the expense of service. Meanwhile, airlines have felt the catastrophic financial impact of the downturn in travel. That has culminated in the elimination of many service elements, including the death of first class (at least temporarily) for many airlines.
Domestically, American Airlines has been the only remaining carrier to offer a true first-class product, Flagship First. However, with numerous routes cut and premium travel diminished, American has confirmed that they have temporarily eliminated much of the ground and onboard elements of Flagship First.
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Flagship First service is no more
An American spokesperson told TPG that Flagship First food and beverage service is exactly the same as Flagship Business for all routes, and there is no date for when differentiated service may return.
There are only two types of planes in American's fleet that have a true first-class product: the Airbus A321T and Boeing 777-300ER.
In fact, I experienced this on a recent American A321T flight between New York and Los Angeles. While I was flying in first, the food, drink and bedding were all from business.
Is Flagship First worth it now?
Interestingly, American continues to sell both Flagship First and Flagship Business as two separate cabins. While onboard catering is the same across both, you may get more personalized service in first class.
On the ground, Flagship Lounges are currently closed. That also means first class passengers do not get the experience of a la carte, Flagship First Dining inside those lounges. Instead, both business and first class customers are funneled into the standard Admirals Club locations -- some of which have no snacks or drinks at all.
Related: 9 ways the pandemic has transformed the American Airlines lounge experience
What it comes down to
With all of that said, you are essentially paying a premium versus Flagship Business for three things: a more exclusive seat, access to Flagship Check-In and more elite earning if you're paying in cash.
On the transcontinental Airbus A321T, that means a 1-1 first class seating configuration -- and more distancing between passengers than the 2-2 layout in business. The Boeing 777-300ER is still in a 1-2-1 layout similar to business, but you do get more space in the seat itself.
If you're paying outright for Flagship First, you'll also get more elite qualifying miles (EQMs). Flagship First passengers get 3 EQMs per mile flown while Flagship Business passengers get 2 EQMs per mile flown. That'll put you closer to the next tier of elite status.
Related: American extends elite status, makes it easier to qualify due to the pandemic
Paying extra for First
TPG's Zach Griff outlined all the ways you can pay to move from Flagship Business to Flagship First -- including using cash, miles or certificates.
When looking at the premium transcontinental route between JFK and LAX, there remains a sizable gap in pricing between Flagship First and Flagship Business. That difference in pricing widens even more when you look at it from an AAdvantage redemption perspective (both searches are random dates in October 2020).
Bottom line
The service elements between Flagship First and Flagship Business has always been quite similar, especially on the domestic transcontinental routes. An extra pillow, blanket and soup course may not have been worth the price premium between cabins before the pandemic anyhow.
Will American decide to eliminate Flagship First-specific onboard food and beverage for good? I think that possibility is very real. American may try to continue selling Flagship First and Flagship Business as two distinct cabins for the foreseeable future, marketing first class as a more spacious, distancing-friendly option.
After all, space is what passengers want now more than ever before.
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| 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. |
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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
- 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.