American Airlines Business Class Review 2023
American Airlines Business Class
8
/10
A good flight you will enjoy and do again
Airport Experience
Cabin & Seat
Cuisine
Beverages
Service
Entertainment
Amenities & Facilities
Short & Medium Haul

Review of American Airlines Business Class

BusinessClass.com review by Ramsey Qubein
Updated 2. Nov 2023

AA is the only North American airline to offer both Business and First Class, but the differences between the two are not as wide as its international competitors. The American Airlines’ Flagship Business cabin is a reliable product that offers great bedding and the best seating layout of the US carriers. On long-haul flights, all aircraft feature 1-2-1 seating and there is never a need to step over a slumbering seatmate to reach the aisle. Business Class passengers are treated to Flagship Lounges in many gateway airports, which are generous in their food & beverage offering. 

As a founding member of the oneworld alliance, fliers can earn or redeem miles in the American AAdvantage program or through other alliance member programs including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Qatar Airways.

Airport experience

8/10

Priority check-in and security lines are available for Flagship Business passengers. At airports with an Admirals Club, Business Class passengers can visit with a same-day flight, and in most overseas airports, passengers can use partner lounges - in many cases, they are oneworld alliance partner lounges.

In American hub cities including Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, same-day-flight access to Flagship Lounges is an exceptional experience for premium-cabin passengers because they offer substantial food buffets with chef-inspired meal options and an ample array of alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, including a premium wine table and speciality cocktail bar. Lounge facilities include shower suites. Passengers flying to London Heathrow can also take advantage of the Arrivals Lounge, with hot and cold beverages, breakfast options, showers and clothes pressing facilities.

Priority boarding means premium passengers can board the aircraft first, although, with the spacious cabin layout in Business Class, there is often plenty of space for carry-on bags.

Cabin & Seat

9/10

All international American Flagship Business flights are in an all-aisle-access, 1-2-1 configuration. On domestic, transcontinental Flagship Business flights on the Airbus A321T, seats are in a 2-2 configuration, but these flights are generally only 5 - 6 hours. You still have to step over your neighbour to access the aisle if in the window seat.

Whether travelling alone or with a companion, fully flat beds are the standard, with partial privacy dividers giving a bit more sense of a cocoon when fully reclined. Solo travellers will prefer window seats, while those with a companion may want a centre pair - although even these require leaning forward to talk with a companion. Another alternative is selecting a window seat and one of the centre-section seats across the aisle, as it is easier to converse that way.

The seats alternate between forward and backwards-facing on a subset of Boeing 777-200ER and 787-8 Dreamliner planes. This means it is essential to review the seat map if you prefer facing one direction over another. You will know you are on a plane with backwards-facing seats due to the backward arrows on every other row of seats. American sometimes swap these aircraft, so it is best to review the seat map a few days before departure to ensure your configuration remains the same. Some seats, like 7A on the Boeing 777-200ER backwards-facing model, are positioned in a way where you cannot easily see out the window.

Meanwhile, the Boeing 777-300ERs sport forward-facing, reverse-herringbone Safran Cirrus Business Class seats – regarded as the airline's best Business Class product due to the levels of comfort and design. The Boeing 787-9s also have forward-facing seats and use the Super Diamond seats.     

A small storage compartment opens to include the headphone jack and small mirror, while large side tables have compartments that open to place larger items like a phone or glasses so that they do not fall between the seat and the aircraft wall.

Large tray tables fold out toward the seat with plentiful space to dine or work. They can be pushed forward to allow for easier access to the aisle. Each seat comes with a plush duvet from Casper and a plump pillow. Electronic controls will enable the seat to recline to different positions and into a flat bed with a built-in ottoman at the base to rest your feet. For the most personal space, you must place most carry-on bags in the overhead bin as your footwell is necessary when reclined.

Unlike many other international airlines, AA provides air nozzles on all its long-haul, widebody aircraft enabling passengers to control their own temperature.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice.

Cuisine

7/10

American will not win awards for service or glamour, but its rattling, aisle-cart service is efficient and reliable. After takeoff, carts roll down the aisle delivering linens for the tray table plus a beverage of choice with warm nuts. It is swift and sometimes without much personal interaction, but on shorter flights, it means more time to sleep. After a quick aperitif, carts return with a tray with pre-plated appetiser and salad. Warm bread is served from a basket, and travellers can enjoy a top up of their drink from a cart that soon follows. 

Dishes are collected quickly after, and slow eaters may feel rushed although are welcome to take their time, replaced with the main entrée. Portions are sizeable and include tasty options that comprise either a beef, poultry, seafood or pasta dish. Passengers can pre-order their preference as well as any special meal they wish. These include Asian vegetarian, low-sodium or Kosher, among others. Quality depends on the local caterer and travellers have complained about the cuisine on flights departing Brazil or China respectively - back to the United States.

Dessert follows with a sweet pastry or cake, cheese platter or ice cream sundae made to order followed by coffee, tea or cordials. These are also served from a clunky, economy class-style cart, which while lacking in presentation, assures a fast service delivery.

American does a nice job on certain Asian flights to offer regional dishes like bibimbap to Seoul or Dainomono setups on Japanese flights. The partnership with Japan Airlines has given American some great pointers for meals on its Tokyo flights. On other flights, James Beard Foundation chef-created recipes are often available including tasty pasta creations or grilled meats.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Ellie Krieger has developed a range of well-being dishes in conjunction with the foundation that emphasises flavour, mood, hydration, digestion and immune support.

While there is no dine on demand service, some crew may oblige delivering service later if time allows.

On longer transpacific flights, there is an option for a mid-flight meal. This can include a hot sandwich or noodle dish, and there is usually a cold salad or continental option. Baskets with snacks, fresh fruit and finger food are available in a buffet area near the galley, and the bar menu is always open. 

Pre-arrival meals are served in one course about 90 minutes before landing. Depending on the hour, they can range from two breakfast options - hot egg dish or continental or pre-arrival lunch with a hot sandwich or cold salad served with a side of warm bread. 

Meals can be reserved up to 30 days and 24 hours before departure via the airline's website.

Beverages

7/10

As guests board, they are offered orange juice, water or sparkling wine from a tray. Warm towels precede the first beverage service after takeoff, and all passengers receive a bottle of water.

Printed menus outline what is available throughout the flight including sparkling wine, two white wines, two red wines and a dessert wine. There is a long list of decent spirits and liqueurs plus an international selection of beers plus soft drinks and Minute Maid juices. Sometimes, the beers include some local options, and on certain flights, local soft drinks are served, too. On flights to South America some regional colas are added as a personalised touch. Refills are plentiful, but sometimes you may have to approach the galley to request one in between services.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on which Champagne/Sparkling Wine is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes, but feel free to let us know if there is something we missed. 

Service

6/10

Flight attendant service varies by the crew, which means on some flights, the service can be incredibly friendly and personalised and on another, there may be little interaction beyond the basics. The use of aisle carts means that service is achieved faster than usual, but only some crew will stop to make conversation during the service. Others will follow an assembly line procedure to expedite the service with little personalisation. Still, most flight attendants are friendly and happy to oblige special requests, even in between the meal services.

Entertainment

8/10

Bang & Olufsen noise-cancelling headphones are standard, and they work very well. Unfortunately, American insists on collecting them one hour before landing, and if passengers are sleeping or watching the entertainment system, they will be interrupted. Replacement earbuds are available on request for the remainder of the flight, but the process is slightly awkward and not the best way to end the flight.

Luckily, large, touch-screen entertainment screens offer a great choice of movies, comedies and short subject features like comedies and documentaries. Remote-control capability is also an option, as are numerous music and podcast choices. The 3-D moving map display is of excellent quality and very entertaining. Entertainment systems and programming are the same for every cabin on the plane, but the quality is high. Children get their own channel – Kids Room – containing age-appropriate movies and television, plus a new educational channel HOMER, offering reading, music and select learning topics such as science.

Upgraded Wi-Fi is available aboard most of the airline's aircraft, with pricing based on the number of hours you want to use. The option for a complete flight pass is typically the best, and no data caps are imposed. AAdvantage members may opt for the good-value pay monthly Wi-Fi subscription service. Use the fast service for emails and streaming services.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi.

Amenities & Facilities

8/10

American provides amenity kits with the expected comforts including socks, eye shades, dental kits and lip balm - among other niceties - at each seat. On especially long flights, like those to Hong Kong or Sydney, passengers receive Casper pajamas, slippers and a mattress pad. The latter is normally a perk just for Flagship First fliers but are a special treat on these flights in Business Class too. On transpacific flights from the USA to Japan, Korea and China, passengers receive slippers.

For the current amenity kit in Flagship Business, American Airlines has teamed up with two American boutique luxury goods companies - Shinola and D.S. & Durga. Detroit-based Shinola crafts world-class watches and premium leather goods and have produced the amenity bags, while D.S. & Durga – from Brooklyn – are perfumers who have created lotions and balms – which are all wrapped in sustainable packaging. 

Short & Medium Haul

9/10

In addition to long-haul, widebody flights, Flagship Business - and its flatbed seating and premium menus - is also offered on select Airbus A321 aircraft. These are used on domestic transcontinental flights between New York, Boston or Miami to Los Angeles, New York to San Francisco, and New York to Orange County. A slightly modified menu is available based on the time of the flight. The same excellent Casper bedding, as well as amenity kits, are on offer as well as access to Flagship Lounges in certain airports.

The airline offers a similar open bar on domestic Flagship Business as international flights. It should be noted that on these planes, Business Class seats are in a 2-2- configuration and window seat passengers will have to climb over their neighbour to access the aisle. The seats have the same flatbed and recline features and entertainment systems as the widebody aircraft.

On the majority of domestic flights within the United States, the premium cabin is sold as First Class. This can be confusing for non-US passengers, as the onboard product is what you would expect from Business Class in many other countries. Comfortable recliner seats and an open bar are trademarks of domestic First Class within the US, with the food offering often reduced to the minimum even on relatively long domestic flights.

Sustainability

American Airlines was the first US carrier to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In 2022, more than 50 per cent of American Airlines' fleet was less than ten years old, making it the youngest fleet of aircraft of any U.S. network carrier. At the same time, older aircraft are being retired and replaced by a more fuel-efficient modern fleet, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 737MAXs, and Airbus A321neo models. American is investing heavily in developing new sustainable fuels and, in 2023, was named Eco-Airline of the Year by Air Transport World for its progressive fleet renewals and rising use of sustainable aviation fuels. American Airlines has committed to reserving 50 VX4 eVTOL – electric vertical, takeoff, and landing – vehicles from Vertical Aerospace, with a conditional pre-order of another 250 aircraft and additional 100 options. The VX4 can fly four passengers over 100 miles with zero operating emissions and minimal noise – with the first commercial flights anticipated by 2024.

The airline recycles nearly 10,000 kilograms of aluminium cans from its cabins every year, and in 2022, the airline's headquarters facilities and operations were powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. AA is a keen supporter of the National Parks Foundation - and actively encourages passengers to donate unspent American AAdvantage miles to the cause - that of protecting America's natural wildlife.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.

What We Love

  • Flagship lounges in certain gateway airports are excellent pre-flight places to relax before departing the United States
  • Inflight Casper-branded bedding and all-aisle-access seats on widebody planes assure a sound rest
  • The progressive approach towards net zero emissions

BusinessClass.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights and the finest hotels.

About the author
Ramsey Qubein
Contributing Writer
Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist who is recognised for his comprehensive coverage of the airline, hotel and cruising industries. With an impressive annual mileage of over 450,000 miles and a remarkable journey to all 7 continents, 50 U.S. states, and 168 United Nations countries, Ramsey possesses unparalleled expertise in maximising travel loyalty programs. His work, featured in...
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