American Airlines has revealed new business class and premium economy cabins that will be fitted on newly delivered Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft beginning in 2024.
Both will feature American’s new private suites (they call them Flagship Suites) which will offer passengers the big four desirables on long-haul flights:
- lie-flat seating
- direct aisle access
- more personal space
- privacy doors
And both aircraft also have the new premium economy seats. Those will have double the amount of in-seat storage space, headrest wings for increased privacy and larger in-seat entertainment screens.
American’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft will have 51 private suites and 32 Premium Economy seats, and the airline’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 20 private suites and 12 Premium Economy seats.
American will also refresh the premium bits of its Boeing 777-300ER with the private suites.
It all means that Premium seating in American’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45 percent by 2026.
New business class suites
Boeing 787-9
The Boeing 787-9 will have 51 private suites — 21 more than the current Boeing 787-9 that American has in its fleet.
Layout is the now typical long-haul business class of 1-2-1 in a reverse herringbone.
Passengers will be surrounded with comfort and expansive personal surface and storage areas.
Passengers traveling together can dine together or share their personal space.
The private suite on the Boeing 787-9 offers more comfort with lie-flat seating and can also convert to a chaise lounge position.
Airbus A321XLR
The Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 20 private suites
AS the A321XLR is a narrow body, the layout is 1-1 and all seats have direct aisle access.
New Premium Economy seats
Both the Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 will come with the new premium economy seats.
Boeing 787-9
The Boeing 787-9 will feature 32 Premium Economy seats — 11 more than the current Boeing 787-9 in American’s fleet.
The layout is a typical wide body premium economy of 2-3-3
The Boeing 787-9 premium economy seats feature headrest wings to increase privacy and larger in-seat entertainment screens.
Airbus A321XLR
The Airbus A321XLR will feature 12 Premium Economy seats.
The cabin will have 3 rows in a 2-2 layout.
The Premium Economy seats on the Airbus A321XLR feature headrest wings for increased privacy.
Price difference between business class and premium economy
The new premium economy seats are likely to be very popular as the price of business (on all airlines) is getting a bit outrageous.
Checking prices today on aa.com for a one way from JFK to LHR on American on 03 October 2022, the fares are:
- Premium economy $2640
- Business $9427
Refreshing American’s Boeing 777-300ERs
American will also be retrofitting its 20 Boeing 777-300ERs to include the new private suites.
These aircraft will be refreshed with the new interiors starting in late 2024.
At the moment American’s 777-300ERs have 8 in First, 52 in Business and 28 in Premium Economy -88 ‘premium’ seats in total.
American’s new 777-300ER cabins will have 70 private suites and and 44 Premium Economy seats. That’s 114 ‘premium’ seats in total, a hug increase in probably the same space.
It does mean the removal of the 8 First class seats.
Refreshed lounges
Premium passengers will also get to enjoy redesgned Admiral Club lounges, with the first of these refreshed lounges opening at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) this fall.
N.B. All images: American Airlines
