American Airlines says goodbye to First Class, here are the new premium Flagship Suites

American Airlines had remained the only Made in the U.S. airline to still offer on board its fleet, both intercontinental and transcontinental, the cabin of First Class. As of today, the countdown has officially started: in 2024 we will begin to say goodbye to the first class of the oneWorld carrier.

First, Flagship First and premium Flagship Suite

Let's have some clarity. As we have already written in several articles, on domestic flights U.S. carriers call First what is called business in the rest of the world. American Airlines to differentiate within it the true First Class cabin called this section of the plane Flaghsip First.

On planes used for domestic flights, even transcontinental flights from coast to coast, First's seat was the one normally found in business on the long-haul fleet.

Now everything will change with the installation of the new cabins and the planes offering premium Flagship Suite, premium economy and economy.

As seen in the photos attached to the announcement press release, product will be very similar to the one proposed by British Airways and will offer the door which will allow the passenger to isolate himself more from the corridor.

Not a big loss

I have never flown in Flagship First with American Airlines., but never even "dreamed" of doing so. The reason is that the product offered was nowhere near what Air France proposed with La Premiere, Emirates or All Nippon Airlines. The seat in intercontinental flights was more spacious than business class, but nothing transcendental. Service, as always in American airlines, is inconsistent. The in-flight menu little superior to business.

The only loss will be the (likely) disappearance of Flagship First Dining, or fine dining restaurants within the American Airlines Flagship Lounge. 

The new premium Flagship Suite

AA thus joins the list of carriers that have chosen to equip business class seats with a sliding door. Air France's first aircraft with the new cabin is expected to enter service soon, followed within a few months also by KLM. While British Airways is continuing in the retrofitting the entire fleet with his beautiful Club World Suite.

With new deliveries of its Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft starting in 2024, the airline will unveil new premium Flagship Suite seats and reinvented interiors for its long-haul fleet. Flagship Suite seats will offer greater privacy and more personal storage space.

"We are enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire journey with American," said Julie Rath, American's Vice President of Customer Experience. "The arrival of new long-haul aircraft and the custom design of Flagship Suite seats will offer customers a truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet."

In conclusion

American had fallen behind United's Delta One Suite and Polaris, with this new seat has shortened the distance. Competition among "the three sisters," as the major American airlines are called, makes travel better for all passengers. If it also changed the service with more care and attention, traveling made in the USA would become a truly positive experience.