American Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class: what to expect on board
American Airlines is updating its Boeing 787 business class with a new flagship business product.
Business class passengers get priority check-in, access to lounges, and early boarding. Future plans include sliding doors for individual suites and the ability for passengers to dine with a fellow traveler, Simple Flying writes.
Service before you board
American's enhanced experience for business class passengers begins long before takeoff at the check-in counter. Flagship Business passengers are entitled to two free checked bags and can check in in the priority lane.
After passing through security, Flagship Business passengers dine and relax in American's Admirals Club and Flagship Lounges, both of which are available on the day of travel at both departure and connecting airports. In some circumstances, when an airport does not have either of these facilities, American Business Class passengers will be invited to a partner airline lounge.
Boeing 787 Business Class passengers will also be given the opportunity to board early. Flagship Business passengers will be seated in Group 1, which allows them to be the first to take their seats and be accommodated before the journey begins.
What's on board?
American's newest business class seat is available on both its 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. The Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seat comes in a 1-2-1, forward-facing, reverse-facing configuration and is praised by critics for its impressive amount of storage.
The seat offers a fully flat bed, a large screen for in-flight entertainment, and in newer aircraft, a privacy screen is installed between the two middle seats.
However, the product does have some offerings that make it less competitive than other business class seats on the market. Mainly, the legroom on the seat is smaller than that of competitors, mainly due to the table that is stored directly above it.
As TravelWise wrote, American Airlines is setting new standards for vacation travel.