A few days ago, I wrapped my quick detour to Africa, and flew American Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER first class on the nine hour flight from London (LHR) to Miami (MIA).
Continue reading: American 777 First Class: More Of A “Business Class Plus”
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Im seeing first class awards from syd to lax for 75k miles atm. Pretty amazing price considering how inflated other points prices have become. I actually like AA biz so I wonder how much of a premium this is.
I’m flying JAL first next week from Tokyo to Sydney. The old product. Open product but like LH first it seems a little more cocooned than AA F.
I’m flying with my 11yo and wondering if we should take the two middle seats or window and aisle (gaining a view but ironically creating too much privacy shield to chat)!
Glorified business class is the perfect way to describe the product. Good riddance. I will miss the swivel seat though. As usual, it's the soft product where AA continues to swing and miss (with some exceptions).
@ Mick -- If traveling with an 11-year-old, I'd probably choose the center seats. It's fun to both be able to swivel the seats toward the center, and dine face-to-face. But you can't go wrong either way. Enjoy the flight, and that's quite a good deal!
The food doesn't actually look that bad though? You didn't really comment on taste though.
The wine list is pretty mediocre, but what can you expect these days?
Given the relatively low price and surcharges of AA F, it's at least a decent-ish way to cross the pond.
The people 37:0 AeroB13a Brainwashed pedophile poop reader apologist.
"the plane was swapped to one with the old business class. So at that point I decided to just book a nonstop flight back home on American"
AA before BA.
If you can't process that rationally, then try use your specialty skill, reading alphabet poop. A comes before B, alphabetically even if covered in poop.
But I assume we're just BA bashing and have no knowledge of air travel, unlikely to have travelled beyond national borders, and never set foot inside a BA aircraft.
There are some other *small* distinctions from business. In first you get the little whipped butter dish vs. just a wrapped butter disc, and in first you get the bigger salt and pepper shakers (vs. the smaller ones, like on your second tray). And you get stemmed glassware (at least you used to; it appears maybe you didn't order any wine...I wouldn't blame you, with that list).
The food doesn't actually look bad, though--it's fairly well presented on the plate and not sloppy. If that were presented the on nicer china (e.g., BA first class) and directly on the table, it'd be more 'first class.' But it looks edible and pretty enjoyable.
This comment makes no sense. Ben reviews plenty of BA flights, and non-Club Suite BA business is awful. At least he got a nice seat on this one.
Complete joke is right. I regret to say I have flown this product - on points - and the service and catering was apalling, although the hard product was acceptable. Except for me, the first class cabin was all filled with non rev staff, so they don't really care. They know nobody is crazy enough to pay for it.
Complete joke is right. I regret to say I have flown this product - on points - and the service and catering was apalling, although the hard product was acceptable. Except for me, the first class cabin was all filled with non rev staff, so they don't really care. They know nobody is crazy enough to pay for that.
It's about a ret*rded pedophile BA apologist by the name of AeroB13a, not Ben.
Maybe AeroB13a should take the wisdom of Proximanova and start to "visualise yourself flying British Airways or British Airways or BAW or something of that kind! ;)" while flying other carriers, assuming that he'd set his foot into any non-BA plane.
As a long time AA elite based in Miami and an even longer time traveler, I really appreciate that Ben is willing to give honest reviews like this one. AA’s products (not to mention their regard for customer loyalty) has tanked and it’s a shame. It’s nice to know that someone is actually relating to my experiences.
I came to find OMAAT after TPG started their email wall. Their endless praise of terrible carriers (which I’ve now added AA too) just because they get paid by them was nauseating.
Keep up the great work, Ben. I especially appreciate how much effort you put into writing all these articles yourself.
There is an interesting mix of amenities. It looks like the new (non-Casper) mattress pad, comforter and larger pillow that were announced in April, plus the old Casper lumbar pillow and blanket. And the amenity kit is the 13 lune one, not the Raven + Lily kits with Macabalm and Pholk Beauty products that were announced a little over 2 months ago.
I chatted up my seat mates on both of my club suites flights. Might as well make the best of it.
I've flown AA in F between the US and UK many times. Revenue and points. I've seen the decline in the offering. Catering in F, whether long haul or transcon has suffered. Service in F, whether long haul or transcon has suffered. Post-COVID, AA management made a conscious choice to not restore pre-COVID quality. At the same time, point prices have doubled to tripled. Finally, AA takes less care of its CKs, which was "it" for me.
Given that BA seems to price the flights with Club Suites consistently higher on routes where planes of the old and new configurations operate, I would be bummed if I paid the higher fares for the Club Suite in case of a last minute swap. The seat re-assignments would be messy. In the old Club, the window seats are semi decent.
Overall AA First looks much better than I expected (except maybe the drinks). Besides caviar, LH shares many dishes between First and Business Class too.
I just flew this cabin from LHR to DFW last week… service was a complete joke. Worse than most business class services. Also food was mediocre at best. I had one piece of lobster in that salad only. The nuts felt stale and old.
Anyway, the seats are decent and bedding was good, that’s the only redeeming feature. This is worse than BA F where that can be a decent business+ experience.
What other airlines are serving Nicolas Feuillatte 2015 in business class? I’ve seen the non-vintage in business class on various airlines, but the vintage is pretty decent. Is it Krug? No, but it’s not terrible. In Air India F I was served non-vintage Laurent Perrier which was so disappointing and boring.
Maybe he’s talking about the days when LH was legitimately your favourite airline in the world, which was a decade ago, when Germany won the World Cup. Reference: https://onemileatatime.com/im-just-caviar-less-biased-review-lufthansa-first-class/
Now, perhaps JAL seems to be your current favourite, up with EVA, SQ and QR, though it’s not a one-way street and all are brilliant on their day. Cue the sound of masonry below.
Flying in a premium cabin on AA reminds me of NW back in the day. If you come in with relatively low expectations you won’t be disappointed.
On a side note, there are quite a few former NW middle to senior management who are now at AA. The renewed focus on D0 is due to that. It’s a metric NW placed a lot of emphasis on.
The Yealands Sauvignon Blanc is a good wine you'd find served in a long haul economy or economy class cabin. At least they don't serve undrinkable swill like they do in domestic business class!
Definitely inferior to Delta One, but I would rank it on par with United Polaris. Polaris seat/cabin is slightly better than AA and AA seems like slightly better food than UA.
Agreed, the food looks decent. It sounds like only olives and soup are different to J but if I will get this exact menu without those AA definitely exceeds my culinary expectations for business class.
But the Swivel Seats!! Which I love!
I got DCA SYD next May in First for 70,000 AA miles. Wasn’t going to go in May but when I saw this availability, I booked. Traveling on to AUH via QR First to Abu Dhabi, then EY Apartment with shower to L.HR. Home on BA 1st using 80,000 AS miles
I’ve actually flown this 3 times after what I thought would be last flight with original conversion schedule.
Have Fun
@ben i flew business dfw akl wednesday and they've changed the bedding to a nest duvet and nothings else. AND NO PYJAMAS. Cutting back.
Pre-COVID, there were two flight attendants in F. That's what the workload requires. (If you don't know what the workload is, please don't offer snide comments.) During COVID, they dropped it to one. Post-COVID, they never restored the second position. The poor service is not for the FA not trying. It's understaffing.
So first class SYD LAX - so you know that will be a QF A380 as AA doesn’t have first class
GAME ON!
They started it, they have been verbally abusing numerous guests who have posted comments on this website, long before I became a regular reader.
They continue in the same vein with whomever they choose to victimise.
They have become the site trolls who contribute nothing of any value on any topic.
Their only interests are self gratification and the attempted belittling of others.
Their command and comprehension of the English language is infantile, even by third world standards.
However, if they wish me to indulge them by trading insults, then I repeat …. Game ON!
When commenters Eskimo or Mason (likely to be the same numpty) judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about their own need to be critical, in an infantile manner.
Criticism of Eskimo or Mason may not be agreeable, but in their case it is necessary, it fulfils the same function as pain in the human body by calling attention to the unhealthy state of their minds.
Criticism however is easy for Eskimo and Mason; achievement in their case is impossible.
One of the greatest lessons in life is to acknowledge that even fools are right sometimes …. however, sadly Eskimo and Mason are proving to be the exception.
Finally, if Mason and Eskimo agree on everything, then surely one of them is unnecessary?
Dear Readers, i believe that the AA staff write these reviews which are so biased and clearly if we compare US carriers with other European, Middle eastern n Asian Airlines.... US carriers dont come close to providing from Pre Check in to flying to picking up ones luggage.
And worse.. If u fly economy on other airlines, you dont have to fork out extra $60 for checked bags and getting pulled off by cops because youe looks or clothes threatened a flight attendant!!! And oooh.. I nearly forgot.. The long haul flight are crewed with the oldest cabin crew mostly over 60yrs+ in many cases which they bid for and get awarded monthly... Older than grand parent. Lousy services in flght services also!!!! Whoever wrote this article... I wonder if they ever flew a real frst class flight on Singapore airlines, Emirates or Lufthansa before eriting incorrect info!!!
I’m always curious about pajamas in the amenity kits. Do people actually bundle up their clothes, haul everything into the tiny bathroom, and change into pajamas after dinner…then do it all over again an hour before landing? What if there’s a line at “prepare for landing” time? Are you going to get stuck wearing your first class PJs through customs?
People want to fly F with points or on a cheap app upgrade. The margin isn't there to support an F product like you find on AF or Singapore.
Why do you act like it's such an ordeal? Changing takes like 1m and it's that simple.
If it was so difficult airlines wouldn't offer it at all. Some of y'all find the most tiny things to complain about.
Aesthetically and now in terms of service, I've always thought of AA F as encapsulating a fundamental misunderstanding of what first class is supposed to be. The whole "office" style and whatnot screams as very American "look at how hard I work and I'm successful!" If I'm paying the eye-watering sums they're asking for this seat (or back when it was newer anyway) as a cash fare, I want to relax in a luxurious space. I don't want to be working or feel like I'm in my office. First class is supposed to be a luxury product, while business class is the practical one.
Also, the diet coke and water is a hilarious throwback to old Ben lol.
Mark, as a frequent world traveling First and Business Class passenger, that is a very common question which I am asked.
Personally, as soon as the seatbelt signs go out I change from my usual attire, a suit, into the provided PJ’s.
I carry-on my own if I know none are provided on a particular flight and change regardless.
The lavatory is hardly ever engaged immediately after takeoff, or, while the final flight meal is being served.
In all my passenger years I have never needed to disembark in my PJ’s, which quite frankly, look far smarter than some passengers day clothes.
I hope this helps?
Flew SYD > LAX in May on a AA 777-300ER in first for 108k miles. My experience was as Ben aptly described and dubbed Business Plus. Disappointing at the time to me based on my expectations.
Im not flying AA. I’m flying JAL F this time. Tokyo to Sydney. 60k AA points (used to be 50k). Osaka to Tokyo in first class on a 767 included. Super interested to see what’s it’s like domestically.
Noting that there is a ton of JAL F availability atm to and from Oz. Sometime three seats. And almost nothing in other classes.
And yet here you are, using 9 paragraphs just to say you're doing what I'm doing, but you're still doing inferior.
Oh, what an incompetent hypocrite.
“ I started off the flight as her “honey,” then I became her “sweetie,” and then after waking up from my nap, I was a “babe.””
I don’t hate this. It’s preferable to a totally disinterested “sir”. I’m not that hung-up on bring addressed as “mister”, and always invite the crew to call me by my first name.
Those clowns really do have a tortured grasp of the English language, fittingly so, I suppose. Tbf it's at least funny when they turn it on Dunn, who himself has never quite figured out how the mechanics of persuasive writing work, let alone the substance of it. Anyway, happy hunting!
Criticism is easy for the multi faceted Eskimo/Mason/etc; achievement in your case is difficult.
Your ignorance of the English language is as profound as your aviation and banking knowledge, even an infant knows that one sentence does not constitute a paragraph.
One chooses to start a new sentence one a new line in order to make it easier for the children to read.
One might say that you are as dumb as a rock, however, at least a rock can hold a door open.
The simplicity of your character makes you exquisitely incomprehensible to others.
How remiss of me, I should never have engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
I have flown the 777-300 in 1A a dozen times, my favorite seat frankly.
This week was my first time since 2020 during a long period of long hauls for work - the hard product is as good as it was then. It met my desires and renewed some nostalgia for a 3 window office in the skies. Those that look at a screen at 100% brightness with the windows closed, you should probably just sit on a boat - you'll enjoy it more. The AA soft product, frankly, was only good when the FC staff was on break and the BC crew came forward. Only then was service worth while. I had all but asked for privacy from the incompetent forward crew, but save for laziness and a proactive BC crew, things turned around. For food - well - ugh. American has had one decent meal the past 4 years and it is the short rib, when they don't list it stop wasting time - I'd rather grab Auntie Anne's from the airport and volunteer to re-route....beg even. No one has ever said an in flight chicken enchilada is appetizing. Ask the airport Papacito's - they know it doesn't even sell on the ground.
That's an odd comment on a post that's about AA First Class... AA does have a First Class, and it is offered on the SYD-LAX flights.
>I have flown the 777-300 in 1A a dozen times, my favorite seat frankly.
You do realize this isn't as much of a flex you think it is? You can literally get the points to indulge in that mediocre experience buying toilet paper at Dollar Tree.
Go fly La Premiere paid with cash. Then come back to brag.
I've scored an F seat sold as business on a couple of domestic runs. The seat provides more room. I'll get the full experience as I turned in nearly 450K miles to take the 77W from LAX to SYD this summer to escape the mid summer heat in July. Now I just have to hope the 789 doesn't get put on that route in the down season. Mods aren't happening until later next year.
The crew you got is the exception on AA. Most the FAs are laazy.
But then you get these gems here and there that are frustrating... why can't they all be like that! AA needs clear out the dead weight.
Ok, enough of the so called FIRST CLASS service on US carriers.......IT IS NOT FIRST CLASS, it will NEVER be, they do not have the pride or honor to offer such service. it all money for them. It does not matter how you dress it up, you can put a tux in a penguin and it's still a penguin. Unfortunately, some of the good foreign airlines, not all, are copying the US carriers First Class standard, and they are copying it, it's a shame that we set the pace in so many issues world wide, and we fall short of the desired results......and they follow....
I've never flown international on a US airline before but have flown BA, Condor, Asiana, AC, CX, JAL, QF, QR, HU, SQ, EY, EK, SAA, S7, Wardair, CP, ANZ, TN, TK, KLM, ANA, Alitalia, BR, AF, GA, GF, FI, LH, OA, LX, TP, and TG long haul over the years.
We will be flying UA Polaris on a 777 - 200 SFO-LHR in January connecting to WY IST-MCT-BKK 73M8, 789.
Can anyone please suggest the best seats for two on UA? Confing is 8 rows, 6 rows for J. Is Polaris going to be better than LH (which was a disaster last year SFO-MUC?
Thanks
I think honey, sweety and babe are something very American deep south. It really is inappropriate to non-Americans but we accept it for what it is - an attempt to be friendly. But Hi, Alan or sir or even "what would you like me to call you" would be more appropriate.
Oh god - Polaris food is worse than AA? I thought S7 was the worst! Then there was Egyptair....
The Polaris Lounge in SFO was great last year - maybe "dinner" before departure?
Everyone seems to forget that this product was released over 11 years ago when no one else had anything like it. Of course it needs to be updated and things have moved. I had quickly with many airlines that's one of the reasons American is changing the product and all of that. At that time, most business class pods were not even really pods and we're nothing like they are today
@Ben- did you ever get this full review posted ? Can’t seem to find it.
Thanks! Scott
On a AA First class Flight as I type on Feb 20, 2026 and they ARE SERVING THE SAME FOOD AS THIS REVIEW! Guess AA doesnt change it up.