Details: American Airlines Eliminating "Premium" First Class

How about domestic “first” - quotes being operative. It’s laughable that domestic carriers use “first” trying to conjure up images of champagne and beluga when all it amounts to is some extra room, a seat with a bit more padding, and free pretzels with well drinks.

Regarding the flight, I just don't remember. Sorry.

Regarding the XLR seat, perhaps the best way for me to frame it is that I don't expect it to be a subjective downgrade from the existing seat. Sorry for any lack of clarity.

In your review of the new Air France A350-900 Opera seat, you noted the extra space in the bulkhead seat. I'm hoping the same is the case with AA's XLRs. With the current T-Birds, there is the cabinet top in front of you, which is typically used for displaying in-flight snacks. Which is not a bad thing. If some of that space were allocated to that bulkhead seat, it would be particularly nice. Sorry for any lack of clarity.

Anybody who is on AA's Flagship Business Plus ticket presumably.

Densification hit economy class passengers. Here densification will hit some premium revenue passengers, but AA has had diminishing interest in that market for quite some time and this is yet another sign of AA that.

I am just waiting to see when they start shrinking business class cabins even more in favor of “premium economy” where it’s been so much of a gravy train for the airlines that they want more of that while being more invested than ever in making economy class ever worst in hopes of milking consumers even more with various “buy up” offers to escape the worst of what this airline deliberately chose to make things worse for the plurality of passengers.

It’s been quite some time since I’ve even considered paying up more miles for long-haul first class on AA instead of just settling for business class when flying AA. And with AA, there isn’t very much that feels premium to me. The LCC mentality appears to rule AA HQ, but AA has to play to the investment community as a legacy major airline and thus makes an effort to sort of follow what DL does with in-flight product offering.

I use to work for American , the product was Intended to be good , the issue is there is no specific training for crew , people assigned to that cabin has no clue about what is a real
First class ! You can’t put a I-hope waitress serving in the finest Michelin restaurant without training and affinity correct ? This is what happens in American , anyone can work that cabin , most have no finesse nor know what how looks like this product in a real airline .

I totally disagree about the seats. They are substantially better than the standard business class seats. Granted, they do lack storage though. These seats have a massage feature built in. They are much wider and swivel. The amount of room in the mini suite is significant compared to business which is tight and a cramped. The business seat doesn't offer much privacy either. When in a laying position your head is next to the aisle. I like the business seats, but these first class are way better.

The service is certainly hit or miss and not up to the high standards of international carriers. At the same time, if I can ever get one of these seats i always do as the comfort is above and beyond the standard business seat.

Unfortunately some amount is supply and demand

It's the same at United. There has been no hands-on premium cabin training in more than 20 years. It got worse with the merger since inflight training moved to Houston and the curriculum for new hires doesn't include any meaningful premium training. They barely know how to mix a cocktail, let alone the subtleties needed for a more sophisticated service.

@Lune - there may be caps on per diem meal reimbursement and alcohol may be excluded from reimbursement, so lumping it into the price of the ticket may be preferable (and also net positive for elite qualification progress).

@Lucky - Why would AA dispatch an A321XLR on transcon routes? I thought the lure of acquiring these new birds is the ability to fly to lower-demand markets in Europe and South America that the LR variant cannot currently reach? Having said that, I’ve been fortunate enough to fly FF on the 321T and the 77W to and from SYD, and will miss these options. While the hard product was nothing spectacular and AA catering a letdown, riding in these spacious cabins was a significant improvement over the dense J cabins in terms of space and privacy.

Current-state, I'm with you.

I think what Ben is saying is that the *new* business class seats will be better than the *current* first class seats. Which.. yunno.. we'll see. AA hasn't made a single new product I've liked in the last 10 years, hard to say how this will be different.

What is your issue with accommodating staff? Staff at ALL airlines get this, it's part of compensation. Without it, no one would work for an airline for low pay and crap health benefits

I hope airlines continue make it impossible for staff to fly and watch everyone quit and they cut flights and food luck to you all.

I've flown it a number of times using systemwide upgrades, as one could reliably confirm business to first on many routes. And like @Ben I'm not interested in the upgrade lottery on a transatlatic flight. It's fine. Sometimes the service is good. I have a good friend who is an AA FA and if he knows the FA working first and tells them I'm flying, I might get better service. Or they might just say 'hi' and do their normal service.

Last time I flew it I had my partner with me and we had two seats together. We got to the airport and I'd been moved. I showed the agent my confirmation -- and much to my surprise -- she fixed the problem and put me back in my original seat. Someone who was clearly a non-rev got on and took the seat I had vacated and glared at me for several minutes...So, yeah, it's full of non-revs and upgraders for a reason.

And with fewer and fewer first class seats anyway……‍♂️

We as loyal Million-Milers+ always fly "First Class/A321T w/lie down seats (necessitated due to past back surgeries and serious leg problems) from middle America to our Maui condo multiple times a year. We also book visitors in the current First Class seating/service for their comfort and convenience. If American Air decides to discontinue this type seat, we cannot fly w/American if another option presents itself w/any other airline. The non-lie down seats are not a health option for either myself nor my husband.

@Ben - just looking through award tickets for 2025 and see AA still selling F awards on 777-300ER to London from LAX and DFW. I just happened to snag one for 64k. Curious on the logic - do you think they are still going to have F on those planes in April or are they pricing them low because they know they will be downgraded at somepoint? Thanks!

AA join the rush to the bottom. As someone who is claustrophobic I hate the Dilbert cubicles that airlines all seem to want. AA in First have better seats more suited to a tall passenger, Business Class is too cramped for my legs. I love the swivel to look out of the window, First Class servie on International is much more personal than Business. Also the appetizers are much nicer in first. I always pack food I can eat when flying to ORD as the 787 has no first class.

I have to agree! I was upgraded recently at the gate from Business to First class, and it was equivalent to an average business class experience on any other airline. No loss.

Elimination of First Class in any of today's airlines is not a surprise... With the exception of the super luxurious Middle East carriers, hardly anybody sells F classes anymore... it has been a "mileage burner" for most airlines... service difference doesn't justify the cost.

Back in the 90's and early 2000's when I used to fly a whole lot, there were 3 classes of service first, business, and economy... most business travel was booked in business per most companies' policies but that is now changing...

Given the fact that current C class fares are exorbitant, the corporation I work for (Fortune 100) has followed other companies in not allowing business travelers to book C but at the most Premium Economy... hmmm I see the writing on the wall...

Supporting this is also the fact that the world changed in 2020 and we now rely more on teleconferencing than traveling. I am not saying one is better than the other but just stating a fact... in any case that added to horrendous fares, has pushed those policy changes...

I used to work for the airline industry back in the early 2000s and recall vividly that most carriers would open a route unless they could fill/sell business class... since that was the "bread and butter"... so, I wonder what will happen when business travelers shift to the premium economy class... just wonder...