American Airlines has introduced Flagship Business Plus, which is a new business class fare type that offers several perks that are traditionally only offered to first class passengers.
Continue reading: New American Flagship Business Plus Fares (First Class Perks)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Why would anyone on Earth spend $400 for a cheeseburger and glass of champagne in an airline lounge?
Would be nice to add some benefits like priority phone line, priority rebooking for IROPS, etc
Considering AA would charge $150, then $100 for access to Flagship First Dining, they're valuing a third bag and and better check-in at $250-$300. I think Lucky nailed it - the demo for this is people flying with a company card, motivated by the better experience and/or the extra LPs.
Pricing seems to be consistently about $400 per person. For a couple, $800. In a way, this is like packaging AA's (standard) Five Star Service into the ticket. For $350 for the first person and $100 for additional persons on the same booking, one gets Flagship First check-in, an escort, and Admirals Club access (but not FF Dining). For a couple, $450. Given this, FF Dining would be $350 for two -- $175 each.
But, if one is flying in Flagship Business, one will have access to either the Admirals Club or (regular) Flagship Lounge. So, it's fair to ask whether FF Dining is worth the $175 per person pop. And, if one is Platinum Pro or higher, one gets to use FF Check-In if flying in Flagship Business. For them, it's even more of an apples-to-apples comparison.
Lastly, FF Dining is only available at JFK, DFW, and MIA. LAX remains closed. And, while AA stated that it is temporarily closed and "will reopen soon," the staff at LAX say that it will likely never reopen (in spite of passenger volumes). Seemingly, AA's endless pursuit of cost cutting. Choose wisely.
I've long thought that for airlines with a small First Class footprint something like this could make a lot of sense. Since the hard product gap between Business and First Class is getting ever-narrower, what really differentiates First Class is privacy, convenience, elevated food, and ideally the ground experience. If someone like Air France or Qatar offered a First Class fare on a, say, A350 or 787 flight that came with maybe a reserved bulkhead seat and all the other First Class amenities (First Class check-in, F Lounge Access, private car transfers, increased mileage earning and baggage allowance, and maybe the ability to pre-order a First Class-level meal) they could increase revenue without cannibalizing any seats on their planes.
Exactly. Even people booking this on their company's dime wouldnt pay extra for this. Especially at DFW where there is no security or check in lines, plenty of other lounge options and when i fly weekly i dont want to spend 2+ hours in a lounge. I want to show up at the last possible second.
Isn't Flagship First Check-in already available to Executive Platinum status travelling in Business class? At least that's where I check-in at LHR and JFK.
It is! Or at least I have been using it in those 2 airports on account of my Exec Plat status.