Review: American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class New York to Sao Paulo

I noticed that AA is becoming very difficult to clear upgrades in advance. My parents are both AA Platinum and usualy buy coach class and upgrade using miles + $ fee. In the last 3 times they flew AA they were only upgraded at the gate right before they started boarding business class passengers. I guess they are waiting almost until the doors close to see if someone will fork a last minute $10k for a GRU-JFK flight on business class.

One thing they definitely need to do is spice up their menu a little bit. Their starter always seems to be a salmon dish. It would be nice if they offered something different, or at least a choice in appetizers.

Shaws of Sunset huh?

So, you did not get served a meal until after 12 AM? Being an east coaster I think I would have already been asleep by then. You were still on west coast time I assume. Still, 2 hours for first service seems long. Am I wrong about the time, or do you find this to be the case?

Sam

Is there some sort of a raffle where we get to be the travel friend?? Haha!

For trips like these, I'll take 10 raffle tickets at your leisure 😉

What's your take on the drink selection on AA? Domestically, they serve Tito's vodka (instead of that crap Sky etc. that Delta serves) which gets them HUGE points from me. What's your take on the premium cabin international selection?

@ DavidLAX -- Quality TV! 😀

@ Sam -- Yep, that's very long. On my subsequent flight on American I was served the meal within 30 minutes of takeoff (and also had a much better crew).

@ FlyingTigerSC -- Their Diet Coke is top of the line, in my opinion. 😉

To be honest I don't really drink much. When I do it's usually just champagne on international carriers with a good selection. I find American's champagne to be almost undrinkable, so that's the extent of my knowledge on that front.

Lucky: have you noticed any difference in the AA menus (both food and wine) for a business class flight from and to South America when compared to flights to and from Europe or Asia? I always feel that AA does a poor job when catering flights to and from South America with way cheaper wine selection as well food served. Maybe there is not much competition so they feel they don't need to make it any better. I will never forget once I. Flew AA first class from GRU to JFK and was served a $12 dollar Argentine wine and chocolates that you buy at Walgreens for $2.

@ Santastico -- Interesting. I haven't noticed a difference in terms of food quality, but I do generally find service to be lackluster to South America. I suspect that's because most flights to South America are out of MIA and JFK, which I find to be the worst crew bases. Most flights to Asia are out of ORD and DFW, which I find to be much better crew bases.

Here we go. A quick look on wine-searcher and here are the wines on the menu of this flight (average prices in the US):
Gosset Brut Excellence: $28
Silverado Miller Ranch: $15
Chateau Ste Michelle: $13
Spellbound Sirah: $11
Septima Malbec: $7.50

Ben&Jerry's ice cream for dessert?

Now tell me if these are wines you expect when paying almost $10k for a seat on the business class of this flight? Again, I feel AA flights to/from South America are overpriced for what they offer.

Based on personal experience, AA tries to "regionalize" the wine selection based on the route, so you do end up with Argentinean or Chilean wines for South America flights, and French and Californian wines for Europe and Asia flights.

@ptahcha: only South American wine in the list was the Malbec. All the rest in from the US besides the champagne from France

Shocking to see the dinner all served at once but perhaps it was in the interest of time since you got it served after midnight.

Were you worried your upgrade might not clear? When was the last international flight you did in economy? (Canada does not count!) 😉

I'm surprised how much AA has improved their Business Class product (seat and food, at least). Clearly, their soft product (service) needs work.

Have all their flights out of JFK been converted to this new reverse herringbone configuration?

@ Peter -- VERY worried! Has been nearly a decade since I've flown longhaul coach. 😮

@ Andy -- Unfortunately only select flights to London and Sao Paulo feature the new product. Other destinations don't have it, unfortunately.

Iceberg lettuce is a seasonal green? Who knew??

So, FAs, whatever you do, do NOT say "thank you" in coach!! Your training forbids it! 😉

I remember reading when AA first took delivery of the 777-300ER, that eventually the new cabins will be rolled out on the rest of the fleet. Is there any more solid inormation/schedule as to when these new cabins will be retrofited onto the 777-200s?

@ Phillip -- Apparently they'll start the process over the summer, though I expect it'll be at least 18 months after that before it's completed.

great job on your posts, very detailed information. I have 2 questions for you. I will be flying LAX-GRU on first class with only carry-on luggage. I arrive at 2:35pm and my other flight doesnt leave until almost 10pm so I wanted to know if: a) I can get to the AA Admirals Club after deplaning but before passing through customs/immigration (i've read from others that its possible) and 2) do you have experience accessing the Admirals Club using an inbound ticket?

@ Andres -- Sorry, to clarify, you're flying LAX-GRU, but where are you coming in from?

I am coming from LA. I booked a direct flight from LAX to GRU that arrives at 2:35pm. After that I will continue from GRU to Fortaleza on TAM (separate ticket but I will not have any checked luggage). I read that the AA lounge has showers which I would like to use but I dont know if I can enter the lounge using the inbound ticket or if I can even get to it after I pass through immigration given that my next flight out is domestic and as I understand the AA lounge is in the international section.

@ Andres -- You can't use it as an arrivals lounge unless you're connecting on another OneWorld carrier. That being said, TAM joins OneWorld at the end of the month, so if you're flying after then you could use the lounge, assuming you can access the terminal (which I'm not sure of). You'd need to clear customs first since you're connecting to a domestic flight.

I'm flying DFW-GRU In business next month on American (this plane), and I wanted to know if the forward cabin(rows 3 and 4) were quiter than the rest of the business cabin? (I think you said you flew in the forward cabin in your JFK-LHR review)

@ Sasha -- Yep, I love how private the forward business class cabin is. Most passengers board through door two, so you have very little traffic during boarding. I'd highly recommend the mini-cabin.