American Airlines has just announced that it will introduce a special product within business class, known as the Flagship Suite Preferred seat. Details remain somewhat limited, but let’s discuss what we do know…
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American’s new front row business class on the 787 & 777
We know that American will soon be introducing a new long haul business class product, known as the Flagship Suite. This will initially be available on American’s newly delivered premium Boeing 787-9s, and will also eventually be retrofitted on existing Boeing 777-300ERs, as American eliminates “proper” first class.
American has selected a customized version of the Adient Ascent product as its new business class (the same you’ll find on Qatar Airways and Hawaiian Airlines), and we’ve known what these seats will look like for quite some time.
However, what American hasn’t announced up until now is that the airline will introduce a special business class in the front row of these cabins, which will be known as the Flagship Suite Preferred seat. This product will offer a larger space with more storage areas, and you can find renderings of it below.
On top of that, it will boast special amenities, including:
- A Nest Bedding mattress pad
- A throw blanket
- A memory foam lumbar pillow
- Nest Bedding pajamas
- An exclusive amenity kit featuring additional skincare products from Thirteen Lune by Joanna Vargas and Relevant
How will American price the Flagship Suite Preferred seat?
American hasn’t yet announced the pricing for the new Flagship Suite Preferred seat. As a matter of fact, as of the time of this post, American continues to let you select the bulkhead on the new 787-9 (which will debut on the Dallas to Brisbane route in October 2024) at no extra cost when booked in business class.
My assumption is that this will be available as a paid upgrade for anyone confirmed in business class.
American is far from the first airline to try something like this. A lot of premium airline products can be configured efficiently by using the space to the side of the seat in front. However, in bulkhead seats there’s often a bit of extra space, so airlines are increasingly trying to monetize that.
This is no different than the Retreat Suites on Virgin Atlantic’s A330-900neos, or the Prime Seats on Condor’s A330-900neos, or the Mint Studios on JetBlue’s A321LRs. United is also reportedly considering a similar concept for its next generation business class product.
If I had to guess, I’d say that the fee to upgrade to a Flagship Suite Preferred seat will cost somewhere around $300 to $600 one-way, depending on the flight (with the Dallas to Brisbane route probably being at the higher end of that range). That’s purely speculation on my part, but based on pricing for comparable products from other airlines, that’s what sounds about right to me.
There is one situation where I could see it being more expensive. I wonder if American might offer enhanced ground services for those in the Flagship Suite Preferred seats, like access to Flagship First Check-In, Flagship First Dining, and the Chelsea Lounge JFK. If that were the case, I could see this having a higher price point.
It also remains to be seen what happens if not all seats are occupied. Will Concierge Key members be upgraded to these seats on a space available basis, or will they go to non-revs?
Bottom line
With American soon rolling out a new business class, the airline has announced plans to introduce a special product in the first row, which will be known as the Flagship Suite Preferred seat. This will feature a bit of extra space and storage, plus some additional amenities. It remains to be seen what pricing is like, but I suspect this will simply be a paid upgrade option for any business class passenger.
What do you make of American’s new Flagship Suite Preferred seat?
I am disgusted with how the US carriers are creating schemes and spending large amounts of time and money on HOW to provide less service for more money. As a frequent international flyer, the service elsewhere beat the US carriers every time!
Hopefully they will improve the catering
I will say, the faux-wood and red finishes do give this seat a more premium look than the plastic-grey colors that Delta used on the outside of its suites.
Rather disappointed in the latter, for missing the opportunity to showcase something a bit beyond blue leather and a very cheap-exterior look.
It is a premium or not a premium, that is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to faux-wood and red finishes. Or to take arms against plastic-grey colors. And, by opposing, a premium airline?”
- Timothy Dunnspeare's Deltlet.
It looks like what a regular business class provides on other airlines. Heck I flew LATAM and they provided even slippers!
Next logical step is basic business fares. Paid seat assignments and perhaps no lounge access. They will have to differentiate more.
One of the overlooked benefits for these "premium" seats is proximity to the noise and light from the galley.
Proximity to the galley is how United's "press for champagne" button will work. It will have a speaker that shouts "MORE".
American isn’t bidding on Elite Customers to buy cheap tickets and be awarded complimentary upgrades. They want true premium customers pay to sit there.
If they were to allow upgrades, they’d never make money on those seats because everyone will buy cheaper tickets and expect an upgrade.
The fact that bulkheads are the best lay-flat seats seemed to go under the radar.
Bummer that the seat manufacturers figured out it could be monetized.
Airlines figured it out not manufacturers.
Then they'll realize no one would pay that much unless it's a significantly different cabin, nor it's worth it if they charge less, and end up giving it free to elites, then we're back to right now.
Bummer just for a few years.
I think the biggest question is will those include access to Flagship Dining or Chelsea lounge at JFK?
I suspect those seats will continue to be part of the regular J inventory and if the cabin sells out and no one buys up to those seats they’ll probably “op up” customers into those seats by status with CK getting them first then EXPs, PPROs, OWE, Platinums, and so forth. Highly doubt it’ll be for non...
I think the biggest question is will those include access to Flagship Dining or Chelsea lounge at JFK?
I suspect those seats will continue to be part of the regular J inventory and if the cabin sells out and no one buys up to those seats they’ll probably “op up” customers into those seats by status with CK getting them first then EXPs, PPROs, OWE, Platinums, and so forth. Highly doubt it’ll be for non revs. Those bulkhead seats won’t be a separate cabin like with the current F product. Non Revs would only get a seat if they do not sell out the J cabin and there are no customers waitlisted for an upgrade.
77Ws may have 8 seats I would assume since they will have 8 bulkhead seats across two cabins?
Is there a larger footwell or bigger IFE screen than the normal J class seats? Hard to tell from these renders.