Review: American Flagship Suite Business Class Boeing 787 (LHR-ORD)

For the final segment of my trip of downgrades, suspensions, and delays, I flew American Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Flagship Suite business class on the 7hr50min flight from London (LHR) to Chicago (ORD). I couldn’t wait for this flight, as this was my first time flying American’s brand new long haul business class (the 787-9s with this product are typically designated as “787-9Ps” in the booking system).

I’m happy to report that my flight was stellar. American’s new business class seat is a nice improvement over the old one, though it’s definitely evolutionary rather than revolutionary (each seat doesn’t actually have a bigger footprint, but privacy doors and upgraded tech are nice). This flight also had pretty good food, as well as an unbeatable crew.

All things considered, this is probably the best business class flight I’ve ever had on a US airline. If only American could consistently deliver on this level, especially when it comes to service!

How I booked my American business class ticket

I booked my business class flight by redeeming American AAdvantage miles. Specifically, I booked an itinerary from London (LHR) to Miami (MIA) via Chicago (ORD), and I paid a total of 75,000 miles plus $382.31 in taxes & fees (the fees are so high due to the UK Air Passenger Duty):

7/28 AA91 London to Chicago departing 2:25PM arriving 5:00PM
7/28 AA1277 Chicago to Miami departing 6:57PM arriving 11:19PM

That’s a solid deal, and I appreciate the continued good value offered by the AAdvantage program!

American business class lounge & boarding

American departs from Terminal 3 at London Heathrow, which has an excellent selection of lounges. While American business class passengers can use the Admirals Club, there are better options, thanks to oneworld lounge access policies. Specifically, you can check out the Cathay Pacific Lounge or Qantas Lounge, both of which are phenomenal.

I didn’t spend much time at lounges this time around (since I was spending the morning at the Park Hyatt London River Thames), but I reviewed both of those lounges recently.

My flight was departing from gate 30. While the flight was initially scheduled to depart at 2:25PM, it was delayed by 65 minutes, until 3:30PM, due to a maintenance issue with the aircraft the day prior, which meant it had a lot of time to make up.

My plane was N842AA, a brand new Dreamliner that American only recently took delivery of. Boarding ended up starting at 2:40PM, 50 minutes before the updated departure time.

American 787 Flagship Suite business class cabin & seats

I was so excited to step onboard an aircraft with American’s new interiors, given that the airline has introduced all-new cabins with these planes.

These new Boeing 787-9s are in a super premium configuration, with just 244 seats, including 51 business class seats, 32 premium economy seats, and 161 economy class seats. As a point of comparison, that’s way more premium than American’s standard 787-9 configuration. Those planes have 285 seats, including 30 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 234 economy class seats.

This is the first plane to feature American’s new business class product, branded as the Flagship Suite. This product is based on the Adient Ascent platform, which is a joint venture with Boeing. American isn’t the first airline to have these seats — you’ll also find them on the 787-9s of Qatar Airways and Hawaiian Airlines, and soon on United Airlines. These are pretty standard reverse herringbone seats, except they have doors, and excellent tech.

Business class on this plane is spread across two cabins. The forward cabin, between the first and second set of doors, has a total of 32 seats, spread across nine rows (there are nine rows of window seats, and seven rows of center seats).

Then the rear cabin has a total of 19 seats, spread across five rows (there are five rows of seats along the center and on the right side of the cabin, and four rows of seats along the left side of the cabin).

The cabin actually has eight special seats, which are branded as Flagship Suite Preferred. This is essentially a “business class plus” product, intended to take advantage of the extra space at the bulkheads (the eight seats are the four seats in the first row of each cabin).

The seats are a bit more spacious, have a larger footwell, etc. There’s also an elevated soft product, with more bedding, pajamas, and more. While American plans to eventually charge extra for these seats, as of now they can be assigned by all business class passengers on a first come, first served basis.

Meanwhile the other 43 seats are the standard Flagship Suite seats, which are still pretty great. Those traveling together may want to select a pair of center seats, since these are best for enjoying the flight together. However, as usual with a reverse herringbone product, don’t expect that you’ll be able to communicate that well with your seat mate unless you lean forward.

The other good news is that if you end up in one of these seats while traveling alone, there’s a privacy shield that can be extended, so you’ll still get great privacy in these seats.

Personally I’m a fan of the window seats, so that you can look out the window while also having direct access to the aisle. I assigned seat 14A, the window seat on the left side in the last row of business class.

Look, I don’t want to oversell this product. Airlines aren’t really willing to dedicate more real estate to each individual premium cabin seats, but instead, they’re trying to utilize space more efficiently. The Adient Ascent product is one of the more efficient reverse herringbone seating platforms.

So I’d consider this to be a pretty average reverse herringbone seat, with the advantage of it having a door and excellent tech, which can make a big difference.

I appreciate American’s updated cabin design. While the colors and finishes feel a bit more cold and sterile than I’d prefer, it’s still a big upgrade over the old interiors, in my opinion.

As you can see, the seat is angled toward the windows, and then there’s a console to the side of the seat, along with storage and all the other seat features.

Each seat has a 17″ 4K touchscreen display, which is in a fixed position. I do think American could’ve gone for monitors that are a bit bigger, since the whole “frame” around it feels a bit outdated. However, that’s purely in terms of aesthetics, as I thought the size was sufficient.

In this configuration, the tray table is stored underneath the entertainment monitor. It’s stored at a 90 degree angle, so when you extend it, you have to flip it around, and then it’s in the standard position.

To the side of the seat, you’ll find the counter where you can place things during the flight, a couple of lights, and an enclosed storage area.

The vertical storage area isn’t very big, and is basically designed just to hold the headphones that are provided onboard. There’s also a little mirror.

Underneath the storage area is the charging setup, which includes AC, USB-A, and USB-C charging options.

Also in that area is the entertainment controller, which is secured in place, but can be extended, so you can hold it in your hand. I found this to be sort of unnecessary, given that the monitor is touchscreen, but I know some people prefer using this.

There’s also a wireless charging area right near a smaller tray.

Next to that is another enclosed storage space, which is shallow, so it’s useful for storing a passport, glasses, a phone, etc.

On the aisle-side of the seat, you’ll find the literature pocket, plus a small drink tray that can fold out, should you want to place something there during the flight.

The armrest at the side of the seat can also be raised and lowered, and there’s a small amount of storage space underneath it.

Then there’s the privacy door. This is locked during takeoff and landing (and on this flight, the crew unlocked it after the first meal service). It’s easy to use, and can manually be slid forward and back.

One challenge with some reverse herringbone seats is the size of the ottoman. I’d say this ottoman is about average among reverse herringbone seats, and I’ll talk more about sleep comfort a bit later.

Fortunately all seats have individual air nozzles, which is one major benefit of flying with US airlines, since you at least know you won’t sweat.

Since I was seated in the last row of business class, I also had a quick glance back at the premium economy cabin. In terms of aesthetics, I think this actually looks more elegant than business class (mainly because I don’t love the light wood used in business class).

All-in-all, I think American’s new business class product is excellent. In particular, it’s nice to have the privacy door, and the tech is great as well. However, I do think that the the Collins Aerospace Elements product remains the best reverse herringbone seat out there.

American 787 Flagship Suite business class entertainment & Wi-Fi

With the introduction of the new Flagship Suite business class, American has also introduced a new interface for its entertainment system. On the plus side, American’s entertainment selection is massive, with endless movies, TV shows, music, and games, plus an interactive map feature.

However, I have to say that I didn’t love the interface, as I found it hard to sort through all the options. It’s odd, because American’s old system was very well organized, while it feels like the new organization is a lot less intuitive. Maybe it’s just me, though?

There are some cool new features, though, like being able to invite other passengers to a watch party, simply by entering their seat number, and then coordinating what you want to watch.

Another cool feature is that American now has bluetooth audio, so you can pair your own headphones with the entertainment system. That being said…. 787-900?! C’mon!!

One huge upgrade for American’s new Boeing 787s is that they feature Viasat Wi-Fi, offering considerably better speeds than American’s previous Panasonic system (though even that has seen improved bandwidth over the years).

American charges $16 for a two-hour Wi-Fi pass, or $25 for a full flight Wi-Fi pass, both with no data limits. I found the speeds to be phenomenal, and managed to stay productive throughout the flight.

So yeah, when you combine a huge entertainment selection with reasonably priced Viasat Wi-Fi, I’d say that’s a pretty good combination.

American business class amenities

Waiting at each seat upon boarding were a pillow and blanket. While American’s bedding isn’t going to win any awards, it’s more than sufficient and plenty comfortable, with a substantial pillow, and a cozy but not overly warm blanket.

Each business class passenger was also offered an amenity kit, which had eyeshades, earplugs, a dental kit, lip balm, and hand lotion. It was okay, but hardly anything to get excited about. American sure could use some help when it comes to its partnerships, which can at least help give the impression that a product is higher end.

All business class passengers were also offered slippers, an amenity that’s becoming increasingly common, and I’m happy to see it.

One of the most luxurious soft product elements of American’s business class is the Bang & Olufsen headphones, which are excellent.

Menus and bottled water were also distributed during boarding.

Lastly, the lovely crew came around to offer pre-departure drinks, with the choice of champagne, orange juice, or water. Those plastic cups aren’t exactly classy, yet both American and United consistently serve pre-departure drinks in them.

While American’s amenities do the trick, I think this is probably the biggest area for improvement at American, in terms of adding some little touches that create a halo effect for the brand.

American 787 departure from London

Boarding was quite efficient, and by 3:10PM, the main cabin door closed, 20 minutes ahead of our scheduled departure. At 3:15PM, the captain was on the PA to announce our anticipated flight time of 7hr50min. However, he also advised that due to our late departure (resulting from the late inbound aircraft), we’d only be able to start our engines at 3:38PM, so we’d be waiting a while longer.

Once the announcement was done, the safety video was played throughout the cabin. Then we had to wait for another 15 minutes or so. At 3:35PM, we began our pushback…

…and at 3:40PM we began our taxi.

We had a fairly short taxi out to runway 27R, though there was then a significant takeoff queue, so we had to wait for a while.

At 3:55PM we were cleared for takeoff.

We had a quick takeoff roll, and a smooth climb out.

The seatbelt sign was turned off around 20 minutes after takeoff.

American business class lunch

On this American business class flight, lunch was served after takeoff, and you can find the menu and drink list below.

Around 20 minutes after takeoff, service began with warm towels being distributed.

Tablecloths were distributed 25 minutes after takeoff, and then drinks and nuts were served a little under an hour after takeoff (so there was quite a gap there, though let me emphasize that I was in the last row, so I was the last to be served).

To drink, I ordered a glass of the French sauvignon blanc and a glass of sparkling water. I was also offered warm mixed nuts, and stuffed peppers plus olives. It’s nice how American now serves two snacks with the first round of drinks.

The starter was served around 80 minutes after takeoff. The appetizer consists of hot smoked salmon with thai rice noodles, vegetables, and lime, and that was accompanied by a romaine salad with carrot and beetroot. A selection of bread was also offered, and I chose one of the pretzel rolls. It was all relatively tasty, though nothing special.

The main course was served around 95 minutes after takeoff. Of the options, I selected the Indian lentil dal with basmati rice with peas, dal tadka, sweet and sour aubergines, and naan bread. This was a really flavorful dish, which isn’t surprising, given that most Indian food reheats pretty well (and is therefore a good thing to order on a plane).

Around 120 minutes after takeoff, the dessert trolley made it to my seat. There were three options — the ice cream sundae, cheese plate, and chocolate mousse duo. I of course chose the ice cream sundae, and I asked to have it with berries and nuts. It was super yum.

American’s catering isn’t anything special, but this was one of the better transatlantic meals I’ve had on American. When it comes to the meal service, let me mention that I’ve seen a fair number of complaints about service being slow on the new 787-9Ps, due to the number of business class seats, and lack of staffing.

While I’d say service was maybe a little slower than usual, I didn’t think the pace was an issue, especially on a daytime flight like this. That being said, I had a phenomenal crew, so maybe other crews wouldn’t be as efficient.

American 787 Flagship Suite business class lavatories & snack bar

American has three business class lavatories on its Boeing 787-9Ps with the Flagship Suite product. This includes one at the front of the cabin, by the flight deck, plus two in the center galley.

The forward lavatory and center right lavatory are a standard size, with the typical Dreamliner design.

Meanwhile the center left lavatory is huge (since it’s accessible), so is definitely the one to use, if possible.

The only thing otherwise noteworthy is the new sky-themed wallpaper in the lavatories, which is a new concept for American.

While American doesn’t have a large snack bar setup on these 787-9Ps, there is a small snack display area on the left aisle near the center galley. This had packaged snacks, finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, bottled water, etc., and passengers could help themselves to that throughout the flight.

American 787 business class bed

After the meal, I decided to test out the bed, so I reclined my seat, put out the bedding, and closed the door.

I found the bed to be quite comfortable. If you’re a side sleeper, it’s a little on the tight side, but I find that sleeping in the direction of the fuselage helps, since there’s more room for your knees there. I ended up falling asleep with around five hours remaining to Chicago, as we were approaching Greenland…

…and woke up a little under three hours before landing, as we were over northeastern Canada.

That was the perfect little nap for a daytime flight like this.

American business class pre-landing meal

Upon waking up, I was hoping for a cup of coffee. I noticed the menu referenced espresso and cappuccino on select flights, so I tried my luck. I wasn’t sure what the current status of that was at American, as the airline has had a countless number of policy changes over the years when it comes to espresso-based drinks.

I tried to order a cappuccino, and the flight attendant said he’d go and check. When he returned, he informed me he couldn’t find the frother, but he made me a drip coffee and an espresso, so I could choose which I wanted.

However, he then returned several minutes later with a cappuccino — score! It was actually very good.

Then a little under 90 minutes before landing, the pre-landing meal service was performed. You can find the menu below.

While the flight attendant highly recommend I go with the chicken stuffing toasty, I decided on the healthier option, the turmeric quinoa and eggplant salad. It tasted pretty fresh and healthy, and came with a side of fruit, some breadsticks, and a cup of Lily O’Brien passionfruit cheesecake.

American business class service

I lucked out on this flight, because I got an absolutely stellar crew in business class. All the flight attendants were downright lovely — they were friendly, personable, and attentive. It’s my understanding that these new 787-9Ps are much harder to work (due to the bigger business class cabin), but despite that, the crew performed service with grace.

I’ve now had several long haul American flights in a row where the service was great, so I’m not sure if I’ve just had a lucky streak, or what…

American 787 arrival in Chicago

Before I knew it, this transatlantic hop was coming to an end. At 5:10PM local time, the captain was on the PA to announce that we’d be landing in around 40 minutes. A few minutes later, we began our descent, and at 5:25PM, the flight attendants prepared the cabin for landing.

We had a pretty smooth approach, and sure enough, we touched down on runway 10C at 5:50PM.

Unfortunately from there, our trip to the gate was anything but efficient. O’Hare is undergoing some major construction, and this has caused taxiway congestion issues. On top of that, since our flight was late arriving, our new gate was occupied.

In the end, we had to taxi for around 30 minutes.

We only arrived at our gate at Terminal 5 around 6:25PM, 85 minutes behind schedule. We parked next to an Air Serbia Airbus A330.

From there I rushed through immigration and took the train over to Terminal 3, to catch my flight back to Miami. Unfortunately I missed my connection, so I had to be rebooked for the following morning. On the plus side, since this was a flight departing the UK, I was eligible for UK261, so I got quite a bit of cash compensation out of it (though actually getting paid took a fight).

Bottom line

American’s new Flagship Suite business class product is a winner. Ultimately I think business class is peaking in terms of the amount of space allocated to each seat, so it’s everything else that’s improving — privacy doors, technology, etc.

American’s new business class is a significant upgrade over the old one, and I can’t wait for this to be available on a more widespread basis. I also very much appreciate how these planes have Viasat Wi-Fi, which is much better than the Panasonic Wi-Fi you’ll find on the carrier’s other long haul planes.

What further made this flight special was the phenomenal crew. This was one of the best business class experiences I’ve ever had on a US airline, and I’d argue this is the all-around best business class product currently offered by any US airline.

What’s your take on American’s new Flagship Suite business class?