Is it worth upgrading from basic economy class to first class on American Airlines? In this air travel video, I’m giving you a first-person airline review of American Airlines and its first class service aboard the Boeing 777 aircraft.
In this video, you’ll find lots of details about American Airlines priority boarding, the airline seating layout, special airline seat amenities, inflight service, inflight entertainment, airline food options and other tips to help you compare and make the right decisions — including American Airlines Flagship Business service and what amenities you may or may not find.
If you’re an American Airlines AAdvantage or OneWorld frequent flyer, you may be especially interested in checking out this first class flight review video.
So, if you’re wondering whether it’s worth upgrading to first class on American Airlines, come with me as I ride in the front of the cabin on this Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
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THE ROUTE: I flew from Miami to New York’s JFK airport aboard an American Airlines Boeing 777-200.
THE AIRCRAFT: I was among the first to board the aircraft. The first-class cabin on the Boeing 777-200 has two seats in the middle and single seats on both sides of the aircraft.
The cabin was labeled as “Flagship Business.” The American website, however, only lists Flagship Business for Transcontinental service, not between Miami and New York — so this flight may have been a repositioning for the aircraft, and as a result did not have all of the amenities and services that American describes for its Flagship Business service.
The main things that were missing: premium dining, amenity kits and quality headphones.
But the space remains as roomy as always, and the seating areas are spacious and comfortable.
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The layout of the American Airlines 777 first class is very similar to Delta’s One service on the Airbus A330-300 (as I covered in a previous post and video of Delta Air Lines’ first class service) — but there are some differences.
One of the differences that I really like is that American provides more storage space. One compartment also houses charger connections and the remote control unit. There’s even storage in the armrest, and in a space near the footrest.
I also liked the adjustable tray table, which can stay partly in place during taxi, takeoff and landing. And the personal lighting is easily adjustable according to your mood and tasks.
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INFLIGHT SERVICE: The large touch-screen TV offers lots of entertainment — BUT the headphones provided weren’t the usual first class Bang & Olufsen variety.
There was no “chef-inspired dining,” as American describes its usual Flagship Business meal, but the airline food was still acceptable.
The lie-flat bed was quite comfortable for a late-night rest, and the lavatory was one of the best-looking that I’ve seen on a plane.
I also liked the vibrant colored lighting options in the cabin, which can help set the mood. You might even think you’re in a nightclub!
THE BOTTOM LINE: American Airlines first class 777 service offers a supremely comfortable layout that makes it worthwhile — but be careful about your expectations, since you may find yourself in a cabin labeled as Flagship service but without some of those amenities. If you have the ability to upgrade, however, I still think it’s worth it — especially for late-night or early-morning flights when you really want to be able to rest.
I’m a travel writer, travel blogger and Mexico travel specialist, and I love sharing travel tips to make your next vacation or business trip better. Please feel free to share your comments, experiences and questions about Mexico travel and Latin America travel and vacations!
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