Quantcast

American Airlines plans retirement of flagship first class service

A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
US Senate panel criticizes rising airline seat fees, will call execs to testify
Spirit’s Demise Is a Lesson in ‘Airline-o-nomics’
Inside BA’s new first-class suites: £800 an hour for most private seat
Focus: US airline flight crews confident and angry as unions seek richer contracts
Hawaiian Airlines Eliminates Widebody Route Amid Alaska Airlines Merger
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
Delta CEO says the Trump administration will reverse government ‘overreach’ seen under Biden
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy: How will it affect your travel plans?
British Airways yet to identify cause of latest IT meltdown
Delta Airlines Will Start Serving Shake Shack Cheeseburgers Next Month
United Sees Nearly 30% Surge in Travel to European Christmas Markets
Budget airline Israir to launch flights between Israel and NY, ending wartime monopoly by flagship carrier El Al
Asia's airlines blame supply chain woes for disrupted operations
Qantas and Qatar Airways: Planned partnership in the Australian aviation industry under the microscope
Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
Delta investigating after plane’s nose mysteriously suffered damage
What Elon Musk's Starlink means for airlines
CAP OFF Major twist in Dublin Airport passenger cap row as High Court pauses decision in victory for airlines next summer season
Riyadh Air plans new jet order decision early next year
Calls for a blanket ban on politicians receiving free flight upgrades
Wizz Air Loses Challenge Against EU-Approved Romanian Aid for TAROM
Southwest, Other Airlines Plan a Shake-Up. Why They Need More to Boost Their Stocks.
One of Boeing's biggest customers leveled fresh criticism over ongoing 737 Max delivery delays
Low-Cost Airlines Innovate with Subscription Models
LA Considers $25 And $30 Minimum Wages For Hotel And Airport Workers
Airlines are on the hook for more than you think if something goes wrong with your trip
WA Labor & Industries plans to create new airline worker protections
American Airlines plans retirement of flagship first class service
Research
Webp lk1q2v4amkahy6gduonct8i4vs1m
Erica Silverstein Managing editor | The Points Guy

American Airlines is preparing to retire its Flagship First class, the last international first-class product offered by a U.S. carrier. This change will see the end of a service that has been available since the early 2010s. The airline's Airbus A321T planes, which previously featured first-class cabins, have already been retrofitted into more standard configurations.

For now, passengers can still experience Flagship First on American's Airbus A321T and Boeing 777-300ER jets. These aircraft also offer Flagship Business class, with notable differences between the two cabins.

American Airlines is transitioning away from first-class cabins in favor of enhanced business class offerings across its fleet. "We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American," said Julie Rath, Vice President of Customer Experience at American Airlines. The overhaul is driven by customer demand for a more premium experience.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be reconfigured to include 70 Flagship Suite business-class seats and 44 premium economy seats. The timeline for retiring first-class cabins has been delayed beyond the original target of late 2024.

Newly delivered Boeing 787-9s will feature a new business-class cabin, and eventually, three-class 777-300ERs will be updated with these new designs. Despite delays in production, these changes are expected to provide a more private premium experience on long-haul flights.

The transcontinental A321Ts will be replaced by Airbus A321XLRs featuring a new business-class cabin but no true first class. These changes align with American's strategy to enhance its premium offerings without maintaining traditional first-class services.

Currently, travelers can still book Flagship First on select routes including New York to Rome and Los Angeles to Sydney among others. However, the future of this service remains uncertain as American continues its fleet modernization efforts.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Delta Air Lines is expanding its flight offerings for the 2025 pro football season, introducing new routes and increasing capacity to accommodate fans traveling to major games.

Jun 6, 2025

Last month, over 130 volunteers from Delta Air Lines and several partner organizations collaborated to construct a new playground in College Park, Georgia.

Jun 6, 2025

Walking together on Omaha Beach, 19-year-old college student Caleb Walker and 101-year-old WWII veteran Jack Myers reflected on the sacrifices made during the D-Day invasion.

Jun 6, 2025

British Airways is the leading foreign long-haul airline serving the United States.

Jun 5, 2025

United Airlines has completed a deal with the Chicago Department of Aviation to acquire five additional gates at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Jun 5, 2025

Boeing has reached a production milestone, achieving a monthly output of 38 737 MAX aircraft for the first time since 2020.

Jun 5, 2025