LAST TIME on American Airlines Flagship FIRST CLASS
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Watch this video to see what it’s like to fly on an American Airlines First Class Flight on an A321.
American Airlines made headlines when they announced the end of First Class. And that’s why we’ll be traveling in this most luxurious way of crossing the country one last time to show you exactly what the end of First Class is all about.
Here in the United States on most domestic flights, the top level of service onboard many airlines is called “First Class,” but it’s not what you may imagine. We made a whole video about this. I’ll link to it below. But here at American Airlines, on certain domestic and international routes, they’ve always offered what they call Flagship First which is more aligned with what you would find on international airlines’ first class. American is the last US airline offering a true first class, United phased it out in 2018 and Delta never offered a true First class product.
In this video, we'll highlight the American Airlines Flagship First experience onboard the airline's unique Airbus A321T.
0:00 Introduction
1:48 LAX Flagship First Lounge
4:31 American Airlines A321 First Class Boarding
7:17 American Airlines First Class Dining
10:13 American Airlines First Class JebScore
Here's a link to our Rockies to Red Rocks Train video
• 2 DAYS on Rocky Mounta...
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Music:
Game Face (Instrumental Version) - Love Beans
It’s All About Us (Instrumental Version) - Jaslyn Edgar
Is This Love a Waiting Game (Instrumental Version) - The Big Let Down
Club Soda (Indie Pop Version) - Martin Baekkevold
My First My Last (Instrumental Version) - Love Beans
Always on My Mind (Instrumental Version) - Paper Twins
I felt like I got to experience this trip right along with you. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for coming along!
@Jeb I just got back from going to New York to see my daughter sing at Carnegie hall. Traditionally, when I have flown in the past I have always gotten really motion sick. However, this time I decided to go flying as I have seen you do in your videos. You always treat it as an adventure. This time flying was so much more of a breeze. I didn't get as motion sick and in fact I had one of the best times flying since I was kid. Jeb thank you for helping me to see travel not as an obstacle to get over but as something to enjoy. I am now looking forward to seeing my daughter sing in Australia this summer and I am already looking forward to the economy trip as well. Thank you again!
We just flew Jetblue Mint from San Diego to Boston the other day. I really don't see a lot of difference between AA's first class and Mint, except of course for the lounge access. I'm glad I watched this video because you always wonder if you made the right choice when flying cross country and now I know. Thanks.
I flew AA First Class on their DC 10 service from San Juan, PR to DFW in the 1990's.
It was not a lie flat service, but the service and attention from the FA's was great. I don't remember a meal, but I do remember I got to order a Chocolate Sundae with all the trimmings. That was wonderful!
As a Non-Rev flyer, I had a choice to sleep over at JFK, or, take an AA Red Eye to LA, then a flight back to DFW. I chose to sleep in the PanAm Terminal at JFK instead, as the AA Terminal was much too busy, even at 12am. The next morning I caught a cab to LaGuardia (passing right by Shea Stadium, where The Beatles played in 1965!!) for the first flight out to DFW. I chose 1st class, but I slept most of the way, without eating the scrambled eggs offered.
1990s*
FAs*
@@ChapatiMan Its literally the same thing
Great video, as always. Thank you to you and Suzanne for sharing your experience with us. Take care.
I flew flagship first on the same route but in reverse. I was upgraded while waiting at the gate. It was such a great experience! Maybe not worth an extra 1000 to me but being able to lay flat on a red eye was certainly very nice to experience.
Seen exceptional reviews and Josh cathill airline reviews are THE BEST . Worth watching every one of it.
Hi guys thanks for sharing I felt like I was right there with you I always enjoy your videos stay blessed
Another Excellent video, Jeb, ... Thank You 🙂 ...
I flew on an American flight from LAX to JFK and then to GIG in Rio. First plane was a A321TC and the next was a 777. Flights back were both 787s. They still have have 4 classes, main cabin, main cabin extra, premium economy (what business used to be), and then business class with lay flats. First really seems to have just become a marketing tool and isn't worth the added cost above business class anymore.
Great content as always.
Hey Jeb, your reviews are fantastic. Love it pal, I'll never be in a position to travel like this but I love to watch it, cheers to you and your lovely wife, all the best from Scotland x
Always love your videos!! Keep up the good work Jeb!
I've done this first-class check-in at LAX and really love it. The headphones for first class do the trick for me to help me sleep without turning on any audio on redeyes. I appreciated this video as I have a flight on a 321T and thought the exit was behind business class like a 777-300. I have a brief layover between JFK > MIA and moved to the first row to get out ASAP. I'll try the new shared lounges on a later flight with the same routing later this year but a more relaxing layover.
Great video as usual, and the Patek 🤘🏼🤩
Idk what’s more impressive, your flights and videos or your watch collection 😉
I hope you have a flight to MCI booked sometime in March! I toured the new terminal today during the open house, and it's a 1,000% improvement over the old terminals. There's a Delta Sky Club, too!
amazing video as always!
Honestly I believe just the tags "First Class" is a name that hold so much weight when you say it out loud. "First-Class experience", "First- Class service", or "First-Class dining" is the idea that a person is gaining access to something that is special and well worth the price of admission. And you're right with what you said at the end of this video, it seems like the era of "First Class" anything is gone in aviation.
I ask me dad about this. He said that it because the first class is the first section of when you walk in aeroplane. I think in the older days when airplane had propeller, you had a second class (which is like business of today), then you had a third class which is back of plane. So the third class is coach of today. So it has nothing to do with name when you say out loud. It is about the section of the plane and the size of seats, windows and stuff like that
I’ve flown on the A321T four times, and I hope to try it at least two more times! Such a great plane in the AA fleet!
I'll be flying flagship first of the 777-300ER from LAX- Sydney in September. Glad I had the miles and the opportunity to book it before it disappeared
That's the right way to do it, too! On a long-haul flight. Enjoy every second!!
I will be Traveling Transcon JFK-SFO next week in First Class. Then DFW-LHR on 777 First Class in April. I am glad to be able to try them before its all gone.
My greatest experience on an airline was flying first class from JFK to Rio Brazil on an American Airlines DC-10 back in the 90s. It was amazing. I still have the leather shaving/amenity bag they gave you. Sad to see it go
I fly for AA and the 321T is a nice lighter version to fly! Hopefully our new business will shine and put the product back in the map! Definitely excited for our XLR 321s which will give us longer legs over the Atlantic!
Sounds lovely! I can definitely think of some new AA transatlantic routes!
You're excited for a 2manned crew over the atlantic?
@@bullpro6308 hopefully not, but who knows. As long as we can get the 321 into group 3 pay like the 757/76 was, maybe. Already doing 6hr long flights across the country or to HI.
Good luck. As a longtime AA customer, I've seen the quality of the PASSENGER decline to darn near the bottom. Service is generally good. Lounges are now just crowded holding pens for animals in many cities. Disgusting. Oh, well. There's no real choice anymore. Just a sad race to the bottom. Soon it'll be what busses have become, flying cattle cars. How sad.
@@bullpro6308 Most Trans Atlantic flights as well as other long hauls have mostly 2 crew flight decks..
I agree. Living in LA, the American terminal needs an upgrade. It just isn’t like any of the other terminals at lax.
Indeed. It has for a while. It dates back to 1961 and the last renovation was 20 years ago now.
Terminal 5 is awful too
I flew first class on Pan Am and Braniff decades ago..what an experience!
Thanks I'm glad you enjoy
$30 for Wi-Fi when both JetBlue and Delta give it away for free?!
In my opinion the Jeb Score should penalize the IFE score for pricy wifi
delta's "free" wifi only allows passengers to use messaging apps. To be fair is better than nothing but only works a handful of times based on my experience
@@DingusMW they actually announced a month or so again full fledged free wifi
@@MichaelAuslanderJr oh no kidding, AA is definitely behind on the curve then. Streamable wifi is a must when traveling these days
The AA wifi is $25 for JFK-SNA. While abit pricey, it works well. You can stream CZcams or Netflix while traveling. You cant do that with Southwest Wifi.
Beautiful Patek Jeb. Your watches are always a highlight of your videos to me. Some very tasty watches you’ve shown
Just had a AA Trip via First class from JFK to Madrid then Barcelona to JFK. Best experience ever!
Great Video!
New watch alert? Beautiful Patek!
I was upgraded to first class years ago and it was a nice experience.
Enjoyed just wish it was longer. ❤
There is something special about flying First Class or Business Class. I enjoy flying so much more when I'm comfortable and when the level of service is a cut above. It's nice to see that American Airlines is still flying a product they can be proud of. Thank you for sharing your most recent travel experience.
I'm Executive Platinum on American Airlines so I get upgraded to First and Business frequently and agree it's the only way to fly. I just wish the food was as good as the comfortable seats. It seems that since Covid they never brought back full service. Just took trips to Madrid and Berlin and the Business Class food was unbelievably mediocre.
Amazing video!
On this flight American Airlines offered two different wines from Austria, my home country. How nice is that. Greetings from Austria.
Being the child of a long time American Airlines employee, I spent many many an hour at LAX through my childhood and early adulthood. Funny thing is is that Terminal4 at LAX was refurbished in 2000 from its old 1960 motif. And now they are looking at another refurbishment.
Considering it’s a 2-3 year project, the last refurb lasted 25+ years. About what one would expect before another one.
I was there in November. I liked the arched ceilings.
I wish I would fly this! It seems amazing
Booked a first class next month on american my first first class experience, i am excited
Wow the buffet in that flagship dining looks AMAZING Jeb!!!!!
Great trip report Jeb
Nice patek aquanut, I enjoy your watching your videos
I hope they at least keep the lie flat business class seats on the A321T. And goodbye economy seats with IFE
The A321T will be replaced by the A321XLR
@@hanj31 Why would they do that? The 321XLR trades quite a bit of payload for range, and domestic transcontinental routes are well within any A321's range.
If anything, they might add A321XLR's alongside the current A321T aircraft if they plan on flying narrowbodies overseas.
@@kelly2631the 321T's would be converted into two class config just like the rest of AA's narrowbody fleet. The 321XLR would be the perfect plane because it will have updated cabin with business and premium economy and it doesnt require much payload on a route like JFK-LAX or SFO. AA would have enough XLR's in ration to fly transatlantic and transcon.
Those planes will be going into 196-seat configuration. The 321XLR will be replacing the A321T in that role, and they will also be doing thin trans-con out of JFK that the 757 previously did.
@@kelly2631 sorry to break your bubble of superiority, AA has officially announced that all 321T will be reconfigured to normal 321 Kodak layout, and the XLR will take over transcon
Fantastic video.
Nice watch!
I loved that focus on the 747 leaving LAX!
hey man good videos that your making keep it up!
I have been to that Flagship First lounge at LAX and totally love it. The food and views are great there. I’m looking forward to trying the new suites. At least AA is trying something new❤️✈️
That lounge is so good! Agreed on the innovation from AA. Thanks for all of your support, Diane!
Great video J & S also I love seeing that A321T in Flagship First Class but as you mentioned lie flat Business is becoming the normal standard and also the “Domestic First Class” on AA like their 737s and A321s still looks awesome and I cannot wait to fly on their new Wide body international Business Class product it looks epic and I’m sorry to say it looks like an improvement over even “First” class now! 😂😊
Cheers 🥂
Caleb’s Aviation
Hi Jeb! Always glad to see Suzanne with you... I like her perspective! See you in the skies!
awesome video as always! crazy to think in the 2000s these routes were operated by wide bodies, and monsters like dc10s and L1011s in the 90s. how times have changed!
Well, United have four daily widebody flights! (3x B78X, 1x B772)
It's interesting to look at the hijacked flights on 9/11 and the load factors. American 11, a 767-200, had 92 people on board. United 175 had only 65. Those were the days before airlines optimized their flight forecasts to ensure high load factors on practically every flight.
@@jonathankleinow2073 I mean, it was a tuesday after all.
@@jatterhog It didn't matter. They flew those bigger planes like that every day.
@@derbagger22 nowadays one has to be more selective with flight choices, I mean JFK-LHR is a route suited for 747s and A380s while today some flights are operated by the A321LR
That’s sure a spectacular view of the tarmac from the lounge @ LAX.
I fly Business Class weekly with AA. DFW is my hub, so I experience Flagship Lounge in DFW, ORD and MIA because I have the ever mysterious ConciergeKey status. The Flagship Lounges are decent for the most part. The eggs alone (for breakfast) are significantly better than the eggs in the Admirals Lounge. The other items in the self-serve food stations are also decent to good. They also have “chefs” making the odd meals (omelets, waffles, etc). Some of the travelers in Flagship Lounge are usually getting their drink on/lit post lunch and it’s kind of fun to people watch sometimes (especially at the Bloody Mary station). The servers generally do a great job and deserve more praise from some of the snobs in Flagship Lounge. Work wise, it’s subpar to the Admirals Lounge though. In flight, Business is either meh to decent/good. It all depends on the Flight Attendants. Some are super chill and happy to be there, others are phoning it in and have attitudes. I know their jobs aren’t easy dealing with humans, so I give them some grace.
That buffet had no f’s! Everything looked delicious!
Great vlog as always! Now I have not flown coast to coast in the US for almost, hold on, 30yrs! Narrow body on a service like this I was never a fan of, so I tried as much as posible to widebody like 767, A-300/A-310. The 757 was better than a 737. In my days I flew TWA and NW, but I very much felt at home, first with PI and then US. I miss them. Alot! Could AS be my new US? AA I have only flown once onboard a F-100 ORD-MSP that did not land due to bad weather. UA is more than ok since they are a partner with my airline SK. The old CO was also fine. They did stink in the 80s. DL I have not flown for 30yrs after the takeover the PA routes. They was so bad. Worse than CO if you ask me. Keep up the good work. Be safe!
Awesome review.
Ps: you're wearing my dream watch 👌
I flew flagship first again recently from JFK to sfo because I got an amazing mileage redemption and wanted to try the dining room since I didn't get the opportunity the first time. Only to find the new Chelsea lounge to be heads and shoulders better than the flagship lounge.
The new flagship suites look interesting and hope I'll get a chance to try it.
I flew Flagship First from MIA to LAX last February on the triple 7. The Flagship Dining did not open until 1 pm, and our plane left at 1:10 pm. The onboard experience was spectacular especially compared to the normal American experience. Sadly the IFE and Wi-Fi were out the entire flight, and we had bad turbulence for 2/3rds of the flight. Glad I flew it when I could because, as of November 1st, there is no more Flagship service at all between the two cities and no 777, only the A321. Not sure if they will bring back the widebodies in the summer schedule.
Beautiful 😍
Flew first class as an upgrade once. Service was on a seriously tired MD-80. The seats in front of me looked like a dog had chewed on them. Beverage service was in a real glass, but same offerings as economy. I didn’t expect much, and boy did they deliver.
Hell Yeah Shinola!! 😀 ⌚ Represent Detroit! I always travel with my Shinola Watch! The best.
The crew room is right below the lounge and I really enjoyed just staring out the window at the big birds down this alley.
amazing trip
My favourite lounge views so far - could (and have) spend hours looking out over the airfield. Sad to see they have still not reopened Flagship Dining, given this was closed when I was through last November - thought it would be open by then. Also can't beleive AA still serve their champagne in plastic cups for the PDB!
gorgeous patek sir
This is the real "First Class" under a traditional 3-Class Configration and rare to be seen in a narrow-body aircraft.
Clearly remembered I used 32.5K AA Miles to get this first class seat in Jan.2016, which was a beautiful memory and a lifetime experience... Unfortunately, AA miles devalued signifitantly after my redemption and I had the feeling I am unable to take it again...
Just remember, in most scenario of our life, first time is the last time.
We fly in first EZE to MIA on March 12th. This is one of the few routes left.
A Gin and Tonic... Your the man Jeb...👍👍👍
Good view of the impact crater in Utah.
Jeb great review I’ve flown the AA Flagship First service between JFK and LAX and it was good although I thought it to be a bit overrated and I knew the Purser. However Delta at onetime offered 3 classes of service on its L-1011’s back in the day with First Business and Coach. I flew them between FRA and JFK after they acquired the route from PanAm on the L1011-500 one of my favs and it was a great experience, until they did away with it in favor of Business Elite back in the 90’s. To be honest I prefer Delta One on transcon flights as Delta uses wide body aircraft’s like the 767-300/400ER’s and one flight a day with the A330neo and it’s Delta One Suites. I’d love to see a review on that bird and tell us what you think of the A330-900 neo’s suites on a domestic flight. Especially compared to JB mint on its A320/321 vs United Polars 787-10 and AA’s transcon business class A321T. Happy trails fly safe and I enjoyed your Delta First from Boston to SFO with the A321neo that had the emergency landing. To bad we didn’t get a Jeb score on that one cause I’m not a fan that they don’t offer Delta One on transcon flights out of Boston, 37” pitch lost me. Thank God my hometown airport is premium heavy JFK. Fly safe buddy and hope to see you on a flight one day. Don’t get scared if I bug out lol 😂 and keep’ m coming 🥂🍾✈️
I was hoping you'd take AA Flagship First on an international flight/widebody -- I haven't done that yet (always took BA F instead), and it has cool stuff like a rotating seat with desk.
Makes me miss seeing, at least, the old seats American had in their 767-223ERs (the seats that were affectionately known as "woolly mammoths" by many due to the sheepskin that was removed some time in 2003-2004 in favor of all leather seats). Never got to sit in one - aside from a few moment when deplaning from a SAN-JFK flight, holy crap were they comfortable though - but I did get to ride in the same seat model (just all cloth seat covering) on an ex-TWA 767-3Y0ER from St. Louis to Kahului in 2002.
I have flown AA and always liked it, but was always on a per diem from work and could never use first class. I looks like fun though!
Great video mate, interesting to see 4 classes being offered on a narrow body domestic flight. Ansett and Qantas used to offer first class domestically here in Australia when I first started in the industry (1995) but scrapped it at least 20 years ago.
Those were the days!
Beautiful explanation of first class! Jeb that’s also a first class watch 😝
So glad to have tried this before they retire it. And check the new BA lounges in JFK. Great Time!
I hope to work one of your flights someday! 💜
I hope so too!
I feel like JetBlue offers a similar product with their Mint class on domestic routes though!
United still has these... I flew a Airbus Neo from Washington DC to Las Vegas 2 weeks ago.
I was wondering when that was going to happen. A lot of airlines have already got rid of this so this is a novelty for someone in NZ who hasn’t had first class for a very long time. Sad to see it go though. But business class will hopefully up its game as that will be its flagship product now.
Hey Jeb Brooks! So sad that the flagship first is going away, you should review the new business on Americans 787s when it comes out!! Can’t wait for that video
That will be a while yet before it's introduced.
I'm im Kansas City, MO and our brand new airport opens in 10 days! You should come give it a look and video about it. 😊
Another great video, thank you for sharing! You should have your own Travel Channel show, also a LOT more subscribers! Hope to see it some day, thanks and god bless
In many countries, eployers no longer provide "first class" tickets to employees flying on business, and some might provide it for intercontinental but not domestic. So airlines basically did away with F tickets and upgraded J class to first class seats/service.
To the airline, it depends how many in the First Class cabin actually paid for first class vs how many using FF points to get the upgrade.
For some airlines, providing premium on domestic routes is important when that rote allows one to do full intercontinental trip in the class they wanted. If you want first to Singapore, but forced to fly in business or even coach on the domestic leg, that really removes value from service especiually if another airline offers a non stop and all in first to Singapore.
Hi Jebb, love the videos but as a kiwi I was wondering when the north island part of your train trip in New Zealand was coming
you should do an updated basic economy comparison video on the big 3 these days.
That’s a shocker
could of totally saw u flying over:’DD i live 10 mins away from jfk
Jeb love your videos man keep up the great work question what are your thoughts on Japan airlines
I’m doing flagship business from LAX-MIA next year.
Delta has Delta one Suits on flights going from DTW to HNL. Would love to see you check it out!! Detroit doesn't give enough love.
Hi Jeb your my favorite aviation youtuber
I'm only one minute in, and I have to ask you, Jeb...did you make a significant upgrade to your camera? The amount of image definition is, frankly, jaw dropping. I've watched nearly every single one of your trip videos and the video quality here looks like 4K at a minimum...okay, now to finish watching it.
Oh Jeb, since they are “sunsetting” this service wouldn’t it have be better to fly Westbound? It would have been a longer flight, with more time to enjoy the service and you would have been flying into the sunset as the “sun sets” on this service! I think I’m going to 😢. Great job as always.
I find it interesting they are doing away with first class considering how much revenue they make with these seats but in today’s economy I can see why they care choosing to get rid of it. Great video as always!
Man you could have gone to the brand new American Air/Bristish Airways new lounges (Chelsea one specially) on arrival to jfk it would’ve made your experience even more nicer. Definitely recommend it 👌🏻👍🏻
Mere mortals like most of us will never get to experience such extravagant amenities in an aircraft. I’ve always had to fly in coach packed like a sardine and don’t expect that to change in my lifetime.
I was very lucky to have flown this aircraft in 2014 between JFK and SFO and then return on the LAX to JFK. Unfortunately I don't remember much of the flight lol, but I do remember how comfortable the seats were!
Very nice. Do Flagship First fares ever go on sale?