Flying First Class on American
A First-Hand Look at American Airline’s Domestic 1st Class Services
Imagine a completely hectic post-holiday airport gate area. People are stressed not only because it looks like the plane will be full, but there are several small delays due to the blizzard that has swept through the Midwest.
Now imagine getting to board the plane first. No standing in the aisles, arms full of bags and coats, waiting for the ten people ahead of you to stow their carry-ons and get seated. And since your seat is in the first few rows, you don’t have to wedge yourself down a narrow plane aisle. You sit in your wide seat – only 2 per side, with plenty of room to relax without worrying about someone else sitting on your lap or hogging your armrest. This is only part of what makes flying first class so appealing…the extra space and ease in boarding. And then there are the perks, like meals and personal beverage service (no waiting for the cart to roll by).
During a recent trip from the Midwest to Los Angeles, this was my initial experience as I flew American Airline in their first class section. Though the actual flights were hampered by the aforementioned blizzard, the first class experience itself was, for the most part, very pleasant.
The outbound flight used a 757 aircraft, and had wide comfortable first class seats with an ample arm rest between the two seats. Legroom also had a few more inches to it, which meant when the person in front reclined, it wasn’t onto my knees. In-flight entertainment included several music channels and small video screens that flipped down every few rows and showed the movie, The Prestige, during the four-hour flight.
A bowl of warm nuts was served shortly after take-off, along with beverages in real glass. Later, lunch was served to the first class passengers, with a choice of salmon, a mushroom and mixed greens salad or a cheese and mushroom pizza. The gentlemen sitting next to me raved about the salmon, which was served on real china. Unfortunately, due to food allergies, I was unable to try any of the options, but the first class cabin crew kindly offered one of the snack boxes sold in coach as a replacement. In fact, overall, the crew was very efficient and courteous in the first class section, making sure everyone had enough to drink and were comfortable.
The return flight used a M83 aircraft, and wow, the difference. Not so much in the service, which was still top-notch, or the food offerings, which included a snack of a tasty small cheese pizza and a side salad. No, the real difference was in the seating, which offered the type of tray that flips out of the seat armrest (a personal peeve), and the lack of video entertainment, since the plane was not equipped with monitors. A representative for American Airlines said that it is this particular model of aircraft that has these features; however, others in their fleet are more representative of my 757 experience.
Overall, I found the American Airlines first class experience worth the price, with the exception of the anomalies found in the M83 aircraft. It should also be noted that American offers a more complete first class experience on the cross country routes (New York City to Los Angeles, for instance) and on international travel. Perhaps if the airline made its first class amenities more uniform, it would have been a near perfect experience, but it was still good enough for me to recommend it.
For more information, or to book a flight on American Airlines, please visit their online website at AA.com. And for more information on how to enjoy a first class flight without paying full price, check out the Suite101 article, “First Class Air For Less.”
Have you flown first class with American Airlines? We’d love to hear about your experience! Please leave us a comment on the discussion boards.
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