Thanks to the addition of sliding doors, the new Flagship Suites from American Airlines give passengers extra privacy, although cabin crew will still see over the top. Olivia Palamountain reports
American Airlines will be offering passengers enhanced luxe on its new Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircrafts with a new business class product called the Flagship Suite, which has been designed by Teague.
Not only can customers expect reimagined aircraft interiors from this upgraded long-haul fleet when it launches in 2024, but they can also opt for further exclusivity in the Flagship Suite.
Located in the business class cabin, Flagship Suites offer flyers seats that convert to a fully flat bed, a privacy door (now considered essential in the most modern business class cabins), a chaise lounge and more personal storage space, plus larger entertainment screens and wings that extend from the headrests for additional privacy.
Travelling in a group? Flexible partitions will allow suites to be conjoined for socialising or to create a convivial dining experience, just like on Qatar Airways and in Virgin Atlantic’s new Upper Class.
“We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American,” said American’s vice-president of customer experience, Julie Rath. “The arrival of new long-haul aircraft and the customized seat design of the Flagship Suite seats will offer customers a truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet.”
AA will also be retrofitting its 20 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with Flagship Suites and refreshed interiors from late 2024.
American was the first US airline to debut long-haul premium economy seats in 2016, and in response to customer demand, the airline is adding even more premium economy seats to its long-haul aircraft. The new custom-designed premium economy seat creates more privacy and doubles the amount of in-seat storage space.
Premium seating on the airline’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45 per cent by 2026, says the airline, with 51 Flagship Suites and 32 premium economy seats on the Boeing 787-9 and 20 Flagship Suites and 12 premium econom seats on Airbus A321XLR aircraft.