American Airlines Business Class Review
After Korri and I flew business class to Germany three years ago, we’ve been ruined and now will only fly business class on long-haul flights. Fortunately, we play the credit card points and airline miles “game” and earn enough points for us to fly business class (because we really don’t travel all that much—maybe one or two big trips a year, if that).
Our recent trip to Spain to see the total solar eclipse was our third international trip that involved flying long-haul business class (with tickets that were purchased with points). We flew Singapore Airlines for our first two trips (to Germany and the U.K.), but for Spain, I wanted to have only one layover in the U.S. like we had with our trip to the U.K.
With only two airlines that fly nonstop from the U.S. to Spain, I knew we’d be flying one of those airlines. And after researching flights for months, we ended up booking flights on American Airlines via Alaska Airlines. (Iberia Airlines was the other airline that flew nonstop to Spain.)
If you’re considering flying American Airlines, below I shared my full review of the American Airlines business class on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and Boeing 777-200 ER. We flew ORD to MAD and MAD to DFW, and this review includes both flights. Here’s what I covered:
airport experiences before the flights
baggage allowance
lounge options
business class cabin and lay-flat seat
on-board experience and crew
food and drink options
READ NEXT: Singapore Airlines Business Class Review
American Airlines Business Class Review
About American Airlines
American Airlines is a major player in the aviation world. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, American Airlines is the largest airline in the world based on the number of flights operated (just under 7,000 daily) and passengers carried (over 500,000 daily on average). American Airlines has ten hubs around the U.S., including DFW Chicago O’Hare (ORD). It is also a founding member of the OneWorld alliance.
American Airlines commenced operations in 1936 (90 years ago), and you may remember that it acquired U.S. Airways in 2013 (I did not realize it was that recent!), which is what helped it to skyrocket to the top. On the flip side, American is not on the top for its customer service.
I personally do not choose to fly American Airlines very often because they don’t really fly where I go (and I’m not their biggest fan based on past experiences, which weren’t bad… just kind of meh), but I’ve found good deals on their flights using Alaska points, and that’s how we booked our American flights to and from Spain.
Flight Details
AA 37 (MAD to DFW)
Plane: Boeing 777-200 ER (N772AN)
Flight time: 11 hours 2 minutes
Seat: 8L
Cost: 55,000 Atmos points via Alaska Airlines (+ $47.23 in taxes and fees)
AA 126 (ORD to MAD)
Plane: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (N813AN)
Flight time: 7 hours 46 minutes
Seat: 1A
Cost: 55,000 Atmos points via Alaska Airlines (+ $5.60 in taxes and fees)
Before the Flight
Prior to both flights, we checked in online when it opened 24 hours before the flight and saved our boarding passes to Apple Wallet. For both legs of the trip, our flights were on the same day, so we departed for our trip from the Boise Airport and did not go to the counter to check in or check bags.
Departing Madrid, we did go to the counter to check my carry-on roller bag because we were given a bottle of wine that we didn’t want to leave behind. There were long lines at both sides of the American counters. We got in line with the business class passengers, and it ended up being a longer wait than I had anticipated. They reprinted my boarding pass and let me know that there was a special priority security line for business class passengers.
Our flights from MAD to DFW and DFW to BOI were booked on separate reservations, so when the agent asked me if Dallas was my final destination, I said yes… but I’m still wondering if they could’ve seen my second flight and gave me a tag that would’ve worked on both legs. Either way, you have to grab your checked bag to go through U.S. customs, but because I didn’t have a tag to Boise, I then had to stand in line at Dallas to get a new tag and stand in line again to recheck my bag for our second leg.
The special priority security in Madrid for business class passengers was nice (there was no line), but they were confused by our tickets at first and unsure if we could go through. That first security checkpoint wasn’t the end, though—we had to trek to another terminal and go through another security. It added stress to an already stressful morning (as we had issues figuring out what trains we needed to be on)!
Unlike Frankfurt, Madrid was not a stickler about what had to come out of our bags to go through security. I don’t remember taking out liquids (though my main liquids bag was in my checked carry-on luggage) or electronics.
Baggage Allowance
Confirmed American business class passengers can check two pieces of luggage that weigh up to 70 lbs each for free. You are also allowed to carry on one piece of luggage and one personal item. The carry-on luggage cannot exceed 22x14x9 inches (including handles and wheels). Your personal item needs to have maximum dimensions of 18x14x8 inches.
Korri and I packed in carry-on size luggage and each had two bags. In the U.S., we essentially had one carry-on and one personal item. Our bags were not weighed at any point except when I checked my carry-on coming home. The roller bags fit in the overhead bin, and our personal items (I used my Dagne Dover large Landon) also had to go in the overhead bin because there was not room at our seats for them.
Lounge Access
At Chicago ORD, American Airlines business class passengers have access to two lounges, the Flagship lounge and the Admirals Club lounge. You’ll get access to the Flagship Lounge (unless for some reason it’s full), which is located on the floor above the Admirals Lounge. It’s a large space but moreso in length than width. There are a variety of seating areas, including quiet rooms.
We didn’t have a whole lot of time between flights due to delays, but it was a comfortable place to snack and hang out for a few minutes, and I love using lounge restrooms. We grabbed sodas to take aboard our long flight and rushed out of the lounge when we heard it was boarding, only to wait at the gate for a long time because they actually weren’t boarding just yet.
At the Madrid airport, American Airlines business class passengers have access to the Iberia lounge in T4. We stopped by for only a few minutes because we were running later than we had anticipated, but we grabbed a few bites to eat and used the restroom. It was a fine but not spectacular lounge, and it was definitely busier than the Flagship lounge in Chicago.
Business Class Cabin & Lay-flat Seat
On American’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, there is one business class cabin with 20 seats (five rows of four in a 1-2-1 configuration). The interesting thing about these planes is that the seats alternate between front-facing and rear-facing. I was in 1A and faced forward. Korri was behind me in 2A and faced backwards. 1D and 1H (in the middle) faced backwards and 1L (right side of plane) faced forwards. I purposefully picked a front-facing seat because I’m terrified of motion sickness. Korri actually enjoyed facing backwards. 😆 Thank goodness!
There was one bathroom in the front of the business class cabin on the left side of the plane (same side as us) and two bathrooms between business class and premium class.
I found American’s business class seats to be comfortable. The seat itself is wider than usual and features touch-screen controls on the side closest to the window. You can easily recline your seat or lay it back. There is a hidden tray table and a water bottle, toiletry kit, and headphones sitting nearby.
There is also an tiny little cubby (that must stay empty for taxi, takeoff, and landing) that was not really big enough for much of anything. Inside and below the cubby are charging ports, including two regular plugs (that can take many plug types) as well as two regular USB ports (not USB-C).
There is a TV screen directly in front of you that is touch screen, but you can also use the black remote control that is anchored to the seat on the side. The in flight entertainment options are plentiful, though I kept it on the map the whole time and didn’t browse through the options except when I tried to watch a movie on the way back. I know Korri watched three movies, including Project Hail Mary.
When you are ready to sleep, it’s easy to press the button next to your seat to lay at an angle or completely flat. Cover the seat with your “mattress pad” and use the duvet and pillow to get comfy. Be sure to grab everything you may need out from under your seat before you put your seat down! And keep your shoes or slippers in a spot where you can grab them easily.
The bed itself was not the most comfortable (especially as a side sleeper with curvy hips), but it still feels incredible to lay flat—on an airplane. It’s such a luxury just to have my feet up! The footwell directly across from the seat on both planes. I’m about 5’4” and my toes didn’t touch the end of the footwell when I stretched out.
I did have to wear a shoulder belt that attached to my seatbelt during takeoff and landing when I sat in seat 1A. I also put my seatbelt on over my hips when laying down for safety reasons. It’s not the most comfortable but better to be safe! I loosened mine so it wasn’t sitting so tight over me.
Korri and I both love windows so we opted to sit a row apart on both flights. I hate that the windows on the 787 auto-dim, so we couldn’t see anything at night. I would say we chatted using the in-flight wifi, but I was not about to pay $35 for that! (It was not free for business class passengers.) Korri bought the wifi so he could do some work. Otherwise, we just popped our heads over to talk to each other (infrequently, of course).
On American’s Boeing 777-200 ER, there are two business class cabins. The first cabin has 20 seats (five rows of four seats plus an extra seat in row 6 on the right side), and the second one behind it has 16 seats (four rows of four seats). They’re all in a 1-2-1 configuration, and all of these seats faced forwards.
There was one bathroom in the front of the first business class cabin on the left side of the plane and two bathrooms (one on each side) between the two business class cabins.
The tray table on the 777 pulled out from below the TV. There is no tiny little cubby on the 777 but rather two open spaces to the side of the seat, one shallow and a deeper one. Inside the deeper cubby are charging ports and plugs. Either my headphones or headphone jack did not work on this flight; I tried watching a movie and the sound was difficult to hear/cut out and very staticky.
Pretty much everything else was the same for me between the 787 and 777, except I had slightly less room in the 777 because I wasn’t in the front of the cabin, and the windows didn’t auto-dim. The flight back is a daytime flight, so it irritates me when they turn the cabin lights off and expect you to close your window. I napped a little bit (probably longer than the flight TO Spain) but otherwise stayed awake by reading.
American Airlines On-board Experience & Crew
Flight attendants did not ask us if we wanted a pre-flight drink upon boarding our flight to Spain (I figure because they were frantically trying to stock the plane and get us out after it had been diverted earlier in the day). On the flight leaving Spain, they did offer us either orange juice or champagne to drink, and I picked orange juice.
We also received hot towels on both flights. I still don’t know exactly what to do with them, but I used them to press my face, wipe my hands, and wipe my tray table.
It seemed like we were in a rush to get going before a line of storms moved through Chicago, but we didn’t quite make it out before they hit. We still took off in the storm, though, so it was quite bumpy (we even had one of those stomach-in-throat drops), and the bumps delayed meal service longer than usual, which also meant that we had less time to sleep.
The American Air business class crew was pretty attentive, but they did forget to check on me and left me with my meal tray for longer than I hoped, and then left me with my dessert dishes for so long I brought the dishes to them myself so I could go to sleep. I was surprised because I was sitting right by the galley at the front of the cabin where they could see me. Oh well. I was also awoken by them getting snacks together for the snack basket kept in my row. Safe to say, sitting up front was not my favorite experience.
The crew on our flight back was more attentive but were a little too quick to grab plates and often grabbed mine before I was done, ha! They did make the most perfect ice cream sundae, though—more on that below!
We gave the crew treats on our flight back to the U.S. (my mom is a flight attendant and always suggests we do that—you should, too!) and they loved them! I forgot to give treats to our crew leaving the U.S. 🥲
Amenity kits were provided at every business class seat on both flights, and the bags were different! Korri and I both kept our bags. I couldn’t open them to see what was inside during the flights because they had those little plastic tags on the zippers to keep them shut.
Food & Drinks on American Air
Shortly after takeoff, the flight attendants delivered warm nuts and took our drink orders. I stuck with my trusty Ginger Ale and water—no alcohol for me. Korri opted for their port wine on both flights and thought it was delicious.
On the flight to Spain, the flight attendants confirmed our meal selections before taking off and then served the small plate (citrus poached shrimp and fish ceviche style), salad (romaine salad), and main plate together in one course. They received my meal, but due to the delays, they didn’t get the correct catering and Korri had to pick something else for dinner.
I preordered the harvest grain and vegetable bowl (I can’t remember the exact name), and it ended up coming with salmon which I was not expecting. Luckily that’s my favorite fish, so I ate some of it and didn’t die—yay! I had a couple of bites of the small plate (specifically the jalapeño slices, which were very spicy!). I also picked out a warm pretzel roll. It wasn’t the most exciting meal, but I didn’t want anything heavy before attempting to sleep.
I was most excited for dessert because I had read that American Air offers amazing vanilla ice cream sundaes! I picked strawberries and whipped cream for my toppings, and it was absolutely loaded with crushed strawberries and sauce. Yum! Korri enjoyed his pecan tart.
A few hours later, we were served breakfast. I picked the fruit bowl, which came with fresh fruit (or as fresh as you can get on an international flight), greek yogurt, and granola. Another not-exciting meal, but I didn’t need it to be after only 1-2 hours of sleep.
On the flight departing Spain, the meals did not match what was in the business class menu, so I’m not sure what we ate exactly! We started with a light arugula salad and another dish with squash and feta. I preordered the Pasta Giganti Radiccio, which ended up being quite delicious.
I finished my meal with another amazing ice cream sundae. This time, I asked for half chocolate drizzle and half butterscotch drizzle, and whoever made it absolutely nailed it! I’d probably order my ice cream sundae like this from now on. I could taste a little of everything. Mmm, it was so good!
About 1.5-2 hours before landing in Dallas, we got our second meal. I selected what the flight attendant called a “Mediterranean salad” which was falafel, rice, and cabbage (I think). There was also a side of fruit. It wasn’t bad, honestly! I also slept better and just had a better time on the return flight in general.
Is American Airlines business class worth it?
Yes! I hope this post proves to you that flying American Air business class is worth it, especially if you can snag tickets on points. I haven’t been much of an American Air fan after my domestic flight experiences with them (and I tend to prefer flying non-U.S. airlines when traveling abroad), but I was pleasantly surprised by my experiences in the business class cabin and would definitely fly with them again.
Being a business class passenger, we were sadly one of the first groups off of the plane at the conclusion of the flight. I honestly wish the flights had lasted longer, especially the flight to Spain! It’s basically impossible to take advantage of all business class has to offer AND get enough sleep (unless you fly from the U.S. west coast to Europe).
Any questions about American Air and/or their business class? Drop ‘em in the comments!