No matter what cabin you’re traveling in, the ride is about to get more comfortable and sustainable on American Airlines.
The Fort Worth-based carrier gave us the inside scoop on its comprehensive overhaul of its onboard experience, which aims to elevate comfort, cut down on waste, boost style and improve passenger satisfaction.
The news comes as American Airlines plans to launch its new, highly anticipated Flagship Suite later this year, which will feature privacy doors.
Here’s a closer look at some of American’s in-flight enhancements, which will be onboard more than 300 international and transcontinental flights in Flagship First, Flagship Business and premium economy beginning Memorial Day weekend.
Premium onboard amenities
Premium cabin passengers will have a range of brands in their amenity kits, as American will regularly refresh them based on customer input. These kits will include essentials like toothbrushes, earplugs and sleep masks, alongside new, cyclical skin care products.
The program kicks off with a Thirteen Lune specialty kit, available for the first few weeks, followed by the standard amenity kit for the summer.
Experience Thirteen Lune from the comfort of your home with this comprehensive discovery kit. Packed with generously sized samples of Thirteen Lune favorites and a brand-new release from Relevant, it’s perfect for exploring their curated selection.
Each specialty kit will be available for a limited time and will showcase partner brands via QR codes.
Enhanced bedding and sleepwear
American is also aiming to improve the in-flight sleep experience for its customers. The airline will launch new bedding, pillows and sleepwear designed to enhance the onboard rest experience.
Dual-sided pillows will be provided in Flagship First and Flagship Business, offering both cool-touch and traditional fabric options. Enhanced bedding options, including lumbar pillows, throw blankets, premium duvets and fleece blankets, will be available across all cabins. These items are sourced from premium brands and developed with a focus on sustainability, including recycled materials from John Horsfall’s Re-Thread collection.
Flagship First passengers on international flights will continue to receive pajamas, while Flagship Business passengers on all international flights will now receive slippers.
Most pillows, duvets and blankets feature recycled fibers, which the airline claims will maintain quality while reducing the environmental impact. Bedding will now be distributed in reusable zipper product bags made from recycled fibers, which the airline claims will save approximately 25 tons of plastic waste annually.
Elevated dining experience
New dining menus are also taking flight across the US and beyond. These dishes are designed to offer diverse flavors inspired by American Airlines’ global destinations. From internationally inspired pastas to salads, passengers can enjoy a variety of delicious options.
In a statement to CNN Underscored, American Airlines said, “Travelers jet-setting to one of American’s new summer destinations like Nice, Naples or Copenhagen will be able to relish delicious offerings like macadamia-crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce, quinoa, toasted orzo and haricots verts. In addition to these dishes, pan-roasted chicken, tortelloni pasta and other offerings, including new preorder options, will continue to roll out this spring for business class on flights from the US to international destinations.”
In business class from Europe, passengers can indulge in dishes like chili-marinated chicken or a gnocchi duet. Domestic business-class travelers can enjoy offerings like shawarma-seasoned grilled chicken or chicken enchiladas, along with new preorder options including short rib mac and cheese.
A selection of award-winning wines will accompany these new culinary offerings in premium cabins.
Future aircraft interiors
In addition to the upgraded amenities, bedding and dining options, passengers on new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A321XLR planes can expect a better experience. The new interior includes the Flagship Suite seat with features like privacy doors, wireless charging and Bluetooth.
Like JetBlue’s Mint Studio and Virgin Atlantic’s Retreat Suites, American will offer an enhanced experience in the first row of business class on new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircrafts, which it’s calling Flagship Suite Preferred. This seat provides more space, multiple storage options and exclusive amenities, including Nest Bedding mattress pads, Nest Bedding pajamas and a skin care kit from Thirteen Lune by Joanna Vargas and Relevant.
Premium-economy travelers will also enjoy upgrades like wireless charging and more storage, while main-cabin passengers can look forward to new 4K screens and improved connectivity. And everyone can stay entertained with high-speed Wi-Fi and over 1,500 entertainment options.
Bottom line
We’re pleased to see that American Airlines is taking comfort and sustainability to new heights across all cabins.
From the highly anticipated Flagship Suite to enhanced dining and bedding options, the airline is doubling down on the onboard experience. You can also expect premium amenities that will be refreshed regularly based on customer feedback and eco-friendly initiatives like reusable packaging.
So, whether you’re jet-setting to new summer destinations or relaxing on board, expect a top-notch experience with American Airlines. And best of all, you can enjoy all these enhancements with travel rewards.
Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored Money chose as the best travel credit cards currently available.