American Airlines has announced a new “Private Premium Experience,” designed by TEAGUE, coming to its long-haul aircraft in 2024. Among the upgrades inside the plane, passengers will find new Flagship Suites.
The Ultimate American Airlines Seat Upgrade
American Airlines will upgrade passengers’ in-flight experience by launching a new “Private Premium Experience,” crafted by TEAGUE. This enhancement includes a fresh look for the interior of American Airlines planes, starting with its long-haul aircraft.
Starting in 2024, the airline’s new Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 planes will showcase an improved Flagship Suite® and a reimagined aircraft cabin design. The new Flagship Suite® seats offer passengers an exclusive premium experience. They feature privacy doors, convertible chaise lounge seating, and increased personal storage space. It’s like having your own personal retreat in the clouds.
The American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner interior will house 51 Flagship Suite® seats. They offer customers more personal space and comfort. This plane also features lie-flat seating, which can be converted into a chaise lounge position. With 21 more seats than the current Boeing 787-9 in American’s fleet, more passengers can enjoy this exceptional in-flight experience.
Passengers departing from international airports will be greeted with an illuminated panel featuring American’s Flight Symbol. Inside these new long-haul planes, American Airlines will offer a premium experience that will feel better than a private jet.
On the Airbus A321XLR, 20 Flagship Suite® seats, the elegant design is characterized by natural tones. The charcoals, light grays, subtle blues, browns, soft gold, and platinum offer a luxurious and soothing environment.
The Main Cabin and Premium Economy Cabin
American Airlines is all set to expand the Premium Economy cabin in response to the increased customer demand. More privacy and double the in-seat storage space are among the improvements to the new AA Premium Economy seats.
By 2026, premium seating on American’s long-haul fleet will grow by more than 45%. With new business class suites, the Boeing 787-9 aircraft will feature 51 Flagship Suite® seats and 32 Premium Economy seats. Meanwhile, the Airbus A321XLR aircraft will have 20 Flagship Suite® seats and 12 Premium Economy seats.
American’s AAdvantage® loyalty program members can book award tickets to experience American’s new Flagship Suite® seats.
Retrofit Interior of American Airlines Planes
The Boeing 777-300ER, part of American’s existing fleet, will also see a retrofit to include Flagship Suite® seats. The interior refresh starts in late 2024. Each aircraft cabin will house more premium seats than its current design. It will feature 70 Flagship Suite® seats and 44 Premium Economy seats.
At the beginning of their journey, premium customers will also appreciate the redesigned Admirals Club® lounges. Once on board, they will find an array of amenities to suit their needs.
A Peek Inside the American Airlines’ Flagship Suites
American Airlines is giving customers a suite new ride. With deliveries of its Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft beginning in 2024. The Flagship Suite® will offer customers a private premium experience. It features a privacy door, a chaise lounge seating option, and more personal storage space. Customers will enjoy tailored luxury in their private retreat in the sky in American’s premium cabin.
Customers will be surrounded with comfort and expansive personal surface and storage areas that they can utilize to fit their personal needs in the Boeing 787-9 Flagship Suite. The Flagship Suite on the Boeing 787-9 offers more comfort with lie-flat seating and can also convert to a chaise lounge position. 
Customers traveling together who want to dine together or share their personal space can do so in the Flagship Suite on the Boeing 787-9. 
The Boeing 787-9 will have 51 Flagship Suite® seats — 21 more than the current Boeing 787-9 that American has in its fleet. 
The entry to the Boeing 787-9 features a panel illuminated by American’s Flight Symbol with thin red line accents, affirming the customers’ experience.
An Enhanced Journey
“We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American,” American’s Vice President of Customer Experience Julie Rath said. “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.”
American’s choice of natural tones creates a sense of calm and a feeling of being at home.
The American Airlines Premium Economy Cabin
American was the first US airline to debut long-haul Premium Economy seats in 2016. 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.
With the new interiors, premium seating on American’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45% by 2026.
American’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will have 51 Flagship Suite® seats and 32 Premium Economy seats.
The airline’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 20 Flagship Suite® seats and 12 Premium Economy seats.
The Premium Economy seats on the Airbus A321XLR feature headrest wings for increased privacy. 
The Airbus A321XLR will feature 12 Premium Economy seats. 
The Boeing 787-9 will feature 32 Premium Economy seats — 11 more than the current Boeing 787-9 in American’s fleet. 
The Boeing 787-9 Premium Economy seats feature headrest wings to increase privacy and larger inseat entertainment screens.
The new AA 787-9 Premium Economy cabin is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration.
On the long-haul narrow-body Airbus A321XLR, this cabin is arranged in a 2-2 configuration.
We get a peek at Economy class (tucked behind the Premium Economy seats) in the renderings. It will feature an elegant blue and brown color scheme, with the brown appearing on the leather (or ultraleather) headrest.
The FlightChic Take: PrivateJet Appeal with Airline Network Benefits
American’s choice to lure more premium economy passengers with upgraded seats fits market demand while boosting profitability. It’s no surprise that any airline invests more in this cabin space. What is refreshing in this announcement is to see American Airlines also increase the space for its Flagship Suite cabin. This is a notable vote of confidence in future demand for premium seating, which has been in question post-pandemic. I believe they’re making the right bet, particularly because privacy onboard appeals, and many can afford it. Think of this suite as a version of American Airlines private jets. It appeals to a market overlap between those who might prefer to ‘fly private’ with the benefit of the AA network.
American Airlines’ AAdvantage® loyalty program members can earn miles through everyday activities such as shopping and dining. They can use those miles for award tickets to experience American’s new Flagship Suite® seats when it debuts in 2024.
Refreshing from the Ground Up
American will also retrofit its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to include Flagship Suite® seats. These 20 aircraft will be refreshed with the new interiors starting in late 2024. American’s aircraft will feature more premium seats than its current design. There will be 70 Flagship Suite® seats and 44 Premium Economy seats inside the plane.
American will also retrofit its Airbus A321T fleet to align those 16 aircraft with the rest of its A321 fleet. American will continue to offer lie-flat seats on its transcontinental routes departing New York and Boston.
Premium customers will notice American’s signature style starts at the beginning of their journey. The airline has also redesigned Admirals Club® lounges. The first of these refreshed lounges opened at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Branded elements with sustainable wood designs will be carried from the lounges to American’s redesigned long-haul aircraft.
In the new American aircraft, designed by TEAGUE, passengers will see an illuminated American Flight Symbol and red accent lines. The Flagship Suite® seats are comfortable and have plenty of space and storage for personal items. Passengers can relax, enjoy entertainment, or have a meal during the flight.
Just the Facts
- Flagship Suite® seats, featuring privacy doors, will be available on all Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 deliveries beginning in 2024.
- The Premium Economy cabin on the Boeing 787-9 is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration.
- American’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft will have 51 Flagship Suite® seats and 32 Premium Economy seats.
- The airline’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 20 Flagship Suite® seats and 12 Premium Economy seats.
- American will refresh its Boeing 777-300ER fleet with a new luxurious interior, elevating the inflight experience on long-haul international routes.
- Premium seating in American Airline’s long-haul fleet will grow by more than 45% by 2026.
- Customers can anticipate a true premium experience with American, from redesigned lounges to stylish aircraft interiors and enhanced in-flight service.
About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. American Airlines Group Inc. shares trade on the Nasdaq under the AAL ticker and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American Airlines by visiting news.aa.com. Connect with American Airlines on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.