Summary
With nearly 6,700 daily flights serving destinations in over 50 countries around the world, American Airlines (and its regional partner, American Eagle) is the nation’s largest passenger airline. Whether you’re a dedicated American Airlines credit card holder or simply fly with whichever carrier has the best flights for you, you’re likely to find yourself aboard an American Airlines flight at some point in your travels.
With a range of fare classes, forgiving flight change policies, and a variety of seat styles and configurations, there’s a lot to consider before embarking on your next journey with American Airlines.
American Airlines Fare Classes
American Airlines offers eight fare classes with select amenities at a wide range of price points. It’s important to note that the amenities and services can vary depending on the aircraft type and destination.
Flagship First
Flagship First is the airline’s most premium experience (available only on long-distance flights with Boeing 777-300 aircraft), featuring a private check-in process, priority privileges for swift passage through check-in, security, and boarding, lounges, and five-star service. During the flight, passengers can recline in lie-flat seats, enjoy chef-inspired dining, and indulge in Shinola and D.S. & Durga amenity kits and Casper sleep sets. In 2024, American Airlines is anticipated to launch an even more premium experience with Flagship Suites.
Flagship Business
This class provides many of the same perks as Flagship First, including priority privileges and lounge access at the airport, as well as spacious lie-flat seats and enhanced dining options. However, the seats may not be as roomy. You can also upgrade to Flagship Business Plus, which includes up to three checked bags and access to pre-flight Flagship Dining.
First Class
This is the highest level of service on flights across the United States, where passengers can expect priority privileges at the airport. During the flight, they enjoy premium dining and comfortable seats with greater space compared to typical economy seats.
Business
Business is the highest level of service on shorter international flights to destinations like Bermuda, Canada, and the Caribbean. Before flying, passengers enjoy priority privileges and may access lounges (for certain flights), along with wider seats and premium dining.
Premium Economy
This class elevates the traveling experience from a Main Cabin fare, providing priority privileges at the airport along with more spacious seats, free entertainment, chef-inspired dining, and amenity kits (available on select flights).
Main Cabin Extra
Main Cabin Extra offers the same benefits as a Main Cabin fare but adds early boarding, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and drinks (including alcoholic beverages).
The Main Cabin
This is a standard economy class with seat selection and complimentary snacks. Your ticket also includes one personal item and one carry-on bag, without checked bags. Expect in-flight meals on long-haul flights.
Basic Economy
The lowest-cost fare comes with significant restrictions. Passengers can still enjoy free snacks, soft drinks, and entertainment, but seat selection incurs an extra fee. This group generally boards last.
American Airlines Flight Change and Cancellation Policies
If you need to alter your ticket, you have a 24-hour window from the actual booking to do so without incurring a fee. However, note that basic economy fares are non-changeable, leading to a complete loss of the original fare if the flight cannot be taken.
Excluding basic economy tickets, which are nonrefundable, American Airlines maintains a fair policy regarding ticket modifications and cancellations. If you change your flight to a more expensive option, you’ll need to pay the difference; conversely, should you choose a less expensive option, a travel credit for the difference will be issued. Canceling a non-refundable ticket earns a credit for future travel.
Baggage Policies and Fees
All fare classes include one free carry-on bag (maximum dimensions of 22 x 14 x 9 inches) along with one free personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. First-class passengers can check in two to three complimentary bags weighing up to 70 pounds (depending on the aircraft). Business-class allows two complimentary bags, while Premium Economy permits two bags weighing up to 50 pounds. Main Cabin travelers can check two 50-pound bags but are likely to incur a fee, usually around $30 for the first checked bag.
Some online reviewers have voiced concerns about baggage fees or stated they were unaware of these costs. However, such inconveniences can often be avoided through thorough pre-flight research. Exact baggage policies and fees may vary based on fare class, destination, military status, credit card or airline loyalty status, and the number and weight of bags, with additional details available on the American Airlines website.
Seats and Legroom
Owing to a variety of fare classes and airplane configurations, exact legroom and seat layouts differ from flight to flight. Flagship fares feature lie-flat seats for ultimate comfort, while first and business classes still offer wider seats with more legroom than standard Main Cabin seats. To find specific seat pitch and width for your flight, please refer to your plane type on the American Airlines website. For further assistance, you can use resources like SeatGuru to explore your aircraft’s seating layout beforehand.
Amenities and Entertainment
Passengers across all classes can access free entertainment on most flights, with the option to purchase Wi-Fi on selected planes. They can stream movies, music, TV shows, and more from personal devices or selected seat-back systems. Moreover, passengers can leverage platforms like Skillshare and Rosetta Stone available on the Lifestyle channel for skill-building opportunities or language learning. Yelp reviewer Greg T recognized the condition of American Airlines planes but highlighted the use of personal devices as a drawback, stating, “The planes I have flown on with American usually seem to be in good repair, clean, and as comfortable as an airplane can be. My only complaint would be the trend to make you use your own electronics to access the entertainment — I prefer the seat back screens!”
Depending on your destination and flight duration, Main Cabin tickets might also come with soft drinks, snacks, meals, and even an alcoholic beverage (on certain long-haul international flights). First-class tickets include snacks and alcoholic beverages, with larger meals provided on extended flights. TripAdvisor reviewer Anthony H. mentions, “AA has improved their in-flight food and beverage for the main meals, although, frankly, it’s still airplane food.”
American Airlines Credit Cards
Frequent travelers with American Airlines may consider the perks associated with the airline’s credit cards. There are four options available through Citi/American Airlines:
- AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard: This card has no annual fee and provides 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit after $500 in purchases within the first three months.
- Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard: You’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in the first three months, and the $99 annual fee is waived for the first year. This card offers holders their first checked bag free on domestic flights and preferred boarding.
- Citi/AAdvantage Executive Mastercard: This card has an annual fee of $450, offering 50,000 bonus miles plus 10,000 elite qualifying miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months, plus it includes an Admirals Club membership.
- CitiBusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard: You’ll earn 65,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first four months, and the annual fee of $99 is waived for the first year.
For comprehensive details regarding these cards’ benefits and mileage rewards, visit the American Airlines website.
