End of an Era: A Review of American Airlines Flagship First Class on the A321 from New York to San Francisco
by Krish Patel
First Class is becoming increasingly rare, and that’s especially a relevant trend in the U.S. Most domestic travelers usually picture First Class as offering a bigger chair and maybe a hot meal. However, American Airlines remains the only carrier in North America to still offer a true international-style First Class cabin on select transcontinental and long-haul overseas flights in addition to Business Class. American has plans to phase out its Flagship First Class service in the not-too-distant future, as the airline will continue to invest in a brand new Business Class product on the A321XLR. I was lucky enough to enjoy Flagship First for the first (and last) time on a six hour transcontinental itinerary from the carrier’s hub at JFK to SFO.
On the Ground in New York
American Airlines is based in Terminal 8 at JFK Airport, which is co-hosted by its partner British Airways. As a Flagship First passenger, I could avoid the hustle and bustle of the vast terminal and step behind a dedicated check-in area exclusively for First Class passengers with American, British Airways, and OneWorld Emerald Status holders.
Outside the check-in area is a staff member who will confirm your itinerary to see whether travelers are eligible to use the premium check-in area, which is jointly run by American and British Airways. The dedicated space reserved for First Class passengers felt incredibly modern and classy, with sleek wooden finishes and luxurious velvet couches. The following domestic routes operated by American from JFK qualify for access to First Class check-in:
New York to Los Angeles
New York to San Francisco
New York to Santa Ana
Customers are able to sit down on a plush sofa or chair while sitting across from an airline agent during the check-in process. I was allowed to check-in up to three bags as a First Class passenger, with the allowed weight being 70 pounds per bag. The staff were friendly and professional, treating me like a guest checking into a five star hotel rather than a standard airline passenger. For me, the best part of this facility is not the elegance or the sophistication of having furniture, but rather that it lets you out directly in front of the security line.
American runs three distinct lounges in partnership with British Airways at Terminal 8, each of which are named after neighborhoods found in both New York and London. First Class passengers on Flagship transcontinental itineraries can access the Chelsea Lounge, while OneWorld Emerald status holders have the option of the Soho Lounge. Lastly, you’ll find Greenwich, which is accessible to Business Class passengers and Sapphire status holders.
The Chelsea and Soho Lounges are located right next to each other, and I was able to access both prior to my flight. Soho is the less exclusive of the two, since it also welcomes frequent flyers and OneWorld First Class passengers on other member airlines.
The lounge has seating for just over 280 guests and features floor-to-ceiling windows, feeling open and spacious compared to the next-door Chelsea lounge (Chelsea lacks windows completely). There are plenty of comfortable seating options throughout the lounge, including areas designed for dining with fellow travelers. I was impressed by the modern design and dark brown accents, as well as the eye-catching chandelier hanging above the center of the lounge.
When it comes to amenities, the Soho Lounge has a wonderfully curated buffet spread of hot and cold items, as well as a self-serve drink station. There is no á la carte dining restaurant, but travelers who aren’t seeking a full meal will appreciate the various light bites, sandwiches, and afternoon tea options.
There are also nice bathrooms, showers, and a quiet relaxation area featuring three day beds.
After spending some time in Soho, I walked over to the Chelsea Lounge for a refreshing drink, shower, and sit-down dining experience. The lounge gets slightly more crowded during the evening hours, when many of the British Airways flights to London depart, though it stays relatively relaxed throughout the afternoon. Upon entry, you’ll find a classy 360˚ champagne bar, serving high-end Krug champagne, as well as craft cocktails and signature non-alcoholic creations. I was mesmerized by the marble and gold accents and noticed plenty of stools around the bar area.
Immediately behind the bar is the fireplace lounge, where travelers can get work done thanks to an abundance of charging outlets and counter space. There are several luxurious sofas accented with cozy living room pillows. While the lounge felt trendy and premium, the space is essentially one massive room, as there’s no privacy divider or partition that distinctly separates the seating areas from the fireplace lounge and sit-down restaurant.
The á la carte restaurant is the primary option when it comes to dining in Chelsea, as the only other food set-up is a small snack and drink bar with minimal choices. I enjoyed a delicious light lunch, followed by a small dessert and iced coffee. There are several substantial entrees and light bites on the menu, though I suggest visiting the buffet in the Soho Lounge if you don’t have the time for a proper meal.
My lounge time at JFK Terminal 8 concluded with a shower. The shower suite came with a Dyson hair dryer, towel, and complimentary soap. It was a great way to refresh before boarding such a unique, exciting transcontinental flight.
The San Francisco-bound flight was scheduled to depart from Concourse C. I had spent a lot of time experiencing American’s joint-venture lounges in partnership with British Airways, so I was the last First Class passenger to board. Pre-boarding is an enjoyable perk for Flagship First and Business passengers, who are able to board the aircraft early ahead of the status holders in group one.
A321T Flagship First Cabin & Seat
The transcontinental A321s are heavily occupied by premium real estate, featuring a total of just 102 seats across three cabins. At the front of the aircraft are 10 reverse herringbone First Class pods arranged in a 1-1 configuration and spread across five rows, allowing each passenger both a window and direct aisle access. Each seat is 21 inches wide and converts into an 82.5-inch bed. While the cabin is almost a decade old, it felt private and intimate for the cross-country flight. There are no dividers at the seat, so your privacy comes from a small cabin and not having a direct seat mate.
Stepping foot into Flagship First, I immediately noticed how the cabin screams ‘old school American Airlines.’ The pale gray and beige finishes, along with the fake wooden side table are indeed American Airlines touches. Despite the age of this seat, I still found it to be incredibly spacious and comfortable for the cross-country flight. The charcoal black headrest is reminiscent of American Airlines’s international premium cabin style, creating a signature touch.
In front of you is a seatback entertainment monitor, which is great to see on an American Airlines narrowbody aircraft. The screen pops out towards you with the push of a button. Below the screen is an ottoman, where travelers can rest their feet while sleeping in lie-flat mode. The footrest is on the smaller side for a lie-flat seat, but still offers plenty of room. Note that you are not allowed to store carry-on items on the leg rest during take-off and landing, so they will need to go in the overhead bin.
Flagship First on the transcontinental A321 has plenty of options for storing your personal items. There is a large wooden storage cubby beneath the side table, which serves as a great spot to store your headphones or a bottle of water. Meanwhile, the aisle-facing end of the seat is where you’ll find a slit for inflight literature, such as the safety information card.
Across from your literature rack, you’ll find an adjustable armrest. This feature did not function well, and I would constantly have to press on the button to simply raise it to the high position, highlighting the poor functionality of the seat. American Airlines has not invested in modernizing these cabins because they are slated to be replaced by the A321XLR, which will eventually serve the transcontinental markets as a replacement for the A321T.
The seat console can be found along the cabin wall and is a fairly large size. It’s composed of a faux wooden surface, built into which is a slit that houses the tray table. There’s also a second storage cubby with a universal outlet, as well as a preset of seat controls, IFE remote, reading light, and headphone jack. Since this seat was first introduced nearly a decade ago, there is no USB-C outlet, though you will find charging options for USB-A and even an iPod, which very few people have these days. I appreciated how each of the seat features were accessible and within an easy reach. I didn’t have to bend over to simply use any of the controls, and practicality matters when it comes to the seat design.
When it comes time to sleep, the seat converts into a lie-flat bed. I managed to secure two and a half hours of comfortable rest before landing in San Francisco. Thanks to the seat’s comfortable padding and generous width, this turned out to be a pretty spacious bed.
Shared among the 10 First Class passengers is one lavatory at the front of the cabin. It was quite spacious and roomy, but did not include any high-end skincare products or special amenities. Instead, this was just another airplane bathroom.
Food and Drink in American Airlines Flagship First
Prior to pushing back from the gate at JFK, our purser, who was responsible for the First Class cabin, distributed bottles of water. This compensated for the traditional pre-departure beverage service, which is not always a guarantee on every flight.
Menu cards were also waiting at the seat and listed the meal options for dinner, as well as the wine list on the back. The menu for today’s premium domestic flight was branded with the airline’s special centennial logo.
Once airborne, I was served warm nuts, olives, and a drink of my choice. For me, the choice was water. Business Class passengers are only served warm nuts after takeoff, and the addition of olives in Flagship First is a small, subtle touch to the mean service.
There were two choices of appetizers on my flight, including smoked salmon and harissa carrots. I went for the roasted carrots, which were incredibly fresh. The first course was provided along with a strawberry and goat cheese mixed greens salad, and my flight attendant offered a choice of bread from the bread basket. It’s worth mentioning that the meals served in Flagship First are very similar to the courses in American’s Business Class on this route. However, the presentation is slightly different, though the differences are subtle. The salt and pepper shakers provided on the tray were made of glass, whereas those provided in Flagship Business are plastic.
I pre-ordered the seared sea bass with turmeric and lemon grass rice and roasted broccolini for my main course. American presented four options on the menu, with the others including lamb cutlets, stuffed chicken, and eggplant lasagna. The presentation was executed well for the standards of a U.S. premium cabin. Overall, the fish was warm and flaky, pairing nicely with the rice. American’s inflight catering has improved in recent years with their collaboration through the James Beard Foundation.
Dessert is always a hit when you fly American Airlines. I chose the custom Häagen-Dazs ice cream sundae with assorted toppings, including seasonal berries, hot fudge, nuts, butterscotch, and whipped cream. Other options included the cheese plate and a centennial-themed pecan tart.
Only one full meal was served on this flight, but hungry passengers could help themselves to the snack basket placed at the front of the cabin. Additionally, chocolate chip cookies were served just before we landed in San Francisco. The cookies were warm and tasted fresh out of the oven, which I delightfully appreciated.
Amenities and Service in American Airlines Flagship First
Upon boarding, there are several goodies waiting for you at the seat, including the Nest bedding and a pair of slippers. Your bedding items in Flagship First are very similar to that in Business Class, including a hotel-style duvet and pillow. However, you will also receive a lighter day blanket.
There’s also an amenity kit made in partnership with Team U.S.A. for the World Cup, as well as comfortable noise-cancelling Bang & Olufsen headphones. These are some of the better quality headphones you’ll find in a premium cabin.
The amenity kit features several useful essentials that make it easy to wind down and relax. I would’ve been happy receiving the same amenities on an international Business Class flight, let alone a domestic hop. Its contents include:
Dental kit: toothbrush and toothpaste
Earplugs
Eye mask
Sleep socks
Joanna Vargas skincare items: under-eye patches, sleep oil, lip balm, hand cream, refreshing towelette
The inflight entertainment system on this aircraft is slightly older, which makes sense given that this aircraft is over a decade old. I found the screen to be unresponsive and have a poor user interface. However, American Airlines is not going to update the tech on the transcontinental A321s because they will soon be replaced by the A321XLR, which feature brighter and more elevated screens. On the brightside, American offers a plethora of movies and TV shows across several genres, including new releases. But when compared to Delta and United, AA’s IFE leaves a little to be desired.
Free high-speed Wi-Fi was available on today’s flight to SFO as well. AAdvantage members receive complimentary access to Wi-Fi, while those who are not members can pay $25 for a full-flight pass.
Because there are only 10 passengers in First Class, the service felt friendly and personalized. Our flight attendant was incredibly engaging and proactive, consistently checking on passengers throughout the flight.
Booking and Pricing for American Airlines Flagship First
On the JFK-SFO route, one-way tickets in American’s Flagship First start from $1,400 per person, but can quickly surpass $3,000 during peak travel seasons. As a OneWorld Alliance member, you have several options to book AA’s transcontinental First Class, such as through Atmos Rewards, or American’s own AAdvantage program.
First Class awards can be really high, as American uses dynamic pricing. Expect one-way awards to start from 60,000 or even 80,000 miles. Meanwhile, Atmos, the combined loyalty program of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, charges 40,000 to 50,000 miles thanks to the use of a special award chart reserved for partner airlines. You can transfer Bilt points to Atmos at a 1:1 ratio.
Overall Thoughts
American’s A321T Flagship First cabin offers a special cozy, intimate way to cross the country. If you’re seeking a unique experience that may not be around for much longer, then Flagship First can feel truly exciting. The 10-seat cabin, award availability with Alaska Atmos, and friendly, personal service make this an excellent choice.