The author flew as an invited guest of American Airlines. All opinions are the author’s own, and American Airlines did not have any input in any part of this review.
American Airlines officially launched its new Flagship Suite business class on June 5, 2025, operating between Chicago (ORD) and London (LHR) on the Boeing 787-9P.
Flagship Suites were American’s long-awaited answer to the enclosed suites we’ve seen from international carriers for years. The cabin now features sliding privacy doors, a 1-2-1 configuration, upgraded bedding, wireless charging, larger inflight entertainment screens, and a refreshed overall design.
In February 2026, I had the opportunity to fly the new Flagship Suite and experience it firsthand — seated in 1L, the bulkhead Flagship Suite Preferred seat at the very front of the cabin. American markets these front-row suites as a step up, with extra space and a few exclusive touches compared to the standard seats behind them.
Here’s a detailed look at what it’s actually like — from boarding to landing — and whether it truly competes with the best business class options flying between the U.S. and Europe.
Which Routes Feature American’s New Flagship Suite 787-9P?
American Airlines is rolling out the new Flagship Suite exclusively on select Boeing 787-9P aircraft that have been reconfigured with the updated cabin. The business class cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, giving every passenger direct aisle access and a sliding privacy door.
At the moment, you’ll find the new Flagship Suite flying between:
- Chicago (ORD) and London (LHR)
- Los Angeles (LAX) and London (LHR)
- Philadelphia (PHL) and London (LHR)
- Philadelphia (PHL) and Zurich (ZRH)
- Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Brisbane (BNE)
Since only a portion of American’s 787-9P fleet has been updated, it’s still important to check the seat map before booking — not every Dreamliner will have the new suites just yet. My flight with American’s new Flagship Suite had 14 rows, 51 seats, and a 1-2-1 layout .
On my Chicago-to-London flight, I was able to experience not just the new Flagship Suite, but the bulkhead Preferred seat in 1L (there are only 8 of these) — arguably the best seat in the cabin.
Here’s what it was actually like.
The Ground Experience at Chicago O’Hare Airport
Since American’s new Flagship Suite–equipped 787-9 currently operates from just a handful of gateways, I had to position from my home base in Miami (MIA). For this trip, that meant a short hop to Chicago before continuing onward to London.
I arrived at O’Hare roughly 3 hours before our scheduled 8:40 p.m. (CST) departure, giving myself plenty of time to enjoy the ground experience. Since I was ticketed in Flagship Suite business class on an eligible long-haul route, I had access to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge at ORD.
Entry was straightforward — I simply showed my boarding pass, received a black invitation card, and was welcomed inside.
I’ve spent time in this lounge before, so I knew I’d find a relaxed space with ample seating, self-serve Champagne, wine, and beer, and a solid spread of hot and cold options — think braised short rib with polenta, fragrant chicken biryani, fresh sushi, and other rotating dishes — enough to comfortably replace dinner before boarding.
One of my favorite preflight rituals — especially before an overnight crossing — is requesting a shower suite.
I was able to secure one without much wait, and taking a quick shower before a 7-hour overnight flight to London made a noticeable difference. It’s a small luxury, but it sets the tone for the evening and helps me fully unwind and feel relaxed before boarding.
After freshening up a bit, I left the lounge with about an hour to spare and walked a few gates over to the departure gate. Boarding was slightly delayed due to catering, but we ultimately pushed back only a few minutes behind schedule — and as it turned out, we made up the time en route to London.
First Impressions of the Flagship Suite Cabin
I’ve flown American’s long-haul business class plenty of times over the years, so I thought I knew what to expect when walking on board. But this felt different almost immediately.
Before I even reached my seat, the bold “FLAGSHIP” branding on the cabin wall caught my attention; it was set against a dark, textured backdrop with a subtle red stripe and the airline’s stylized eagle logo. It gave the space a more elevated, high-end feel.
Every passenger gets direct aisle access — no climbing over anyone.
The darker gray tones and brown headrest cushions gave the cabin a more updated look compared to American’s older cabins.
Having flown the airline’s 777-200 and 777-300 business class before, I can say this is a noticeable improvement. Those seats are perfectly serviceable, but they feel older. The 787-9P setup feels newer and more in line with what you’d expect from a modern business class product.
I was seated in 1L, 1 of 8 bulkhead suites at the very front of the cabin. These are especially desirable thanks to the extra space they offer. At boarding, a pillow, duvet-style blanket, and mattress pad were already at the seat.
Before departure, I also peeked into premium economy. The seats are upholstered in deep blue fabric but carry over the same brown headrest cushions, creating a cohesive look that ties the cabin refresh together.
I quickly looked at the back of the plane, and even the economy cabin sports a new color scheme: the same brown shade for the headrest as the other cabin seats, but a lighter blue for the seat itself.
What stood out to me most was the overall look and feel of the entire aircraft — especially the business class cabin. The darker finishes and updated branding signal a real refresh of American’s business class. It feels newer and more premium, a noticeable shift from the older design many AA loyalists know well.
The Flagship Suite Preferred Seat
Of the 51 Flagship Suites onboard, just 8 are designated as Preferred.
These are the bulkhead seats — 4 in the forward cabin and 4 in the smaller rear cabin — including both window and center seats in each section.
The main difference between a standard suite and a Preferred seat is the footwell. In the bulkhead configuration, the footwell is larger and unobstructed, with no equipment box limiting space.
That means the Preferred seat features more room to spread out, especially when in the lie-flat position. It’s not a different seat design — it’s the same suite with more usable space.
Otherwise, the features remain consistent throughout the cabin. The suite includes a sliding privacy door — something American doesn’t offer on its other widebody business class products. I did notice the door doesn’t close completely flush; there’s a small gap when it’s shut, which appears to be intentional. It’s not a huge deal, but it slightly detracts from the fully enclosed feeling you might expect when you hear the term “suite.”
Additionally, the suite features a large tray table, multiple storage compartments, a sizable entertainment screen (more on that later), and several charging options — including Bluetooth connectivity for your headphones.
The added space becomes most noticeable when sleeping. On previous long-haul flights in American’s older 777-200 business class, I remember the footwell feeling tight and restrictive. In the Flagship Suite Preferred seat, I was able to turn from side to side without bumping into the shell.
The wider footwell and space within the suite make a real difference. I slept for about 4 hours on this flight, and the mattress pad added enough cushioning to make the surface comfortable.
Food and Beverages
Since this flight clocked in at just over 7 hours and departed at 8:40 p.m., dinner service began shortly after takeoff — about 30 minutes after we reached cruising altitude. The idea is clearly to get trays cleared quickly so passengers can maximize sleep on this relatively short overnight hop.
The meal began with warm nuts and olives, which I paired with a glass of cabernet sauvignon.
For the first course, I had a green salad alongside a white rice and seaweed-based dish topped with salmon — which I don’t typically order since I’m not a big fan of salmon — but it was surprisingly flavorful and well-balanced.
My main was teriyaki noodles with mushrooms and tofu. I’ll be honest: I don’t even remember selecting this preflight, and I probably overlooked the fact that it didn’t include chicken or beef. That said, the noodles were tasty, nicely seasoned, and satisfying — especially since I wasn’t very hungry to begin with.
Dessert was a scoop of butterscotch ice cream, and that was the standout of the meal. Creamy, rich, and the perfect way to wrap up dinner before turning in.
After a few hours of sleep, I woke up with about 2 hours remaining in the flight, and breakfast was underway. I was served scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, potatoes, fruit, and a cinnamon roll — more than adequate for a prelanding meal, and filling without being overly heavy.
American also stocks a self-serve snack bar between the forward and rear business cabins, where passengers can grab small sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks throughout the flight.
Overall, the catering was genuinely good. I didn’t board expecting much on a shorter overnight, but everything was flavorful, well-paced, and thoughtfully timed — exactly what you want when sleep is the priority.
Amenity Kit, Pajamas, and Onboard Technology
American partners with Raven & Lily for its Flagship Suite amenity kit, and this one actually felt premium.
The kit was leather and came with a strap so you could wear it, a far cry from the flimsy pouch I’ve received in the past from AA and what many other airlines pass out to their premium customers. Inside were the usual essentials: socks, a dental kit, earbuds, and tissues.
Up to this point, the experience feels fairly consistent across business class (except for the added space) — but here is where the Flagship Suite passengers receive something a little extra.
If you’re seated in 1 of the 8 Flagship Suite Preferred seats, you get pajamas. And that’s a notable perk. On most U.S. to London flights — especially ones just over 7 hours — business class passengers don’t receive pajamas because the flight is considered too short. Preferred passengers do.
The set was lightweight, breathable, and loose-fitting — exactly my style. Not bulky. Not overly warm. I much prefer this style to the heavier, cotton versions some airlines offer.
As for onboard tech, it’s modern and polished — just not flashy. The screen isn’t massive, but it’s crisp and responsive, with plenty of movies, TV shows, music, games, and a live flight map (still my favorite entertainment). There’s also a handheld controller so you can navigate without reaching for the screen when you’re reclined, plus solid Bang & Olufsen noise-canceling headphones to round out the setup.
I had preloaded my own content, so I mostly stuck to that. But everything worked seamlessly.
A touchscreen panel to the right controls seat positions — upright, reclined, or fully flat — along with several lighting options, including a reading light and softer ambient lighting.
Is it groundbreaking compared to some international carriers? No. But for a U.S. airline, it was clean, current, and competitive. Nothing over-the-top — just well-executed and thoughtfully done.
Service
The crew struck a really nice balance on this flight. They were friendly and attentive, but not over-the-top or forcing small talk. What stood out to me most was the pace. From the moment I confirmed my dinner order to the flight attendant to when the meal actually arrived, it was maybe 10 minutes — impressive on a short overnight flight. Throughout the flight, everything flowed smoothly.
Overall, the service felt polished and efficient — exactly what you want when you ’re trying to eat fast and get some rest on a relatively quick transatlantic hop.
Final Thoughts
I’ll put it simply: this is the business class upgrade American has needed for a long time. For years, their long-haul product just didn’t feel competitive — especially compared to top international carriers and even Delta and United. The new Flagship Suite finally changes that.
Is it the most over-the-top business class in the sky? No. But it doesn’t have to be. It’s comfortable, well-designed, and competitive — and that’s a big win for the carrier.
As someone who often flies American, I’m just hoping it rolls out to more routes soon — especially Miami — so I don’t have to position to experience it again.
This is a real improvement — and honestly, it was overdue.