After experiencing the sleek privacy of American Airlines’ biz-plus Flagship Suite Preferred seat up front on the Boeing 787-9P inaugural to Los Angeles, your author was eager to assess the carrier’s newly redesigned Premium Economy cabin on the return flight to Chicago O’Hare.
This return segment gave me the chance to explore how American’s most premium-dense aircraft performs in the ‘tweener’ cabin between Flagship Suite business class and Main Cabin economy class, before the aircraft traveled onward to London Heathrow.
The cabin capacity has increased to 32 Premium Economy seats, up from the 21 on existing -9s. This equates to a row-and-a-half more seats.
American first introduced Premium Economy in 2016. But this latest iteration — debuting with the 787-9P — dispenses with the grey, drab aesthetic of the original. The new design, developed in partnership with Teague, is warmer, with clear design cues that set it apart.
From tarmac to takeoff
After just 90 minutes on the ground in Los Angeles, the return to Chicago boarded quickly. There were no gate events or fanfare, and boarding followed the standard priority procedure: Concierge Key first, followed by First Class (in this instance Flagship Suite), Executive Platinum, and Group 1.
Passengers heading to Premium Economy walked a considerable distance, through two business cabins, to reach the five-row section positioned just ahead of the Main Cabin mini cabin.
Interestingly, I was upgraded to a Flagship Suite for this leg, but I declined in order to review this middle-cabin product in a bid to deliver a true nose-to-tail report for Runway Girl Network. The agents looked at me like I was nuts, but I digress.
Putting PE to the test
My seat, 18C, was an aisle seat in the third row of the Premium Economy cabin. The space immediately impressed with its fresh color palette and brighter finishes.
Navy blue leather upholstery is paired with tan leather adjustable headrests, which have subtle grey side wings that provide lateral support for rest and a semi-enclosed feel that adds a touch of privacy.
The overall ambiance is a welcome departure from the utilitarian, grey, generic tones of its predecessor. Given the additional seats, the cabin is not as intimate as before, but that works just fine.
American’s modern “flight symbol” logo — introduced in 2013 — is subtly debossed into every headrest, continuing the updated branding through the cabin.
Arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, the cabin features seats with approximately 19 inches of width and 38 inches of pitch.
The seat cushions were firm, as expected in a newly delivered aircraft, but should soften with use.
The recline is impressive, though it comes at the cost of usable space if the passenger in front fully reclines. (The bulkhead seats at the front of the cabin do not offer under-seat storage, but that also means your living space won’t be impeded by a passenger in front of you.)
Regardless, there was ample legroom at my seat throughout the flight, and indeed, when fully extended, the seat momentarily resembled a business class product of old.
While many premium economy seats offer either a leg rest or a footrest, American offers both, including at the bulkhead. The leg/calf rest was terrific. I typically skip footrests, but I found the combination surprisingly serviceable for rest and even sleep.
Though ours was a medium-haul flight, one can’t discount the importance of leg relief when flying long-haul, where this aircraft will be mostly utilized.
Between each seat pair is a small beverage shelf with a white surface, adding a clean, functional accent.
Storage is thoughtfully improved. There is space for your water bottle. And a slim slot near the seatback IFE perfectly fits a tablet or small laptop. A tan leather storage pouch in the lower part of the seatback further facilitates nesting.
The tray table includes an integrated device holder.
The holder accommodates either a phone or tablet, enabling one to dine and watch.
Inflight entertainment and in-seat power
Each seat is equipped with a 13.3-inch Thales 4K ‘Optiq’ QLED touchscreen with the same graphical user interface (GUI) as used up front and indeed down back.
The display was crisp and responsive, and Bluetooth headphone pairing worked well after I disabled competing devices like my phone and tablet.
A new feature also allows passengers to wirelessly stream IFE content to personal devices, a first for an American Airlines widebody aircraft. Simply scan the QR code provided on the seatback.
The embedded IFE system’s GUI includes useful enhancements like a watch party mode, which syncs movie playback between two seats, and a “finish before landing” function that filters content based on remaining flight time.
A dark mode with a blue light filter helps mitigate eye strain during evening viewing. If you prefer a far brighter screen, that too can be accommodated.
The system includes a wired remote control, oddly embedded into the seat.
The remote lacks full second-screen functionality and feels unnecessary with such a capable touchscreen interface right in front of your face.
The wireless phone charging pad, housed in a pocket near the top of the seatback, worked intermittently. Removing my phone case helped establish a stable charge. Each seat also includes a USB-A and USB-C port (near the seatback IFE screen).
A standard AC outlet and a second USB-C port is found in the middle console.
Before pushback, a promotional video for the new Flagship Suites played on every screen across all cabins. The marketing was polished, but it felt slightly mismatched with the actual service in this section of the plane.
American was teasing all of us seated in the back.
With 1TB of storage in the Thales server, there are ample content choices on the IFE system (and no doubt opportunities for American to add more).
Connectivity
American’s 787-9P is equipped with Viasat Ka-band satellite-supported inflight connectivity, available gate-to-gate. It displaces the Panasonic Avionics legacy Ku-band IFC system found on American’s other 787-9s, and which has been a serious point of frustration for your author in the past.
On this flight, the Viasat connection was sadly quite intermittent — dropping out several times and offering inconsistent speeds when connected.
While advertised as fast and streaming-capable, it was ultimately challenging to use, even for light browsing and messaging.
A speed test showed 16 Mbps down and just .85 up. This was the best I could muster. The airline is rumored to be eyeing Starlink.
Lavatories
One unexpected element of the Premium Economy cabin is the absence of lavatories directly behind it. Passengers instead walk into the rear of the Main Cabin mini cabin, where four lavatories are located. This configuration may confuse some travelers. (An accessible lavatory is located at the front of the second Flagship Suite business class cabin.)
In contrast to the lavatories in business, these lavs do not include a cloud-themed blue wall finish. They’re simple in appearance but roomy enough and functionally laid out.
Inflight service
While this aircraft will mainly operate long-haul routes with upgraded soft product and service, including real dishware, amenity kits, and complimentary wine and spirits, today’s flight featured the standard domestic product.
As an Executive Platinum member, I received a complimentary premium snack and one alcoholic beverage. I chose the cheese and fruit tray, which was fine, and appreciated having the option of some food as it has been often missing since the pandemic.
Domestically, unless it’s a transcon run, Premium Economy is marketed and sold as Main Cabin Extra with the same service as Main Cabin.
American has recently restored and expanded its buy-on-board program, which now includes a variety of sandwiches, including a steak and pimento cheese option, which my seatmate enjoyed and is available on flights over 1,100 miles, a recently lowered threshold. Still, the selection needs to be broader.
For non-elite passengers, the standard offering included pretzels or Biscoff cookies. The IFE system handily displays the complimentary and buy-on-board economy menu.
Final Impressions
American’s updated Premium Economy hard product on the 787-9P represents a welcome refresh. It’s brighter, more comfortable, and more tech forward than the previous generation.
The four cabin crew members dedicated to both Premium Economy and Main Cabin economy seemed to have to work harder to service the larger PE cabin, which will only be more apparent on long-haul flights. Their pleasant demeanor was very welcome.
After this domestic test run, I’m eager to experience American’s Premium Economy the way it was meant to be flown — on a true Flagship long-haul journey, where the full soft product and extended inflight service can bring this thoughtfully upgraded cabin to life.
Related Articles:
- Flagship Suite Preferred impresses on American 787-9P inaugural
- American unveils 787-9 Flagship, striking first in premium war
- United looks to set long-haul premium standard with Elevated 787-9
- American Airlines’ Flagship Suites aboard 787-9P are now on sale
- American Airlines reverses course on free Wi-Fi
- Power of kindness eases first-ever trip to Europe on American
All images of American Airlines‘ Premium Economy cabin aboard the 787-9P are credited to the author, Chris Sloan
