• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Reviews » Flight Reviews » Review: American Airlines Flagship Business Transcontinental (LAX-JFK)
American AirlinesFlight Reviews

Review: American Airlines Flagship Business Transcontinental (LAX-JFK)

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 9, 2025April 8, 2025 14 Comments

The American Airlines Flagship Transcontinental Business Class experience does not live up to expectations, at least on the Airbus A321T, but at least there is potential…a whole lot of it. Let’s review my flight from Los Angeles to New York.

In This Post:

Toggle
  • American Airlines Flagship Business Transcontinental Review (LAX-JFK)
    • Check-In
    • Lounge
    • Seat
    • Service
    • Food + Drink
    • Wi-Fi + IFE
    • Amenity Kit
    • Lavatory
    • CONCLUSION

American Airlines Flagship Business Transcontinental Review (LAX-JFK)

I wrote up my first impressions of this flight several months ago but am publishing a review in part as a plea to hold AA accountable for its aircraft and service. I’ve flown premium transcontinental four more times since this flight and every flight has had service issues. I know the folks at AA read my blog and genuinely want to turn things around, so my hope is that critical reviews like this will help move the needle. It’s worth a try at least, right?

Initially, I called the flight pathetic and dismal, which are strong words, but I take flight reviews very seriously and do not complain for the sake of complaining: there are certain things you expect from any flight and particularly a flight marketed as a premium transcontinental flight in business class.

Check-In

American Airlines operates from Terminals 4 and 5 at LAX and I picked up boarding passes at the T5 check-in desk. When I checked in on the app, I only received a boarding pass for the first flight from LAX to JFK and stopped at the desk to see i I could pick up the boarding passes for the conenting flights, since they were all on one record locator and (at least I thought) the oneworld alliance has through check-in.

people standing in a line at an airport

a check in counter in a building

a desk with computers and a couple monitors on it

The agent was also not able to provide me with the boarding passes for Royal Air Maroc.

Lounge

This flight departed at 6:05 am out of Terminal 5, gates American Airlines inherited from US Airways and continues to use for some of its flights. AA even has a lounge in Terminal 5, which is part of the package when you purchase a “Flagship” premium transcontinental ticket.

But the lounge was closed…

a glass door in a building

a sign on a glass wall

More recently, the lounge now opens at 4:30 am, so I am thankful for that. You can read my review of the lounge here.

It was still dark when boarding commenced at 5:24 am.

a plane parked at an airport

people standing in a line

American Airlines 032
Los Angeles (LAX) – New York (JFK)
Saturday, July 13
Depart: 6:04 AM
Arrive: 2:45 PM
Duration: 5 hr, 41 min
Distance: 2,475 miles
Aircraft: Airbus A321T
Seat: 6F (Business Class)

Onboard, I found the plane very dark…the cabin lighting was dimmed and there was no mood lighting on.

Seat

The B/E Diamond seat (20 seats in a 2-2 coniugraiotn) is hardly industry-leading, but it is a comfortable seat and I certainly appreciate that it is fully lie-flat…as long as it working.

the inside of an airplane

a row of seats with televisions on the back

a row of seats on an airplane

a seat in an airplane

a seats with two monitors on the side

a seat in an airplane

a headrest on a seat

I settled into my seat and the cushion supporting my foot instantly fell off:

a grey object on a carpeted floor

Nice. It fell off every time I put my foot on it. It also made me notice the cabin was not very clean:

a corner of a room with a rug

After breakfast, I plugged in my laptop and there was no juice from the A/C outlet. I tried plugging three things in and nothing worked, even though the green light was on it. I ended up asking my neighbor if I could use his plug for a bit, which did work.

a black panel with a green light

Eventually, I attempted to recline my seat to rest. At least those buttons worked, though the sticker over the buttons had partially peeled off…

a close up of a seat

a person using a touch screen device

At least each seat has a personal air vent.

a close up of a panel

Service

Before takeoff, sparkling wine or water was offered in a plastic cup.

a glass of water on a table

The menu indicated espresso was available, but when I asked for it (remember, the lounge was closed) the flight attendant said, “Oh, that’s for first class only.”

I said that it was on the business class menu and she responded, “I know and I don’t know why they keep putting that on the menu.”

I just stared back at her and she eventually said she would “check and see if she could find any.” (She did..and even brought biscuits with it)

a cup of coffee and a plate of cookies on a tray

a cup of coffee and a plate of cookies on a table

Unfortunately, after breakfast the flight attendants did not do another beverage service for the rest of the flight…I had to flag one down before landing and ask for water. Was she afraid I was going to ask for another espresso? Are passengers really supposed to hit the flight attendant call button if they want a drink since no flight attendant was roaming the cabin? That’s bad enough for economy class, but business class too?

a glass of water with ice and a television on the wall

Food + Drink

Breakfast was served shortly after takeoff. Menus were waiting at each seat upon boarding.

a white rectangular object on a wood surface

a close up of a menu

a menu on a wood surface

a white box with text on it

Breakfast was a bright spot…the mushroom, leek, and asparagus frittata plus salad was a nice combination (though quite small). It was served with fresh fruit (mango, strawberries, blueberries) and a croissant.

a plate of food on a tray

a plate of food on a table

a plate of fruit and cheese

a plate of food on a table

food on a tray in front of a television

a plate with food on it

No ice cream sundaes on morning flights, but there was a fruit and cheese plate offered.

a plate of food on a table

a plate of cheese and fruit

a plate of cheese grapes and crackers next to a mug of coffee

Shortly after breakfast, flight attendants placed a snack basket on the shelf in front of my seat. Choices included almonds, potato chips, cookies, cheese crackers, gummy bears, and popcorn.

a basket of food on a microwave

I think the flight attendants forgot about the pre-arrival cookies, because about 15 minutes before landing they finally came out…no beverage offer with them…good thing each seat also had a bottle of water.

a cookie on a napkin

a hand holding a water bottle

Wi-Fi + IFE

After takeoff, I tried to put the moving map on the screen but my screen did not work…at least the touchscreen functionality. I asked that my screen be reset and it was, but that did not solve the problem, however, I was able to use the remote control to pull the map (and other programming) up.

a screen shot of a woman

a hand holding a cell phone

AA has nice headphones from Bang & Olufsen…but the annoying thing is that flight attendants collect them an hour before landing (to ensure they are not stolen). I understand the concern, but this really reduces their value and is very disturbing to those who are trying to sleep.

a black case on a wood surface

a black headphones in a case

Amenity Kit

Business class passengers are offered a small amenity kit that includes a dental kit, earplugs, eyeshade, lip balm from Relevant, and lotion from Joanna Vargas.

a blue bag on a table

a table with a small bag and a small pouch on it

a group of bottles of cream and lotion on a table

Lavatory

The lavatory was also a mess with toilet paper unrolled and on the floor.

a sink and toilet in a bathroom

a sink with a faucet

a close up of a sign

There’s one lavatory for the 20 business class passengers located in the front of the cabin.

CONCLUSION

I am thankful that I arrived in New York safely, on-time, and in relative comfort. The breakfast was nice. But so much of the onboard product at AA leaves much to be desired and it has only gotten worse since my last flight. Please AA, maintain these aircraft! It is not right to market this as a “flagship” product when it is falling apart.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article The Alarming Cost Of A Travel Blog Turning Political…
Next Article Review: Turkish Airlines Lounge New York (JFK)

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia

    Premium Progress: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Opens In Philadelphia (PHL)

    May 24, 2025
  • LAX American Airlines Tantrum

    Toddler In LAX: Grown Man Throws Epic Tantrum, Kicked Off Flight To Australia

    May 20, 2025
  • a large lobby with a wall and a mural on the wall

    No Five Star Service For You: American Airlines Snubs British Airways Flights At JFK

    May 20, 2025

14 Comments

  1. Willem Reply
    April 9, 2025 at 1:35 pm

    lol. My recent Biz flight JFK => LAX, they gave me the vegetarian option instead of the salmon I requested. When I mentioned this (before touching the veg dish), the FA snapped back “no you only get one, I don’t have anything else”.

    Aside from that… everything was p fine? The sundae is much better off the cart as I find it melts if they have to bring it to everyone from the gallery like on the 787, say.

    Lastly… have you noticed AA wine pours are much larger than industry standard? Possibly a strategy of “pour enough so they’ll never run out and ring the call button” perhaps?

  2. CSR 2.0 Reply
    April 9, 2025 at 1:42 pm

    I still really like this flight even with the cabins falling apart.
    The best part for me is how fast the boarding process is, the flight is so peaceful with so few passengers, and your checked bags come out very quickly too. I can always get it cheaper than D1, both cash or miles and I really value that a ton. Glad they’re keeping a similar concept with the XLRs, although obviously the passenger volume will be increased significantly.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 9, 2025 at 1:45 pm

      What AA has going for it is that is on the same price level as AS, but with lie-flat seating. That’s a big deal considering how much UA and DL are charging lately. But I just don’t understand why they cannot spend a little time/money maintaining these aircraft. They are truly falling apart.

      • Gary An Reply
        April 10, 2025 at 9:26 am

        2 out of my last 5 AA flights with “lie flat” seats did not have seats that lay flat. I agree, the planes are falling apart.

  3. Dave Edwards Reply
    April 9, 2025 at 4:14 pm

    Isn’t Flagship going away domestically?

  4. Jerry Reply
    April 9, 2025 at 7:09 pm

    Chardonnay and Moscato? Is this premium transcon business class or happy hour in Ft Myers?

  5. LAX Reply
    April 9, 2025 at 7:55 pm

    Terminal 5 is the old Delta terminal so not sure how AA “inherited them from US Airways” when US was in terminal one and then three at the time of the merger.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 9, 2025 at 10:47 pm

      My understanding is that this was an Eastern Lounge, then Delta Lounge, then US Air Club after it moved out of T1…

  6. Sexy_kitten7 Reply
    April 9, 2025 at 8:56 pm

    didnt u already post this? the espresso story>>>

  7. D3kingg Reply
    April 9, 2025 at 10:17 pm

    The smile is ear to ear. So glad i left American. That wine list is sad. Cheese plate looked ok. The snack basket looked like the highlight. I would’ve snagged every almonds bag. How dare you order an espresso ? What an inconvenience for the FA.

    • Ken Reply
      April 10, 2025 at 2:08 am

      Why can’t they serve coffee, expresso, with a saucer and spoon ? its like a truck stop operation.

  8. DesertGhost Reply
    April 10, 2025 at 12:33 am

    Maybe your expectations don’t square with reality. And maybe airline bloggers and commentators tend to focus on secondary. not primary issues. Isn’t an airline’s main function to provide transportation? Yet so many people tend to focus almost exclusively on food, drinks, lounges, and seat back TV sets. Aren’t those items just a wee bit less important than getting where one is going without having a helicopter fly into the plane? Facetiously, not sarcastically asking for a friend. LOL

    • 121Pilot Reply
      April 10, 2025 at 9:05 am

      Matthew’s expectations are set based not only on the product that AA itself markets they will deliver but also the norms and standards for this class of service.

      Of course safety is important. But that the flight took off and landed safely doesn’t give AA or any other airline a pass for issues like the ones he experienced. Cabins should not be in poor condition. Amenities that are sold should be in working order. Service should be friendly and appropriate to the class of service and flight duration. The flight landing safely doesn’t excuse lapses in the above. And Matthew is 100% right to call them out.

  9. Maryland Reply
    April 10, 2025 at 1:07 am

    The maintenance & cleaning my concern. I started years ago traveling with duct tape. ( i save the last few yards of the hand rippable kind of rolls from home and throw them in my tote. ) They can be temporary repairs for many things. It is sad yes, but I don’t expect much to improve anymore.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Motion Sickness Uber
    I Used To Get So Much Done In Ubers. Now I Just Try Not To Puke. May 24, 2025
  • American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia
    Premium Progress: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Opens In Philadelphia (PHL) May 24, 2025
  • United Flight Attendants Tentative Deal
    At Long Last, United Airlines Reaches Tentative Labor Deal With Flight Attendants May 24, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.