American Flagship Business Class (Buenos Aires to New York) Boeing 777-200ER
by Krish Patel / aviationwithkrish.com
I had the chance to fly with American in their Flagship Business Class for the first time on a recent flight from Buenos Aires to their JFK hub. This flight was operated by a 777-200ER (N774AN), which featured the Concept D Business Class seat. Some of American's 772s feature the Super Diamond Seat, which is a slightly newer product found on all of American's 787-9s.
The ground experience at EZE was good, but not great. The priority line at check-in was packed and it wasn't the most efficient Business Class check-in process I've experienced. The Admirals Club at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (also known as Ezeiza International Airport) is decent, with decent food options and seating. The seats found in the lounge are comfortable, but I do prefer the nearby Amex Centurion lounge in Terminal B. However, it is nice that the club offers showers, and they were clean.
The seat wasn't the best part of this experience. It was private and comfortable to sit in, but it didn't offer much storage. The headrest was flimsy and it was uncomfortable to feel a slight bump when other passengers nearby reclined their seats. However, I do have to say that it was spacious in lie-flat bed mode, especially considering that American's Casper bedding is one of the best bedding products you will come across.
Usually, the food on American in the premium cabins is a hit or a miss, and it was in between on today's flight. The pasta I had for dinner was good, however, the salad was bland and flavorless. The salad and soup I had on Delta was a lot better. The breakfast was a little dry, but it wasn't overall terrible. I felt that it could have been more fresh and moist. It is a nice touch that American has a mid-flight snack bar in between both Business Class cabins, which is well stocked and I love the mood lighting that American opted for.
The bathroom in Flagship Business was incredibly spacious and has to be one of the largest bathrooms I've seen in Business Class. Of course, the D. S & Durga and Shinola amenities are well-appreciated, however, the amenity kit was basic and not as well-stocked compared to what I've gotten on DL. The IFE selection was impressive and endless, however, the screen isn't conveniently located.
With the Super Diamond Seats, the IFE is located right in front of you, so you won't get annoyed by constantly pushing a button. The service was the best part of this flight. The crew were friendly and engaging. They constantly offered good service through the cabin and were very informative about flight details.
It was a nice touch that they played a U.S. arrival video, which I hadn't seen until I flew with American. I would love to fly with American Airlines in Business Class again, especially in their new Flagship Suite which is coming out in the coming months.