Why should you avoid American Airlines First Class?
Well to find out, today I’m flying on one of the USA’s longest domestic flights, onboard the Boeing 777. Hawaii is a place I’ve long been fascinated with, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to visit today. Unfortunately my flight over to paradise wasn’t exactly smooth. Let’s take a deep dive, and comprehensive review of one of AA’s flagship premium products.
My first issue was booking said flight. I had a confirmation of booking, payment was taken yet no email or PNR was issued. After spending over four hours on the phone to their contact centre, AA explained that the ticket was essentially in limbo, and their payment system wasn’t able to handle my foreign AMEX card… certainly the first time that this has happened, anywhere in the world for me.
I explore the lacklustre airport lounges, which you can only access if you’re a top tier member of the one world frequent flyer program (excluding AA’s own program…). Even whilst in these lounges, you still have to pay for the vast majority of food and drink. Leading to question… why have a lounge in the first place?
Onboard today I experienced some of the strangest service habits, where meal service was rushed, my tray table was forced down without me being ready… and overall not experiencing a proper “First Class” flight. Furthermore there was an equipment change (which I understand happens)… and there was literally no service for the vast majority of my 8 hour flight.
Would I recommend flying AA to Hawaii based on this experience? Sadly not. Given the option of Hawaiian, from many US cities – I’d choose their A330. Yes it has a 2-2-2 but mostly when flying to Hawaii, you travel as a couple or family.
As always though, let me know what you think of today’s trip report, have you flown over to Hawaii before on American’s First Class? And yes before the comments… it is sold as First Class, but i’m aware that this is a international Business Class product or what AA call Flagship Business Class.
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33 Comments
Thanks for watching everyone. Couple of typos this week.. whoopsie! I blame my travel schedule. Hope you liked the video, let me know which airlines / products you'd like to see reviewed next down below. Follow my travels live over on IG: https://www.instagram.com/will.luxurytravel
Im confused on why someone would make this journey longer than it has to be. LAX to Honolulu is less suffering and you could still try to first class
Just watching this video makes me really happy that my vacation next month is going to be a road trip.
How many people have you seen on a flight change into pj i would not but just curious i dont go for 4course meal just to get to point a to point b and get there safely but love the show just curious i have not seen this even in first class
You spelled "avoid" wrong at 10:24. Thought I'd complain since that's what you do.
you seem incredibly entitled oh my god
Hang on, if first class doesn't get you lounge access, what does?!?
2016: "He probably thanked that lovely staff, no need to worry!"
2023: "HE DIDN'T SAY HE THANKED THE STAFF, CANCEL HIM!"
Welcome to the internet.
(Great video, by the way.)
[03:24] Rediculous is spelled ridiculous.
Are you from the uk?
I'm surprised that a first class ticket doesn't allow you the lounge access. One more reason not to book on American.
Another great and honest review, keeps them honest !
AA use to have a jingle/advert "something special in the air". Sadly, not really anymore.I have flown a handful of their First Class flights ( mostly by points).Some FA are great others, were so mean, and unhelpful I hope to to never fly with them again!
Glad to see the occasional well-deserved one star review.
Do any of the airlines contact you when you give them a bad review?
Your tittle was avoid, but at the end you say your tittle is aviod 🙃
Avoid all American Airliners, they are the worst!
American airlines payment and ticketing system is so aggrevating. I was on the ohone with them for 4 hours once to help me with an upgrade issue.
Good information provided here. Will look into Hawaiian Air as an alternative. Closing suggestion is "AVIOD"..lol. Does that mean EXTRA avoid?
Definitely will fly hawaiian air, unfortunately the pandemic was a way to provide piss poor service. Still being used today in the US. Sadly that's the culture, buy low, cheaply made, sell high. And its become acceptable, as you see the staff here
A few points: firstly, please stop calling this “first”. This is J.
AA domestic business doesn’t get lounge access. Never has. If you’d added your BAEC to the booking, you’d get lounge access, but you used BAEC anyway, so cool. Even in economy you’d get the lounge with BAEC. As for paid food – DFW have flagship lounges you can get into with just BAEC silver. No need for a business ticket. Free food. Not flagship dining admittedly, but you get food similar to say a BA galleries or first, but with Concorde room drinks. Again – free.
AA 777s are a crapshoot. You got the rockin coffin. It happens. If it was advertised as a 773 or 787 then yes – equipment change. If it was advertised as a 777 or 772, then no – it’s not an equipment change. You just got an old one. I wouldn’t call getting old club world instead of a club suite on a BA 772 an equipment change. It’s just luck.
As for first – AA only sell first on 777-300 international flights – this is probably marketed as flagship business at best, but it’s still J. It would have given you the code when you booked.
I’ve done this flight from CLT-HNL when we had the route and it was the same. Nothing fancy. Just an 11 hour domestic J flight on an old 772.
Love your videos normally and I’m no AA fan given I’m stuck with AA here, but felt this was overly critical for no real reason and should know by now what J vs F is and about lounges on domestic US flights.
I did a video on my American Airlines experience flying coach from Dallas/Ft Worth to Jacksonville FL on my way back from a business trip pre Covid. The company bean counters only will pay for coach, no business class for us managers. Would have been cramped seating if the 3rd passenger had shown up but didn't! For the money you paid and everyone else in First Class the service should have been WAY better. Looks like you got Coach Service from the flight attendants!
American Airlines is the worst!!
American airlines smh. Why bother
8:47 he had a little slip
I’ve never flown American, I’ve flown united, delta, Alaska, you name it dozens of times but never once have we flown American
I did an American Airlines flying coach video a few years ago before Covid as my Company is cheap. I would gladly trade seats with you mate!
I'll be flying 1st class Fresno to Arizona..Hope I have a great experience..
american airlines is basically cattle transport..once flew it from Brussels to NYC…never again..worst crew ever….service nill…
Domestic first class is really just business class. A longer flight like this should warrant a true first class experience. But to be fair, it would be at least double the $1200 you paid. Probably closer to $3k.
But why fly to TX from LA to Hawaii?
Honestly I don't understand why US/CAN airlines have such a poor service compared to Middle East or Asian airlines. For example Saudia has almost better service in their Economy class than AA in Business class…
I fly American Airlines frequently I used to upgrade to first class often until I realized $300 for cheap tamales or nuts just isn’t it lol now when I fly, I get free upgrades but I just sleep through it nothing exciting up in first class flying domestically unfortunately for me who flies DFW all the time tbh