With nearly 6,700 daily flights serving destinations in over 50 countries around the world, American Airlines (and its regional partner, American Eagle) is the nation’s largest passenger airline. Whether you’re a dedicated American Airlines credit card holder or simply fly with whichever carrier has the best flights for you, you’re likely to find yourself aboard an American Airlines flight at some point in your travels.American Airlines is about to make business class even more comfortable with the introduction of a “preferred” front-row suite.American Airlines Fare Classes
American Airlines offers eight fare classes with select amenities at a wide range of price points. Note that the amenities and services offered can change depending on the plane type and the destination.With a range of fare classes, forgiving flight change policies, and a variety of seat styles and configurations, there’s a lot to consider before booking your next flight with American Airlines.Premium Economy
This class is a step up from a Main Cabin fare, with priority privileges at the airport and more spacious seats, free entertainment, chef-inspired dining, and amenity kits (for select flights) on board. These passengers board the plane in Group 4, ahead of the Main Cabin passengers.
Main Cabin ExtraFlagship Business
This class offers many of the same perks as Flagship First, including priority privileges and lounge access at the airport, as well as spacious lie-flat seats, elevated dining, and the aforementioned amenity kits. However, the seats are not as roomy. You can also upgrade to Flagship Business Plus, which will include up to three checked bags and access to pre-flight Flagship Dining.The Main Cabin
This is a standard economy class that includes seat selection and free snacks. Your ticket also includes one personal item and one carry-on bag, but no checked bags. If you’re on a long-haul flight, you can expect in-flight meals.
Basic Economy
The lowest-cost fare has the most restrictions. While passengers can still enjoy free snacks, soft drinks, and entertainment, they can’t choose their seats without paying a fee. (If you choose to skip the fee to select your seat, members of your party may be separated.) This group typically boards the aircraft last.Main Cabin Extra offers the same advantages as a Main Cabin fare plus perks like early boarding, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and drinks (including alcoholic beverages). These travelers can board the aircraft in Group 5 ahead of other Main Cabin passengersRonald Reagan Washington National AirportTravel + Leisure
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Airlines + Airports
What to Know Before Flying American Airlines
Here’s everything you need to know before you fly the largest airline in the world.
By Elizabeth Rhodes Updated on May 30, 2023
With nearly 6,700 daily flights serving destinations in over 50 countries around the world, American Airlines (and its regional partner, American Eagle) is the nation’s largest passenger airline. Whether you’re a dedicated American Airlines credit card holder or simply fly with whichever carrier has the best flights for you, you’re likely to find yourself aboard an American Airlines flight at some point in your travels.
American Airlines
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With a range of fare classes, forgiving flight change policies, and a variety of seat styles and configurations, there’s a lot to consider before booking your next flight with American Airlines.
More helpful airline and airport information
American Airlines Fare Classes
American Airlines offers eight fare classes with select amenities at a wide range of price points. Note that the amenities and services offered can change depending on the plane type and the destination.
Flagship First
Flagship First is the airline’s most premium experience (only available on long-distance flights with Boeing 777-300 aircraft), with a private check-in process, priority privileges (for quickly getting through check-in, security, and boarding), lounges, and five-star service. During the flight, passengers can sleep in lie-flat seats, indulge in chef-inspired dining, and stay pampered with Shinola and D.S. & Durga amenity kits and Casper sleep sets. In 2024, American Airlines is expected to launch an even more premium experience with Flagship Suites.
Flagship Business
This class offers many of the same perks as Flagship First, including priority privileges and lounge access at the airport, as well as spacious lie-flat seats, elevated dining, and the aforementioned amenity kits. However, the seats are not as roomy. You can also upgrade to Flagship Business Plus, which will include up to three checked bags and access to pre-flight Flagship Dining.
First Class
This is the highest level of service on flights across the United States, and passengers can expect priority privileges at the airport. During the flight, they’ll enjoy premium dining and comfortable seats with more space than the typical economy seats. First-class and Flagship customers will board the plane in Group 1. Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews about first class show a wide range of experiences: While some customers appreciate the more spacious seats, others criticize the service and lack of decent snacks or meals.
Business
Business is the highest level of service on shorter international flights to destinations like Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, and more. Before the flight, passengers can enjoy priority privileges, lounge access (for some flights), and more, plus wider seats with more legroom and premium dining (including alcoholic beverages). Business-class travelers board the plane with Group 1 or 2.
Premium Economy
This class is a step up from a Main Cabin fare, with priority privileges at the airport and more spacious seats, free entertainment, chef-inspired dining, and amenity kits (for select flights) on board. These passengers board the plane in Group 4, ahead of the Main Cabin passengers.
Main Cabin Extra
Main Cabin Extra offers the same advantages as a Main Cabin fare plus perks like early boarding, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and drinks (including alcoholic beverages). These travelers can board the aircraft in Group 5 ahead of other Main Cabin passengers.
The Main Cabin
This is a standard economy class that includes seat selection and free snacks. Your ticket also includes one personal item and one carry-on bag, but no checked bags. If you’re on a long-haul flight, you can expect in-flight meals.
Basic Economy
The lowest-cost fare has the most restrictions. While passengers can still enjoy free snacks, soft drinks, and entertainment, they can’t choose their seats without paying a fee. (If you choose to skip the fee to select your seat, members of your party may be separated.) This group typically boards the aircraft last.
American Airlines agents help passengers to check in their flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport May 25, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
American Airlines Flight Change and Cancellation Policies
If you need to make a change to your ticket, you have a 24-hour window from the time of booking to do so without being charged a fee. Basic economy fares can’t be changed, so if you can’t make the flight you will lose what you paid for the ticket.
Excluding basic economy tickets, which are completely nonrefundable, American Airlines has a forgiving policy when it comes to making changes and canceling flights. If you change your flight to a more expensive option, you will have to pay the difference, but if your new flight is less expensive, you will receive a travel credit for the difference. If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, you will receive a flight credit for future travel.Baggage Policies and Fees
All fares include one free carry-on bag (that does not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches) and one free personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you. Customers in first class can bring two to three complimentary checked bags that weigh up to 70 pounds (depending on the aircraft). Business-class passengers can check two complimentary bags that weigh up to 70 pounds, while Premium Economy passengers can carry two complimentary bags that weigh up to 50 pounds. Main Cabin passengers can bring up to two 50-pound bags, but they will likely have to pay a fee, typically around $30 for the first checked bagWhile some online reviewers criticize the baggage fees or say they were unaware that they had to pay, the headache of a surprise cost can be avoided if you do your research before your flight.
Exact policies and fees can vary depending on your fare class, destination, military status, credit card or airline status, and number and weight of the bags. You can find more details on the American Airlines website.Seats and Legroom
Thanks to a range of fare classes and different airplane configurations, exact legroom and seat design can vary from flight to flight. Flagship fares include lie-flat seats for the most spacious and comfortable experience, while first and business class still provide wider seats and more legroom than typical Main Cabin seats. To find the exact seat pitch and width for your flight, look up your plane type on the American Airlines website. You can also use sites like SeatGuru to research your exact plane layout ahead of time to find the most desirable seats. American Airlines received 3.5 stars for legroom on TripAdvisor, which has over 70,000 reviews of the airline.Amenities and Entertainment
Passengers in all classes can enjoy free entertainment on most flights and purchase Wi-Fi on select planes. They can stream movies, music, TV shows, and more (including Apple Music and Apple TV+) from their personal phones, tablets, laptops, or their seat-back entertainment system on select flights. Passengers can also learn new skills or even a new language, thanks to Skillshare and Rosetta Stone, available on the Lifestyle channel. Yelp reviewer Greg T. commended the airline’s planes but pointed out the need to use personal devices to stream, saying, “The planes I have flown on with American usually seem to be in good repair, clean, and as comfortable as an airplane can be. My only complaint would be the trend to make you use your own electronics to access the entertainment — I prefer the seat back screens!”
Depending on the destination and flight length, Main Cabin tickets could include soft drinks and a snack, a meal, and even an alcoholic beverage (on some long-haul international flights). Additional snacks and beverages — wine, beer, and spirits — can be purchased on flights over 250 miles. First-class fares include snacks and alcoholic beverages, with larger meals on longer flights. TripAdvisor reviewer Anthony H. described the food, saying, “AA has improved their in-flight food and beverage for the main meals, although, frankly, it’s still airplane food.”