So, you are about to fly AA business class for the first time? Or maybe you are already flying business class with them and want to find out something new? Either way, there is a lot to know and learn before you fly with them. Here are five of the tips I’ve discovered that will help you experience the best American Airlines has to offer.
You can get Cheap Flights or Upgrades Using AAdvantage
When flying American Airlines, you can take advantage of the American Airlines Advantage program which offers many great benefits if you are a member. The program allows members to earn miles when they travel with their family or friends, or when they eat at restaurants that are part of the program. Also, members get extra benefits such as discounts and upgrades when they are traveling on an American Airlines flight.
Recently we caught a last-minute flight back from Puerto Rico. I had a lot of AAdvantage to use and we could have gotten free flights back but the business class upgrade was available for what I thought was pretty cheap so we decided to go for it.
I was short about 11k miles to make the purchase so I had to buy the remainder. It cost a little over $300 for those points but it was cheaper than buying one business class ticket with cash and one with points.
Checking In Can be Annoying
When we got to the airport we had to check bags. With AA in business class, you get 2 checked bags and they can weigh up to 70lbs. (Check current baggage rules here for up to date info.) in SJU they had a dedicated line for main, a dedicated line for priority which includes first & business class and a line for the bag drop. They did not separate those like Delta does which was a bit annoying.
We have TSA precheck. $75 will get you a 5-year pass and makes the TSA part a breeze. No laptops out, no shoes off, and no belts off; along with a short line.
The Airport Experience is not what you expect
Business-class on domestic does not come with the admiral lounge, which SJU airport doesn’t have anyways, but our connecting city CLT has one.
The plane was delayed an hour and a half which from talking with others seems to happen more often on AA. I’m just stating other people’s opinions, not facts here.
The plane we were on was a Boeing 737 09/21.
Comfortable Business Class Seats
When we got seated I was pretty happy we had the front row. The middle console had a nice pop-out for drinks. About midway through the flight, I found a storage compartment with a power outlet in there as well. In the right arm was a pop-out table this had a nice stand for mobile devices, so someone put some thought into that.
Enjoy Good Food and Great Service
Dinner service was included for first class. I chose the steak taco. My wife decided to pass and then eat half of mine when it showed up. Dinner had a small fruit plate, hummus, crackers, steak, corn, and quinoa. Along with a dessert bar. It was more than I expected.
The flight attendant we had was pretty awesome, she took our order, prepped, and served our meals. She was quick with refills and other things and was nice enough to mention that she was turning the lights off and pointed out the light button.
Overall, I was really satisfied with the service. The flight was delayed but it wasn’t a big deal as it cut out our layover time. Delta is still my #1 is based in Minneapolis and all the direct flights but I would book AA business class again.
See related post: Spirit
