American Unveils New 777 Suites as Flagship First Ends

American's redesigned 777-300ER carried paying passengers for the first time, featuring doors on business suites as Flagship First ends November 19.

American Airlines has unveiled its redesigned Flagship business class for its 20-strong Boeing 777-300ER fleet, and customers experienced the new interior for the first time on Wednesday on a flight from New York-JFK to Buenos Aires, according to Business Insider. The airline says the jet is now the most premium-packed in the US, with 144 premium seats in total: 70 business-class suites, 44 premium economy seats, and 30 extra-legroom Main Cabin Extra seats. This is the third aircraft type to receive the upgraded Flagship Suite, following its June 2025 debut on newly delivered 787-9s and its December 2025 launch on the Airbus A321XLR. The overall jet now seats 330 passengers, up from 304 in the previous configuration.

Perhaps the most notable change, as Business Insider reports, is that the new cabin does away with Flagship First — the last such first-class cabin among US carriers. Flagship First will no longer be available for booking from November 19, which American attributes to low demand and customer preference for a better business class. Its eight suites become 'Flagship Preferred': oversized suites with an ottoman that can accommodate an additional passenger, letting families dine together or colleagues meet. Per Business Insider, passengers can book the 777 Preferred at no additional fee for now, though American may monetize it later, as United already does with its similar Polaris Studio add-on starting at $499.

Business Insider's seat-by-seat comparison details what changed. The old 777 business class, which debuted in 2013, had 52 seats; the new version spans 19 rows with 70, all in a 1x2x1 layout with direct aisle access and privacy dividers. Among the most requested perks, sliding doors are new — fully certified and not required to be locked open, unlike the A321XLR doors at launch, which the FAA has since approved. Passengers trade one inch of legroom, down from 43 to 42 inches per the seat-mapping site SeatMaps as cited by Business Insider. Gains include more storage, a dedicated drink surface, a laptop slot, wireless charging, USB-C, and 17.5-inch 4K screens with Bluetooth, plus American's patented chaise-lounge mode with a second seatbelt.

The retrofit is part of a broader industry bet on premium travel. Business Insider notes United has announced an 'Elevated' 787 interior and Delta new A350-1000 cabins debuting in 2027 with premium seats making up half the jet. On American's July earnings call, chief commercial officer Nat Pieper said nearly 60% of the airline's revenue comes from households making $150,000 or more, demand he called more likely to hold up through economic uncertainty. Simple Flying reports the retrofitted 777-300ER will serve London, Tokyo, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Sydney, while American's record transatlantic schedule grows further: JFK gains Amsterdam flights from March 28 and Nice from May 6, 2027, and a fourth daily JFK-London Heathrow flight returns March 28 on a 787-9 with Flagship Suite seats.