The Complete Guide to Booking American Airlines First Class

American Airlines Flagship First Class is the only true First Class cabin offered by a major North American airline. 

To add unnecessary confusion, American Airlines also has domestic “First Class” seats. This product isn’t much better than premium economy, though, and it can be found on most intra-North American flights, as well as on some short-haul international flights.

In this guide, we’ll be focusing on American’s “real deal” Flagship First Class product, touching upon everything from the ground experience to what you can look forward to in the air.

Most importantly, we’ll examine how you can enjoy American Airlines Flagship First Class at a fraction of the cost by using points.

The American Airlines Flagship First Class Experience

While American Airlines Flagship First Class doesn’t quite measure up to many First Class cabins offered by other major airlines, you can still expect to have a memorable experience on your flight.

In addition to high-quality food and drinks in a fairly large First Class seat, you’ll receive a set of pajamas and slippers to go along with your lie-flat seat, as well as a pillow and blanket for optimum comfort.

Ground Experience

While First Class is best experienced in the air, American Airlines’s signature experience begins in earnest with access to its Flagship Lounges. In some airports, you can also enjoy the more exclusive Flagship First Dining.

In North America, Flagship Lounges can be found in Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Miami, with a lounge in Philadelphia set to open in the near future.

Abroad, London Heathrow has an American Airlines Flagship lounge that you’ll have access to on both arrival and departure.

On the other hand, Flagship First Dining can be found nestled inside the lounges in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Miami.

These fine-dining areas take the lounge experience to another level, with a more exclusive and elevated dining service and an à la carte menu.

If you’re flying out of New York (JFK), you’ll have access to two premium lounges: the Soho Lounge and the Chelsea Lounge. These premium lounges are a step up from American Airlines’s other Admirals Club lounges, which tend to be far more crowded.

In the Flagship lounges, you can expect better quality food, premium wine, and top-shelf Champagne options, as…