After experiencing the sleek privacy of American Airlines’ biz-plus Flagship Suite Preferred seat up front on the Boeing 787-9P inaugural to Los Angeles, your author was eager to assess the carrier’s newly redesigned Premium Economy cabin on the return flight to Chicago O’Hare.
This return segment gave me the chance to explore how American’s most premium-dense aircraft performs in the ‘tweener’ cabin between Flagship Suite business class and Main Cabin economy class, before the aircraft traveled onward to London Heathrow.
The cabin capacity has increased to 32 Premium Economy seats, up from the 21 on existing -9s. This equates to a row-and-a-half more seats.
American first introduced Premium Economy in 2016. But this latest iteration — debuting with the 787-9P — dispenses with the grey, drab aesthetic of the original. The new design, developed in partnership with Teague, is warmer, with clear design cues that set it apart.
From tarmac to takeoff
After just 90 minutes on the ground in Los Angeles, the return to Chicago boarded quickly. There were no gate events or fanfare, and boarding followed the standard priority procedure: Concierge Key first, followed by First Class (in this instance Flagship Suite), Executive Platinum, and Group 1.
Interestingly, I was upgraded to a Flagship Suite for this leg, but I declined in order to review this middle-cabin product in a bid to deliver a true nose-to-tail report for Runway Girl Network. The agents looked at me like I was nuts, but I digress.
Putting PE to the test
My seat, 18C, was an aisle seat in the third row of the Premium Economy cabin. The space immediately impressed with its fresh color palette and brighter finishes. Navy blue leather upholstery is paired with tan leather adjustable headrests, which have subtle grey side wings that provide lateral support for rest and a semi-enclosed feel that adds a touch of privacy.
Arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, the cabin features seats with approximately 19 inches of width and 38 inches of pitch.
Regardless, there was ample legroom at my seat throughout the flight, and indeed, when fully extended, the seat momentarily resembled a business class product of old.
Though ours was a medium-haul flight, one can’t discount the importance of leg relief when flying long-haul, where this aircraft will be mostly utilized.
Inflight entertainment and in-seat power
Each seat is equipped with a 13.3-inch Thales 4K ‘Optiq’ QLED touchscreen with the same graphical user interface (GUI) as used up front and indeed down back.
A new feature also allows passengers to wirelessly stream IFE content to personal devices, a first for an American Airlines widebody aircraft. Simply scan the QR code provided on the seatback.
The interface includes useful enhancements like a watch party mode, which syncs movie playback between two seats, and a “finish before landing” function that filters content based on remaining flight time. A dark mode with a blue light filter helps mitigate eye strain during evening viewing. If you prefer a far brighter screen, that too can be accommodated.
Connectivity
American’s 787-9P is equipped with Viasat Ka-band satellite-support inflight connectivity, available gate-to-gate. It displaces the Panasonic Avionics legacy Ku-band IFC system found on American’s other 787-9s, and which has been a serious point of frustration for our author in the past.
On this flight, the Viasat connection was sadly quite intermittent — dropping out several times and offering inconsistent speeds when connected. While advertised as fast and streaming-capable, it was ultimately challenging to use, even for light browsing and messaging. The airline is rumored to be eyeing Starlink.
Lavatories
One unexpected element of the Premium Economy cabin is the absence of lavatories directly behind it. Passengers instead walk into the rear of the Main Cabin Extra mini cabin, where four lavatories are located. This configuration may confuse some travelers, and those who need to be closer to a lav might choose an extra-legroom economy class seat instead. (An accessible lavatory is located at the front of the second Flagship Suite business class cabin.)
In contrast to the lavatories in business, these lavs do not include a cloud-themed blue wall finish. They’re simple in appearance but roomy enough and functionally laid out.
Inflight service
While this aircraft will mainly operate long-haul Flagship routes with upgraded service, including real dishware, amenity kits, and complimentary wine and spirits, today’s flight featured the standard domestic product.
As an Executive Platinum member, I received a complimentary premium snack and one alcoholic beverage. I chose the cheese and fruit tray, which was fine, and appreciated having the option of some food as it has been often missing since the pandemic.
Final Impressions
American’s updated Premium Economy on the 787-9P represents a welcome refresh. It’s brighter, more comfortable, and more tech forward than the previous generation.
The four cabin crew members dedicated to both Premium Economy and economy (Main Cabin and extra-legroom Main Cabin Extra) seemed to have to work harder to service the larger PE cabin, which will only be more apparent on long-haul flights. Their pleasant demeanor was very welcome.
After this domestic test run, I’m eager to experience American’s Premium Economy the way it was meant to be flown — on a true Flagship long-haul journey, where the full soft product and extended inflight service can bring this thoughtfully upgraded cabin to life.
All images of American Airlines‘ Premium Economy cabin aboard the 787-9P are credited to the author, Chris Sloan
