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American Airlines’ Premium Flagship Suites Set for Heathrow Debut This June
On 5th June, American Airlines will debut its new Flagship Suite Business Class on the newest Boeing 787-9 aircraft with the inaugural flight from Chicago O’Hare to Heathrow. At first, one flight per day will feature the new aircraft, but all three flights will have it by 6th July.
The Flagship Suite will then be available on more transatlantic routes, including Philadelphia to Heathrow (6th August), Philadelphia to Zurich (3rd September), and Dallas Fort Worth to Brisbane (26th October).
The Seats and Experience
Each 787-9 aircraft will feature 51 Flagship Suite seats, which offer:
- Even more personal storage
- Privacy doors
- A wireless charging pad
- Chaise lounge seating option with an adjustable headrest pillow
- A multicourse meal curated to pair with award-winning wines
- Premium amenity kits featuring luxury skincare items
- A comfy duvet blanket and a dual-sided pillow (cool-touch fabric on one side and traditional fabric on the other)
Before your flight, you can enjoy American’s Flagship Lounge, which features complimentary regionally inspired dishes and signature cocktails.
American’s Flagship Suite seats will eventually be available on all newly delivered 787-9 aircraft, new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, and the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER.
AA has announced that Flagship Suite Preferred seats will be in the front row, which offer even more space and storage.
The aircraft also offers 32 premium economy seats, with better in-seat storage and headrest wings for improved privacy.
Flights on the Heathrow routes start at $3,368 (£2,535), and Premium Economy seats start at $2116 (£1,539). There is now a dedicated webpage to book AA flights featuring the Flagship Suite. If you want to know if your flight will feature the new aircraft, look for 78P in the aircraft details section.
Inaugural flight from Chicago O’Hare to Heathrow is nearly sold out, and Economy seats have already gone:
You can book the same flight for 360,000 AA miles in Business or 86,500 in Premium Economy…
There are also some great redemption opportunities! You can redeem for as little as 55,000 points + taxes and fees via Alaska Mileage Plan. With Cathay Pacific, you can book seats from 63,000 points + taxes and fees.
AA is waiting for 30 new aircraft to be delivered between now and 2029. It hopes to increase its lie-flat and Premium Economy seating by 50% by 2030.
Manchester Airport Redevelopment Updates
Manchester Airport has revealed its next phase of the £1.3bn redevelopment, this time focusing on Terminal 3, and work is already underway! Terminal 1 will eventually close, with sections repurposed to grow Terminal 3.
Additions to Terminal 3 include:
- A new entrance to the terminal with more space, easier access and better facilities
- Brand new security equipment and a new security hall
- 40% more seating capacity in the departure lounge
- New shops, food, and drink outlets
- A new 500-seat bar area with airfield views
- A larger dining area with 200 extra seats
- More shops and facilities are located in the arrivals area of the terminal
The goal is to free up space and improve the passenger experience and the building’s look and feel.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:
“Moving to a two-terminal airport is giving us a great opportunity to use some of the existing Terminal 1 space to increase the footprint of Terminal 3. We’re doing that as well as making some all round improvements to Terminal 3 – so passengers will enjoy new security technology, more space, more seats, new retail and food and drink, and more”.
Terminal 2 Updates
The plan is for 70% of passengers to eventually use Terminal 2. Terminal 2’s extension, which doubled its size, opened in 2021, but it was just the beginning. The second phase of the project, which brings the existing part of the building up to the same standard as the extension, is due for completion later this year.
The new check-in desks are now open, and work on the new Terminal 2 Pier is complete.
Additional improvements to Terminal 2 are ongoing, including:
- The new security hall is opening soon.
- 20+ new retailers, bars, and restaurants will open later this year.
- Work to build a new road near Terminal 2 to improve traffic flow is ongoing. Sydney Avenue will become a link road near the Thorley Lane entrance and replace the existing Sydney Avenue.
- The first trials of new taxiways on the airfield have also passed successfully. This will allow more aircraft movements on the airfield.
Etihad and TAP Air Portugal Launch Partnership: Earn and Redeem Points
You can now earn and redeem miles across Etihad Guest and TAP Miles&Go. This is an extension of the codeshare agreement between Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal, which has been running since 2023.
Both airlines’ route networks complement each other and open up more variety in redemption flight options.
Etihad guest members can redeem with TAP to destinations like Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and Cancun, whereas TAP members can redeem with Etihad to destinations such as Chiang Mai, Hong Kong and Medan.
Etihad is not part of an airline alliance (read more about airline alliances here) but has plenty of partner airlines. Etihad currently has 37 codeshare partners and 23 airlines where you can earn and redeem Etihad Guest Miles (view the list here), including Air France, Air Canada, and American Airlines. The percentage of miles you’ll earn depends on the fare class you book.
Here’s how many Etihad Guest miles you’ll earn when flying with TAP:
This partnership opens up so many more routes on which you can earn TAP or Etihad Guest miles, especially transatlantic or Asia–Europe routes.
