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American Airlines to Eliminate Premium First Class Cabin on Long-Haul Routes

American Airlines is phasing out its premium first-class cabin on long-haul flights to increase the number of business-class seats. The administration announced that the Boeing 777-300ER first-class cabin will be cut for flights starting November 19, 2026, while the Airbus A321T first-class cabin will be cut for flights starting March 28, 2027. This move follows a 2022 decision to eliminate international first class because customers were not buying the product enough to justify the difference in pricing. The airline is retrofitting its fleet to offer more business-class seats, such as the 70 Flagship Suite seats with privacy doors and lie-flat beds. The revamped Boeing 777-300ER will feature 144 premium seats, an increase from the current 116. The transition aims to improve profitability by targeting higher-spending travelers. American Airlines is the only major U.S. carrier to offer a separate international first-class cabin, and this shift aligns with the trend of other U.S. carriers transitioning to business-class-focused long-haul fleets.

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