A recently-refurbished aeroplane remains retro thanks to an underwhelming premium production

Across its expansive fleet, American Airlines features viii unlike kinds of business concern class seats.  Naturally, as y'all might expect, some are better than others.  On one finish of the spectrum you take excellent reverse herringbones found on its Boeing 777s and 787-9s.  On the opposite end, on its Boeing 767s, y'all have staggered seats that would've been country-of-the-art fifteen years ago.  Of the these two extremes, they share unlikely commonalities:  AA installed them on its planes but as recently as a few years ago, and it typically charges comparable, astronomically-priced fares for both.  If the airline brings the goods — so tasty dining options and warm, amicable service (among other things) to complement a comfortable chair that reclines 180 degrees — so it can get away with this pricing model.  If information technology doesn't, well, such a poor value isn't "higher flyer" and it probably isn't worth your time.  Past those metrics, the business course experience on AA's 767s is, while more pleasant than economy, probably one to avert.

Setting all that negativity in the opener bated, it's important to call back that but because something is expensive doesn't mean that y'all should write it off entirely.  As mentioned in the introductory post of the trip study, this leg was paid for with 50,000 Iberia Avios and about $xl of fees.  That'south a relatively cheap price to pay — most every other loyalty program operating in this market would charge more than 55,000 points for the aforementioned route — and information technology pales in comparison to the price in dollars…

2019 american 767 business google flights
Yous likewise can fly business grade on an AA 767 for the middle-popping amount of $5,398!

Yes, American sells a 1 way business form ticket betwixt Madrid and New York for $v,398. $v,398!!! That'south absurd and that'southward highway robbery for what y'all get — yous'll see why later — simply spending 50,000 Avios is easier to stomach. THFvalues Iberia'southward currency at one.25 cents per mile, so this redemption went for the dollar equivalent of virtually $625.  That's good for roughly x.eight CPM!  Because I was able to purchase something valued at $5,398 for the equivalent of $625, that means that my purchasing ability increased by 863 per centum.  Non a bad use of points, not bad at all…

Related reading:   "On perceiving 'good' value"

If you desire to get outsized value like this out of your award points but don't know how, consider hiringTHF Consultingto plan your adjacent run a risk!  You don't accept to be rich to travel like you're rich.

Spanish flag carrier Iberia and its oneworld partners — including American Airlines — operate out of Final 4 at Madrid'south Adolfo Suárez Drome.  Having opened in 2006, this relatively new building has an aesthetic that's "tranquilly yard" and "uniquely satisfying."  With rolling bamboo ceilings and towering walls of windows, this is a beautifully pleasant place to wait for a flight; actually transiting it though is a time-intensive hassle.  My own experience was easy past Madrid-Barajas's standards and that all the same warranted its own entry in "Another Weekend to Europe."  There were no horror stories, no unruly travelers, no extraordinary sights (aside from the hitting compages)… no nothing.  At that place was simply lots and lots and lots of hurried walking.

To recap the previous installment, my flight to New York was scheduled to begin boarding at Gate S5 at 10:15am.  The door would shut at 10:45am and departure would follow at 10:55am.  I arrived at the airport about 90 minutes in advance of wheels upwards — you'd think that'd be enough time — simply despite never waiting in a line longer than five minutes, it soon became clear that this was going to be too close for comfort.

Expect at how well-designed the ceiling is… and how endless this hallway is!  Both are common sights at Madrid-Barajas's Terminal 4.

Early on on during my expedition to the "Due south" department of gates — which is where most intercontinental flights operate out of — I passed a sign suggesting that it would take me a whopping 22 minutes to get from that point to my destination.  Long story brusque:  it was pretty accurate.

Lots of steps (literally and figuratively) betwixt entering the airport and getting to your gate.  Notice the estimated times printed on the sign in the top correct of the frame…

After going through security, a series of escalators, and a train ride…

Choo Choo!

…Then passport control AND a mandated march through a cramped, stuffy, and as well-warm duty gratis department…

This place regrettably doesn't fit in with the aesthetic.

…I finally constitute myself in the "Southward" department, merely S5 awaited near the end of another "endless" hallway.

This is slap-up until yous realize that yous accept to walk the length of this.  Merely go on going toward the light!!!

Only equally the sign previously predicted, the gate and the airplane came in to view after 20 minutes.  Per my fitness tracker, that worked out to more than than a mile's worth of walking.  Say what you want about Madrid-Barajas's sprawling Last 4, but it'south squeamish to become some exercise in and stretch your legs before leaving on a long booty flight… provided that you're not running tardily!  So information technology's merely a nuisance.

Who knew the promised land was a nearly 30 yr old Boeing 767?

Boarding our New York-bound Boeing 767 was shine and straightforward, specially when juxtaposed with the preceding journey through Madrid-Barajas.  In what should requite everyone promise for humanity, most anybody obeyed the basis crew'due south directions and the aircraft was all set to be loaded up well earlier the scheduled departure time.  This was accomplished in part because in that location were no gate lice or line-jumpers to complicate the affair.  What a serendipitous treat for in one case!

American Airlines AA 95
Madrid-Barajas (MAD) – New York-JFK (JFK)
Scheduled Departure:  10:55 (eleven:45 wheels upwards)
Scheduled Arrival:  13:40 (13:twenty wheels downwardly)
Duration:  7:35
Aircraft:  Boeing 767-300
Seat:  2A

American Airlines's 767s are outfitted with full-sized exits at each end of the fuselage and four hatches overwing (for a total of eight).  Therefore, when boarding these birds via jetway, everyone enters through the front door, turns right, and and then finds themselves among a sea of staggered seats.  In that location are 28 total to be precise, and they're bundled 1-two-ane abreast across seven rows.  They offer each passenger direct aisle access and a prevarication-apartment bed, merely they're far removed from beingness considered a state-of-the-art product (Delta, for what it'due south worth, debuted this on its 767s in 2009).  Offset impressions are positive still — the cabin is make clean and smart-looking — but closer inspections reveal a gray, plasticky utilitarian style that apace eliminates any air of higher-cease luxury.

At that place'southward zippo wrong hither, but nothing about this is exciting or distinct.

There's just not a lot of character — that'due south likewise bad! — simply trading glamour for functionality is a fine, if non mutual do in international business course.  I'm not going to criticize this aspect of the hard product any further, but do remember that AA typically charges north of $5,000 for this on 1 way legs to and from Madrid.  You lot'd be forgiven if you felt underwhelmed after spending that kind of coin.  At that price point, who wouldn't look more than?

Lots of shades of gray and not much else.

In society to keep the motel as space-efficient as possible, each footwell/ottoman is tucked underneath the seat-in-front's side table.  For this layout to work properly, the chairs alternating betwixt existence closer to the window and closer to the alley like and then:

This picture explains how staggered seats work better than any written clarification.

That'southward how this configuration gets its "staggered" moniker, and each seat blazon has its own gear up of pros and cons.  The ones adjacent to the windows are more individual (with side tables serving as buffers), the ones closer to the aisle feel more than spacious (cheers to greater head, shoulder, leg, and foot room), and the ones in the eye have neighbors (which may or may not exist a good thing).  At that place are besides four spots in the bulkhead and, if whatsoever are bachelor, they're undoubtedly your best options.  Seats 2A and 2J specifically are both bulkheads — there'south no Row 1 on AA'south 767s — and are what's known as "true windows."  This ways that the passengers sitting in these two are treated to more than privacy and improve views, as well equally wider-than-normal footwells.

It's hard to shell 2A!

I was fortunate enough to reserve 2A during the booking process, and while this chair is one of the best on the plane, its dimensions are no different than the others.  There's a respectable 60 inches of pitch, but the absorber measures xix.8 inches across.  The latter is well below boilerplate for international concern form, but given that Boeing 767s have relatively narrow fuselages, in that location'southward only so much that can be done.  There's no indicate in getting angry nearly something you tin can't command, but that doesn't mean you can't experience disappointed by this showing.  The seats installed in British Airways's old-school, 2-4-ii configured Club World business organisation form, as a point of comparing, are 20 inches wide… and those cabins have the ambiance of a sardine tin can!  Hell, Cathay Pacific'due south recliners in premium economy are also 20 inches wide!  Premium economy shouldn't be outperforming a production marketed equally "Flagship Business organization," but here we are.

This is packed in pretty tight.

Most seats have two windows assigned to them (not including middles for obvious reasons), but 2A and 2J offer 3 apiece.  They appear more spacious and airy than they really are thank you to the extra natural light, and such perceptions tin help take your mind off the otherwise cramped environment.

This light makes a difference believe information technology or non…
…Run across, 2A looks quite huge from this angle!  What xix.8 inch narrowness do yous speak of?!

But these illusions are cipher but mirages.  If you have broader-than-average shoulders or if y'all similar to sit down with your legs crossed or if yous stretch during the flying or whatever, yous're bound to feel more-constrained than you would in some other airplane'due south/airline's premium cabin.  There'south just no physical workaround to limited personal space; anybody'due south affected by it in some way but some take it better than others.  The bulkheads (unsurprisingly) are among your all-time choices because, with all other design elements constant, their footwells/ottomans are comparatively huge.

This ottoman is broad by this plane'due south standards.

Don't be deceived:  this is, unlike the third window(s), more than simply a distraction.  Considering there's cipher but walls alee of them, these seats' footwells tin can afford to extend their width by a few inches; those located farther back are constrained past the rows in front of them.  On paper these extra inches might seem like they could be negligible, only they genuinely and significantly heighten passenger comfort.  You'll detect this immediately when you lot desire to stretch out and/or become to sleep. Seriously, information technology'southward the difference between resting in a natural position and experiencing the sensation of being trapped in a coffin.

There's not a ton of footspace, but it could be worse.

Those sitting further back aren't then lucky.  In order to properly fit in to forward rows' side consoles, their footwells narrow to the signal of being restrictively tight.  When you're reclined in to the lie-flat position, you lot tin barely move the lower half of your body… provided that you can even fit your legs inside.  Tiffany Funk from One Mile At A Time noted thatwhen flying Delta's near-identical product onboard its own 767, she couldn't fit her 5′ seven″ frame and size ix anxiety while laying on her side.  Her experience is a valuable information bespeak and a alert that all higher flyers should heed.  Y'all won't endure Tiffany'due south fate if you're in a bulkhead but comfort shouldn't be exclusive to those seated alee of everyone else.  Functional spaciousness should come up standard in international business grade, and American Airlines doesn't deliver this on board its 767s.

Aside from these distinctions, the front row is no unlike than the rest. You, along with everyone else, sit across from imposing-even so-plasticky blobs of consoles that are, uh, completely defective whatsoever sort of personal in flight entertainment systems.  At that place are a few ceiling and wall-mounted displays interspersed throughout the length of the plane and that's information technology.  Not a single rider on board — those flying in coach don't have information technology any improve either — has a personal idiot box.  Afterwards growing accepted to what'south at present an integral part of longhaul air travel, not seeing these in whatever of the seatbacks is kind of jarring.

Is in that location something about this image that'south not-quite-right to y'all?  Perhaps it's the fact that there's no personal TV screen.

When the initial shock passes, you're left wondering "Why on Earth would they exercise this?"  Well, American's corporate managementsaysthat it's considering of "power supply issues" (apologies for a less-than-official source) but it seems far more likely that this is a shameless cost-cut measure.  Yeah, American Airlines's 767s are actually old (they've been flight for, on average, about 30 years) just so accept United's AND United doesn't skimp on such a key aspect of the rider experience!  This set is unacceptable for international business form, let alone one that costs more than than v yard dollars.

Every bit an aside:  if yous find yourself in economic system on ane of these 767s, God anoint you and prepare yourself for almost non-existent IFE.  There are a few overhead monitors that bicycle through videos on a loop, plus at that place are a few "radio stations" attainable via headphone jacks in the armrests… in theory. They were all out of committee on my plane, and and then AA issued frequent flyer miles as compensation.  You can likewise stream media to your personal devices, but you won't exist able to go on those charged considering there aren't whatsoever power outlets to speak of.  This all borders on beingness offensive.  Norwegian Air, a low toll carrier, has more to offer its customers than American Airlines does!!!

AA, for all of its Boeing 767-related shortcomings, at least proffers a remedy to this unamusing, unimpressive situation to its premium customers. Prepare to be underwhelmed by some certifiable jankiness though.  Yous encounter, directly across from your chair is what appears to be a tray tabular array… but it's non!

This isn't what you might recall it is!

Pull firmly at the top to open this upwards and you'll reveal an awkward infinite with an outlet, brackets, and a shelf.  If AA had elected to install in flight amusement units at each seat, this is where the screen would take been mounted.

This is just actually unappealing.

Instead flight attendants, usually one time boarding is complete merely before wheels upward, come up around to each business concern class passenger to issue a Samsung tablet pre-loaded with content.  You'll also get an all-important charger, and it'south on yous to plug in the device and set up everything up properly (or not).  During takeoff yous're responsible for endmost up and securing the console too, simply the crew volition collect your device prior to landing.

Plug in the machine, curl the cablevision, and tuck it all in to the designated storage space.
In hindsight, this here doesn't warrant a thumbs up.  No affair how hard you squint, this isn't the same as "real" IFE.

Once you lot turn the system on, it functions — for the most office — similar it would if it were actually built in to the seat.  It even includes lengthy advertisements that stream before the feature presentations (LAME!!!).  Exercise brand sure though that it's continued to power at all times, otherwise yous gamble a dead battery interrupting your show.

Nice smiles don't brand upward for the mediocrity.

If you lot've flown a longhaul American Airlines flight earlier, y'all'll exist familiar with the programming and how it's organized.  The extensive library of movies, Tv set shows, and audio selections is easy to navigate, and the devices themselves are zippy and responsive to touch on.  Talk about a saving grace!

In that location are a few more shortcomings beyond the regrettably tacky infrastructure.  For one, the tablets' displays are night, high contrast, and extraordinarily sleeky.  If there's any sort of ambient calorie-free in the cabin, you're guaranteed abrasive reflections; despite my best efforts to limit them, they're visible in the previous 3 photos.  Secondly, the tablets don't have moving map software installed on them.  That's lame!  The ceiling and wall-mounted monitors periodically display navigational information at least, although constant, uninterrupted, and individual access to this information would be far more preferable.

If you're in a bulkhead you lot'll have no problem seeing the moving map.  If you're further back, you might take more trouble…
Some basic information that's, rather curiously, written in French.  You'd remember that on a flight to Kingdom of spain, you'd get some Spanish linguistic communication functionality… merely nope, just French (and English language of class).

All things considered, business organisation form passengers flying American Airlines's 767s do get on demand entertainment, merely it barely passes muster.  Everything does what it's supposed to practise, simply it'southward clear that AA made lots of compromises in delivering this product.  The ane exception to that is the standard-event Bose noise-cancelling headphones.  They are splendid through and through, and actually the merely thing almost the IFE that's remotely close to loftier quality.  The residue looks like information technology belongs in premium economy, domestic first, and/or on a low cost carrier AND Not every bit function of something that costs $5,000.

…Are you detecting a theme hither?

But the Bose noise cancelling headphones definitely warrant the expensive airfare!

Across that hot mess, the front end section of the seat is unremarkable and nondescript; there aren't a lot of quirks or surprises hither.  There is, for instance, an easily accessible, jam-packed literature pouch adjacent to the tablet closet (or any you want to phone call it).

This is pretty standard right hither.

There's the usual safety carte du jour and air sickness purse in there, plus three split magazines stuffed in too:American WayandNexos, which are AA's respective English language and Spanish-language publications, every bit well asCelebrated Living, which is geared towards members of the bourgeoise.  Get figure, the latter is exclusive to American's premium cabins.

ReadCelebrated Living for some groundbreaking journalism similar "Miami'due south New Style Nexus"… or not.

And at that place'southward some other, more applied storage pouch sandwiched above the ottoman and beneath the pull-out IFE shelf.  It'due south wide, deep, and stretchy enough to fit a laptop, an iPad, and a travel wallet all at once… if non more! It'due south handy for sure, but there's an uncomfortable question worth asking: how frequently does this pocket get cleaned out?  Proceed with circumspection!

The downward-and-away-angled design of this has all the makings of a classic crumb/random crap trap!

Down below and adjacent to the footwell is a convenient, mesh-covered cubby that you tin can utilize to stow your shoes…

A user-friendly characteristic, but notice all the scuff marks nearby.

….And there's a pocket-sized coat claw up superlative that's notched in to the console'south rim…

Don't worry, the "No stowage" refers to the forward bulkhead shelf and not the hook itself.  That'd exist ironic if it did, huh?

While these improve the rider experience only modestly, they're all nice to have yet… even if the coat hook obstructs the literature pouch when it's in apply.  Anyhow, in that location's more to exist found in the quite-substantial, chair-flanking side panel…

There's lots of room to spread out here.  Remember though that someone reclines in to a hollowed out space beneath the surface of this.  Suddenly it doesn't seem so big.
The side console in all of its glory.

…that's likewise home to questionably-designed features.  The seat's touchscreen-based controls for example are technically part of the armrest; not only are they and so prone to glare and then desperately scratched that they go near-unreadable…

Depending on the angle that you lot look at this, you lot might not be able to see the screen and/or what you lot're doing.

…They're besides positioned in a place that invites a lot of unwanted input.

If you ever feel your chair reclining and you don't know what'due south going on, perhaps this is why.  I'm applying enough force here to trigger the arrangement.

The light "switch" on that panel — seen in the bottom right corner of it — isn't used to control the overhead reading lamp, but rather ambient lighting in the footwell.  Okay, cool, and if yous desire to plough the "spotlight from above" on, and so you accept to use a different remote that'southward embedded underneath a flip top farther back in the armrest.

More seat controls can exist institute under here.

Talk virtually a relic!  It probably won't surprise you to learn that but two of these buttons worked.  How unfortunate that you lot're express to flipping a light switch and calling a flight attendant with this (and non toggling the moving map… or literally anything else).

This controls lights, the call button, and the gratuitous audio entertainment.

The tray tabular array too is built in to the side console, and getting that to squirt and fold out properly requires a college degree.  I kid of form, but information technology'south non user-friendly at all.  You gotta firmly push a button to trigger a spring-release…

Unlike the seat controls, this requires the user to exert a lot of force.

…Pull the half-tray out across your lap, and so flip the top half over.

This isn't as straightforward as you might think.

Afterward that you're supposed to line up some cogs and pull up in society to elevate the tabular array in to a more comfy position, merely this was broken at my seat.  I couldn't effigy out how to practice this and neither could a flying attendant.  That'south when you know that this whole fix is utterly messed up.

This isn't right, only it also didn't get any better.  Urgh!

Along the back "wall" of the seat is another international power plug, plus a USB jack that tin can accuse your mobile devices, a non-functioning headphone jack ("non-functioning" because — *eyeroll* — there'due south no audio feed), and a small-scale storage nook.

This is all located above the side table at about-shoulder height.

This is where you'll find your amenity kit when you lot starting time get to the seat. Unlike the rest of the utilitarian cabin, the presentation of this is quite luxurious…

The amenity kit in all of its glory.

…not!

This plastic wrapping is unappealing but it guarantees proper sanitation.

In what could best be characterized equally "gym bag-chic," this is a sterile, generic, and uninspired offer that'due south manufactured nether the Cole Haan label.  Like the in flight entertainment, it'due south not that this is bad per se — I'll gladly accept this over nothing at all — only the problem is that AA considers something so cheap-feeling appropriate to include with its $5,000 product.

How… "applied."

Fortunately, AA has since introduced new kits.  These appear to exist much more becoming of something that's so expensive, so hooray for progress.

What'southward the opposite of "fashionable?"  See to a higher place.

And, while the amenity kit looks and smells like information technology's made from industrial-grade tarp, its contents are perfectly serviceable.  The toiletries are courtesy of CO Bigelow, and everything that you could want — a toothbrush and socks and creams are the like — are all present and accounted for.

All the usual suspects, and as well coupons for Casper bedding and Cole Haan.

And lastly to wrap this section of the review up, at that place's a "nada-out-of-the-ordinary" armrest opposite the behemoth side console.

There'southward not much to write about this other than "this is an armrest."

As I was settling in and getting my bearings at seat 2A, Marisol the purser came by to offer a lunch menu and a choice of predeparture beverages. She had water, orange juice, and champagne with her, merely she cheerily noted that she would be happy to get go something else from the galley.  Information technology was a warm, welcoming showtime to the service, and her caveat — which is unusual past U.Due south. legacy carriers' standards — was much appreciated (even if the bubbly was more than enough for me).

Champagne it was!

In one case drinks were served, another flying attendant pushed a literature cart through the motel.  There were plenty of fresh, complimentary copies of the New York Times, the Financial Times, and El Paísavailable for the taking.

The New York Times it was for me!

The remaining supply of newspapers were later bundled on the forward-eye bulkhead shelf for self-service.

If you were sitting directly underneath this impromptu stockpile, you might be a little chip irritated.

Everything and then far was going smoothly, just those flying in economy class were faced a rather significant trouble:  the overhead bins were completely total almost two-thirds of the way through the boarding procedure.  Perhaps this is an unintended consequence of introducing basic economic system fares (which discourage passengers from checking bags), but that'due south a bluster for some other time.  With so many bear-on carrying passengers however to set foot in the motel, the flight attendants and gate agents were forced to seek solutions on the fly.  Some suitcases were crammed in to coat closets, backpacks were relegated to "nether the seat in front end of 'you,'" but the vast bulk of them had to exist stowed away in the cargo agree.  Oof.

Meanwhile the crew reshuffled the luggage, First Officer Keith explained on the public address organization that "the plane's 'cheque engine light' came on" and that would "need attending to earlier wheels up."  Nosotros missed our takeoff slot while the mechanics worked on the engine, and this induced a 30 minute delay.  Talk about frustrating, just this is what happens when you regularly rely on outdated aircraft types.  At around eleven:25am, Captain Wayne announced that we were all set and, sure enough, nosotros were pushing back within 90 seconds.

Pushing back next to an Iberia A350.

American's condom video played over the wall and ceiling-mounted televisions while we started to taxi.  In that location's non much to report from that showing, but right before the briefing concludes, the principal actress/narrator proudly declares "Corking is what we're going for!"  That rings a flake hollow.  Sure, business organization form is nice and all, but is this really the all-time AA can exercise?  "Great" isn't the kickoff give-and-take that comes to mind…

This monitor was the everyman of depression-def by the manner.  Not that this matters much, but however.

Because Madrid-Barajas is so sprawling, going from Gate S5 to the active runway, 36L, took nearly 20 minutes.  It also didn't help that we got caught in some traffic, but at to the lowest degree there were some plane spotting opportunities.

Not pictured:  about 6 other jets all waiting to get too!

Finally at 11:44am, 49 minutes past our scheduled departure time, we began our takeoff roll.  We were airborne a minute afterward.

Allow's go!!!

The views immediately after wheels up featured some of the most picturesque I've ever seen from an aeroplane.  We first flew adjacent to the quaint Old World town of Alcobendas that, since its founding in 1208, has evolved into a suburb of Madrid.

Alcobendas, in all of it'south charming glory.

Nosotros initially headed northbound for about two minutes before banking sharply to the west; those seated on the left/port side got to see the airfield in all of its expansive glory.  Fun fact:  Madrid-Barajas covers 3,050 hectares/7,536 acres, which makes it the 11th largest airport in the world and the second largest in all of Europe by expanse (source).

Madrid-Barajas is, as shown here, really, really spread out!

Equally we gradually fabricated our way to the Iberian coastline for our transatlantic crossing, we passed over rolling hills of farmland that sporadically gave fashion to jagged mountain ranges.

Look at the cute towns and the extremely bluish lake and the rolling hills…
…And impressively rocky and rugged snow-capped peaks!  Amazingly, these are all #nofilter.

This was truly incredible and easily the highlight of the flight.  The scenery was far meliorate than anything that the janky in flight entertainment could provide, but so the cabin coiffure asked us to close our blackout window shades indefinitely.  Nosotros sabbatum in darkness until almost 15 minutes before landing — that was a bummer — only it's non like there are a lot of noteworthy vistas in the eye of the ocean anyway.

The seatbelt sign was turned off ten minutes in.  Post-obit that, Marisol walked downwardly the aisle to formally welcome passengers past name, recognize AAdvantage and oneworld elite condition holders, and encourage people to look at the menu in advance of lunch.

The carte du jour for "Flagship Business organization" dining.
Gee!  Such a warm welcome from a faceless corporation!

She took drink orders first, and there was a decently-expert choice to choose from. There were nineteen dissimilar non-alcoholic options in addition to liquors, beers, and wines.  The hard stuff was all good stuff, but aside from five kinds of whiskey, there wasn't a lot of variety.  No big deal though; quality over quantity, correct?!

Lots of non-wine options when yous wing AA's Flagship Business.

American, similar any adept U.S. carrier, offers Bud Low-cal and iv other brews, but the existent draw is the wine list.  It has a respectable drove consisting of two reds, 2 whites, one bubbly, and, for dessert, one Port.

The beginning section of the wine list.

With an average retail price of merely about $twenty per bottle, these wines aren't terribly expensive.  They nevertheless gustatory modality skilful though and that'south ultimately what matters the most.  They won't ever rival the Veuve Clicquot in Thai's Royal Silk class, merely they can gratify discerning palettes nevertheless.

More succulent, good-value wines!

Despite the numerous choices available, I had some other glass of the predeparture sparkling vino, the Charles de Cazanove Traditional Brut champagne.  It was presented with warm nuts and some nevertheless water about thirty minutes in to the flight, and and then 2 minutes after a flight attendant appeared to drop off a not-and then-warm towel which, for the record, was really gross!  Hot OR cold towels are both fine, only the lukewarm heart ground is a sensual nightmare.

A timeless image representative of higher flying.

Marisol came by 5 minutes later for lunch orders.  You'll inappreciably ever go wrong with pasta on a aeroplane — it'due south far more reliable than any meat dish — only it doesn't have a particularly high ceiling or "wow!" factor.

The main lunch menu.

Accordingly, when I originally asked for the "Whole-Grain Penne," Marisol politely scoffed and explained in a sing-vocal voice "But we have delicious sea bass on the menu instead!"  Was this a polite way of saying "we're out of that, try again?"  Maybe, only I was the first person to lodge and she's the purser.  Yous'd think that'd put me in a expert position to get my first pick, but I figured why non have her fun-spirited recommendation?  What's at that place to lose?  So fish it was, and that was served about an hour in to the trip on a single tray alongside a "sliced smoked chicken" appetizer, a "gem lettuce wedge" salad, a pretzel roll, and a healthy refill of champagne.

Here comes lunch!

The presentation of the meal was "okay" at best.  The sauces were hastily applied and spilled all over the chinaware entirely, and every bit someone who doesn't eat fish skin, the crispy layer of it on top wasn't flavory (merely easily removed).

Does it await good?  Ehhh, but don't judge a book past its cover!

All 3 dishes tasted quite expert, although none were particularly memorable.  My personal favorite was the "sliced smoked chicken" pocket-size plate with fresh Asian slaw and a soy plum dressing, only the main course packed in a lot citrusy-but-nicely-balanced flavors and textures likewise.  In-flight fish is prone to being quite dry out, but this bounding main bass — in part due to the excellent mustard vinaigrette sauce — was an anomaly.

In that location was a selection betwixt a cheese plate, a slice of caramelized orange cake, and a sundae for dessert.  As this review reflects, dining in a premium cabin on a U.S. airline is a generally fine-only-not-out-of-this-world experience, but the water ice foam is an exception that holds its own.  It'south non fancy or all that elaborate but damn is it satisfying!

A truly splendid style to round out the meal.  It doesn't get much better than this!

In that location was plenty of time to savor this care for, as it took the crew well-nigh 30 minutes to articulate the tray table.  We had wrapped upward and cleaned up completely well-nigh two hours after wheels up, and that was, all things considered, pretty fast.  And so again, the single-tray deliveries are hallmarks of redeye, eastbound transatlantic legs during which flight attendants hustle in order to maximize passenger balance.  Lengthy dinners, in which the cabin lights are on and there's a lot of move in the aisles, come at the expense of uninterrupted slumber.  During the twenty-four hours though, this is less of a priority and other airlines will draw the main meal out; it's unclear which format is improve.  One on hand, quickly eating allows you lot to focus on other things, but on the other, such speediness can feel unpleasantly hasty.  It all comes down to your personal preferences I suppose, just even those can change given the circumstances.

Anyway, after tiffin I went to castor my teeth in the sole lavatory that services the entire business concern class motel.  Let's merely say that it was in as much demand of a refresh as the within of my oral fissure was.

What a grimy sink!

The size of information technology was fine and nothing was extraordinarily filthy — the floors weren't covered in fluid nor were at that place other horrifying surprises — but the WC was definitely past its prime.  AA needs to deep-clean it or, better yet, replace it entirely if it wants to offer a perma-crud-complimentary identify for its premium customers to use the bathroom.

The seat was upward when I got there.  That'due south kinda gross…
The bodily, honest-to-goodness toilet handle dates this production — "flush buttons" have been the standard for years at present — and the smudges around it suggest heavy use.

Aside from a bottle of CO Bigelow-branded hand soap, there were no special toiletries or amenities to write home about.  Similar so much else on this plane and this flight, everything hither does exactly what information technology'south supposed to and nothing more than.

A relatively-bougie bottle of soap.  Notice the grime around the water faucet controls besides.

The door to the lavatory is right across from the galley, and that positioning isn't ideal to say the least.  The dining menu advertises "Mid-Flight Snacks" available in betwixt the ii repast services, and the crew delivered on this and arranged them all in a conveniently accessible spot that's perhaps a chip also close to the toilet.  The spread today included what you might expect, like high quality stale goods such as crackers, dips, and chips…

…And also what appeared to be every unmarried unwanted leftover from dejeuner. There'southward a lot of variety to be had, and most every offering looked appetizing!

Thank GOD these are all covered in plastic wrap! Otherwise this could be a biohazard given its position relative to the bathroom.

Still full from the fish, I admired the food simply passed on it.  With a blimp abdomen and heavy eyelids, information technology was time for a post-lunch siesta.  Marisol, in a motility that went in a higher place and across, kindly offered to turn down the bed.

For all the hard product complaints, this is a rather appealing gear up!

As mentioned before, having the extra few inches in the footwell is definitely noticeable when you recline the chair in to bed mode.  I'm a half-dozen′ 3″ side sleeper, and I had no trouble getting in to a comfy, natural position to nap.  Those seated in non-bulkheads don't have this luxury.

This is the virtually important benefit that bulkheads offer in action!

I slept comfortably and solidly for a couple hours, but then gradually woke up to the sound of overly-communicative flight attendants in the galley.  Ugh, if in that location's a downside to bulkhead seats, it'due south that there'south ever a chance of being disturbed by commotions from the other side of the forrad walls.  This slumber-interrupting conversation was particularly animated, with one male crew member gossiping loudly about a sibling who "first was my brother but at present is my sister!" I'm all for loving and supportive families, but in this moment, I was grateful to have noise cancelling headphones and a movie to lookout man.

Show timeee!

For the next few hours, the 2011 new-classicBridesmaids —starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Melissa McCarthy (among others) — kept me laughing and entertained, every bit did the reasonably-priced, high speed in-flying wifi.  $xix for a total-flying laissez passer with no data limits works out to virtually $2.50 an hour, so if y'all need to do concern or whatever, you can do so and you don't have to intermission the bank (or the corporate charge bill of fare).

The internet was (relatively) cheap and the connection was skilful.  What more could y'all want?

Most two hours before landing, the cabin crew reappeared — largely for the start time since lunch — and invited passengers to peruse the "Light Meal" menu.

The "Light Meal" card.

Marisol began taking orders in our aisle and, after previously suggesting the tasty fish dish at tiffin, I sought her recommendation.  Her endorsement couldn't have been stronger:  "The mini pies are SUCH an easy choice!"  Let it be and so then!

The drink's deliciousness makes upward for the tacky plastic cup it was poured in.

Some other flight attendant dropped off a delicious fruit smoothie, and then Marisol returned inside 15 minutes to deliver a single tray.

A simple but satisfying snack.

The "entrees" were everything that Marisol had hyped them up to be.  One contained chicken and leeks and the other mushrooms and spinach; both were delicious.  They, like everything else they were served with, epitomized comfort food.

The seasoning on superlative just fabricated this all the better!

The pies however weren't the only matter "mini" about this meal.  While the quality was adept across the board, the included 5-piece fruit salad…

Would it have killed AA to spare a third grape? Some other piece of melon possibly?

…And the chocolate ganache (that even had "little" in its brand-proper noun)….

Whelp, no ane can accuse this "footling pot of 70% chocolate ganache" of false advertising.

…And the bag of cheese and onion potato chips (that had more than air than chips in it)…

This is a tiny bag to brainstorm with…
…And there's a piddly seven and a half chips inside.  Sigh, some things never change no matter how premium the cabin.

…Were all a scrap too small.  Everything at to the lowest degree was succulent, so, like the hard liquor selection, this snack gets a pass because it features quality over quantity.  And then again, you shouldn't have to compromise for minuscule portion sizes when you've bought such an expensive business organisation class fare. Alas, AA, alas…  When Marisol cleaned up the tray about an hr before landing though, she noted an opportunity to participate in a survey loaded on to the IFE tablet.  If composing a seven grand word review doesn't suit your fancy, here's a simpler way to communicate your opinions/frustrations.

There was no choice for "This is all outrageously expensive for what you really get."  Good thing I tin write this all-encompassing web log instead!

Our descent, which started 50 minutes in advance of wheels down, was unusually gradual.  As we had for the by half dozen-and-a-half hours, we sat in darkness as the crew collected entertainment units (sadly you lot can't have the Bose headphones with y'all), cleaned upward the cabin, and prepared for arrival. And then with about xx minutes to go, passengers in window seats were asked to reopen their shades; the compelling views on the other side of the body of water apparently made the trip with u.s.a., and we were treated to cute coastal views.

Talk well-nigh cloud porn, wow!
Ships sailing to the New World!
Never has Long Island looked so pretty!

seven hours and 35 minutes afterwards leaving Madrid, nosotros touched downward smoothly in New York at 1:20pm local time.  We got in twenty minutes ahead of schedule — how convenient when you consider the predeparture delay — but that was fleeting and the only easy part of our arrival.  Captain Wayne took to the PA to announce that there was no gate for us to park at, so we would instead taxi around the airdrome until 1 became available.  The xx minutes that we had just saved immediately evaporated, but as a tiny, tiny consolation prize, nosotros got to see interesting air traffic as we aimlessly rolled near.

An Air Red china 747-8 preparing to go to Beijing.
A Cathay Pacific 777 all boarded in advance of its trip to Hong Kong.
One of the special, premium-heavy American A321s leap for the W Coast.

Finally Gate 43 opened up, nosotros pulled in, and then we just saturday in that location.  Afterwards almost v minutes of not-and so-patiently waiting, Captain Wayne explained to anybody, with an air of exasperation in his own voice, that there wasn't whatsoever basis staff working the gate.  It would take another 20 minutes earlier a crew could be pulled together to receive us.  Audible groaning ensued.

Staring at an unmoving jet bridge is tortuous when y'all just want to get habitation.

"WHY?!?"  I thought to myself while walking off the plane 45 minutes later wheels down, "Why does information technology have to be like this?!?"  In retrospect, that final impression couldn't have been more than advisable for this underwhelming flight.

Flying American Airlines'southward concern class on its Boeing 767 fleet, and and then afterwards reflecting on it, is an practise in perspective.  You'll get all the luxuries that you'd expect, like a lie-flat seat and higher-quality catering, and y'all'll travel to your destination in relative comfort.  All that doesn't come cheap though, and it'due south non uncommon to see a typical fare for this toll more than $5,000.  At that price indicate, at that place'due south not a lot of room for mistake or compromise.  AA's 767 "Flagship Business" technically delivers on what information technology should, just it's hard to recommend it considering it does so in such an underwhelming fashion; the feel feels one-half-broiled yet yet demands an arm and a leg.  Sure, you can cheaply and easily redeem points for this production — that's a perk in and of itself — but y'all tin besides wing something then much better almost just as easily.  These birds are slated to be retired in May 2020, and that can't come presently plenty.  Hither's to ameliorate lives as freighter planes!

The adept, the bad, the ugly of American'south 767 Business Class

  • The Skilful
    • The crew was fun and engaging (merely maybe a chip too chatty).
    • The seat was lie-flat and well-padded…
  • The Bad
    • …Just everything else well-nigh the seat left a lot to be desired.
    • The excuse for in flight amusement was a glaring shortcoming.
    • This is an unacceptably expensive production when paying cash…
    • …And AA does little to justify the extraordinarily high price tag.  The whole experience from kickoff to end reeks of missed potential.
  • The Ugly
    • Scenic views, as great as they tin can be, aren't acceptable substitutes for built-in IFE.
    • The Cole Haan assiduities kit feels like a gym purse.  It's non luxurious nor appropriate for such an expensive international business grade production.
    • The fact that there was no ground crew awaiting at the gate at JFK was remarkably on brand for American Airlines.

"Some other Weekend to Europe" Trip Report

  • Introduction:  Another Weekend to Europe
  • Iberia Premium Economy, Airbus A350-900, JFK-MAD
  • DoubleTree Madrid-Prado, Kingdom of spain
    • DoubleTree hotels are overnice and slow
  • Navigating Madrid-Barajas'south Terminal 4
  • American Airlines Business concern Grade, Boeing 767-300, MAD-JFK
    • On perceiving "good" value
  • American Airlines Flagship Lounge, New York (JFK)
  • 54 Hours in Madrid

Take you flown American's Business organisation Class on its 767s before? What are your thoughts?