American Airlines still sells Flagship First Class on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and on premium domestic cross country flights utilizing its Airbus A321T narrowbody. While the onboard product no longer shines, this style of first class comes with a really elevated experience on the ground – sit down fine dining at two of American’s hub airports, with top notch food and high end beverages.
While Flagship First Class as a product is going away at the airline, American provides access to Flagship First Dining with their Business Plus fares. Members were promised the opportunity to redeem miles for access as part of 2024 AAdvantage program changes at some point during the year.
This option is now available for Platinum Pro members and higher. Eligible members will see the option in their account under ‘Enhance With Miles’ including the price and the number of passes they’re permitted to redeem for.
In my account I have the option to redeem for 20,000 miles and also for 24,000 miles. Apparently the 24,000 mile price point is unlocked upon Platinum Pro status in the current year, and the 20,000 mile price point is unlocked when I achieved Executive Platinum re-qualification.
To use these passes you must be departing on or arriving off of an American Airlines flight, American Airlines codeshare, or oneworld airline marketed and operated flight.
Each pass is valid for the holder and their immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and / or children under 18) or up to two guests. Children under two do not count against the guest limit. They may limit access based on capacity.
Already a Flagship First Dining single visit pass is an choice benefit option at the 400,000, 550,000 and 750,000 Loyalty Point Reward levels.
Clearly, though, members would be better off choosing a 25,000 mile reward and redeeming 20,000 miles for this (netting 1,000 or 5,000 miles) unless they need more than the ‘Enhance With Miles’ Flagship First Dining passes that are available.
American Airlines offers Flagship First Dining at Dallas inside their Flagship lounge there and also as a separate room in Miami Flagship.
Unfortunately, LAX Flagship First Dining remains closed and New York JFK (which two yeas ago was the best one) is now closed – the space part of the business class lounge – in favor of the Chelsea Lounge which is operated in conjunction with British Airways and not eligible for this redemption.
As long as this new option doesn’t crowd the lounges, it could actually be worth it for many. If you value an AAdvantage mile at 1.5 cents, $300 seems like a lot for an airport meal. At the same time, you can drink premium beverages that would cost you a good chunk of the way to that. And if you’re with a couple of other people it starts to look like a value to be honest.
And a couple enjoying this option before their flight could make for a really special trip. Rather than asking ‘is it worth $300 apiece for this meal’ I won’t criticize those who ask ‘considering the options in the airport, do I want to have that better experience than I’d get elsewhere using my miles?’
Still, Miami and Dallas locations don’t have the views that New York JFK had – or even the service I experienced there last in 2022. But if you don’t already have Flagship lounge access – a Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum member wouldn’t on a domestic itinerary – they’re going to get even more value out of these. Is it weird that I might plan myself a long layover one day in Dallas or Miami?
I think what this does to crowding is going to be key, since these aren’t large spaces. At current passenger volumes I rate Flagship First Dining far ahead of Delta One or United Polaris dining options (e.g. Chicago, San Francisco, Newark, Houston) . I’ve had meals as good in Air Canada Signature Suites. I’d rate them ahead of the Qantas First Class lounge in Los Angeles.
My advice is to redeem these passes as-needed upon entry. That way you don’t wind up with expiring passes you wind up not using because of a flight delay or misconnect, or if you’re planning to originate in Dallas or Miami then because you wind up running late to the airport.
The Flagship dining is not what it used to be. We flew out of FDW in Nov 2019 (pre-pandemic) and it was hands-down amazing. The food was exceptional, and the champagne was vintage Krug (~$300 a bottle). The service was as good as any upscale restaurant, genuinely a really special experience.
Fast forward to January this year, entirely different. Service was poor (we were seated, but literally nobody served us for 15 minutes, until I went back to the front desk), 20% of the menu was unavailable (3 of the food items, 4 of the wine options), and the champagne was Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee 1785 (~$40 bottle).
Prior to the most recent experience I’d say it’s great value if you’re in the crowd, as we are, that vacation starts at the airport. But unless things have dramatically changed in the past 10 months, AA have let this go the same way they have the rest of their Flagship services.
Sounds like this might be an interesting thing
@ Gary — What a ripoff. $300 basically for food that is marginally better than the Flagship Lounge? Hard pass.
@Gene – $300 for, say, 3 people who could easily drink that much in champagne
Two questions:
1. Does this include Flagship lounge access or do you already have to have it on this day?
2. “Eligible members will see…” I’m EXP and don’t see it (yet). Assume a timing thing or is there other criteria?
As a constant traveler, mostly Int’l, I would say Delta has superior products on the ground and in flight. The Delta Sky clubs are excellent and the new Delta One lounge at JFK is even better than I’ve experienced in the Middle East.
Amazing for my family of 6. I don’t see it yet, do I need requalify for EXP first?
@ Gary — Missed the 3 part…
@Hal – qualify for Platinum Pro and you should be able to redeem this twice
The terms seem to require that you already have access to the flagship lounge, and the pass just lets you dine.
Quote:
Pass holder must have a same-day boarding pass for travel on an eligible flight that allows clearance through security for flight departure and access to the Flagship® First Dining location. Same-day priority verification cards are accepted.
@Jon – Delta Sky Clubs are – overall, not in every case! – better than United Clubs and American’s Admirals Clubs. Delta’s workhorse 767 business class though is terrible compared to even United’s business class, and American’s is better still. Delta’s business class suites are o.k.
If the Delta One lounge at JFK is even better than what you’ve “experienced in the Middle East” then you haven’t gone to the right lounges there 😉 Try al Safwa sometime!
I’m EP last year and this year, my only option is 24,000 miles! And mine don’t say what date they are eligible through.
DELTA’S FLEET IS OLD AND OUTDATED!
OLD TWA 717’S, OLD 757 AND 767’S.
DELTA NOW ANNOUNCES THEY ARE REFURBISHING THESE OLD, OUTDATED FULE GUZZLERS.
ITS LIKE PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG!
REMEMBER AA INCOUNTERED LOTS OF MECHANICALS DUE TO OLD 757 AND 767’S.
AA ELIMINATED THEM AND HAS THE YOUNGEST FLEET IN THE INDUSTRY!
Was able to get SAN-DFW-LHR in flagship one way for 66k miles, great deal. And the flagship dining since had 2.5hr layover was great. Able to turn down mediocre food on the flight. Coming back was more miles, but still worth it.
My app is showing the price at 24k. Anyone else with other prices?
@John Why are you YELLING? And, spell check is free. DL’s 717 came from WN (via AT) and they will be retired soon. Good that DL is refreshing the fleet, agree it needs it. AA may have a younger fleet than DL, but heir product is marginal compared to DL. Factually, MX, F9 and NK have the youngest fleets, AA is #4 and UA has one of the oldest, older than DL.
@ John — Spirit has the youngest fleet, or at they claim that they do.
@John and those old “fule guzzling” 757’s and 767’s have seat back entertainment, memory foam seats, and fast, free WiFi. Even American’s brand new Max’s and Neo’s don’t have those things! Add in better service and better on time performance and I’m good on a Delta 757!
I can eat at a pretty decent restaurant for less than $300 worth of airline miles, but I get that there are folks who will get access comped. It does beg the question, though, shouldn’t AA focus on its core product? Do they want to be an airport restaurant chain or a world-class airline?
The price is intended to turn most people away. It is not supposed to be good value – exactly the opposite. These facilities were built to handle a couple tables an hour (no matter how big they are, they never wanted every table full as that would detract from the experience).
That being said, if they’re going to charge this much then they better go back to the pre-pandemic service levels ala @Pete White’s post.
I’ve only eaten at the one in MIA, but it was pretty average to me. Better than the normal, atrocious lounge food, but not great. Definitely not worth +/- $300, especially since I don’t drink alcohol. The best Airport dining the the US is One Flew South in ATL, imo. But, I’d honestly rather get a Smashburger or some pulled pork from Hickory or Cousins at DFW than waste my miles on the “appearance” of fine dining.
AA does not prioritize customers anymore, even Elite members. This isn’t a perk. It’s designed to get you to burn your miles. Sure, there’s a select few customers who end up with more miles than they know what to do with, but I can’t imagine a more uninspired thing to do with them than mock fine dining in an airport. If it offers convenience and a better alternative on an existing trip, I get it. Otherwise I wouldn’t touch this.
Gary, after reading you review of the Flagship First burger pre-COVID, I redeemed miles to experience Flagship First out of JFK when taking the Transcon to LAX (before the BOS-LAX transcons). And I very much enjoyed it. It was as good as your review said. Later when the Transcon started on the BOS-LAX route, I was fortunate enough to get the “double bump up” due to the flight being oversold, and got to experience LAX’s Flagship First dining.
It was in LAX, that I learned while chatting with the staff that each Flagship First white voucher redeemed, AA paid the catering company $330. This was regardless of what was served, be it a glass of water at the bar, or a full meal. It was $330 per a voucher.
So your valuation on miles to dollars is pretty spot on.
And yes, you’re allowed to enjoy the Flagship lounge after you finish your meal and choose to leave the dining room.
As for the LAX Flagship First food pre-Covid, I waited for lunch to start at 11a and got the steak. It was perfectly prepared and quite delicious.
I’m still waiting for AA to reopen the lounge in PHL
The PHL location should be open by summer next year