Travelling in style is just as important as the destination itself, so when the opportunity arose to fly on American Airlines’ Business Class service on board a Boeing 777-300ER, the newest addition to the fleet, booking a seat seemed like a natural choice.
At 11.00 am on a Wednesday morning there was a steady flow of passengers coming in and out of the spacious American Airlines Admirals Club lounge at London Heathrow’s Terminal 3. That said, it was also surprisingly quiet, a standard which many executive lounges around the world struggle to achieve.
Contemporary décor, earthy tones and cosy nooks helped to create a sense of calm. A constant supply of hot and cold beverages, snacks, sandwiches, salads, hot food and dessert kept everyone happy, and there was no shortage of quality publications to read, all of which helped make the waiting time fly by.
Onboard, the 1-2-1 configuration provides every passenger aisle access, and all 52 flatbed seats are positioned diagonally so they face away from the aisle for extra privacy. Each seat is 26 inches wide, has a pitch of 43 inches and stretches to a comfortable 78 inches when fully flat.
I enjoyed the privacy of my window seat, which feels more like a mini suite with its own four walls. The seat can be adjusted to support the back and feet, which is particularly helpful for passengers with back problems. There is ample storage space for reading material and even a compartment with a mirror, which also comes in handy if you plan on socialising at the onboard bar.
The personal Audio Video On Demand (AVOD) system has a good selection of current and classic films, although initially the screen kept freezing (apparently a teething problem with the Panasonic Avionics eX2 system), which meant the cabin crew had to reset the system twice. A pair of Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headsets enhanced the audio-visual experience on a large screen, once the movie finally got going. The amenity kits are adequate with all the usual accoutrements.
Cabin service was brisk and friendly, and each crew member addressed passengers by their name, a nice personal touch. Business and First Class passengers have the option to reserve their meals prior to the flight — I preferred to wait until I’d seen the menu. Champagne on offer was a Gosset Brut Excellence, coupled with a selection of whites: Muga Blanco (Rioja) and Sella & Mosca La Cala Vermentino (Sardinia), and reds: Hogue Genesis Syrah (Washington State) and DeLoach Vineyards Heritage Reserve Merlot (California).
The crab cake with coconut curry rice salad made a light, tasty starter and, although the grilled fillet of beef caught my eye, I settled for a lighter but delightful citrus shrimp and scallop sambal, accompanied by almond jasmine rice and seasonal vegetable sauté. Dessert was either an enormous serving of traditional ice-cream sundae (vanilla ice-cream with choice of hot fudge, butterscotch or seasonal berry toppings, whipped cream and pecans) or a gourmet cheese plate. The walk-up bar in the galley served a mini buffet of tortilla-wraps, dainty desserts, fresh fruits and snacks — a good incentive for those who need to get up and stretch their legs.
All in all, the slanted design of the flatbed seats is a step above the traditional front-facing layout, and provides plenty of privacy and comfort during your flight.
THE IMPORTANT BIT
Airline: American Airlines
Flight: 137
Seat: 10J
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
From: London Heathrow (LHR)
To: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Departs: 02.00 pm
Arrives: 05.20 pm(01:20am GMT)
Flight time: 11 hrs 20 mins
Cost: from US $4,342
