American Airlines (AAL)

American Airlines Classes

• Flagship First (International/for international flights over 3,000 miles & Transcontinental/on flights between LAX-JFK, SFO-JFK, LAX-MIA). Amenities include: Flagship First Check-In; Flagship Lounge, Arrivals Lounge and Admirals Club access; Flagship First Dining; fully lie-flat seat with aisle access, complimentary pillow and blanket; premium onboard dining; Wi-Fi on select aircraft; free inflight entertainment (wireless streaming, seatback and overhead screens, tablets); amenity kits.
• Flagship Business (International/for international flights over 3,000 miles & Transcontinental/on flights between LAX-JFK, SFO-JFK, LAX-MIA). Amenities include: Priority privileges (check-in, security, boarding); Flagship Lounge, Arrivals Lounge and Admirals Club access; Five Star Service (departure, connection and arrival assistance); lie-flat seat on select planes; premium onboard dining; Wi-Fi on select aircraft; free inflight entertainment (wireless streaming, seatback and overhead screens, tablets); amenity kits.
• First (the highest level on flights across the United States). Amenities include: Priority privileges (check-in, security, boarding); Flagship Lounge, Arrivals Lounge and Admirals Club access; Five Star Service (departure, connection and arrival assistance); wider seat and more legroom; premium onboard dining; Wi-Fi on select aircraft; free inflight entertainment (wireless streaming, seatback and overhead screens, tablets); complimentary blankets.
• Business (the highest level on shorter-distance international flights). Amenities include: Priority privileges (check-in, security, boarding); Admirals Club access, Five Star Service (departure, connection and arrival assistance); wider seat and more legroom; premium onboard dining; Wi-Fi on select aircraft; free inflight entertainment (wireless streaming, seatback and overhead screens, tablets); complimentary pillows and blankets.
• Premium Economy (more amenities and space on select long-distance Hawaii and international flights over 3,000 miles). Amenities include: more legroom and adjustable leather seat with extendable head, foot and leg rests; premium onboard dining (including free wine, beer and spirits); Wi-Fi on select aircraft; free inflight entertainment (wireless streaming, seatback and overhead screens, tablets); amenity kits; complimentary pillows and blankets.
• Main Cabin Extra (early boarding and more legroom). Amenities include: Main Cabin Extra seat, starting at US$20, with additional legroom, preferred boarding and earlier exit. These seats are situated in front of the Main Cabin. They are offered on most flights and are subject to availability. Wi-Fi on select aircraft; free inflight entertainment (wireless streaming, seatback and overhead screens, tablets).
• Main Cabin (free entertainment and snacks). Amenities include: drinks, snacks and meals for free or to buy, depending on the route; Wi-Fi on select aircraft; free inflight entertainment (wireless streaming, seatback and overhead screens, tablets).
• Basic Economy (lowest Main Cabin fare). Amenities still include free soft drinks, snacks and inflight entertainment, but there are some restrictions, such as: travelers can choose specific seats within 48 hours prior to departure, but a fee applies. Otherwise, seats are automatically assigned for free at the time of check in. Travelers can board with one item like a purse (small handbag) which fits under the seat in front and is not bigger than 18x14x8 in (45x35x20 cm), and they don't have access to overhead bins. Basic Economy passengers board in last group and no flight changes or refunds are possible.

Baggage

In all cabins travelers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item. Those who bought a Basic Economy ticket are only allowed one personal item. Some items can only travel in a carry-on bag, and some must be checked. Travelers have to make sure they know where to pack the restricted items and if they can carry them on.

To prevent inflight danger, a lot of common items are restricted by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). Those travelling with objects on FAA Pack Safe Hazmat or TSA prohibited items restrictions lists, they will be confiscated.

• Carry-on baggage: one personal item and one bag (the personal item has to fit under the seat in front of the traveler. Dimensions shouldn't exceed 18x14x8 inches/45x35x20 cm). The carry-on should not exceed 22x14x9 in/56x36x23 cm (including wheels and handles), must fit in the airport's sizer. TSA allows some duty-free liquids through security in a carry-on bag in case they are packaged in security tamper-evident bag. Have in mind that American Airlines Basic Economy clients are allowed 1 personal item only and all other bags have to be checked.
• Checked baggage: American Airlines baggage fees are based on regions. Travelers have to find their country to get better understanding of fees. They can check up to 10 bags if their trip is domestic, Transpacific or Transatlantic; and check up to 5 bags if they are traveling to, through or from: Mexico, Caribbean and Central America, South America and Brazil. The airline calculate the size limits of the bag by adding the outside dimensions of each bag, length+ width+height. For all regions, the checked baggage allowance is: 62 in (158 cm); Weight: 50 lbs (23 kgs). Weight for First/Business Class and Brazil is 70 lbs (32 kgs). During busy travel seasons, American Airlines place limitations on checked baggage on some flights.

Boarding

• Check the latest travel alerts before your flight and get flight status info for gates and times. Download American Airlines app at aa.com to get access to all info you need before, during and after the flight.
• Learn about checkpoint security screening process and policies. Visit the website of Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) for travel info including accepted forms of I.D., modified screening, clearing checkpoints, and more.
• Check in online beginning 24 h and up to 45 min before the flight (90 min for international).
• Completing check-in, check baggage and clear security takes time, so American Airlines recommend arriving as early as possible - at least 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to departure when flying within the U.S. When traveling outside of the U.S., the airline recommend 2 hours prior to departure.
• When arriving in the United States from an international location, travelers have to claim their checked bags at the 1st stop within U.S. and proceed through Immigrations/Customs.
• When flying internationally and connecting to a different airline, travelers have to check the applicable Customs procedures to determine if checked baggage has to be re-checked upon arrival into the country.
• Flagship First Check-In is a special AA feature including an exclusive check-in area, expedited security access and personalized assistance. It is available to Qualifying First class, Qualifying AAdvantage Executive Platinum, ConciergeKey, oneworld Emerald and Five Star Service customers at the following airports: Chicago O'Hare (ORD), London Heathrow (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK).
• Get your mobile boarding pass via checking in on aa.com and choosing 'Email with Mobile Option.' The mobile boarding pass can be used at most airports. Once you get the boarding pass, scan the barcode at airport security checkpoints and at the gate when boarding for American Airlines flights.

Lounges

• Flagship Lounge (first class dining, chef-inspired meals, premium wine table, specialty cocktail bar, shower suites).
• Admirals Club (house drinks, snacks, made-to-order specialties, business center, shower suites).
• Arrivals Lounge / London Heathrow (LHR) (a la carte menu, breakfast & lunch buffet, coffee & champagne bar, business center, valet ironing, shower suites).

Wi-Fi

To see if a flight has Wi-Fi, travelers have to look for the symbol on their boarding pass or check before they go. American Airlines Wi-Fi is available on about all flights within the United States. Daily and monthly passes are available or passengers can access aa.com without no pass.

• All-day pass for US$16 plus tax (expires 12 months from the date of purchase)
• American Airlines Plan for US$49.95 plus tax (monthly subscription)

Wi-Fi service is offered when traveling internationally as well as on select domestic routes on American Airlines 787 Dreamliner, 777-300ER, and select 777-200 airplanes. Passes may only be bought once travelers are onboard, and cost: 2-hour (US$12); 4-hour (US$17); for the length of flight (US$19).

Food & Drinks

• Flagship First Dining

Flagship First Dining (currently available inside American Airlines Flagship Lounges at JFK-Terminal 8, on the mezzanine level after Concourse B security checkpoint; LAX, LHR, MIA and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) from 2018; open daily from 4:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.) includes sit-down service, locally-sourced ingredients, regionally-inspired dishes, craft beers & spirits, signature wines, hand-crafted cocktails. Those passengers flying on American Airlines in Flagship First class on qualifying transcontinental or international flights automatically have access.

• Premium dining

Premium dining is offered with First, Business and Premium Economy classes onboard American Airlines planes. Meals are healthy and customized to travel with menus varying depending on when and where customers are traveling. AA premium cabins are stocked with complimentary wines, beers, and spirits to complement the menu. Each wine served by the airline goes through a selective process as part of award-winning wine program. Meals can be reserved on American-marketed and operated flights 30 days before your trip or at the time of booking. Premium Dining is offered via partnership with award-winning chefs and restaurateurs Maneet Chauhan, Mark Sargeant, Sam Choy and Julian Barsotti.

• Main Cabin food

Drinks and snacks are included in the fare of Main Cabin class. Biscoff cookies and mini pretzels are offered on flights more than 250 miles. Non-alcoholic beverages are also complimentary. Meals are free on transcontinental flights between Los Angeles (LAX)-New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO)-JFK. Depending on the day time, guests can choose from a fresh sandwich wrap, continental breakfast box, or fruit & cheese. Meals, wine and beer are free of charge on flights to/from Europe, Asia, select Latin American cities and from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to all Hawaiian cities which take off during normal times for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Spirits are free on flights to/from Japan, Hong Kong, Auckland and Sydney. Travelers can buy alcoholic drinks, wraps, snack boxes and sandwiches on some international and most domestic flights. Credit and debit cards are accepted on all AA-operated flights (have in mind that American Eagle is cash-only).

Availability varies on the time of flight:

• Snacks (5:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on flights more than 2 hours)
• Breakfast (5:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m. on flights more than 3 hours)
• Light meals (9:45 a.m.-8 p.m. on flights more than 3 hours).