To begin our trip to Sydney my girlfriend and I met in Los Angeles at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). At the time we took our trip she was living in New York and I was living in Chicago so meeting in Los Angeles proved the simplest solution.
Los Angeles also made sense for us thanks to some extremely discounted premium class fares offered on American earlier in the year. For our trip, the cost to fly premium economy was just under $500 each way. We figured we’d book the cheap premium economy fare in hopes of getting an upgrade to business class.
When we met in Los Angeles we still weren’t sure if our upgrades were going to clear or not. As the flight was still a few hours away we couldn’t see the upgrade list which meant we had no idea where we stood. The only thing I did know, by calling American, was that there were about 6-8 available business class seats left on the flight. That alone inspired confidence, but we still had no idea how many people were in front of us on the upgrade list.
Since we arrived in Los Angeles about 4 hours before our scheduled departure we decided to lounge hop to pass the time. Since we were already in the Tom Bradley International Terminal we opted to first visit the famous Qantas First Class lounge which is often toted as one of the best airport lounges in the United States.
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
Although we weren’t yet traveling in business class on our outbound flight we still had access to the Qantas First Class lounge thanks to my elite status. AAdvantage Executive Platinum (OneWorld Emerald) passengers have access to OneWorld international First Class lounges at their departure airport regardless of their class of service.
To access the lounge we took the elevator upstairs from the departures level which drops you off very near the entrance to the lounge. I’ve reviewed this lounge in detail before so for this post I’ll focus on the dining experience as that was our primary motivation for visiting the lounge.
As we entered the lounge we presented our American Airlines Premium Economy class boarding passes. Although we weren’t ticketed in First or on Qantas we had access to the lounge thanks to my AAdvantage Executive Platinum (OneWorld Emerald) elite status.
Once inside we proceeded directly to the formal dining area for dinner.
The dining area of the lounge is located toward the rear of the lounge and features ample seating, even during peak hours.
Even though we visited the lounge during peak hours there was still plenty of available seating for passengers looking for a pre-departure meal.
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX Dining
As the dining room was only about half-full when we arrived the the lounge we quickly found seats in the dining area. When we took our seats we were quickly met by our server who handed us printed menus.
To begin our complimentary meal we first ordered the prawn and soba noodle salad. This dish set the tone for the entire meal as it was incredibly flavorful.
For our second starter we ordered the salt and pepper squid; a staple of the Qantas First Class lounge. What really sets this plate apart is the green chili dipping sauce.
For our mains we opted for the Chinese roast chicken which which was simple, but lacked flavor.
For our second main we requested the club sandwich. I personally would have preferred this sandwich without the middle layer of bread.
To finish off the meal service I ordered a cappuccino ordered from the bar. If you want a specialty coffee in the lounge make sure to order it from the bar as most of these coffees are hand crafted.
After a quick dinner in the Qantas lounge we decided to run next door to the OneWorld Business Class lounge.
OneWorld Business Class Lounge LAX
The OneWorld Business class in the Tom Bradley International Terminal is just down the hall from the Qantas lounge.
The OneWorld Business Class lounge is used by Qantas, Cathay Pacific and British Airways business class passengers as well as OneWorld Sapphire customers. As a result the lounge gets quite busy during the evening rush.
We only stayed in the lounge for few minutes as most of the seats were taken when we arrived. Also, as we had just eaten we had little interest in the buffet style spread offered in the lounge. After a quick lap around the lounge we decided instead to head to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge located in Terminal 4.
American Airlines Flagship Lounge LAX
We arrived at the American Airlines Flagship Lounge just over two hours prior to our departure time. As we checked in I inquired about the status of our pending upgrades. At that time I was told we were somehow #1 and #2 on the upgrade list and our upgrades to Business Class would almost certainly clear. Also, since we booked Premium Economy tickets the cost to upgrade was just 15,000 miles. That information was false, but more on that in a minute.
After checking in we ventured back into the lounge area. As with the OneWorld Business Class lounge, the Flagship Lounge was equally crowded.
The lounge features two large buffet areas and even with the large crowd the lounge attendants were able to keep the buffet fully stocked throughout our visit.
One of the buffet areas features hot food items while the second features salads, cheeses, meats, and cookies.
Again, since we had already eaten in the Qantas lounge our primary objective of this lounge visit was a nice shower before the flight.
American Airlines Flagship Lounge LAX Shower Rooms
Surprisingly when we asked for two shower rooms there was no wait. We then handed the lounge agent our boarding cards as collateral and proceeded into two vacant shower rooms.
The shower rooms int he LAX Flagship Lounge are quite spacious and tastefully decorated. Each room features a large counter and sink, a shower, and most importantly, a small bench to place a suitcase.
Inside the shower was a selection of C.O. Bigelow products.
The showers found in the Flagship Lounge are actually very nice. Water pressure and consistent water temperature are hard to come by when it comes to airport lounge showers and both were consistent in the Flagship Lounge.
After our showers we met back in the lounge area where we caught a glimpse of the 777-300ER (77W) which would be taking us to Hong Kong.
Before we boarded the flight we had to first visit the gate area to verify that our upgrades would clear.
American Airlines Premium Economy Upgrade Process
This is when things got a bit interesting. We arrived at the gate area to board our flight about 15 minutes prior to the scheduled boarding time. I like to get to the gate early as to board early and get a few photos of the empty cabin. When we arrived at the gate we made ourselves known to the gate agents and let them know that we were waiting for our upgrades to clear. When we checked-in with the gate agent we were again told the upgrades would clear and the cost would be just 15,000 miles.
As we waiting for our upgrades to officially clear we stood by the gate as the boarding process began. We waited patiently as the gate agent called group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6, group 7, and group 8. At the very end of the boarding process the gate agent told us that our upgrades had cleared and handed us our business class boarding passes which of course were not next to each other.
When I made it to my seat a gate agent boarded the plane to inform me that our upgrades would actually cost $300 and 25,000 miles. That was a significant increase to the 15,000 miles and no co-pay option presented at both the lounge and the gate. Neither of us wanted to give up our beds for the flight so we opted to pay the increased cost to upgrade.
American currently sells Premium Economy in different fare codes. If you purchase a “full-fare” premium economy ticket the cost to upgrade is just 15,000 miles and no co-pay. If you purchase a “discount” PE fare, the cost is $350 + 25,000 miles. Keep in mind that is the same cost as if you purchased a “discount” economy fare. Given that the cost to upgrade is the same, I’m not sure why I’ll ever book a Premium Economy seat in the future…
American Airlines Business Class 77W Cabin
The business class cabin on American Airlines’ 77W features reverse herringbone seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. These seats are among the best business class seats in the industry and are plenty comfortable and private to easily survive a 15 hour flight.
Window seat passengers receive ample privacy as the cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 layout.
While the cabin is a bit dull to look at the seats themselves are actually quite nice and surprisingly spacious.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Seat
Each business class seat is located inside of a little pod. The pods all feature an extended edge which sits at eye level to add additional privacy to the seat.
When in the seated position each pod offers ample legroom and I find the width of the seat to be plenty spacious. Those with broad shoulders may find the seat a bit constricting.
These seats offer a bit more space than similar seats found on American’s 787-800, but many prefer this all forward facing cabin design. I personally don’t mind sitting facing backward throughout the flight, but I did find that this seat offered a bit more storage than those found on the smaller 788.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Seat Control Center
After taking my seat I started to get familiar with the seat and noticed quite a few differences from the similar seat on the 788 I’ve flown several times before.
For starters, the seat’s “control center” is along the inside of the seat at about eye level. This area is home to the IFE remote, the reading light, seat controls, and power outlet.
This area is located next to each passengers shoulder opposite the aisle.
The IFE remote is also found in this area of the seat. Although the remote appears a bit dated, I actually prefer this remote thanks to the tactile buttons. I find that physical buttons are easier to navigate when the lights are out and I’m exhausted than buttons found on an all screen remote. The only frustration with this analog remote is that you can’t view the map or browse content while something is playing on the IFE screen.
Located just below the IFE remote are the seat controls. The seat controls on this particular seat are again easy to navigate thanks to the raised physical buttons.
Finally, at the bottom of the control center is a USB outlet, AV inputs, and a standard power outlet.
I was quite happy with the location of all of these items. As the were elevated above the seat/bed they were easy to access in any seat configuration.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Storage and Tray Tables
As I mentioned earlier, the business class seat found on the 77W offers a bit more storage than it’s counterpart on other American aircraft. Specifically, this aircraft offers a large storage cubby along the forward facing wall of the seat. When passengers arrived at their seats, this area was home to the complimentary Bose headsets. More on that in a minute. Additionally, inside this cubby is a hook to hang those headphones.
Just below the storage shelf is a large table which offered plenty of room to store reading materials or a laptop in-flight.
There is additional seat storage located beneath the large shelf. This area offers plenty of room to store a headphone case, laptop, etc., but keep in mind that it is not easily accessible when the seat is fully reclined.
Above the storage area and below the center table is the stowable tray table which rotates out from under the shelf.
As the tables swings out it will eventually lock into a fixed position in front of you.
Once opened, the tray table then folds over itself to turn into the much larger tray table used for in-flight dining.
I personally like this tray table design as it partly allows you to escape the seat during the meal service. Several modern business class (and even first class) seats make you feel trapped when the tray table is open.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Amenities
After familiarizing myself with the seat and seat storage I decided to take a look at the various amenities offered on our flight. The first two items I found were the Cole Haan branded amenity kit and the in-flight slippers.
At first glance I was a bit disappointed by the look and fell of the amenity kit. To me, it looked like the kit was simply put in a bag instead of the leather pouches I’m accustomed to on American. However, after unpacking the amenity kit I realized that the kit itself doubled as a shoe-bag and therefor is quite useful.
The bag is just large enough to fit a pair of stiff dress shoes and plenty large to accommodate running shoes.
Inside the amenity kit I was actually a bit surprised by how much stuff was offered. The amenity kit offered a dental kit, C.O. Bigelow products, an eye mask, travel socks, tissues, earplugs, a pen, and discount codes for both Cole Haan and Casper.
By far and away the most useful item, to me, in the amenity kit is the pen. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve arrived at an international destination and found myself in need of a pen.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Pajamas
The flight attendants circulated the cabin just prior to pushing back from the gate to distribute the complimentary in-flight pajamas.
Currently, American is giving out Casper branded pajamas on many long-haul flights. I always appreciate a complimentary set of pajamas as I’d rather not spend several hours trying to sleep in jeans. However, I found these pajamas to be a bit uncomfortable.
The pajamas were made out of a thick cotton which warmed up quickly. As I tried to sleep I kept becoming too warm to sleep and would have to remove the covers and would eventually get too cold. After an hour or two of this futile game I opted to change instead into my own, more breathable, pajamas.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Bose Headphones
Finally, as noted above, Business Class passengers receive a set of complimentary Bose noise canceling headphones for the flight. The headphones were located in the small cubby away from the aisle. Inside the American Airlines branded case was a set of Bose QC25 headphones. These aren’t quite as good as the newer QC35 headphones, but they work very well at noise cancelation.
While I appreciate the complimentary Bose headphones, one thing I don’t appreciate is that these are collected prior to landing. With about 30 to 45 minutes left in flight the cabin crew collects these headphones. They typically offer up cheap wired headphones in exchange, but they are no where near as nice as the Bose headsets. Also, I find the fit of the QC25 headphones to be a bit more uncomfortable when compared to the newer Bose QC35 headphones. I personally always opt to bring my own headphones over using these complimentary ones offered by American.
Another item to note is that American plans to switch in-flight headphones to Bang and Olufsen over ear headphones. Personally I find the B&O headphones far less comfortable to wear from long periods of time. While many view this as an upgrade, I believe passengers are actually worse off.
American Airlines Business Class 77W In-Flight Menu
Also waiting for us at our seats when we arrived were the in-flight dining menus. Business class customers receive two menus; a food menu and a wine list.
The wine list wasn’t all that extensive as it essentially only offered one Champagne, two white wines, two red wines, and a dessert wine. If you’re seeking an extensive wine listing I’d recommend flying with another airline.
Thankfully the dining menu was a bit more extensive. The menu began with a note from the airline welcoming each passenger to the flight. On the adjacent page was a complete dinner menu. On our flight the menu actually looked quite appealing so looking back I regret not trying one of the menu items during the flight.
At the bottom of the in-flight dining menu were a few snack items which I sampled later in the flight.
Toward the rear of the menu were brunch options which were available toward the end of the flight.
On the backside of the menu were a list of beverage items (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) available throughout the flight.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Pre-Departure Service
Speaking of beverages, as we took our seats and settled in the cabin crew also came by our seats to drop off a pre-departure beverage. As it was well past midnight I opted simply for a glass of water. All of the service items were received as we made the fairly long taxi toward the runway.
As we taxied the annoying American Airlines safety video played which of course featured the shortened ending.
After a short wait we were in the air over Los Angeles with about 15 to go until we reached Hong Kong.
Our flight plan was a straight line which touched the outer edges of Alaska and passed right over Japan.
As I was utterly exhausted when we took off I skipped the dinner service and instead opted to take a short nap.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Meal Service
If you have never flown with in business class on American before my one piece of advice would be to skip the meal service if possible. Catering on American is notoriously bad unless you are able to pre-select a “special” meal. Otherwise, I’d focus on filling up before the flight and instead opting to sleep through the meal service if you are able.
Even though we ate on the ground before takeoff I was surprisingly hungry in flight. As I was in need of a snack I quickly browsed the aforementioned menu’s in-flight snack listing. After deciding between the two in-flight snacks I pressed my flight attendant call button and ordered the burger. Shortly after ordering a flight attendant brought me a hot towel to freshen up.
Next, the flight attendant delivered a glass of Champagne and a bowl of warm nuts. I’m assuming flight attendants passed these out prior to the regular meal service which I slept through completely.
I only had to wait a few minutes, but before long the flight attendant returned with my sliders.
The sliders might not look all that appealing, but surprisingly they were quite good. Following the quick snack I requested a cup of Hong Kong style tea with condensed milk.
While I wasn’t expecting to receive a full container of condensed milk with my tea I was glad to have the ability to manage how much milk I added.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Bedding
Following the snack I was ready for a proper night sleep. I had already slept a few hours, but we still had about ten hours left in flight. It was at that point in the flight that I requested the turn down service. At each seat was a Casper mattress pad and a thick comforter. When you are ready for bed you can request the flight attendant to affix the mattress pad to the seat to sleep more comfortably.
The mattress pad is actually a bit thicker than expected and does provide ample cushion to sleep comfortably. I prefer a firm bed so this setup was perfectly enjoyable for me.
In addition to the mattress pad, the aisle armrests lower to create even more space when you transform the seat into a bed.
With the armrest down the bed feels less constricting and provides plenty of room the sleep in almost any position.
When I returned to my seat to sleep I found the bed was properly made (although I helped a bit).
I ended up sleeping for another 5 hours or so which was plenty to feel rested, but I wish I had slept a few hours more. Thankfully the reason for my lack of sleep was due to my own inability to sleep rather than any issues with the seat/bed. The only issue I ran into with the bed is that I got a bit hot in the middle of the flight. Thankfully, all business class passengers had access to overhead air vents which easily cooled off my seat.
After a few hours of sleep I decided that I was going to remain awake for the remainder of the flight. At that point I transformed the bed back into a seat and tried to get some work done.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Galley
As I sat in my seat working I grew restless and decided to go explore the rest of the aircraft. My journey began with the business class galley which is set up as a snack bar throughout the flight.
When I arrived at the galley there were a few drink options available as well as several bottles of water.
There was also a small plate of miscellaneous desserts and snacks located at the far end of the galley which I of course did not think to photograph at the time.
Lastly, in the galley there was also a bottle of unopened Champagne and it was unclear if passengers could help themselves or not.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Lavatory
Near the business class galley is the business class lavatory. The Lavatory is what you’d expect on an aircraft, but slightly nicer. The dark finishes and faux wood floors help make the lavatory feel a bit more premium than standard economy restrooms.
The basin sink also helped add to the premium “feel” of the lavatory.
I specifically appreciated the foaming hand soap fixed next to the sink as it smelled quite refreshing.
Finally located next above the sink were more C.O. Bigelow hand and face creams available only to premium cabin passengers.
After a quick walk around the cabin I went back to my seat and patiently awaiting the brunch service.
American Airlines Business Class 77W Brunch
With about two hours left in-flight the flight crew circulated the cabin to begin the brunch service. Passengers who were already awake were served first while sleeping passengers were left alone for another 30 minutes or so.
As I was awake and surprisingly hungry I quickly placed my order. For brunch I opted for the fruit, yogurt, eggs, potato, and ham, a smoothie, croissant, and a cup of coffee.
One thing I will say about American Airlines is that their breakfast options are usually surprisingly good edible. This breakfast for example tasted just fine. My only issue with the brunch service was the croissant. I love croissants and therefore was extremely disappointed when the entire thing crumbled into a million little pieces as I tried to eat it. I’m pretty sure I ended up with more croissant in my lap than I did in my mouth.
If I’m honest, the eggs were actually quite terrible as well. This wasn’t a huge surprise however as I’ve come to expect very little from airline eggs.
Arriving In Hong Kong
With about 30 minutes left in the fight the cabin crew began finalizing preparations for landing. This involved clearing all of the brunch service items and collecting the Bose headphones. Then, with about 10 minutes left, all cabin crew took their seats and we began our final decent into Hong Kong.
The pilots executed a very smooth landing as we arrived in Hong Kong. After vacating the runway we had a very short taxi to the gate which seems to always go by quicker than expected. Before long we were exiting the aircraft and making our way to the customs counter for a quick trip into the city for a bite to eat and a very small amount of shopping.
American Airlines Business Class 77W From LAX to Hong Kong Impressions
Overall, I have to give it to American Airlines. The business class seat offered on the 77W is very good. Without a doubt the reverse herringbone business class seat is among the best seat in the world today. The seat offers above average privacy, a comfortable bed, and American’s in-flight entertainment options are far superior to other airlines.
In addition to the nice seat, the ground experience in Los Angeles (and Chicago, New York JFK, Miami, and Dallas) is exceptional. American Airline has done a fantastic job with their Flagship Lounges at key US gateways.
Although American has stepped up its airport product in recent years I still find the in-flight soft product and catering frustratingly bad. The cabin crew on most long-haul American flights is simply uninviting and sometimes outright rude. When you compare the hospitality to that offered on many Asian carriers, the difference is night and day. Also, the catering on any Asian competitor far exceeds that offered on American.
So, if you were going to fly from Los Angeles to Hong Kong in business class I could never recommend taking American. I say this because business class seats on Cathay Pacific are about the same price, but in return you’ll receive a much better all around experience. Not to mention you’ll receive the same lounge access at your origin that you would have if you flew with American.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I wouldn’t go out of my way to fly American Airlines business class from Los Angeles, or any US gateway for that matter, to Hong Kong. It’s not that business class on American isn’t comfortable, it’s just for the price, there are so many better ways to get there.
However, keep in mind that we only paid about $700 and 25,000 miles each for this flight. Considering business class fares to/from Asia typically cost around $5,000, I consider that a great deal. Keep in mind that those upgrades are harder to clear if you have low-level status as American’s routes to Hong Kong are notoriously hard for upgrades to clear even with top-tier elite status.
