American Airlines Business Class “Flagship Preferred Suite”: DFW-BNE B787-9 Premium (78P)

Airline award tickets keep getting devalued, and premium cabin availability seems harder to find with each passing year. So when a unicorn appears, you book first and think later. While searching for a quick weekend getaway this month, I stumbled upon a true gem: a Business Class award seat on American Airlines’ brand new Boeing 787-9 Premium aircraft, featuring their latest Flagship Suite, complete with a closing door. The seat is built on the same Adient Ascent platform used in Hawaiian Airlines’ new 787-9 cabins, and it is currently offered on only a handful of routes. Fortunately, American recently began flying this product on the DFW to Brisbane route. Even better, I managed to snag one of the coveted bulkhead Flagship Preferred Suites.

Redeeming Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, now called Atmos miles, for long haul international Business Class has become far more challenging compared to just a few years ago, which made this find even sweeter. I booked a one-way Business Class ticket from SAN to BNE via DFW for 85,000 Alaska Atmos miles plus $28.20 in taxes.

As the seat map shows, only eight Flagship Preferred Suites exist on this aircraft, all located in the bulkhead rows. American will eventually charge a premium for these seats given the enhanced experience, but for now, they are still included at no additional cost.

During my five hour layover at DFW, I spent my time in the excellent AA Flagship Lounge, where I was able to work comfortably, enjoy a proper meal, and take a refreshing shower before the long flight to Australia.

Boarding began on time, and I quickly found my seat, 11A, in the rear Business Class cabin. The Flagship Preferred Suites immediately stand out with their rich, darker color scheme, which contrasts nicely with the lighter wood paneling of the regular Business Class seats. Exclusive amenities for the Flagship Preferred Suites include a plush memory foam mattress pad, a larger amenity kit, an incredibly soft blanket, and two extra pillows. The blanket, in particular, reminded me of the luxurious ones found in Etihad’s First Class Apartments which are super soft and cozy. One downside to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, however, is the complete loss of cellular service once you board. If you need to send a last minute message or email, be prepared to pay for WiFi. Since it was an off-peak time for Australia in their spring season, many standby passengers were cleared into Business Class, and a number of Economy passengers ended up with entire rows to themselves, making for a surprisingly relaxed and spacious cabin atmosphere.

I was welcomed with a glass of champagne and a set of pajamas for the long 15.5 hour flight. The purser was just as excited as I was about the new aircraft and was eager to share his enthusiasm. However, he mentioned a quirky rule: if you want meal or drink service, you have to keep your suite door open. I found this a bit odd, especially considering other airlines like Qatar, Singapore, ANA, and Hawaiian will still offer service even with the door closed, maintaining that sense of privacy.

The suite is equipped with individual air vents, allowing me to control the airflow and avoid getting too warm under the covers while sleeping. This is a fantastic feature, especially considering that some airlines, like JAL, tend to keep their cabins quite warm, making it difficult to get a restful night’s sleep. The legroom in the Preferred Suite is comparable to seat 10A on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 ULR, as it’s also located at the bulkhead. The restroom, located just ahead of 11A, is impressively spacious. Its position near the front of the cabin wasn’t bothersome to me, but passengers in seat 10D might find it a bit inconvenient.

I tried out the wireless charging feature in my suite, but unfortunately, it didn’t work with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s just too large. Even after removing the case, no luck. However, I was able to confirm that the wireless charging did work perfectly, as I had no issues charging my AirPods Pro 3. There was a USB-C, USB-A and AC power outlet all available at the seat so no need to stress over the wireless charging issue.

Inflight WiFi was powered by ViaSat satellite internet and was available for a flat rate of $25 for the entire flight, with no data limits. The speeds were impressive, averaging 150 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up. Coverage was flawless for most of the flight, only dropping in the final hour. I suspect American Airlines cuts off the system for security reasons rather than due to a coverage issue.

Dinner was served shortly after takeoff, starting with a miso marinated sweet potato tower accompanied by a fresh baby spinach salad. Both dishes were full of flavor and a great start to the meal. For the main course, I had preordered the Achiote Seared Shrimp—wow! American Airlines has really stepped up their catering. It was absolutely delicious. I finished off the meal with a zesty lemon tart, which was the perfect sweet ending.

I watched Fast and Furious on the relatively small 17-inch 4K screen before settling in for sleep. The memory foam mattress pad made a noticeable difference in comfort. For such a long haul, I’d definitely recommend upgrading to the Preferred Suite if comfort is a top priority. Thanks to the great setup, I was able to get a solid 8 hours of rest.

About 1.5 hours before landing, breakfast was served. While it wasn’t quite as impressive as dinner, it was a light and satisfying meal. However, the eggs could use some improvement, as they were of rather poor quality. We landed just before 6 AM local time, and the weather in Australia was absolutely beautiful! Before disembarking, I took a quick photo of the footwell in the regular suite. It was noticeably narrower than the Preferred Suites.

Surfers Paradise, Australia