Tag Archives: premium economy

Reimagined onboard experience with American Airlines takes off with launch of new amenities, elevated dining and more

  • American launches airline’s first-ever rotating collection of premium onboard amenities, along with new bedding.
  • Throughout the year, new inflight amenities will feature diverse designers and brands, sustainably sourced materials and causes important to American and its customers.
  • Customers can indulge in fresh entrees, inspired by popular American Airlines destinations, across all domestic and international flights.
  • AAdvantage® members can continue to earn or use miles for flights with these premium experiences.

American Airlines is heating up the inflight experience ahead of the summer travel season with a wave of premium onboard enhancements to make travel even more enjoyable. Customers will fly in style with a new, reimagined amenity kit series and bedding, and savor new dishes throughout their journey. In the future, customers can anticipate an increasingly elevated experience with the arrival of new Flagship Suite® seats.

“We thoughtfully curate each element of the onboard experience so every customer can look forward to the time they spend in flight,” said Kim Cisek, American’s Vice President of Customer Experience. “Part of the magic of travel is connecting our customers to the people and experiences that matter most to them. We’re taking that concept to the skies by introducing a new, dynamic onboard program that’s inspired by feedback from our customers and team members.”

American worked with a mix of boutique and well-known brands to create a program that will evolve throughout the years and feature rotating kit designs and high-quality skincare products in addition to the new bedding program.

A rotation of stylish new amenities and more

The new program will be on board more than 300 international and transcontinental flights beginning Memorial Day weekend in Flagship® First Class, Flagship® Business Class and Premium Economy cabins.

American’s primary amenity kit will be available yearlong for customers flying in premium cabins. The kit will include staple amenities customers have come to expect while in flight, such as a toothbrush, dental kit, eye mask and earplugs, in addition to new and evolving skincare products and offerings. American will cycle new brands and products within the kits for customers in all premium cabins, creating a unique customer experience several times over, based directly on customer feedback.

American collaborated with beauty retailer Thirteen Lune to curate the skincare offerings, which will feature high-quality beauty brands from Thirteen Lune’s tailored collection with wide ranging representation of diverse founders and voices such as Joanna Vargas and Relevant.

Limited-edition kits

In addition to these rotating products within the kits, customers will enjoy limited-edition specialty kits created in collaboration with diverse designers and brands based primarily in the U.S. Through the designs of these specialty kits, American will recognize specific milestones and initiatives that reflect the values and backgrounds of the airline’s customers and team members. These limited-edition kits will debut in the months and years ahead.

In fact, the all-new amenity program will launch with a Thirteen Lune specialty kit to introduce customers to the new kit line and the opportunity to start collecting the limited-edition kits. Customers flying in premium cabins will receive the Thirteen Lune kit for the first few weeks of the kickoff to the new program. Customers can then look forward to receiving the primary amenity kit on board throughout the rest of the summer.

Each specialty kit will be available for a limited time on eligible flights in Flagship® First Class, Flagship® Business Class and Premium Economy. Travelers will be able to learn about each brand and partner featured in the specialty kit by scanning a QR code found within the kit.

Elevated bedding inspired by customer feedback

Customers will travel in elevated comfort with new bedding, pillows and sleepwear that deliver on customer expectations for a restful experience on board. In American’s research with customers, travelers shared that 75% prefer dual-sided pillows, with different materials on each side of the pillow. Based on this feedback, customers traveling across Flagship® First Class or Flagship® Business Class will enjoy a dual-sided pillow with cool touch fabric on one side, and traditional fabric on the other.

Those traveling in Flagship® First Class on international flights will continue to enjoy a set of pajamas, based on feedback that 80% of first class customers value having pajamas onboard. In addition, travelers in Flagship® Business Class on all international flights will now enjoy slippers onboard, instead of only on ultra long-haul flights.

Customers in all cabins, including Premium Economy and Main Cabin, will enjoy enhanced bedding, with cabin-specific options such as lumbar pillows, throw blankets, premium duvets and fleece blankets — all developed from premium brands that are leaders in their space.

American collaborated with the inflight textile company John Horsfall to develop bedding made with recycled materials from their Re-Thread® collection*.

Reusable Zipper Product Bag

Bedding in American Airlines Flagship® First

Bedding in American Airlines Flagship® Business

Bedding in American Airlines Premium Economy

Bedding in American Airlines Main Cabin

Bedding in American Airlines Transcontinental Flagship® First Class

Bedding in American Airlines Transcontinental Flagship® Business Class

Nearly all of the pillows, duvets and blankets created for American flights were made with recycled fibers that maintain a premium feel, while filled bedding includes 100% recycled fill. To reduce single-use plastic waste connected to the distribution of pillows and blankets, customers traveling in Flagship® First, Flagship® Business and Premium Economy will now receive their bedding in a reusable zipper product bag also made with recycled fibers. Using the bag will save 25 tons of plastic waste a year.

New dining menus soar within the U.S. and beyond

While dining on board, customers can embrace the journey with diverse flavors and new menus that are inspired by popular American Airlines destinations worldwide. The offerings feature internationally inspired pastas, salads and more.

Travelers jet-setting to one of American’s new summer destinations like Nice, France; Naples, Italy; or Copenhagen, Denmark, will be able to relish delicious offerings like macadamia crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce, quinoa, toasted orzo, and haricots verts. In addition to these offerings, pan roasted chicken, tortellini pasta and other offerings, including new pre-order options, will continue to roll out this spring for business class on flights from the U.S. to international destinations.

Customers traveling from Europe in business class can choose to indulge in menu items like chili marinated chicken with mojo verde sauce, sweet potato mash, roasted corn and mini chili or gnocchi duet with plain and beetroot gnocchi, lentil ragout, apple chutney, brown butter, roasted spring onion and sliced green onion.

Entrees: International US outbound Business Class entrees on American Airlines
From left: Pan roasted chicken with pepperonata sauce, mashed potato with chives and broccolini.
Macadamia crusted sea bass with lemon herb butter sauce, orzo salad haricot vert and red bell pepper.
Tortellini in sauteed spinach with blushed tomato sauce and grilled zucchini and mushroom medley.

Customers traveling on domestic first class can also discover new offerings on their journey. Travelers can enjoy cuisine such as shawarma seasoned grilled chicken, three cheese sacchetti pasta, chicken enchiladas or a plant based stuffed red pepper. Customers can also choose from new pre-order options, including short rib mac and cheese.

These new options in premium cabins will provide a range of diverse culinary creations and award-winning wines. For AAdvantage® members, miles and status can help unlock access to some of these premium inflight experiences.

Domestic First Class hot entrees on American Airlines
Clockwise from top left: Vegetable enchilada with red rice and green chili sauce, garnished with crumbled cotija cheese.
Cheese sacchetti with garlic cream sauce and marinara sauce, topped with a chopped parsley garnish.
Penne pasta with plant-based meat ragu and ricotta, garnished with chopped parsley.
Stuffed pepper, green rice and cilantro crema, garnished with crumbled cotija cheese.

Domestic First Class cold entrees on American Airlines
Clockwise from top left: The Mediterranean bowl with garlic aioli dressing, couscous spiced with potatoes, almonds, baby arugula, shaved red cabbage, roasted red pepper hummus, tomato & cucumber salad and roasted spiced cauliflower.
The bistro grain bowl with red long grain rice, crumbled blue cheese, fresh cucumber, Roma tomato, red onion, green scallion, hard-boiled egg, sorghum and Frisée and Mesclun salad mix.
The pesto pasta salad with baby arugula, pesto salad, red and yellow blistered cherry tomatoes, red pepper, sliced mozzarella, and a nut-free basil pesto sauce.
The edamame and mandarin orange slaw salad with baby spinach, wonton strips, roasted cashews, green scallion and red miso vinaigrette

Suite experience

Beyond the new inflight amenities, bedding and dining options on board this summer, customers can look forward to an even more elevated experience onboard future Boeing 787-9, 777-300 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft, featuring a new interior with the Flagship® Suite seat and refreshed seats and amenities across Premium Economy and Main Cabin.

Customers traveling in the Flagship Suite® seat will be surrounded by comfort and convenience including wireless charging, Bluetooth capability and multiple storage spaces. With standard features such as lie-flat seats and direct-aisle access, American has modernized the experience by adding privacy doors and the ability to relax in a chaise lounge position, making the Flagship Suite® seat a personalized experience in the skies.

American Airlines Flagship® Suite Preferred seat

American Airlines Flagship® Suite Preferred seat

Customers looking for even more luxury will be able to further enhance their experience with a distinguished front row experience on new Boeing 787-9 and retrofitted 777-300 aircraft through the Flagship Suite® Preferred seat. This seat will offer customers expansive space, several storage areas and exclusive amenities like a Nest Bedding® mattress pad, a throw blanket, a memory foam lumbar pillow, Nest Bedding® pajamas and an exclusive amenity kit featuring additional skincare products from Thirteen Lune by Joanna Vargas and Relevant.

As these new interiors roll out, customers traveling in Premium Economy will also enjoy new amenities like wireless charging, additional storage space and privacy headrest wings. Customers traveling in Main Cabin will enjoy new 4K seatback screens and new Bluetooth connectivity and AC and USB-A/USB-C charging ports. All customers will be able to browse high-speed Wi-Fi and watch up to 1,500 free entertainment content offerings.https://www.youtube.com/embed/qfjdEdPwefY?si=zE2NERsySIuN06Gx

AAdvantage makes travel better

For AAdvantage® members, using miles can help unlock access to upgrade into these enhanced premium experiences, including new inflight amenities, sleepwear, bedding and dining options.

Status members may also receive complimentary upgrades, further enhancing their premium travel experience.

The program rewards members for the time they spend with American, and also provides them with rewards and benefits. New in time for summer, members traveling on tickets purchased with miles can now receive upgrade offers to buy into a higher cabin via aa.com or mobile app when traveling within the contiguous U.S.

*Re-Thread® products are made with certified materials.

American Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Airbus):

Screenshot

Virgin Australia upgrades its Boeing 777-300 Premium Economy cabin

Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) has unveiled a major redesign of the Premium Economy cabin featured on board its Boeing 777-300 fleet, which will launch in November 2015.

According to the airline, the new Premium Economy cabin will feature:

Virgin Australia logo-2

An exclusive and intimate cabin size of 24 seats;
A seat pitch of 41 inches, with more legroom than any other Australian airline;
A plated meal service inspired by business class, tailored to the guest and accompanied by a selection of wines from our Business Class cellar;
A Premium Larder for self-service food and beverages for the exclusive use of Premium Economy guests;
Crew trained in Premium service; and
Dedicated check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority baggage (up to 64kg of baggage), enabling guests to speed through airport formalities.

Virgin Australia 777-300 Premium Economy (Virgin Australia)(LR)

Photo above: Virgin Australia Airlines.

Guests will be able to choose different variations of their meals, with different garnishes, along with the time and speed of service.

The new Premium Larder exclusively for Premium Economy guests will be replenished throughout the flight, stocked with an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, light meal options and snacks.

Top Copyright Photo: Roy Lock/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-3ZG VH-VOZ (msn 35302) taxies to the gate at Los Angeles International Airport.

Virgin Australia aircraft slide show: AG Airline Slide Show

AG Ad - Captain's Log 5.2015 (LRW)

 

Air Canada to add five additional Boeing 777-300 ERs, is profitable for the 4Q and 2012

Air Canada (Montreal) has announced it will introduce a new International Premium Economy cabin for customers seeking enhanced comfort and service on international flights as it continues to modernize its widebody fleet with the addition of five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft.

Complementing its Economy and Executive First options on international flights, Air Canada’s new Premium Economy cabin will offer customers a wide range of benefits including a dedicated cabin featuring larger seats that are wider, providing more recline, with seven more inches of legroom than Economy and are never more than one seat from the aisle (due to a 2-4-2 configuration).  Customers will also be offered premium meals with complimentary bar service and priority check-in and baggage delivery at the airport. More information on Air Canada’s new Premium Economy cabin is available at www.aircanada.com/premiumeconomy.

Air Canada’s Premium Economy cabin will be introduced on Air Canada’s Montreal-Paris flights effective July 11 , 2013.  Additional routes offering Premium Economy will be added over time as new aircraft enter the carrier’s mainline fleet.

Air Canada will expand and modernize its international widebody fleet with the addition of five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft. In addition to two Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft previously announced that will be delivered in June and August 2013 , Air Canada today announced that it will add three new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft to be delivered in November and December 2013 and February 2014.  With the addition of these five aircraft, Air Canada’s Boeing 777 fleet will consist of 23 aircraft comprising the latest generation of 300 ER and 200 LR models.

Air Canada’s five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will be the first aircraft configured with the carrier’s new Premium Economy cabin prior to the arrival of Boeing 787 aircraft scheduled to begin delivery in 2014.  The five Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will also offer a larger Economy cabin as Air Canada will strategically deploy these aircraft on select international markets with high volume demand for economy travel.

The five Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft that will begin delivery in June 2013 will be configured with a larger Economy cabin with 398 new “slimline” leather seats providing 31-inch legroom consistent with the comfort of Air Canada’s current Economy cabin, while the dedicated Premium Economy cabin of 24 leather seats will provide 38-inch legroom along with other enhanced comfort features.  Air Canada’s Executive First cabin will offer 36 seats that convert into 180-degree lie-flat beds in a staggered configuration of one or two, to allow customers traveling alone or with a companion to choose their preferred seating and sleeping options.  Customers in all three cabins of service will enjoy an enhanced individual seat back in-flight entertainment system with hundreds of hours of complimentary audio visual entertainment options featuring larger screens and customer-friendly technology by Panasonic.

In addition to the introduction of Premium Economy, new seats and a leading edge entertainment system, Air Canada’s five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will provide customers with a refreshed interior colour palette in modern, neutral tones unique to these aircraft pending the official launch of Air Canada’s future in-flight product and cabin design that will be made in conjunction with the introduction of Boeing 787 aircraft into its fleet.

Air Canada’s 37 Boeing 787 aircraft will feature a brand new, enhanced version of Air Canada’s award-winning Executive First lie-flat beds and product that has yet to be announced, in addition to Premium Economy and Economy options.  The Boeing 787 fleet will be deployed on the carrier’s current and future high premium demand international routes.

On the financial side, Air Canada reported full year and fourth quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment, and aircraft rent (“EBITDAR”) of $1.451 billion (or $1.327 billion before the impact of benefit plan amendments) compared to EBITDAR of $1.242 billion in 2011.  Including the favourable impact of benefit plan amendments, EBITDAR of $1.451 billion increased $209 million year-over-year (or $85 million before the impact of benefit plan amendments).  On a GAAP basis, in 2012, net income was $131 million or $0.45 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $249 million or $0.92 per diluted share in 2011.  On an adjusted basis, net income was $53 million or $0.19 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $122 million or $0.44 per diluted share in 2011.

For the fourth quarter of 2012, Air Canada reported EBITDAR of $284 million compared to EBITDAR of $162 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an improvement of $122 million.  On a GAAP basis, in the fourth quarter of 2012, Air Canada reported net income of $8 million or $0.03 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $60 million or $0.22 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011.  Air Canada reported an adjusted net loss of $6 million or $0.02 per diluted share compared to an adjusted net loss of $167 million or $0.60 per diluted share in the same quarter in 2011.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. Boeing 777-333 ER C-FIUW (msn 35249) completes its final approach into London (Heathrow).

Air Canada: AG Slide Show