[Click above for the video review.]
Airline: American Airlines (AA)
Flight Number: AA38
Route: LAX-MIA
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
Registration: N-750AN
Delivered: March 2001
Flight Duration: 8 Hours 20 Minutes
Distance: 4,425 Miles
Overall Impression:
Welcome to Miami! For those of you who followed my previous reviews, you know that I’m a huge fan of American’s Business Class on their Boeing 777-300ER. So how does the 777-200 seats compare?
AA has 2 versions of their 777-200ER business class seats, the older version which I’m not a big fan of is made by Zodiac Aerospace. Half of the seats face forward, and the other half are aft facing. The big problem with those seats are that they are tethered together in pairs, so if one of your neighbors adjusts their seat or merely move, you’ll feel a shake in your seat as well, which could be bothersome especially when you’re trying to relax and sleep.
The version I’m reviewing is the newer of the two and is produced by B/E Aerospace (now Collins). These are traditional forward facing reverse herringbone configuration, and are popular with other carriers such as Virgin Australia, China Airlines, and now British Airways on their newer configurations. The seat is definitely much more comfortable and than the Zodiac seats on the 777-200 and offers more privacy.
What I liked:
The seats – I like these B/E Aerospace seats, though I’m not sure if I like them better than the business class seats on the 777-300ER. The seat offers plenty of personal space and storage. It was comfortable for lounging, dining upright. For sleeping, I found that I tended to hit hit the pullout table while rolling over to my side. Not a problem for shorter people like me, but could be a huge nuisance for taller folks. I also liked that there were personal air nozzles available to keep me cool during the flight.
The onboard service – The crew on this flight was really good. Jeff was attentive and constantly checked on us during the flight if we needed anything. Service was quick and efficient. I also liked that the crew setup a walk-up snackbar near the galley mid-flight.
The IFE – AA’s Panasonic IFE is among my favorite in the sky. The interface is intuitive and responsive. There was also plenty of media content and my favorite Voyager moving map app to keep me occupied during this transatlantic flight.
What I didn’t like:
Admirals Club at MIA – I had an issue with my seat due to an equipment change, and I asked one of the lounge staff for help, and she was not helpful at all. She huffed and puffed and eventually just told us to go to the gate for help without explanation. Other than that, the lounge was crowded by the time we arrived. The food and beverage selection was also very limited, so ended up just staying for a few minutes and decided to hang out at the gate instead.
Plastic Cups in Business Class – Please bring back the glassware soon!
Expensive WiFi Service – In-flight WiFi used to be $20 for the entire flight, but it appears the price has gone up almost double to $35.
It was OK…I guess:
The Food – The catering on this flight was OK. The steak I pre-ordered tasted pretty good and cooked to a nice medium. The breakfast choice was either a hot or cold dish, and I chose the hot which was your typical scrambled eggs. It was meh…
The Amenities – AA offers a business class amenity kit, Bang and Olufsen noise canceling headphones (collected 45 minutes before landing), bottled water, and a full-size pillow and duvet set. I typically like American’s Business Class Amenity kit, but I’m not too fond of this new Shinola kit. I thought the amenity bag is cheaply made and nothing compared to previous kits.
americanairlines #businessclass #mia #lhr #boeing #777 #777200ER
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