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Airline: American Airlines (AA)
Flight Number: AA167
Route: JFK-HND
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Registration: N830AN
Delivered: September 2017
Flight Duration: 13 Hours 5 Minutes
Distance: 6,772 Miles
Overall Impression:
For this 13-hour transpacific flight to Tokyo, we flew in business class on American Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, outfitted with 30 Collins Super Diamond lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration. While these aren’t American’s newest suites with doors found on select 787-9Ps, they’re still very comfortable and well-suited for an ultra-long-haul journey.
The New York-based crew was a highlight, delivering consistently excellent and polished service throughout the flight. It was also great to see American offering mattress pads, slippers, and pajamas on this route—small touches that made a noticeable difference in overall comfort.
Catering out of JFK was decent and perfectly adequate, though not particularly memorable—especially when compared to some of American’s Asian competitors. Overall, this was a strong and comfortable long-haul experience, even if it doesn’t quite push the boundaries of what business class can be.
What I Liked:
The seats – While no longer American Airlines’ newest product, the Super Diamond reverse herringbone seats still hold up very well. They felt private even without a sliding door and were comfortable for lounging, dining, and getting some proper rest on the long journey to Tokyo. I also appreciated the presence of personal air nozzles, which made it much easier to stay cool throughout the flight.
Business Class Amenities – American continues to offer a solid set of amenities in business class. You’ll find a well-stocked amenity kit, Bang & Olufsen noise-canceling headphones, and bottled water at your seat. The standout for me was the Nectar mattress pad paired with a full-size pillow and duvet—it made a real difference when it came time to sleep. Slippers and pajamas are also provided on this route, and those extra touches help the experience feel more premium.
The service – The service was a highlight of this flight, thanks to the New York-based crew. The two flight attendants working our cabin were warm, attentive, and clearly took pride in their work. They struck a great balance between being friendly and professional without ever feeling intrusive. From the pre-departure drinks to the pacing of the meal service, everything felt smooth and well-timed. We felt genuinely well looked after from start to finish.
The IFE – American Airlines’ Panasonic IFE system remains one of my favorites. It’s responsive, easy to navigate, and offers a strong selection of content. I also found myself checking the Voyager moving map frequently—it’s a small detail, but a fun and useful way to track progress on a long-haul flight.
The SoHo Lounge at JFK – We had access to the SoHo Lounge JFK, part of the joint venture between American Airlines and British Airways. While the lounge is on the smaller side, it offers a cozy and well-designed space to relax before departure. Seating was easy to find during our visit, and we appreciated having both a buffet and a casual à la carte menu, which provided a good range of dining options. There’s also a full bar, showers, and a quiet relaxation area. Overall, the SoHo Lounge exceeded our expectations and was a great way to start the journey.
What I didn’t like:
Expensive and Unreliable In-flight Wi-Fi – The cost of in-flight Wi-Fi on American Airlines for the full flight was a steep $35. Unfortunately, the service didn’t come close to justifying the price—it was slow and inconsistent for much of the journey. Even basic tasks like light browsing or checking Facebook and Instagram felt frustratingly unreliable. At that price point, a far more stable connection should be the baseline. Hopefully, this improves—and ideally becomes complimentary—once American fully rolls out its high-speed Wi-Fi across the fleet.
It was OK…I guess:
The catering – As mentioned earlier, the catering on this flight out of JFK was generally quite good. American Airlines partners with Japan Airlines to offer a Japanese meal option on this route, which is what I chose. The presentation and overall quality were impressive by AA standards, though still not quite on par with JAL. The ice cream sundae once again stood out as a highlight and didn’t disappoint.
Mid-flight, my companion had the beef wrap, which was OK. The meal was served with a side of fruits.
For the pre-arrival meal, my companion had the beef nikujaga bowl, which was quite enjoyable and served hot. Unfortunately, by the time the crew reached my row, they had run out of options, so I ended up with the omelet—which was fairly forgettable. Both dishes were served with a side salad and a slice of key lime cheesecake.
Bottom Line:
This transpacific flight with American Airlines delivers a comfortable and well-rounded business class experience. The seat remains a strong and reliable product, the service from the New York-based crew was excellent, and the added amenities like mattress pads and pajamas elevate the overall journey. While the catering is decent and the lounge experience at JFK is a plus, areas like inconsistent Wi-Fi and uneven meal execution leave some room for improvement. Overall, a very solid flight—just not quite at the level of the best Asian carriers.
TravelingFoody.com 