[Click above for the video review.]
Airline: American Airlines (AA)
Flight Number: AA104
Route: JFK-LHR
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
Registration: N717AN
Delivered: July 2000
Flight Duration: 6 Hours 35 Minutes
Distance: 3,451 Miles
Overall Impression:
For this transatlantic journey, we flew business class with American Airlines, eager to see how their long-haul product stacks up today. While American may not always be the first airline that comes to mind for a premium experience, they’ve made steady improvements over the years—particularly with their Safran Cirrus seats and upgraded lounge offerings.
This flight offered a good opportunity to evaluate the full experience, from the ground at JFK’s SoHo Lounge to the onboard service, catering, and overall comfort across the Atlantic. While there were definitely some strong points, a few familiar shortcomings also made an appearance along the way.
What I liked:
The seats – I’ve always been a fan of American Airlines’ Safran Cirrus seat. While it’s not fully enclosed, it still offers a good sense of space and privacy thanks to its thoughtful layout. The seat is intuitive to use and comfortable for lounging and dining, and it converts into a fully flat bed for sleeping.
One thing I particularly appreciated is the absence of a narrow footwell or bulky table that restricts legroom—something that can be an issue on other reverse herringbone seats.
I was seated in 4J in the mini business class cabin located behind first class, and having just eight seats in that section made the space feel noticeably quieter and more private.
The onboard service – The service on this flight was solid, especially by U.S. carrier standards. The crew working our aisle were efficient and friendly, delivering a smooth and well-paced service throughout the flight. Pre-departure beverages were offered during boarding, followed by hot towels after takeoff. Overall, the crew struck a good balance between professionalism and approachability.
The IFE – American Airlines’ Panasonic inflight entertainment system remains one of my favorites. The interface is responsive and easy to navigate, and there’s a strong selection of content available. I also found myself regularly checking the Voyager moving map—it’s a small feature, but a great way to stay engaged during a long transatlantic flight.
The SoHo Lounge at JFK – Business class passengers have access to the SoHo Lounge JFK, part of the joint venture between American Airlines and British Airways. The lounge is spacious and well-designed, making it easy to find seating or a spot to dine.
We appreciated the combination of buffet options and a casual à la carte menu, which offered a solid range of pre-flight dining choices. There’s also a full bar, showers, and a relaxation area. Overall, the SoHo Lounge exceeded our expectations and was a great way to start the journey.
What I didn’t like:
Expensive Wi-Fi Service – In-flight Wi-Fi on American Airlines came in at $35 for the full flight, which feels steep—especially given the performance. Panasonic’s satellite connection was slow and inconsistent, making even basic browsing a challenge at times.
It was OK…I guess:
The catering – As mentioned earlier, catering out of JFK was decent but far from memorable. Presentation could definitely be improved, with both the starter and main served together on a single tray—understandable for a late-night departure, but still not particularly premium.
The meal service started with a beverage service served with a ramekin of warm mixed nuts.
The baby spinach salad and citrus-poached shrimp with fish ceviche starters were both light and fresh to start. This was served with a selection of warm breads. Unfortunately, the mains didn’t quite live up to expectations. My companion’s ginger turmeric halibut was overcooked and dry, while my herbed short rib, although tender, lacked flavor and was fairly uninspiring.
As is often the case on AA, the highlight of the meal was the classic ice cream sundae, which did not disappoint.
Mid-flight, the crew set up a self-serve snack bar, which was a convenient option for a quick bite.
The pre-arrival meal was the weakest part of the catering. I chose the Swiss cheese and roasted tomato omelet which was soggy and was still cold when served, though the accompanying fruit bowl was at least fresh. Warm breakfast breads/pastries were also offered during the meal.
The Amenities – American Airlines offers a standard set of business class amenities, including an amenity kit, slippers, Bang & Olufsen noise-canceling headphones, bottled water, and a full-size pillow and duvet. While these cover the basics well, the lavatories lack any premium touches, offering only basic hand soap without additional amenities.
Bottom Line:
This transatlantic flight with American Airlines delivers a comfortable and generally reliable business class experience. The Safran Cirrus seat remains a strong and well-designed product, and the SoHo Lounge at JFK adds a premium touch to the ground experience. Service was solid, if not exceptional, and the inflight entertainment system continues to impress.
However, areas like inconsistent catering and overpriced, underperforming Wi-Fi hold the experience back from feeling truly premium. Overall, it’s a good, dependable way to cross the Atlantic—but there’s still room for refinement if American wants to compete with the very best.
TravelingFoody.com 