American Airlines Boeing 777-300 Flagship Business Class Review [MIA to GRU]

Airline: American Airlines (AA)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300
Flight #: AA929
Route: Miami International Airport (MIA) to São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU)
Date: November 28, 2024
Duration: 8 hours, 25 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Business class; 52 seats across 13 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration
Seats: 14D and 14G
Cost: 60,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles plus $18.10 per person (including a connecting flight from Los Angeles)

Nothing beats traveling to another continent to watch your favorite sports team suffer a humiliating loss in a championship game.

No, I don’t want to talk about it.

But that’s how my wife and I wound up on an American Airlines business class flight from Miami to São Paulo that we booked just a few weeks in advance.

Our favorite part of the flight was the fact it ended. We also liked the airport lounge we visited before departure. Beyond that, there weren’t any shining positives inside the plane itself.

With the inconsistent service, mediocre seats, and inexplicable stains, the flight’s negatives matched our low expectations, given past negative experiences with American Airlines. Was it the worst business class flight of our lives? No? Is it a flight we’d like to take again? Also no.

Let me walk you through our journey from Miami (MIA) to São Paulo (GRU) with AA.

Booking American Airlines Business Class

We booked this flight using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are Oneworld alliance partners, making it easy to book flights on 1 airline using the other airline’s miles. We spent 60,000 miles plus $19 per person on this flight. That included a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) before taking this flight out of the Miami International Airport to São Paulo’s Guarulhos airport.

If you were booking just the MIA-GRU flight, it’d be available for 50,000 miles per person in business class or 25,000 miles per person in economy.

Hot Tip:

If you want to boost your Mileage Plan balance, earning Alaska Airlines miles isn’t as easy as some other programs. However, both a personal and a small-business co-branded credit card offer welcome bonuses and miles on daily spending. Alaska also plans to launch a premium credit card soon, and you can earn miles through Alaska’s shopping portal, dining program, or Lyft rides.

At Miami International Airport

Connecting From Another Flight

Since I temporarily had American Airlines Platinum Pro status from the Instant Status Pass offer for World of Hyatt members (enrollment closed on September 5, 2024, unfortunately), we were able to use the elite check-in counter with American Airlines in Los Angeles. Given that our first flight was in economy, we would’ve needed to use the standard check-in line without this status.

When we arrived at the airport, there was no one in the preferred line, so we breezed through check-in, checked our suitcase, and were off to the TSA checkpoint quickly.

We arrived in Miami at gate D48. AA’s mobile app said our next flight would depart from D23, and that took us past the Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club near gate D30.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge

There are numerous lounges at MIA, and the Flagship Lounge is one of the better ones. It’s within the Admirals Club lounge at gate D30.

After scanning boarding passes at the entrance on the ground floor, guests could use elevators or stairs to access the lounges on the top floor. Those with access to the Flagship Lounge turned right on the top floor. Employees at check-in provided laminated cards that we needed to present at the entrance to gain access.

Immediately inside the doors, an employee at a small cart offered sparkling wine. Along a hallway leading to the lounge’s first seating area, there were additional reception desks. These desks didn’t have any employees, which is probably why we checked in before entering the lounge.

This first seating area had leather chairs and a few small tables that looked like nightstands. Each held a lamp and had multiple outlets built in. These same seats were available in a small hallway that led to a quiet area in the back.

In the hallway leading to the quiet area, there was a small buffet with drinks, snacks, and a salad bar.

A hallway in the front of the lounge also had a departures board and led to the showers, which you could reserve with an employee.

The bathrooms were near the front of the lounge, before the dining area. They were impeccably clean throughout our visit.

The lounge had a square shape, wrapping around windows overlooking the concourse below. Seating on the far side of the lounge was abundant and quiet.

Tables between pairs of seats offered more than space for your drinks. They also had outlets to charge your electronics.

The main dining area was the furthest point from the entrance, diagonal from the reception desk and accessible by going either direction around the lounge.

Along with bar-style seating, there were tables with chairs and booths. A nearby buffet had multiple types of salads and desserts.

Hot dishes included chicken, couscous, beef, and more.

Each dish had a sign with its name, ingredients, and allergen warnings.

Along the wall nearby, there were jars of nuts and candies, as well as multiple types of fruit. This area also had self-serve coffee and hot tea.

There were 2 drink stations near the dining area. These had refrigerators with beers and sodas, plus a soda machine with numerous combinations of Coke products available.

Nearby, there was a self-serve alcohol station that had beer, wine, liquor, juice, and even garnishes like limes and cherries. No little umbrellas, though.

Beyond the dining area, there was an entrance to the Flaghship First dining area, reserved only for those flying in long-haul first class, with the top tiers of Oneworld elite status, or those who redeem their AA miles for access.

Exploring more of the lounge, we found a nook with additional tables and chairs in a group setting.

There was also a TV room near the front of the lounge, left after the entrance.

Just past the TV room, in the corner of the lounge, there was a business center with a computer and printer, plus desks and outlets for using your own laptop.

The windows from the business center had the best views in the lounge from which to check out planes.

The guacamole station opened in the Admirals Club next door at 5 p.m., and I confirmed with staff that I could go there and then return to the Flagship Lounge.

You could choose your add-ins and spice level, and then a friendly employee whipped up guacamole accompanied by a mountain of tortilla chips.

I waited about 15 minutes in line for the guacamole, but it was worth it.

Boarding

We departed from gate D23, which was a short walk from the lounge. Boarding started on time.

However, it was a mess. No, it was worse than a mess, but I can’t think of what word that is.

Boarding was supposed to be by groups. After preboarding and boarding for the top AAdvantage elites, the next group should’ve been those flying in first class and business class. Instead, hordes rushed the gate.

Rather than making announcements for people to step aside and respect the boarding groups, the employees looked at boarding passes for each passenger as they approached the door, asking some of them to step aside. This was not only time-consuming but also created an agglomeration of people around the door that blocked other passengers.

By the time we shoved our way through the crowd of people who refused to move aside until their boarding group was called, there was already a long line inside the jet bridge. This was further complicated by flight attendants at the boarding door who were chatting with passengers rather than efficiently getting people into the plane and away from the door.

We boarded through the middle door, with first class and 2 rows of business class in a minicabin to the left. The rest of business class and economy were to the right.

On Board American Airlines Business Class

Business Class Cabin and Seat

Our flight in Flagship Business on American Airlines’ Boeing 777-300 had 2 business class cabins. There were 2 rows with 4 seats each in a minicabin immediately after first class. The remaining 11 rows and 44 seats were in the main business cabin, which is where we sat.

The cabin had a 1-2-1 configuration in a reverse herringbone layout. All window seats and all middle seats were inherently the same, with none providing more privacy than any other.

Seats in the middle were angled toward the center, with the controls and storage between passengers.

This made it hard to talk to my wife at times because we both needed to lean forward past the items between us.

Window seats on either side faced the windows.

The molding at the base of the seats had a small step to help people reach the overhead bins.

I sat in 14D, a middle seat on the left side of the plane. The space around the seat was fair.

The seat itself was dark gray, almost black, and the trim around it was another shade of gray. The plastic molding was cream.

Seats had an adjustable headrest and padded seatbelt, but there wasn’t a shoulder strap. Along the aisle, there was an adjustable armrest that moved up and down easily.

The footwell sat at an angle and felt cramped later on when I was lying down. However, as a footrest, it was sufficient.

The pad in the footwell showed considerable signs of wear and tear, but those were less shocking than the considerable stains on the fabric.

There also was an odd step on the floor between my seat and the footwell.

Along the aisle, there was a literature pocket at the base of the molding.

At the top of the molding, there was a coat hook near the aisle.

In the center section between seats, I found numerous controls. The remote for the entertainment system was here, next to a reading lamp with multiple levels of brightness.

The seat controls were here also, and they functioned as expected to sit up or lie down.

Along with a universal outlet, there was a USB-A port and various audio-visual inputs that I can’t imagine anyone is using.

The large tray table came out of the middle section between seats. I found the latch near my hip. The table came out folded and was impressively large when unfolded.

I also found a storage bin with a sliding door along the aisle near my feet. It had seen better days.

As we settled into our seats, crew members came around and offered welcome drinks. The choices were sparkling wine or orange juice.

When it came time to sleep, the bedding and pillow were comfortable. The seat, not so much. The padding tended to shift away from the middle of the seat (where it folded in the sitting position), meaning the hard parts underneath poked me in the side.

With the layout of the molding and footwell, lying in certain positions wasn’t possible if you wanted to stretch out or lay on your side. It took several attempts at rolling around to find a comfortable position, but I still wouldn’t rate the comfort above medium.

Choosing the Best Seat

Even though the seats are largely similar, there are some I’d recommend above others on this plane. First, avoid 11A and 11J, as those don’t have windows.

The minicabin at the front of business class can reduce the chances of noise from other passengers. Those seats are in rows 3 and 4. However, they’re also near the galley and restrooms, which can produce noise in other ways. That said, a seat in row 3 could be a solid option.

Alternatively, sitting in the middle of the larger cabin can keep you away from the lavatories and galleys, making rows 9 and 10 good options.

Passengers traveling together should choose the middle seats, D and G. Solo passengers will like the window seats, which are A and J. All seats have the same configuration, so the seats in any particular row won’t offer more privacy than another.

Seats did offer privacy through the paneling along the aisle, though they didn’t have doors to close.

Looking up the aisle from the rear, passengers were well hidden. You wouldn’t even know there was a dog on the plane if it hadn’t popped out exactly as I took this picture!

Food and Beverages

On this flight, we had both dinner and breakfast. When we arrived at our seats, trifold menus were waiting for us. The service included a salad and starter, then the main course and dessert. Choices included smoked brisket or roasted sea bass, plus desserts like an ice cream sundae or a cheese plate.

There was also an express meal you could request to maximize your sleep time by cutting out the starter.

The back of the menu had a wine list.

Before receiving our meals, each customer received a hot towel to freshen up. Prior to serving our meals, flight attendants confirmed that we had requested vegan meals. Our plates came with 2 different Indian dishes plus basmati rice. The starter had a very spicy eggplant dish before the very spicy Indian dishes. My wife could eat hardly any of her food because of the spice level.

Along with the roll, the main course and starter were actually vegan, so AA gets props for that. However, the strange pack of butter with a “real dairy” label and the non-vegan baklava on the tray prohibit them from getting full marks in this area.

When taking orders for dinner, staff also asked customers if they wanted to be woken up for breakfast. We confirmed that special meals were available for breakfast, so I told the flight attendant I’d have breakfast if I were awake. If I were sleeping, I’d skip breakfast. My wife said she would skip breakfast and keep sleeping, also.

I’ll discuss the reasoning in the service section, but we both wound up having breakfast. It included fruits, a bagel with margarine and jam, and a hot quinoa-oats dish that was deceptively good.

For passengers ordering from the inflight menu, the breakfast options were a fruit bowl or frittata.

Amenities

Bedding and Slippers

On arrival at our seats, we found a cloth, zippered bag with bedding and a pillow inside.

We also found a small bag with a pair of slippers on the division between seats, placed there before boarding.

The pillow and duvet were comfortable, and the duvet covered the size of the bed.

Amenity Kit

Staff placed amenity kits at each seat prior to boarding. We found these with the menu between the seats.

The amenity kit had a log shape. Its body was dark gray, while the handle and zipper pull were a deep red color.

Inside, we found products from retailer Thirteen Lune, including lotion, lip balm, earplugs, a dental kit,and an eye mask.

Entertainment

Each side had a built-in personal entertainment system. The screen folded into the wall of the molding around the seat in front and was released by pushing a button nearby. There were several languages available for the system.

On the home page, menu options included kids programming, entertainment, and even information about the meal service. It also showed information about our flight and destination in the bottom corner.

Choosing entertainment led to submenus for music, movies, and TV programming. These could be filtered by categories like New, Popular, and All. Filtering by genre wasn’t possible.

In the audio section, choices were both confusing and limited. Some sections only had 1 album, while others would show an album choice and then not have all of the songs from that album.

However, there were numerous options for audiobooks.

Bang & Olufsen headsets were in a protective case at our seats when we arrived. We also had a wipe to clean them before use.

Internet

Wi-Fi was available for purchase on this flight. A full-flight package cost $35.

Lavatories

There were multiple lavatories available between business class and the economy cabin. These were small and had the basic features you’d expect. There also were 2 lavatories near the galley between rows 4 and 5. These were nicer and more spacious.

Along with faux-wood paneling, these had a diaper-changing station. While the counters and sink were clean throughout the flight, the floor consistently had a mysterious, sticky substance trying to rob us of our slippers.

Service

Ah, service. It wasn’t great.

Boarding was a mess, and the “you’re being too friendly, slowing things down” friendliness of the flight attendants at the boarding door only exacerbated what was happening up at the gate.

Meal service during dinner was mostly good. Breakfast was a trainwreck, however.

At dinner, the crew confirmed our special meal requests and then delivered them. When the food came, I was asked what I wanted to drink, and I received it within a few minutes. My wife had to flag someone down to ask about a drink, and then it came about 10 minutes later.

We were in the next-to-last row of business class. In the seats immediately behind us, there were 2 employees flying nonrev (for free), and they knew all of the staff. The flight attendants visited these 2 people numerous times throughout the flight, speaking at normal volume all night. We had to ask them to be quiet several times because they were waking up not just us but other passengers.

Thus, we were awake at breakfast time since the crew and the people behind us consistently made noise and slammed their belongings in the overhead bins repeatedly. I flagged down a flight attendant and said I’d have breakfast. It came in short order. My wife rang her call button 3 or 4 times without a response. I rang mine and got someone to come in a few minutes, only for her to tell me she’d find someone else to get the meal for my wife.

By the time my wife got her food, they told her she needed to eat quickly because we’d start descending soon, as if it had been her fault they had taken so long.

True to form, American’s flight crew also came around and took our headphones when we started descending for São Paulo. That left a good 45 minutes of the flight where we couldn’t listen to music or hear movies from the entertainment system. I don’t understand why AA is so obsessed with reclaiming its headsets well before landing. I’ve never seen another airline do this, and it diminishes the final part of the flight experience.

Flight attendants even yanked the headphones off of people who were asleep when it was time to collect them. Just wow. It evoked Gollum and his “precious.”

This also creates an odd situation in which economy passengers have better amenities than those in business class for the flight’s final 45 minutes, based on who can enjoy the entertainment system and who can’t.

Arrival at São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport

As we landed, my wife leaned over and said what I was already thinking: “Glad we’re getting off this flight soon.”

We made a quick taxi to GRU’s Terminal 3 and heard the obligatory announcements about baggage claim, passport control, and remembering to take our belongings as we exited. The crew also made announcements thanking us for flying with American Airlines and told us both our arrival gate number and baggage claim carousel number.

Deplaning was through the middle door — the same one we entered in Miami.

Passengers in first and business class were nearest the door and exited first. Staff who had been absent during breakfast were now present to say goodbye as we left the plane.

Final Thoughts

Service from staff was inconsistent at best — nothing close to what other airlines offer passengers in premium cabins. The stains around my seat and the sticky floor in the bathrooms were gross, and then there was the ordeal with the headsets that AA obsesses over. Plus, the bed position wasn’t comfortable.

As we walked off the plane, we agreed that we’d try to avoid flying American Airlines whenever possible in the future. It was just one more flight that combined numerous bad elements.