American Airlines has been quickly retrofitting their planes, introducing new planes, and refreshing their brand image as the once cutting edge airline now tries to play catch up with their largest US competitors and overseas competitors in order to provide customers with a modern and comfortable inflight experience. After being the first US based airline to fly the 777-300ER, with an extremely solid hard product offering, the airline is now retrofitting their other widebody jets and replacing their older planes with newer more modern aircrafts.
This morning, AA released pictures and an overview of their new 777-200 which is taking to the skies later this year with a retrofitted business class cabin, main cabin extra, and the cramped 10 abreast seats similar to AA’s newer 777-300ER variant. The plane will also offer upgraded amenities like the 777-300ER to include international WiFi, a walk up bar, and lay flat seats in the forward cabin! Unlike the 777-300ER will be only 2 classes on the 772, business and economy, and will drop the first class cabin. Once the retrofitted 777-200 are completed, all of American widebody jets will offer lay flat seats in business class, following a similar announcement of refurbished 767-300s.
Explore the globe while enjoying a whole new level of comfort in every cabin of our refreshed Boeing 777-200, which we will begin retrofitting later this year.
The retrofit offers significant updates throughout the entire plane. These include a two-class cabin configuration with American’s new Business Class seats, complete with fully lie-flat and all-aisle access giving you a spacious, personal and private inflight experience. These ultramodern seats are fully adjustable and convert to 6-foot-4.5-inch fully lie-flat beds to ensure a rested journey from beginning to end. And Business Class customers will have access to a walk-up bar stocked with a selection of snacks and refreshments. In addition, we’ll add 45 Main Cabin Extra seats to offer you up to six more inches of legroom to stretch out.
In each cabin, we’re offering increased connectivity and updated inflight entertainment including international Wi-Fi and extended personal in-seat entertainment with more than 200 movies, 180 TV shows and a large collection of games and audio programs. Throughout the plane, customers will also enjoy a modern interior, with unique lighting, a dramatic archway, and ceiling design that creates a feeling of spaciousness.
The Business class cabin will include both rear and forward facing seats, but will still be arranged in a 1x2x1 configuration. This will allow a 6 foot+ bed and provides all aisle access for business class customers. This is a similar configuration to Delta’s 777-200s, but Delta’s seats are all forward facing and provides more personal space than the more crowded 2x4x2 BA 777s! The seat is an upgraded seat from the orginal US Airways Envoy class seat and is very similar to the 777-300ER seat or Cathay Pacific and Eva Air’s newer business class seat.
If you’re flying in Business Class on the retrofitted 777-200, you’ll enjoy:
- Adjustable forward-and rear-facing Business Class seats that transform into fully lie-flat 6-foot-4.5-inch beds with more sleeping space
- Aisle access at every seat, meaning easier access to move about the cabin
- International Wi-Fi capability keeping you connected anywhere on the globe
- Universal 110v AC power outlets and USB ports at every seat
- A 17-inch touchscreen monitor offers up to 250 movies, more than 180 TV programs and more than 350 audio selections
- Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headsets for use in flight
- Walk-up bar stocked with a selection of snacks and refreshments
- Amenity kits that double as tablet cases, stocked with Dermalogica® skincare products
The main cabin is also being refurbished, with new seats, power ports, larger TV screens and more. Passengers in the 45 seat main cabin extra will enjoy 3x3x3 seating, while those without Elite status or not willing to fork up the few extra dollars will succumb to 10 abreast seating and a narrower seat. The good news is the power port is in front of you on the seat back, meaning no more fumbling under the seat to find the power port!
Flying in the Main Cabin gives you a host of options like:
- Specially designed Main Cabin Extra seating offering up to six more inches of legroom to stretch out
- Universal 110v AC power outlets and USB ports at every seat
- Personal in-seat entertainment with up to 250 movies, and over 180 TV programs and 350 audio selections
- International Wi-Fi capability keeping you connected anywhere on the globe
I am very excited to see these newly refurbished plane take to the sky and align with AA’s other product refresh that has been rolling out over the last year. I flew the 777-300ER in business (report still to come) and in Main Cabin Extra to London in March of 2014 and I can report both cabins were very comfortable. I believe the new hard product on the 777-200 will match that of what we’ve already seen on the 777-300ER! Not to mention the double power port in Business Class is a much welcome addition!
This plane is scheduled to go into service Fall of 2014, routes have yet to be announced, but my guess is high grossing routes to China and Brazil will probably see this updated plane before other long haul routes.
