Review of American Airlines flight New York → Los Angeles in First

Welcome to my second trip report. This was a great first flight of the year as I was upgraded to First from Business on day of departure. This was my second time flying in First Class on American after almost 5 years since the first time. What's changed? The seat has remained the same, but the pre-flight experience is slightly different (with pros and cons). Overall, an excellent start to 2023.

I arrived to JFK at around 5:15 PM after some light traffic on the Grand Central Parkway. I proceeded to the right side of the Terminal 8 Departures Hall to the Flagship Check-In area, where my physical boarding pass was issued and my suitcase taken. There apparently was an issue with my original seat (1F) so I was assigned to 1A. After going through security (again, TSA Precheck streamlined the process), I headed towards the new Chelsea Lounge. Access is included for First Class passengers on American and British Airways, making it the most exclusive lounge for Oneworld members.

The lounge was a short walk up a staircase adjacent to Bobby Van's Steakhouse. After verification of my boarding pass, I stepped into the quiet oasis of the lounge. Years ago, Flagship First Dining was a quiet affair but now that BA passengers are flying out of Terminal 8, there are quite a few more guests in the lounge. In December, Oneworld consolidated operations at JFK, meaning that BA, AA, Iberia and others now fly out of one terminal, making connections so much easier. However, it does mean that security lines will be longer given increased volume.

One disadvantage is the lack of natural light in the lounge, which felt odd considering the previous Flagship First Dining area had views of the tarmac. Also note that the lounge does not provide announcements for domestic flight departures, so keep an eye on your phone or watch.  After sitting down, I ordered a glass of white wine and sparkling water and perused the menu. There seemed to be a bit less options compared to four years ago, but happily the quality is excellent. I started off with a small bowl of chicken noodle soup which tasted quite good. I loved the design of the glass used for the sparkling water.

For my main, I chose the cod with French fries (fish and chips, essentially). It was accompanied by a broccoli puree, along with ketchup and a vinegar-based dip. Again, I found myself a big fan of the plating. The cod was fried perfectly. I struck up a conversation with a friendly traveler next to me who shared stories about his time in New York before he headed back to London with his daughter. The service was very polite throughout the meal and I never felt rushed.

To wrap up, I ordered the olive oil cake with yogurt and pomegranate seeds, a delicious way to finish off the meal - plus a double espresso as I didn't want to nap on the flight. The cake was light and the pomegranate provided a nice counterpoint to the richness of the yogurt. Very pleased with my pre-flight meal. As a side note, I did not partake, but the lounge also provides showers to travelers wanting to freshen up. I used the restroom once and found it clean, although I used hand lotion instead of soap as I didn't see where to find the soap (perhaps I missed it).

After a quick jog to the gate (I wanted to burn off some calories as I was planning to eat again on the plane), I boarded with Group 1. One of the advantages of First is that you don't have to clamber over your seatmate to access the lavatory if you're seated in a window seat. There is plenty of space to stretch out and store your items. Note that the monitors do swivel, unlike business, and that your armrest is initially lowered but can be raised after takeoff. I won't comment on the amenity kit because the contents were identical to Business, unfortunately. That would have been a nice differentiation point (maybe adding some mouthwash, a shoe horn, etc).

To the side of the seat is the storage.

There's also a nook similar to Business where a bottle of water was waiting along with the awesome Bang & Olufsen headphones. Pre takeoff, I drank a glass of orange juice (from concentrate). Champagne was the alternative. Note the different options for the seat. One feature they could consider adding is a massage function which some airlines do offer. The tray table is also easier to access than it is in Business, in my opinion.

The service was very polite throughout the flight. The head purser noted I had pre-ordered the halibut entree (I did mention that I was stuffed from the Lounge and she chuckled). The options for mains included the aforementioned fish, plus beef, chicken or pasta. I chose to skip the small plates and salad and went with the soup and entree. I did have a class of chardonnay with the meal. Note that American also lets you choose kosher, vegan, and other alternative meals online. I do wish they would email passengers a reminder to reserve the meal, as United does.

Prior to the meal, we were offered an oshibori as well as two ramekins with olives and mixed nuts. As you can see, their tablecloth doesn't cover the tray table (which is sturdy, but it would be cool if it was real wood!).

The soup was quite good. I loved that they used proper wine glasses (in Business they used standard glassware for wine). Also note the salt and pepper shakers plus the butter presented in a floral design. The pretzel roll was served warm as well - always great when airlines offer warmed bread in premium cabins. 

The entree followed and was quite tasty - I did leave some vegetables behind I was quite stuffed at that point. The halibut was cooked perfectly - not dry at all and the sauce had a delightful buttery taste with the tomato providing some balance. Fish tends to be a reliable option for inflight meals. Another difference from Business - the entree and appetizer were served separately which was a nice touch.

To finish off the meal, I ordered the caramel apple cake with a side of ice cream and creme anglaise. This was excellent as well. Prior to landing we were also offered warmed chocolate chip cookies, which were delicious but fell apart in my hands! A snack basket was also available.

The lavatory was nothing special, essentially the same as Business - this could be an area for differentiation as well. As far as in-flight entertainment, I can only comment on the movie selection as I happily found the entire Harry Potter series available for viewing. There are also games, TV shows, an in-flight map and other activities ensuring you won't be bored throughout your time in the air.

The movies kept me busy throughout the flight and we landed early, but due to aircraft troubles we were forced to switch gates, which put us in at around 11:05 PM. Baggage took some time to arrive on the carousel, after which I headed home in a Lyft to get some much needed rest. I'm hoping the T4 renovations at LAX finish up soon, as they are definitely long overdue.