What's it like to fly on American Airlines to the United States?

With my passport in my pocket and a small suitcase, I arrived at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, in the United States. With my boarding pass in hand, I waited for the American Airlines flight that would take me to São Paulo. I was getting ready to return home after five incredible days in Jackson Hole, a village of 10,000 inhabitants in Wyoming, one of the largest states in the United States.

The purpose of the trip? Well, several. In Jackson Hole the idea was to learn how to ski, something I had only tried once, almost six years ago, but this trip was full of firsts for me. It was my first visit to the United States. I’ve dreamed of visiting the country for years – I got my American visa in 2013 – but until this month I hadn’t been able to make a trip to the country. Also, this was my first business class trip. And, with comfort as the watchword, enjoying the journey to the United States, on the way back to Brazil and also on internal flights was another attraction on the itinerary.

What’s it like to fly on American Airlines directly to the US?

I boarded the American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which runs between Dallas and Guarulhos. The first thing that catches your eye in business class are the seats. Translation: a place isolated from others and that turns into a bed, allowing you to fly completely lying down. Each seat has direct access to the aisle – no more getting stuck between two people.

I wanted to recline the seat as soon as I arrived and start a nap, but as I would have to return the seat to the upright position upon takeoff and I would have dinner soon after, I ended up opting to watch a movie. The plane hadn’t even left the ground when I started looking for what to watch – there are 250 film options, including new releases.

For example, the film La La Land, one of those that made waves at this year’s Oscars, is now available in high demand. There are also around 300 TV programs. I decided to start with an old but great movie: Little Miss Sunshine. Since the film is relatively short, I figured it would end right after dinner, leaving me plenty of time to sleep. It worked out.

Regarding in-flight entertainment, it is also worth highlighting that the American Airlines flight had Wi-Fi internet and that the monitors in business class are 16 inches. You can control it via the touch screen or a remote control. The headphones are from Bose and the amenity kit has a custom bag by Cole Haan, toothbrush, toothpaste, sleep mask, earplugs, sleep socks, lip balm, a pen and headphone covers .

I had been watching the film for at least twenty minutes when the plane took off. I ordered a wine to start the night and waited for dinner, which started with the traditional portion of chestnuts, walnuts and the like, but soon the meal arrived. Complete: starter, main course and dessert.

I ordered salad and cheese sticks for starters; meat, prawns and rice for the main course and ice cream for dessert, all accompanied by another glass of wine.

The movie ended with dinner, which left me ready for bed. I left my cell phone charging in the socket next to the seat, reclined the bed and flew over the Caribbean, entered South America and returned to Brazil completely lying down. On the heights.

I woke up just for breakfast, when we were flying over Minas Gerais. I took the opportunity to take a look at the series: I had time to watch three episodes of the tenth season of The Big Bang Theory, which premiered on American TV in the second half of last year. We landed shortly after in Guarulhos.

All very good, but what about the other flight classes? The main cabin – commonly known as economy – also has an entertainment system, with the same programs and films available in the executive cabin. All seats have USB sockets and inputs and there is WiFi coverage during the flight!

On flights with the American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner there is another option, Premium Economy Class, which has more legroom on the seats, larger monitors, personal care kits, a different menu, with wines, beer and spirits, in addition to everything that is also in the main cabin. Premium Economy is available on flights between Dallas and São Paulo.

Other American Airlines flights to the United States: departure from BH

I returned to Brazil via São Paulo, but I live in Belo Horizonte. And my outbound flight was from the capital of Minas Gerais, directly to Miami. I arrived at Confins Airport to take, for the first time, an international flight from my city.

The difference was only in the plane, a Boeing 767-300. Business class chairs are also fully reclining and have a double folding table, used for dining or working. For in-flight entertainment, a 10-inch Samsung Galaxy tablet is available, which has the same programs, music and films that I found on the flight to São Paulo, on the 787-9 Dreamliner. The Bose headset and amenity kit were also the same.

On the way there, while watching the film Inferno, starring Tom Hanks, I had salad, rice and salmon for dinner and had a portion of cheese and fruit for dessert, all accompanied, of course, by wine.

The pattern was the same on the internal flights I took in the United States, between Miami and Dallas and from there to Jackson Hole, all flights taking just over 2 hours.

On the flight between Jackson Hole and Dallas, which takes about two hours

Admirals Lounge Club

It’s also worth mentioning the Admirals Club, a kind of American Airlines VIP lounge. Those flying business class or first class have a free pass in the lounge, as do members of Oneworld, an alliance of airlines of which American Airlines is a member and founder, in the EmeraldSM and SapphireS categories. Other customers can purchase entry even if they are flying economy class.

There are two in Brazil: one in Guarulhos, opened in 2015 – and therefore brand new -, and another in Galeão, in Rio de Janeiro. I was in one of the Admirals Lounge Club in Dallas, waiting for the flight that would bring me back to Brazil. There you will find snacks, drinks, appetizers, Wi-Fi, chairs and armchairs to rest, computers, printers, workstations and bathrooms with showers, which is great for those who are in the middle of connections or long trips.

American Airlines has several direct flights departing from Brazil to the United States. In addition to São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, which I already mentioned in the text, there are flights from Rio de Janeiro, operated on Boeing 777-200s; from Brasília, which are on 757s, and Manaus, on an Airbus A319. Flights also depart from São Paulo to Miami, New York and Los Angeles, all on Boeing 777-300.

* 360meridianos’ trip to the United States was sponsored by American Airlines.

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