The headline act is undoubtedly at the front of the aircraft. American has installed 70 Flagship Suite Business Class seats, each featuring a privacy door, additional storage and a chaise lounge seating position. They’re joined by 44 Premium Economy seats and 30 Main Cabin Extra seats, giving the aircraft a total of 144 seats that American describes as premium.

It also marks the beginning of the end for something that has long made American’s 777-300ER unique among US carriers: international First Class.

Flagship First is disappearing as American packs its largest aircraft with 70 new Business Class suites, but there are changes coming for Economy passengers too.

American Airlines has unveiled the first of its newly refurbished Boeing 777-300ERs, giving one of the airline’s most important long-haul aircraft a substantial makeover.

Out with First, in with the Flagship Suite

American’s new Flagship Suite is effectively becoming the airline’s top long-haul product.

The airline will stop selling Flagship First on the 777-300ER for travel from the 19th November 2026, while First will also disappear from its trans-continental operation from the 28th March 2027 as more Airbus A321XLRs enter service.

In its place is a considerably larger Business Class cabin.

The 70 new suites offer direct aisle access and closing privacy doors, while American says passengers will also benefit from more personal storage. The refurbishment increases the number of Business Class seats from 52 to 70, a 35% increase.

There are also eight Flagship Suite Preferred seats aboard the refurbished 777, offering additional space compared with the standard suites.

It makes the 777-300ER an extraordinarily premium-heavy aircraft, and one designed squarely around the increasing demand airlines are seeing for premium travel.

Premium Economy gets some love too

It isn't only Business Class receiving attention.

American's refurbished 777-300ER has 44 Premium Economy seats, with sculpted headrests, adjustable calf and foot rests and improved storage. Passengers also get wireless charging, dedicated water bottle storage, USB-C and AC power.

The new cabin follows the design language American has already introduced aboard its latest premium-heavy Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A321XLRs.

But what about Economy?

This is the part of the refurbishment that we're particularly interested in at The Flight Edit.

We recently flew American Airlines in Economy from Dallas/Fort Worth to São Paulo, admittedly aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner but there were very few redeeming features to our journey. Our overall experience highlighted just how much opportunity there is for American to improve its long-haul Economy offering.

And although most of the publicity surrounding this refurbishment understandably focuses on those shiny new Flagship Suites, there are improvements further back too.

Main Cabin passengers will benefit from American's latest inflight entertainment system, including 4K QLED seatback screens, while the refurbished aircraft will also offer free high-speed Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members, sponsored by AT&T.

That's welcome news.

A beautiful new seat and better technology can only form part of the Economy experience, though. Catering, service, cabin presentation and all of those smaller touches matter just as much when you're spending 10 hours or more onboard.

Having experienced the existing product between Dallas and São Paulo, we're looking forward to seeing whether the refurbishment is accompanied by improvements to the wider Main Cabin experience, rather than the focus being almost entirely on those travelling at the front.