It’s been an exhilarating week in Los Angeles. Think 20,000+ steps a day exploring theme parks, sun-soaked beaches, and sprawling outlet malls. Now it’s time to unwind. The promise of a bed in the skies is a welcome thought as we cram the final few Trader Joe’s snacks into our suitcases, ahead of our 15-hour Business Class flight back to Australia with American Airlines.
After flying to Los Angeles in American Airlines Premium Economy, it’s time to test out Business Class. The cost for this leg? Just 108,400 Qantas Points + around A$173 in fees and taxes per person – a relative bargain for all the perks and comforts of Business Class on a trans-Pacific flight.
Check-in, Lounge, and Boarding
Los Angeles couldn’t let us leave without one final traffic jam, so we arrive at LAX Terminal 4 a bit later than planned. But the first test of Business Class is the ground experience, and I’m happy to say that American Airlines passes with flying colours.
Priority perks on the ground
Business Class passengers can utilise the priority check-in counters, which are practically empty when we roll past. That’s a tick. But if you hold oneworld Emerald status (such as Qantas Platinum), then something even better awaits.
Ask to be dropped off at the Flagship First kerbside private check-in suite. Our bags are promptly whisked away without a worry and an agent escorts us to the front of the security line. TSA doesn’t seem too busy at this time so it’s not a huge timesaver, but we’ll take anything that gets us to the lounge quicker.
Lounging at LAX
Next up, dinner and drinks at the lounges. American Airlines Business Class passengers have two included options – the Qantas International Business Lounge and the American Airlines Flagship Lounge. Oneworld Emerald/Qantas Platinum members can also access the Qantas International First Lounge.
Our first stop is AA’s Flagship Lounge. A step up from the regular Admiral’s Club, the Flagship Lounge is an impressive space with Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, delicious cold and hot dishes and great views over the airfield. Unfortunately, the Flagship First Dining room at LAX isn’t open at the moment.
As a Business Class passenger, this lounge ticks all the boxes, and then some.
We also pop over to the nearby Qantas First Lounge for a sit-down dinner. As AA73 departs from the Tom Bradley International Terminal, you’ll probably come across this lounge as you walk from AA’s Terminal 4 over to TBIT – it’s located in the airside connector.
Of course, the a la carte dining and bartender service here is excellent. But on balance, I’d actually prefer to relax in the Flagship Lounge. It’s quieter – and with the high ceilings and expansive views – feels more spacious in a way.
Whilst I talk about Flagship First check-in and the Qantas First Lounge, these experiences don’t affect the overall score for this review as they are not standard inclusions with Business Class.
Boarding starts on time with the agent calling specific names to come onboard first at leisure – perhaps ConciergeKey guests? Then it’s actual First Class-ticketed passengers, followed by us in Business Class.
American Airlines Flagship Business seating
Onboard the Boeing 777, the Flagship Business cabin features 52 lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout, ensuring direct aisle access for all passengers. It’s based on a popular seat model – the Safran Cirrus II – which I’ve previously flown and reviewed on SriLankan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
The first thing I notice is how wide this seat is on the Boeing 777. There’s plenty of shoulder width and the footrest area is semi-open, rather than being a small cubby. There’s a privacy shield at head height, though the middle pairs of seats don’t have a divider.
Storage is okay with a section cut into the console with space for a water bottle and headphones, plus another storage area at the bottom and a separate space for shoes. There’s also a USB charging port and a universal AC power port on the console, so any size plug should fit.
Where the seat falters a bit is its age. It’s old and outdated now – at least from a tech perspective. The swing-out entertainment screen requires a lot of tapping to get where I need it to be.
The good news is from late 2024, American Airlines is starting to retrofit all the Boeing 777s with all-new Flagship Suites, featuring sliding doors and the latest mod-cons. Within a year or two, American Airlines should have one of the most competitive Business Class products flying between Sydney and LA.
When it’s time to snooze, the seat reclines into a spacious flatbed that’s over two metres long. Being able to sleep flat is the main reason most of us would want to fly Business Class. On that front, this seat does the job quite well.
I manage to catch around six hours of rest, while my partner slumbers on for most of the journey. Lucky her.
American Airlines Flagship Business dining
Before departure, we’re offered a choice of juice or Nicolas Feuillatte Grande Reserve Brut Champagne (served in a plastic cup). American Airlines serves a main meal after take-off, followed by a hybrid snack/breakfast menu on demand. Business Class passengers can pre-order their choice of main course online.
Shortly after take-off, the crew come around with warm nuts and a drink of choice. My pick is a pineapple hard seltzer. It’s quite tangy and refreshing if you’re after a lighter option.
Three-course dining in the sky
It’s not a choice between prawns or salad for appetisers – all the options are served together. The Romaine salad is vibrant and crunchy, but for me, it’s the Caribbean shrimp that steals the show. If that could be an entire main course, I’d be down for it! Rounding out the trio is a Caprese salad with pesto-marinated mozzarella – also delicious.
While the main course is a decent effort, it’s not a favourite of mine. I battle to slice the overcooked pistachio-crumbed lamb, but the flavours are rewarding once I get there.
My partner goes for the healthier ‘golden roasted chicken’ (an online pre-order exclusive) which is quite a wholesome meal when paired with the broccolini and mashed sweet potato. Despite its rather dry presentation, she tells me it’s a tender and juicy piece of chicken breast.
There’s a minor service hiccup when she’s initially served the same lamb as myself and the attendant is adamant it’s the chicken, but the crew eventually check again and sorts it out.
As for dessert… I’ve heard great things about American Airlines’ ice cream sundaes and this absolutely lives up to expectations. Creamy scoops of Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream are served with my choice of toppings. Naturally, I go for both the strawberry sauce and pecans. It’s worth every last slurp.
Snacks and breakfast
We’re both enjoying our beauty sleep soon after, so I don’t explore the snack bar until later in the flight. The forward galley is set up with a wide range of bites, ranging from mezze platters to rolls and cheesecake slices. My partner also highly rates the Hippeas chickpea chips and the Ghirardelli chocolates.
Interestingly, the dine-on-demand menu lists Wagyu sliders so I give it a go. It only takes five minutes for a pair of sliders to arrive, along with a range of condiments. They come deconstructed, with the lettuce, onion and tomato on the side to add as desired. My verdict: airlines should do this more often. It’s a perfect mid-flight hunger buster.
A few more hours later, breakfast is served ahead of our arrival starting with an energizing fruit smoothie. Then it’s a choice between the continental or hot American breakfast. I’m more than happy with the light breakfast with a chocolate croissant – the scrambled eggs and turkey ham are very ordinary.
Amenities
Each passenger receives an amenity kit featuring skincare products and essentials for freshening up during the flight. There’s also a pair of slippers at each seat. Inside the bedding kit is a plush pillow and blanket – but no mattress topper or PJs.
I ask a cabin crew member about the PJs as I am expecting them, but they tell me it’s been recently discontinued and to leave feedback to AA about it. That’s a pity. No complaints about the quality of the bedding though – it feels like proper hotel linens.
Good quality Bang & Olufson noise-cancelling headphones complement the in-flight entertainment, allowing me to catch up on some TV shows over breakfast without distractions. Just note that cabin crew come around to collect these during descent, so it may still be good to bring your own.
On this flight, I don’t use the Wi-Fi or watch much else on the entertainment system as the focus is on sleeping or snacking. But my Premium Economy review on the Boeing 777 details some of the movies and TV series on offer, as well as the Wi-Fi speed tests. Business Class passengers don’t automatically get free Wi-Fi.
Lavatories are kept in good condition throughout the flight. Here’s a tip – the ones at the front of the cabin are larger and also feature nicer finishings than the standard ones at the back.
How to book this flight with points
American Airlines flights are priced the same in points as Qantas flights when using Qantas Points, so this flight costs 108,400 points + fees and taxes. It seems that if your booking originates in Australia, the fees are only around A$170. But if you book this flight originating in the US, the fees are around US$170 (A$250).
You can also book this flight with points from other partner airlines, such as:
- Cathay: 89,000 Asia Miles + HK841 (~A$161)
- Alaska Airlines: 85,000 miles + US$99 (~A$145)
- British Airways: 154,500 Avios + AU$660
Cathay and Alaska Airlines both offer cheaper American Airlines flights than Qantas. But be sure to check availability with that partner before transferring or buying points, as it can differ between airlines.
Our Verdict
American Airlines Business Class is a great way to use Qantas Points, especially on the long flights between LA and Sydney. You can be sure of a good night’s sleep and priority perks on the ground with lounge access.
Where I feel Qantas has an edge is with inflight service and dining. PJs and mattress toppers – both absent on AA – come as standard. The Australian-focused menu might also appeal more – particularly for breakfast where café-style bites and espresso coffee are welcome.
Right now, the current seats on AA’s Boeing 777 are on their way out. But when American Airlines revamps the fleet with the new Flagship Suites, the experience should only get better.
Photography by Brandon Loo, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense. His partner travelled at her own expense.
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