777 Refurbishment Fact Sheet
Page 4
Boeing 777 Business Class Seat
Makes a Great Customer Experience Even Better
All 777 First Class cabins have been standardized to include the Flagship Suite® Seats
Overview
Last year, after extensive study, research and significant investment, American Airlines completed installation of its Boeing 777 Business Class seat, continuing its ongoing strategy to focus on providing customers – and especially premium customers – with greater comfort, flexibility and privacy.
American’s 777 aircraft fly long-haul service to cities in Europe and Asia and on selected routes in the United States and Latin America. American worked with Recaro Aircraft Seating Inc., the same company used for the previously announced 767-300 Business Class seat, to adapt American’s 767 Business Class seat for the 777.
The 777 Business Class seat design has similar features to the 767-300 seat, but also includes several differences that customers will value. Some of the key features are a lie-flat seat that has five independent motors, allowing for infinite adjustability; a bed length of 76 inches; a seat width that ranges from 21-26 inches including a fixed privacy divider and adjustable armrest; and an adjustable personal media player in the seat back.
At the same time, American made the investment to install its Flagship Suite® seats in 20 additional aircraft – meaning American’s entire 777 fleet now has the Flagship Suite, considered one of the most comfortable and popular First Class seats in the industry. Each Flagship Suite transforms into a fully flat six-foot, six-inch bed with drop-down armrests that allow for easier access and more sleeping space. Each suite features privacy dividers, power ports, leather headrests, two large tray tables, a swivel seat and a host of other comforts designed to enhance the travel experience.
Unique Features of American’s Business Class
The 777 Business Class seat is designed with two features unique to American Airlines:
Move Forward for Convenience, Privacy: The 777 Business Class seat has the ability to move forward while in the upright position, much like the popular feature of the 767-300 Business Class seat. This allows passengers to move the seat forward so they are offset from fellow travelers for added privacy. Shifting forward also lets passengers move closer to the seat-back tray table to eat or work.
Interlocking Tray Tables for Added Work, Dining Space: The innovative tray table design has two separate tables – one that lowers from the seat-back shell, and a second that lifts from the center console. The tables can be used separately or together to create one large work or dining surface. American has the only interlocking tray table offering in Business Class. In addition, there is a spacious cocktail table with ample room for drinks and snacks.
The first 777 aircraft received these cabin enhancements beginning in July 2007 and the remainder was completed mid-2008.
American’s Lie-Flat Business Class Seat: One of the Industry’s Most Adjustable
The Business Class seat was manufactured by Recaro, a leading specialist in aviation seating based in Germany with U.S. design offices in Fort Worth, Texas. The seat offers passengers the flexibility to customize the comfort setting to their personal preference. American selected Recaro as the seat supplier based on numerous seat comparisons and product research. The airline examined many seats and then closely studied those from five different suppliers. After conducting surveys of employees and customers, Recaro was consistently rated the most comfortable.
For American, the deciding factor was the seat’s extensive flexibility. Passengers can individually adjust any component of the seat, including the seat bottom, seat back, head rest, leg rest and leg-rest extension. In addition, American worked with Recaro to use pressure mapping to make the seats as comfortable as possible. During the design phase, pressure mapping sensors detected pressure points where the density of the cushion needed to be increased to better distribute weight – creating a more comfortable cushion. The seats also are enclosed by fixed shells, giving passengers a dedicated travel space.
There are two different types of lie-flat seats in the market, fully-flat and flat-at-an-angle. American chose the flat-at-an-angle seat for several reasons. First, the airline’s seat tests showed that there was not a significant difference in comfort between fully-flat and flat-at-an-angle seats. However, there was strong satisfaction for seats that had lounge, or Z, position capability found on the flat-at-an-angle seats. Second, fully-flat seats consume considerably more pitch than flat-at-an-angle seats, which typically fit in the existing seat footprint. With this configuration, American was able to install two additional Business Class seats for a total of 37 in the 777 cabin without changing the pitch of each seat. This is important because of strong customer demand and to preserve AAdvantage® members’ ability to upgrade into the Business Class cabin – an option valued by many frequent flyers. Research with customers and employees emphasizing customizable adjustability and comfort, combined, with the capability of serving the maximum number of Business Class customers and AAdvantage® members, led American to choose the flat-at-an-angle option.
Fully Adjustable Seat Provides Maximum Flexibility, Comfort: The Business Class seat offers extensive flexibility to customize the comfort setting to each individual’s preference. Passengers can use the preset positions to sit up, recline or lie flat. In addition, separate back rest, seat bottom, leg rest and leg-rest extension controls allow fine-tuning of comfort settings. There also is a memory setting so it’s easy for passengers to return to their favorite position.
For added comfort, soft memory foam cushions contour to passengers in the seat and an inventive one-piece seat cushion extends down to the feet – ideal for sleeping because there is no gap between cushions in the leg area.
Entertainment: The adjustable in-seat entertainment provides a wide selection of feature movies, current news, music, games and television shows, literally at each person's fingertips via audio and video on demand. The in-seat entertainment features a touch screen 10.6-inch tilting monitor. Passengers will be provided with the Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones for optimal sound. The news content will be uploaded frequently with current information. Movie and television programming as well as music content will be refreshed monthly.
Power Source: Power ports are located in the center console between passengers for easy accessibility – an advantage over some other airlines that locate the power port on the floor or under the seat.
Privacy and Personal Space: The fixed divider adds privacy, especially when in a reclined or lie-flat position. In addition, with the seat width ranging from 21-26 inches, depending on the position of the armrests, passengers will experience added room and comfort.
Two-Source Lighting: A light mounted in the seat-back shell illuminates the work table, providing a well-lit space for reading or working, while an overhead light gives more generalized illumination.
Storage: The center console features ample stowage space and additional stowage under the inner armrest and behind the work table provides even more storage space for customer belongings.
Enhanced Amenities: Customers will receive a newly redesigned amenity kit providing larger-sized cosmetic products, including Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion, Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, Colgate toothpaste, a toothbrush with a re-sealable cap, thicker plush socks, and larger eyeshades all tucked into a traditional zipper-style case for easy storage in a carry-on bag. Passengers also will be provided with a cozy duvet for added sleeping comfort.
Fine Food and Wine: American continues to introduce new menus in-flight on our 777 aircraft which fly to various destinations worldwide in Europe, South America and Asia. We strive to enhance the customer service experience on international flights and collaborate with our talented Chefs’ Conclave members: Nancy Brussat, Dean Fearing and Stephan Pyles; and celebrity consulting chefs to create new, fresh appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts that reflect our customers’ regional tastes. Most recently, American announced new premium class menus on westbound European flights designed by The Royal Chef™ Darren McGrady, which include oatmeal-crusted pork enhanced by a juniper berry sauce and served with cauliflower puree and French-style peas; and tender beef filet with morel mushroom sauce, sage derby potatoes, and steamed broccoli florets. Menus for the Japan, China and Indian routes were also custom-designed using the local culture and employee input.
The menu enhancements continue a series of moves by American to invest in its premium cabin products to retain its competitive advantage over low-cost carriers, as well as compete effectively with international airlines. Fine wine is at the center of American’s premium service and has repeatedly won critical acclaim. American selects fine wines from major wine growing regions of the world and, at any given time, has more than 60 wines available on its flights. Our wine consultant, Ken Chase, is a classically trained wine maker and viticulturist with an international reputation spanning the globe. American provides fine food and wine for those desiring a more enjoyable, leisurely dining experience or a one-course, light meal for those seeking a meal service which allows for additional time to work or rest. More detailed menu and wine information is available on www.aa.com/dining and upon request.
Comparison At-a-Glance
777 Seat Features versus 767-300 Seat Features
* 21” cushion width * 20” cushion width
* 8.5” center console * 4.5” center console
* Fixed privacy divider * Adjustable privacy divider
* Integrated seat back IFE with tilting monitor * Handheld entertainment device
* Additional stowage under inner armrest behind work table * Center Console stowage space
* 37 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration * 30 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration
* 60 to 61 inch pitch * 59 inch pitch
Both the B777 and the B767 seats have the following features:
* Fully motorized seat with infinite adjustability
* Lie-flat-at-an-angle
* Two pre-set recline seat control positions
* Track forward capability
* Memory seat control button (press once to record position; press twice to return to recorded position)
* One-piece seat cushion that extends down to the feet for extra comfort and minimizes gaps in cushion
* Memory foam integrated into cushions for added comfort
* Inner armrest raises and outer armrest lowers for passenger space
* 10.6” monitor with touch screen capability
* 76” bed length
* Interlocking tray tables (one that lowers from the shell and one that is stowed in the center console)
* Six-way adjustable headrest
* Wide selection of movies, news, music and videos
* Power ports at passenger seat
* LED work light with dimming capability
American Airlines 777 Routes*
From / ToLogan International Airport (Boston) / London Heathrow (Great Britain (UK)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Illinois) / Indira Gandhi International (Delhi)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Illinois) / London Heathrow (Great Britain (UK)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Illinois) / Narita International (Japan)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Illinois) / Shanghai (China)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas) / Frankfurt Intl (Germany)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas) / London Heathrow (Great Britain (UK)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas) / Miami International (Florida)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas) / Narita International (Japan)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas) / Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Illinois)
Miami International (Florida) / Buenos Aires Pistarini (Argentina)
Miami International (Florida) / London Heathrow (Great Britain (UK)
Miami International (Florida) / Sao Paulo Guarulhos (Brazil)
Rio De Janeiro International (Brazil) / Sao Paulo Guarulhos (Brazil)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York) / Sao Paulo Guarulhos (Brazil)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York) / London Heathrow (Great Britain (UK)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York) / Narita International (Japan)
Los Angeles International Airport (California) / London Heathrow (Great Britain (UK)
Los Angeles International Airport (California) / Miami International (Florida)
Los Angeles International Airport (California) / Narita International (Japan)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (North Carolina) / London Heathrow (Great Britain (UK)
*Routes are bidirectional and valid as of April 2008. Routes and schedules subject to change without notice.
March 2009