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We left the Flagship Lounge and gate K7 was a short 5 minute down the K Concourse. We arrived 10 minutes early and after our short wait, the gate agent called for the boarding process to begin. It was right on schedule. American’s Boeing 737-800 craft has 16 seats in the first class cabin, in a very standard 4 rows of 2 + 2 configuration. As we came onto plane a friendly male flight attended greeted everyone “hello” as they walked on in. The cabin looked fairly new and clean. Because we had booked the itinerary a few days previously, Susan and I were seated apart in 6A and 6F.
The Setup: Unforeseen Events
Introduction: Planning for Thailand
Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge SFO
Review: Cathay Pacific International First Class – San Francisco To Hong Kong
Review: The Pier, Hong Kong International Airport
Review: Dragonair International Business Class – Hong Kong To Phuket
Review: Anantara Layan Phuket Resort – Deluxe Seaview Suite
Boat Transfer & Check-in: The Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa
Review: Santhiya Koh Yao Yai – Ocean View Pool Villa Suite
Review: Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort
Day Trip: National Marine Park – Koh Hong Archipelago
Final Thoughts & Monkey Business – Santhiya Koh Yao Yai
Review: Thai Royal Orchid Lounge – Phuket
Review: Lux Pay In Lounge – Phuket
Review: Dragonair International Business Class – Phuket To Hong Kong
Review: Regal Airport Hotel – Superior Room
Review: Cathay Pacific International First Class – Hong Kong To Chicago
Review: American Airlines Flagship Lounge – Chicago
Review: American Airlines Domestic First Class – Chicago To San Francisco
American Airlines 1624
Chicago (ORD) – San Francisco (SFO)
Tuesday February 2nd, 2016
Departure Time: 5:08pm
Arrival Time: 7:51pm
Flight Time: 4hr43min
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Seat: 6A, Domestic First Class
Our flight today
Leaving the Flagship Lounge at the end of K
Waiting to board at gate K7
Boarding jetway
It has been some time since I have flown in an American Airlines domestic first class cabin and one of the first things I noticed was the significant leg room. In reviewing the numbers, it isn’t uncommon for Delta to have 36” of pitch in their domestic first class cabin. This plane had 40” of pitch. I single out Delta in this regard because I have flown so much with them in the last 10 years. American’s seat width on this plane was 21” which is common for first class in the US.
First class cabin
First class issue blanket
Looking forward on seat with blanket
Leg room
Side arm up
Side arm down
Door close, push back and take off all were punctual and we left Chicago very close to schedule. It was a little bumpy lifting out and it took about 25 minutes before the crew started working the cabin. Service started immediately with a beverage order, followed by delivery of the drink with warm nuts and dinner selection. I had the chicken and it was pretty good for domestic first class. The cabin crew was attentive about checking on you. Desert was an ice-cream sundae and very enjoyable.
Seat back with safety video
Chicken and rice paired with white wine
Dessert
After dinner the crew darkened the cabin for our night flight. The inflight entertainment system is average, with individual in-seat video displays that are about the size of a mini-iPad. You have a small remote in the seat arm to your left, or you can touch the screen for command entry. Content selection was good and American had many choices including a fair amount of recent releases. I watched “Irrational Man” with Joaquin Phoenix and it was downright creepy. Even so, I had to see how it ended.
IFE system
Power and connections
IFE system remote
Smooth sunset traveling west
It wasn’t much later that we began our initial descent into San Francisco. The weather was much more cooperative in California and our decent and landing went without incident.
Dimmed cabin
Bay area lights
Out at gate 58 in SFO
In Summary:
American’s domestic first class product looked good on this flight. The leg room was excellent, the inflight entertainment offered a variety of programming, and the warm nuts are a classic nice touch. The cabin crew performed good work, and were attentive with the customers. The cabin itself was in great shape. I don’t have a lot of American flights to reference against this particular one, but the experience on this domestic first class flight was excellent.
