American Airlines' first class phase-out delayed by aircraft retrofit slowdown

American Airlines had aimed to eliminate its standalone first-class cabin on long-haul routes by the end of 2024, but the class remains bookable well beyond that target. According to the airline's published schedules, first-class tickets are still on sale through the end of its current booking window in late summer 2027.

The delay affects two subfleets. American's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft each carry eight first-class seats, while its Airbus A321 jets used on transcontinental routes offer ten. Both are due to lose the cabin as part of a broader shift toward premium business-class products.

Work has now begun on the 777-300ER retrofit, with one aircraft already reconfigured to remove first class in favor of an upgraded business-class cabin, the airline said. The transcontinental A321 fleet will eventually be replaced on those routes by new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which will offer a higher-end business-class product rather than a separate first class. Those A321XLR jets, however, have themselves faced delivery delays, contributing to the slower-than-planned retirement of the older first-class product.

American has framed the move as part of a wider industry pattern in which carriers are shrinking or scrapping first-class cabins in favor of enhanced business-class seating, citing the cost of maintaining a separate top-tier cabin. Until the retrofits and new aircraft deliveries are complete, though, the airline's original first class will keep appearing on select long-haul and transcontinental itineraries.