In 2026, American Airlines planes will be getting more glamorous, with upgrades and new premium cabin products rolling out through the course of the year.
It’s all part of a larger strategy from the Fort Worth-based carrier to increase its premium offerings amid skyrocketing demand for luxe air travel experiences.
American reported losses in the third quarter of 2025, while its competitors that have a stronger hold on premium customers—Delta and United—inked steady profits. In recent earnings reports, United and Delta have both emphasized the important role that strong demand for premium products has played in shoring up bottomlines, especially amid economic headwinds like tariffs.
At the center of American’s initiative is its new Flagship Suites business class cabin, which first debuted on board the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner planes in June 2025. That product, a major upgrade which offers sliding privacy doors, lie-flat beds, and perks like Bollinger Champagne and designer amenity kits, currently flies on several international routes to Europe and Australia.
The carrier will also be expanding the Flagship Suites cabin to its first domestic route from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) aboard the carrier’s Airbus A321XLR planes starting December 18.
In 2026, the carrier will begin adding the business class suites to its existing Boeing 777-200 and 300 planes.
"We know that customers expect more. We know that premium has become incredibly important," Heather Garboden, American’s chief customer officer, said on an episode of the airline’s podcast, Tell Me Why, over the summer.
Garboden says the airline plans to add 30% more premium seats to its domestic fleet by 2030 and 50% more premium seats to its long-haul planes by the end of the decade.
Garboden was promoted in February 2025 to oversee the evolving customer experience. She is also managing a new Customer Experience Advisory Board made up of hospitality experts and former executives from brands like Marriott and Auberge Resorts.
But it’s not only glamorous international or transcontinental routes that are seeing upgraded aircraft; American is also refreshing its regional jets for a more premium experience. The airline is upgrading its new Bombardier CRJ900 and Embraer 175 aircraft with updated seat coverings, power outlets at every seat, and fast in-flight Wi-Fi.
The upgrades aim to bring the experience on the regional planes more in line with American’s mainline fleet and will roll out over the next several years, with the first refreshed plane taking flight before the end of 2025. The carrier will also retrofit its existing CRJ700, CRJ900, E170, and E175 aircraft with the new design.
Additional in-flight amenities include perks like complimentary afternoon tea service on flights from Paris and London, as well as free in-flight Wi-Fi for loyalty members across the majority of its fleet beginning in January.
"We think investing in customer experience will help us grow the top line," Nat Piper, who just joined American as the airline’s new chief commercial officer in November, recently told Reuters.
On the ground, American has been investing in a sweeping new airport lounges, including a new Flagship lounge and Admirals Club that have opened in Philadelphia, as well as a new grab-and-go lounge concept in Charlotte.
“I think you’ll see us continue to have a really good steady stream of exciting lounge announcements over the next year, I would say,” Garboden said in early December at the Skift Aviation Forum.
The airline has already announced some lounge expansion plans for 2026 and beyond, including new Flagship lounges coming to Charlotte and Miami, and refreshed and expanded Admirals Club in Washington, D.C. (DCA) and Miami.
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