Review: What it’s like to fly business with American Airlines
Aspire checks in for a flight from Tortola to Heathrow via Miami
The route: Tortola to Heathrow, via Miami, on American Airlines’ Embraer 175 and Boeing 777.
The lounge: After whizzing through bag-drop inside Tortola airport’s main terminal building, I’m ushered through a private security screening and into the IAM Jet Centre – the compact lounge available to those travelling on private jets and commercial flights for a fee of $175. There isn’t masses in the way of amenities, but it’s spacious, air conditioned and has a well-stocked snack bar, so is an adequate spot in which to wait for my first flight, taking me from the largest of the British Virgin Islands to Miami. Upon arrival in Miami, I head to the Flagship Lounge, where there’s a large buffet, shower suites and sleeping chairs, as well as an à la carte dining area for those flying in first class.
The facts: American Airlines flies from Tortola to Miami three to four times a day on its Embraer 175, which carries 76 passengers – 64 in economy and 12 in business. The business-class cabin is set out in a 1-2 formation, so not every seat has direct aisle access, but they are comfortable and have ample leg room, making them ideal for this short trip across the Atlantic. The second part of my journey, from Miami to Heathrow, operates twice daily on the line’s Boeing 777, which has 273 seats, including 37 in the business-class cabin. The seats are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration and each one transforms into a lie-flat bed complete with a pillow and duvet. The seats all have plenty of storage, as well as an amenity kit with eye mask, dental kit and other essentials. I’m slightly disappointed with the lack of free Wi-Fi access and find the pricing to be rather steep at $29 for a two-hour pass or $35 for access during the whole flight. What’s more, the payment portal isn’t working, making things tricky for anyone who needs to stay connected in the air.
Cuisine: Our choices for dinner are taken on the ground, meaning our first meal is served shortly after take-off. Following a Caprese salad starter, I have a vegetable curry with seared tofu, the menu’s only meat-free main course. Although I would have appreciated having more than one vegetarian-friendly option to choose from, the dish is still very tasty. There’s also a good selection of wines on offer.
Wow: The Bang & Olufsen headphones make the world of difference. After tracking down the hidden-away port that they plug into, I find the noise-cancelling quality very impressive as I make use of the ample-sized screen and entertainment system.
Book it: American Airlines offers business-class fares from Heathrow to Tortola, via Miami, from £3,524 return.
americanairlines.co.uk
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