FORT WORTH, Nov. 8, 2026 — American Airlines is reworking cabins across several fleets, adding first class seats to some narrowbodies while removing premium cabins from others. Two of its flights were also involved in reported ground and departure close calls this week.
Cabin changes
- A319: all 32 A319s American ordered have been retrofitted with more first class seats. The first legacy US Airways A319 (N825AW) is back in service with 12 first and 120 main cabin seats, including 24 Main Cabin Extra.
- A321T: 2 of the 16 premium A321Ts have been converted to standard A321s and 3 more are in work, removing the three-cabin transcon layout.
- 777-300ER: four aircraft are in retrofit to remove international first class.
- Transcon timeline: first class booking codes on A321T flights from JFK to LAX, SNA and SFO end March 28, 2027. Until then, rows 1–5 keep the old first class seats but are sold as business; the aircraft get a standard domestic layout later in 2027.
- AAdvantage: new Michelin chef dinners bookable with miles in Los Angeles (February 2027), Miami (April) and Chicago (June), plus a Porto trip in September. Mileage prices TBA.
Reported close calls
- Los Angeles, Nov. 7 around 12:15 a.m.: Air France AF28 (A350, LAX–Papeete) reportedly turned left off its departure procedure and came within about 400 feet vertically of American AA1660 (A321, LAX–Dallas/Fort Worth). Controllers issued a traffic alert and gave the Air France crew a possible pilot deviation notice. American was not at fault. No injuries.
- Miami, Nov. 5: American AA1155 (787-8 arriving from Philadelphia) reportedly failed to hold short as instructed and moved into the path of Lufthansa LH463 (747-8), which braked hard. No collision.
- Both accounts come from ATC audio and media reports; no FAA or NTSB statement had been published (TBA).
What it means for non-revs
- More first class seats on A319s, and on some A320s according to unverified reports, gives pass riders slightly better odds at a front-cabin seat on those aircraft.
- Lie-flat seats on JFK transcons are disappearing as A321Ts are converted; expect the premium cabin on those flights to become standard domestic first.
- Fewer premium seats on retrofitted 777-300ERs means tighter odds in the front on long-haul flights those jets operate.
Sources
- View from the Wing, “American Airlines Adds More First Class Seats To 32 Planes—While Ripping First Class Out Of Others [Roundup]” — https://viewfromthewing.com/american-airlines-adds-more-first-class-seats-to-32-planes-while-ripping-first-class-out-of-others-roundup/
- TheTravel, “American Airlines Ends First Class Entirely On U.S.’s Most Popular Route” — https://www.thetravel.com/american-airlines-ends-first-class-entirely-on-uss-most-popular-route/
- Aviation A2Z, “Air France A350 Pilots Make Unauthorized Turn, Nearly Collide With American Airlines A321” — https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/11/08/air-france-a350-pilots-wrong-turn-nearly-collide-with-american-airlines-a321
- Aviation A2Z, “American 787 Reportedly Ignores ATC Instruction, Nearly Collides with Lufthansa 747” — https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/11/08/american-787-ignores-atc-nearly-collides-with-lufthansa-747/
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
ADVERTISEMENT
