Major airline unveils premium seating on 777 jets in chase for luxe travelers

American Airlines is upgrading its Boeing 777-300ERs with more premium seats as US carriers compete for higher-spending travelers. The airline will start commercial service with its first retrofitted aircraft on Wednesday on the New York–Buenos Aires route, with upgrades completed across all 20 777-300ERs by sometime in 2027. The new configuration will offer 144 premium seats, up from 116, raising premium share to about 44% from 38%. The retrofit increases business-class seats, adding 70 Flagship Suite seats with privacy doors, 44 Premium Economy seats, and 30 Main Cabin Extra seats, while eliminating Flagship First. American said premium customers generated nearly half of ticketed revenue in the second quarter. The broader trend includes similar moves across major US airlines.