All articles tagged with #american airlines
Actor John Barrowman posted a now-deleted video from a Los Angeles–to–London American Airlines flight complaining that flagship business class should include pajamas for all passengers and that his meal order was wrong; the clip sparked mixed online reactions, with some defending him and others calling the rant entitled or ridiculous.
An American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas/Fort Worth landed safely after a passenger’s laptop reportedly caught fire during landing; the 133 passengers on board were accounted for, one passenger received medical treatment on arrival and was released, and crew contained the blaze with a thermal containment bag as the FAA opened an investigation into lithium-battery incidents on flights.
An American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas had a passenger's laptop catch fire; four to five passengers were burned, the crew contained the blaze, and the plane landed safely in Dallas where emergency responders met the aircraft; one passenger was treated on-site and released. The FAA warns lithium batteries can overheat and notes 58 verified lithium battery incidents this year, with laptops historically tied to the most incidents.
American Airlines will restore seatback displays on its US domestic fleet and add more premium seats as part of a wider cabin investment, aiming to improve the passenger experience and stay competitive, with installations rolling out now and full rollout expected by early next decade.
Two commercial jets from American Airlines and United Airlines suffered tire bursts during landing at Chicago O’Hare within hours of each other, prompting FAA investigations; passengers were evacuated safely with no injuries, and authorities say the incidents may be unrelated to earlier tire problems at Chicago-area airports.
American Airlines will roll out seatback screens in economy on its narrowbody fleet starting in 2028, with a fleetwide rollout of the 876-mainline airplanes completed by the early 2030s; widebodies and the A321XLRs already have screens, while American Eagle regional jets will not. The move accompanies other upgrades including Starlink inflight connectivity on 500 planes, a push for more premium seating, and Admirals Clubs renovations, as the carrier seeks to close the gap with Delta and United.
American Airlines plans to reintroduce seatback 4K screens across most of its narrow-body fleet, with initial installations on new Boeing and Airbus deliveries in 2028 and retrofits to follow, aiming for full rollout by the early 2030s. The carrier is also expanding premium seating with more first-class seats on its A321neo and 737 Max 10 aircraft, plus more legroom seats fleet-wide, as it seeks to close the profit gap with Delta and United and refresh its wide-body lineup (including new business-class suites for 787-8s).
Two airplanes suffered tire damage while landing at Chicago O’Hare within hours of each other, triggering an FAA investigation. American Airlines Flight 386 from LaGuardia blew two tires; United Airlines Flight 739 from Omaha also sustained tire damage. No injuries were reported, passengers deplaned via stairs, and buses shuttled them to the terminal as the planes were taken out of service for inspection; delays at the airport were minor.
A Phoenix air-traffic controller averted a potential disaster by distinguishing two American Airlines jets both designated as 2482—one arriving from Chicago, the other departing Phoenix—keeping them at safe distances as their flight paths overlapped. The controller labeled the planes as “American 2482 on the arrival” and “American 2482 on the departure,” ensuring clear instructions. Both flights landed safely; the FAA and American Airlines will investigate how the duplicate flight number occurred. An aviation-safety expert noted the system's safeguards prevented a collision, while suggesting a dispatcher may have missed the overlap.
Two American Airlines flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor nearly merged on air traffic control due to identical call signs around midnight; ATC maintained required separation and both planes continued without incident. FAA is investigating; no injuries reported.
An American Airlines Boeing 737-800 operating flight AA1009 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago (ORD) declared an emergency and returned to LAX, landing on Runway 25L with ARFF on standby; the aircraft then vacated the runway and a new departure was scheduled for 2:12 a.m., with no cause for the emergency disclosed publicly.
An Omaha woman with Down syndrome was denied a boarding pass at Eppley Airfield because staff determined she needed a safety assistant to fly; American Airlines says the policy was followed and the option was offered at no cost, while the family spent about $1,800 on a travel‑assistant workaround and disability advocates question how the rule is applied; USDOT notes that airlines may require a safety assistant only in limited safety circumstances and cannot charge the accompanying traveler.
An American Airlines flight from Myrtle Beach to Charlotte turned around and landed back at Myrtle Beach International Airport 36 minutes after takeoff following a reported bird strike; the 172 passengers were safe, there was no engine fire, and the aircraft will be inspected. FAA data note wildlife strikes were nearly 20,000 nationwide in 2023.
American Airlines will expand its Pecan Lodge Texas BBQ program to all eligible domestic First Class flights departing Dallas–Fort Worth starting September 9, 2026, offering a smoked brisket sandwich for lunch and a barbecue platter for dinner via preorder; after strong initial feedback, the author plans a Dallas detour to try the new meals and reports back.
American Airlines will start upgrading eligible economy passengers to Premium Economy—not lie-flat business class—on domestic routes that offer Premium Economy, effective Aug. 25; upgrades will follow the usual status-based queue, making coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights harder for elites to reach a true business-class seat. The change affects only domestic Premium Economy routes; Systemwide Upgrades and older A321T routes remain unchanged, and you can still reach business class by purchasing Premium Economy or via certain aircraft on eligible flights.