I have not been paid by any entity in any way (financially, benefits) to write this American Airlines Business Class review. Take precautions when traveling; please stay safe and consult local, state, and national authorities for guidance on traveling.

Trip: IAD-BOG, BOG-CTG, Ermita Hotel, CTG-MIA, MIA-DCA

Desperate for an affordable way out of Colombia back to the states, I found what I believed to be a great deal on Alaska Mileage Plan, flying American business class back to Washington, D.C. After flying economy on Avianca to Bogota and then Cartagena, I was glad to have found this business class deal to D.C.

Quick Take: American Airlines Business Class Review

Category	Rating (Out of 10)
Seat Comfort	✅ 8/10
Dining & Beverages	✅ 7/10
Service & Crew	✅ 10/10
Lounge Access	✅ N/A
Value for Points/Cash	✅ 10/10

American impressed with their business class service to Miami, which only cost 15,000 Alaska miles.

Flight Details

Airline: American Airlines
Flight: AA 708
Route: Cartagena (CTG) – Miami (MIA)
Cabin Class: Business
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Seat: 4A
Booking Method: Alaska Mileage Plan
Cost: 15,000 Miles + $119.71 USD (one-way)
Date: February 24, 2025
Flight Time: 2h 30m

Preflight

Cartagena is a fairly small airport, with several domestic and international departures usually going on at the same time. Although I arrived a little late to the airport, I actually avoided the crowds and lines that tend to form as people go through passport control and security to access the international departures section of the airport. It was absolute chaos once I was in the international departures area, but being late this time was a blessing in disguise.

The boarding process was very chaotic, and the airline was seeking volunteers to give up their seats because the aircraft was overweight. Usually, when this is offered, passengers can demand upwards of $600 USD in travel certificates for volunteering, however in Cartagena, the staff were only authorized to offer a maximum of $200 USD and a night at a hotel in the city.

However, it was so cool boarding via airstairs! Additionally, once I was settled in, the crew came by with a pre-departure drink service. I opted for water.

Seat & Cabin

American’s business class cabin is in a traditional 2-2 configuration.The seat is wide and comfortable, and perfect for this length of flight.

Today I was seated in 4A, in the last row of the cabin. This means that there is limited recline, but for a flight this long, it is fine.

There was plenty of legroom, as is expected in any premium cabin. For reference, I am 6’1″, so there was an abundance of space here.

Additionally, your tray table comes out from your armrest and has a lever to release it. This is better than United’s design, which comes out of the center console and is an absolute pain to stow.

Dining & Beverages

The flight had a full dinner service, which I was pleasantly surprised about, given that my view of American skews toward the “penny-pinching” route, so I assumed there wouldn’t be a proper meal service.

The meal service started off with drinks. I ordered red wine and ginger ale.

Today, I had grilled pork with potatoes, green beans, a side salad, a bread roll, and a brownie. I didn’t really get to choose this meal; it’s all that was left. The salad came with a vinaigrette, and the tray came with butter for the bread roll.

In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity

American has Wi-Fi on board its aircraft, where you can enjoy free entertainment options, such as TV shows and movies.

On today’s flight, American was charging a whopping $18 USD for an hour pass, or $24 for the whole flight. This type of price gouging is insane, and I opted to skip paying such a ridiculous amount for what I knew would be spotty service.

Final Verdict: American Airlines Business Class Review

This was my first flight in American Business Class, and it truly felt like a solid premium experience. Given the short flight time, I had very low expectations, given my perception of American Airlines. However, they pleasantly surprised me, and the crew really made the experience that much better, being attentive throughout the flight.

Overall Rating: 8.75/10

What are your thoughts? Have you flown American’s Business Class? Let me know in the comments!

As always, Live Life One Trip at a Time!

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