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American Airlines is introducing the Airbus A321XLR to its fleet, with the first scheduled flight on December 18, 2025, operating as Flight 3 from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX). Tickets for the inaugural and subsequent transcontinental services are now available for purchase through February 11, 2026.
American Airlines A321 XLR – 3 Cabin Experience
The aircraft is configured with 20 Flagship Suite® seats, 12 Premium Economy seats, and 123 Main Cabin seats. While the aircraft will initially serve domestic transcontinental routes, American plans to deploy it on select international services in the first half of 2026.
The new Flagship Suite® offers a fully lie-flat seat, a privacy door, multiple storage areas, a wireless charging pad, a cocktail table, and a personal reading light.
Flagship Suite on American Airlines A321 XLR
Beyond the seat itself, customers travelling in Flagship Suite® will get access to the Greenwich Lounge™ at JFK, which features elevated dining options and a curated cocktail menu.
The Flagship Suite on the inaugural flight was priced at ~$4500 one-way, shortly before it became unavailable, while the premium economy seats are listed at ~$1450.
A321 XLR inaugural flight pricing JFK-LAX
The Premium Economy cabin on the A321XLR will feature a series of design improvements for longer journeys. Seats will feature winged headrests for privacy, calf and footrests for comfort, and wireless charging at each seat.
Premium Economy on American A321 XLR
Main Cabin on American A321 XLR
Takeaway
American Airlines A321XLR will eventually operate long-haul routes traditionally served by larger twin-aisle aircraft, but with significantly lower fuel consumption and operating costs. As additional aircraft are delivered, the airline plans to expand deployment beyond the U.S. domestic network to include international routes beginning in 2026.
Caution: The Flaship Suite is available on select flights on the JFK-LAX routes. If you plan to book yourself on one, seek out the blue ‘Flagship Avialable’ tag in the search results, and of course, ensure that the aircraft is the A321 XLR version and not the A321 (sharklets).
