AA Super Diamond vs Flagship Suite: Which 787-9 to Book

American Airlines now flies two very different business class products on the 787-9.

I've now flown both - taking the Super Diamond equipped aircraft from JFK to Haneda on the outbound RTW leg, and the brand new Flagship Suite from London Heathrow to Chicago on the return. While both are among American's newest business class offerings and both share the same airframe, each offers a completely different experience. Here's a side by side comparison for anyone trying to figure out which aircraft to seek out.

The 78P Is the Same Aircraft as the 789 - It's Just Different Inside

One thing worth knowing before we get into the comparison: the 787-9P is mechanically identical to the standard 787-9. It's the same airframe, same range, and same engines. The "P" designation simply tells you which interior is fitted. In this case, P stands for Premium. Pilots on my recent LHR-ORD flight confirmed that the aircraft performs the same in every operational respect. The only difference is entirely in what AA chose to install inside, and that difference is substantial.

How to Tell Which One You're Getting

When you search on aa.com, the two variants appear as:

• 789 — Boeing 787-9: 30 business class seats in Super Diamond configuration
• 78P — Boeing 787-9P: 51 business class seats in Flagship Suite configuration

The "P" is the key. Unlike AA's 777 and 787-8 fleet, where Super Diamond and Concept D aircraft swap between routes and you often don't know which you're getting until you board, the 789 and 78P are listed separately at booking. You always know which one you're on. Just for good measure, here's a side by side of each's Aerolopa seat plans.

Where the 78P flies in summer 2026:

Route	Frequency
ORD to LHR	3x daily
JFK to LHR	2x daily
PHL to LHR	2x daily
DFW to LHR	1x daily
LAX to LHR	1x daily

For now, the 78P is almost entirely a London Heathrow oriented aircraft. It's no surprise considering toneworld transatlantic partner British Airways operates their Club Suites offering for most of the same routes. For more on transatlantic strategy, see our AAdvantage miles to Europe booking guide.

The fleet currently sits at around 11 aircraft, with 30 more on order through 2029. As more aircraft are delivered, expect routes to come online. For example JFK-HND would require two or three frames to operate reliably, which isn't yet possible. For now the standard Super Diamond equipped 789 covers most of the remaining 787 long-haul flying: routes like PHL-DOH, Japan, some South American services, and other destinations not yet assigned the premium variant.

The Two Types of Flagship Suite

The 78P business cabin has 51 seats spread across two cabins, but they're not all the same. AA splits them into two tiers:

Flagship Suite Preferred (8 seats, bulkhead row 1 and 11):

• Additional footwell space beyond the standard suite
• Darker finishes and accent details
• Nest pajamas and slippers included
• Extra blanket and a noticeably more plush mattress pad
• Currently free to select

That last point is significant. Because AA doesn't yet distinguish the Preferred seats on the seatmap, many passengers board without knowing they have an upgraded product. For example on my LHR-ORD flight the couple across the aisle were visibly surprised to discover their suite was larger than the rows behind them. Until AA starts charging for Preferred - which seems inevitable given the hardware involved - it's worth specifically targeting row 1 when the cabin opens for seat selection. It is worth calling out though that like any bulkhead seat, these may be more susceptible to noise and light from the gallery, particularly on overnight or long haul flights.

Standard Flagship Suite (43 seats, rows 2 onwards):

• Same privacy door, lie-flat bed, 4K screen, Bluetooth, and wireless charging
• Slightly less footwell space than the Preferred row
• Standard AA bedding and amenities
• Still a substantially better product than the Super Diamond in every category

The Seat Comparison

Layout and Privacy

	Super Diamond	Flagship Suite (Standard)	Flagship Suite Preferred
Manufacturer	Collins Aerospace	Adient Ascent	Adient Ascent
Seats in cabin	30	43	8
Orientation	Reverse herringbone	Forward-facing	Forward-facing
Privacy door	No	Yes (2-3 inch gap)	Yes (2-3 inch gap)
Footwell	Tapered at nose	Open	Extended & noticeably larger
Wireless charging	No	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth audio	No	Yes	Yes
Pajamas included	Route Dependent	Route Dependent	Yes (Nest brand)
Mattress pad	Standard	Standard AA pad	Noticeably more plush

The Super Diamond seat is the standard Collins Aerospace reverse herringbone seen on many airlines. Every seat has direct aisle access and reasonable privacy, although no closing door. It's a solid seat that has operated reliably for years and up until the Flagship Suites, was AA's latest lie-flat product.

The Flagship Suite, introduced in 2025, is in a different category. The premium heavy aircraft is equipped with sliding privacy doors, a first for American Airlines. Even with a two-to-three-inch gap at the top of the door, having it closed blocks enough ambient light and foot traffic to make a genuine difference.

Interestingly enough the Adient Ascent hardware is the same platform Qatar Airways uses on their 787-9s in a product nicknamed Qsuites Mini. It was a fun comparison having flown Qatar's version the day before the LHR-ORD sector. AA's customization differs in accent colors, the backlit tail-logo drink table, and of of course the enlarged row-1 Preferred suites - an aircraft option that even Qatar didn't select.

The chaise lounge position is one feature specific to the Flagship Suite. The seat can be angled into a semi-reclined lounge configuration during meal service or for watching content without lying fully flat. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of the experience offered by Finnair's Airlounge offering.

IFE Screen

	Super Diamond	Flagship Suite
Screen size	15.4 inches HD	17.5 inches 4K
Bluetooth audio	No	Yes
Remote	Standard	iPod-style controller
External cameras	No	No

The 15.4-inch screen on the Super Diamond is functional but dated. It runs the standard IFE system we've seen for the last 10 or so years on American. It works, but its old.

Meanwhile, the Flagship Suite's 17.5-inch 4K panel is sharper and larger, equipped with new features like Bluetooth audio and a watch party mode. You have to admit though - that thick bezel really undercuts the otherwise premium cabin feel. Just compare it with what Delta and United are putting in their new products.

That bluetooth audio upgrade is a solid one. On the Flagship Suite, my headphones paired in under 30 seconds, held through a nap, and reconnected automatically. If you use your own headphones, this alone is worth noting.

It is worth noting that not all content is available in 4K. So even if you're on the new plane, some of what you view may be in standard HD despite the new screen.

Wi-Fi

	787-9	78P
Provider	Panasonic	Viasat
Cost	Paid	Free for AAdvantage members, no limits
Speed	Adequate for messaging	63 Mbps download midfield on LHR-ORD
Streaming	Variable	Netflix and YouTube without buffering

Wi-Fi is one of the largest gaps between the two products. Panasonic on the Super Diamond is a paid add-on available for around $29 per flight. It's adequate for messaging and light browsing, but oftentimes can slow to a crawl. Meanwhile internet offered on the new 787P aircraft is free with no time or device limits for AAdvantage members. The speeds were 63 Mbps download on my LHR-ORD sector - not far off what Qatar delivers on Starlink. This meant that Netflix and YouTube both ran without buffering.

If you work on flights or want to browse, the free Viasat alone justifies seeking out the 78P.

Sleep

	Super Diamond	Flagship Suite (Standard)	Flagship Suite Preferred
Bed length	77-78 inches	78 inches	78 inches
Mattress pad	Standard AA	Standard AA	Extra Plush
Privacy door	No	Yes	Yes
Pajamas	Route Dependent	Route Dependent	Nest brand
Blankets	1	1	2

The bed length is similar across all three seats. The difference at night is the door and the bedding. On the Super Diamond the shell provides privacy, but ambient light and foot traffic are more present. On the Flagship Suite, closing the door changes the environment noticeably. It is worth admitting that the door isn't the highest and doesn't completely close - concessions that were likely made for US regulators.

The Flagship Suite Preferred mattress pad was among the best I've experienced on any airline. It was exceptionally plush in a way the standard AA pad isn't, and better than Qatar's equivalent on the same aircraft type. It was more mattress pad and less seat cover which isn't always the case.

My Recommendation

It's probably no surprise, but book the Flagship Suite if you can find it. The privacy door, free Viasat Wi-Fi, Bluetooth audio, and better bedding are nice improvements to AA's long-haul product. If you're routing through ORD, JFK, PHL, DFW, or LAX to Europe and the 78P shows up on your dates, it's worth seeking out.

Don't forget to look for the Preferred seats in row 1 and 11. They're not marked differently on the seatmap, are currently free to select, and provide extra space an amenities.

Of course the Super Diamond is still a capable product. On routes where the 78P doesn't fly — JFK-HND being the relevant example - you're in a proven lie-flat seat with direct aisle access and reasonable privacy. While it may not have all the bells and whistles, it's a perfectly comfortable offering.

As the 78P fleet grows toward 30 aircraft by 2029 and routes expand, the product will become more accessible. For now, it's concentrated on transatlantic, and London Heathrow is where you'll find it most.

---

Full reviews: AA Flagship Suite Preferred, LHR-ORD · Qatar Qsuites Mini, DOH-CPH

Part of the Around the World on Miles series.