American upgrades NYC-to-Rome route with first class

If you’re looking to get to Italy in style this summer, American Airlines has a first-class option for you.

The Fort Worth-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to upgauge its New York-to-Rome route to be operated by the 304-seat Boeing 777-300ER during the peak summer season, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.

American plans to fly two daily flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) from June 5 to Oct. 25. Most of those frequencies will now be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER, as you can see below:

• From June 5 to July 18: Exclusively Boeing 777-300ER
• From July 19 to Oct. 25: One daily Boeing 777-300ER, one daily Boeing 777-200ER

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American’s largest jet, the 777-300ER, is unique because it is the carrier’s only wide-body plane with a first-class cabin. It features eight first-class pods, 52 business-class lie-flats, 28 premium economy recliners and 216 economy seats — 28 of which are in an extra-legroom configuration.

(The carrier plans to retrofit the Boeing 777-300ER fleet by replacing the existing first- and business-class cabins with a new business-class suite. These retrofits aren’t supposed to start until after the summer, so travelers can still enjoy the first-class product for a few more months.)

Meanwhile, the smaller Boeing 777-200ER seats 31 fewer passengers, with a smaller 37-seat business-class cabin, 24-seat premium economy cabin and 212-seat economy cabin.

As such, this upgauge represents a big increase in premium capacity to Italy — a move that’s likely to appeal to deep-pocketed leisure travelers planning a summer vacation to Rome (and beyond). It might also result in more saver-level award and upgrade availability on this route during the summer.

American’s first-class product may not win many awards, but it’s certainly among the best commercial options for getting from New York to Rome nonstop this summer. There are just eight first-class pods arranged in a 1-2-1 layout at the pointy end of this jet, and the seats are unique in that they can convert into a desk mode to help you focus on work.

There’s not much privacy in this cabin, but the beds are the best you’ll find on a U.S. carrier. (Those looking for the fanciest way to get to Italy should check out Emirates’ fifth-freedom flight from New York to Milan, operated by the double-decker Airbus A380.)

But for American, this move is part of a larger expansion planned for Italy service this summer. Perhaps the biggest news is that the airline is opening a new outstation in Naples for its new nonstop from Philadelphia that takes off on June 5.

The airline will also resume service from Chicago to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) on June 5; it’ll extend the seasonal duration for flights from Philadelphia to Venice and from Charlotte to Rome.

Furthermore, the carrier has upgraded its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)-to-Rome route to year-round service. It’ll add a second daily frequency during the summer from May 5 to Sept. 3.

All in all, American plans a 15% capacity increase in June 2024 compared to June 2019. This number jumps to 30% when compared to June 2023, Cirium schedules show.

So, if you’re planning to visit Italy this summer, American will likely have an option for you.

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