What does Flagship* mean?
 

I have been away for awhile and lost my Exec status but I'm seeing the lately on a few itineraries I've been searching and wondering what it signifies since there is no footnote for the asterisk?

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a05ec58e68.jpg

Does it mean Flagship check-in or lounge?

That's not an asterisk, it is a registered trademark symbol (®).


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b3569596fb.png

That signifies 3 class First Class and Business class and intl J. Distinguished from regular 2 class service domestically.

Flagship First International: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ernational.jsp

Flagship First Transcontinental: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ontinental.jsp

The Flagship branding has been around since the 1940s.

you also have access to flagship lounges (noticeably enhanced food offerings compared to those in Admirals Club), check-ins, and exclusive pre-flight "fine" dining at select flagship lounges. basically a fancy term for first class in a three cabin flight. in my view, AA flagship is the gold standard right now in terms of seats and in/peri-flight services.

Edit: I'm referring to Flagship First here, but "flagship" encompasses both first and business classes as the above poster noted. No pre-flight dining for flagship business.

Interesting because shortly after the merger in 2014 or so, AA discontinued the Flagship branding. Glad to see that it's back (and have been for the past couple years, I think).

OP, I totally get your question.
I know that the term has been around for many years as pointed out previously.
However, only RECENTLY I am seeing the term "flagship" included in the pricing options on AA.com.

Since the term was NEVER used in the pricing page (that I know of), I was also wondering if there is anything special about those fares with the "Flagship" term next to them.
See below for LAX-LHR pricing (only the non-stop AA operated flights show it).
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...822f28fe59.jpg


I think it is kind of confusing because further below, the LAX-DFW-LHR option is shown like this:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...54c3b25a5e.jpg
Flagship is not mentioned anywhere. I know that the LAX-DFW is just a regular domestic first class, but the DFW-LHR is on a 77W and should be "Flagship" as well (note that the same is true for flights via JFK, ORD)
Even after clicking on details the term "Flagship" is not mentioned anywhere.
So this would make me think that if I go via Dallas (or other hub), I won't get the flagship product at all on the DFW-LHR flight.
But If you search for DFW-LHR only, then AA50 will show up as "Flagship".

It is confusing indeed as it is now.

AA IT often gives us disorganized or confusing information.

In this instance, “Flagship” means three class First cabin and service. The only aircraft with three class First are the Boeing 777-323ER “77W” and the Airbus A321-200 transcontinental / A321T “32B” models. (Sometimes the First cabin on these are not sold as Flagship, such as when the A321T is sold JFK-BOS or SFO-LAX.)

The links in my previous post lead to AA pages about FF transcontinentally and internationally.

To add further confusion, AA also brands Business class on these flights as “Flagship Business” (link), offers Flagship Check-in, Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining with inconsistent requirements for access.

(At one time, aircraft were designated as “Flagship” - DC-3s were and had names like “Flagship Knoxville” and flew pennants from the cockpit window when parked on the ground - and the aircraft fleet was “the Flagship Fleet”.)