American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Premium Economy Class Review [PHL to NAP]

Airline: American Airlines (AA)
Aircraft: Boeing 787-800
Flight #: AA780
Route: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP)
Date: July 3, 2024
Duration: 8 hours, 35 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Premium economy; 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration
Seats: 7A, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7H
Cost: 35,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles + $19 per person

This summer, I took my family to Italy, and it seemed like everyone I knew had similar plans. After all, Italy boasts an astonishing number of idyllic summer destinations for visitors to explore.

I had visited the country several times before, but I had never traveled to the famed Amalfi Coast. Despite close friends cautioning against bringing a toddler to the crowded Amalfi Coast during the summer, we proceeded with our plans.

Rather than flying into Rome and then taking a train or flight south, we flew directly from the U.S. to Naples International Airport (NAP), as it is the nearest airport to the Amalfi Coast (about a 90-minute drive).

There are many flights available from the U.S. to popular Italian cities, such as Rome (FCO) and Milan (MXP). Unfortunately, the choices for direct flights to Naples from the U.S. are pretty limited. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines only provide 1 flight each day from the New York City area, while American Airlines offers a single nonstop flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Naples.

Although we had to reposition from our home in South Florida to Philadelphia, I prioritized arriving in Naples and commencing my Amalfi Coast vacation immediately rather than connecting from Rome. Best of all, I was able to book a direct flight to Naples with American Airlines in premium economy for my family of 5 at a reasonable price using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles.

Continue reading to learn about our experience traveling American Airlines’ premium economy from Philadelphia to Naples, Italy.

Booking American Airlines Premium Economy

As previously stated, there are few direct flights to Naples from the U.S. Delta, United, and American provide 1 daily flight each from 2 East Coast cities: New York and Philadelphia. Given my preference for a direct flight from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Naples, I had to decide between using American Airlines AAdvantage miles or booking the same ticket with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles.

I began by checking seats.aero for flights with 5 award seats in premium economy between Philadelphia and Naples for the first week of July. Luckily, I had no problems finding award space for all of us departing on July 3.

Before making a booking, I compared the award rates between AAdvantage and Mileage Plan.

AAdvantage required 47,500 miles per passenger for a ticket in premium economy.

For the same flight, Mileage Plan charged 35,000 miles per passenger for the one-way ticket.

Since I had a good amount of miles in both programs, I went for the more affordable option and booked 5 premium economy tickets with Alaska miles on American Airlines’ Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner for a flight from Philadelphia to Naples for a total of 175,000 Alaska miles.

Because the taxes were only $19 per passenger, I was happy to pay cash for the positioning flight to Philadelphia from my home airport of Fort Lauderdale (FLL), which cost $104 per person. I used my Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card to pay for the taxes and fees on the award tickets and the revenue tickets for the positioning flight because it offers top-notch travel insurance.

Given the high price of a one-way ticket from Philadelphia to Naples, which exceeded $1,200 per passenger if paid in cash, I was thrilled to be able to redeem just 35,000 Alaska miles for this award.

Hot Tip:

Alaska miles are highly underrated and incredibly valuable in the world of points and miles. If you weren’t already aware of their potential value, check out our guide on the best ways to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles for maximum value.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Check-In

Our flight from Fort Lauderdale arrived in Philadelphia at 4:30 p.m., giving us plenty of time to navigate from Terminal C, where our American Airlines domestic flight landed, to A-West, the airport’s primary international terminal, where our flight to Naples was scheduled to depart.

Since we had extra family members joining us, including my mom, nephew, and my wife’s parents, and we had ample time before our next flight, we took a leisurely stroll to the international terminal. Thanks to all of us already having our mobile boarding passes, we easily reentered security at Terminal A-West and slowly made our way to our boarding gate, A20.

Admirals Club (Terminal A-West, Near Gate A20)

Thanks to my AAdvantage Platinum Pro elite status with American Airlines, I had access to the Admirals Club in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the Admirals Club was not available before our flight to Naples.

Earlier this year, American announced plans to open a Flagship Lounge and a new Admirals Club in Philadelphia by 2025. In the meantime, American set up a temporary small room for eligible Admirals Club guests to enjoy complimentary prepackaged food and beverages as the lounge space in Terminal A-West was undergoing construction.

Perfectly situated right in front of the makeshift small room by American was our gate, A20.

I entered the premises and gathered an assortment of snacks to distribute among my family members. They appreciated the hummus with chips, pasta with pesto, and yogurt.

In addition, there was plenty of fruit, granola bars, and potato chips for the children to munch on before our planned inflight dinner service a few hours later.

Lastly, bottled water, soda, and hot coffee were available.

The lone associate working in the makeshift lounge was friendly and accommodating. She freely allowed my extended family to join me in exploring the snacks.

Boarding

When it comes to reviewing a flight, I make it a priority to board early or be one of the first in my cabin to board. This way, I can capture clear and unobstructed pictures without any passengers in the frame.

I had group 2 boarding, which meant I might be among the first passengers to board. Regretfully, the process was slowed down by the gate agent who checked us onto the flight.

In my experience, gate agents usually ask for all of my family’s passports all at once and then call out the names of each family member one at a time as I scan their boarding passes simultaneously. The agent I encountered was not the friendliest and insisted that I scan each boarding pass and hand over each passport individually, 1 at a time.

Although not a major issue, this peculiar procedure delayed our ability to board the aircraft early and seamlessly.

On Board American Airline’s Boeing 787-8

Premium Economy Cabin and Seat

As we entered the aircraft, the first cabin on our immediate right was for premium economy passengers. Inside the cabin, I noticed the 2-3-2 configuration spread across 4 rows and 28 total seats.

The premium economy cabin seemed intimate, and the seats, at first glance, appeared to be similar to those found in American Airlines’ narrow-body domestic first class.

Because we were a family of 5, I’d chosen seats 7A and 7C for my twin daughters, which were on the side of the plane.

My wife and I had the 3 seats next to them in the middle section of the cabin, with our toddler between us.

This was an ideal setting for our family, allowing us to socialize and see one another during the flight.

Each seat reclined to industry standards and included a footrest attached to the front seat.

There was also a large backseat pocket for storing items.

The premium economy seats were equipped with headrests that had adjustable wings, allowing for optimal head positioning during naptime.

The bifold tray table extended from the armrest, while a power outlet and a USB-A port were inside the second armrest.

There was also an inflight entertainment remote control, as well as a button for automatically reclining the seat.

American’s Boeing 787-8 had electronically dimmable windows controlled with a touch of a button.

My twins used this to darken the cabin a little more after dinner when the sun was still out so they could take a nap.

Although I struggle to sleep on planes, my 2-year-old managed to find comfort in her premium economy seat.

Thanks to the cushioning and comfort it provided, she was able to lie almost flat and get a few hours of shut-eye.

Food and Beverage

After we had settled in and reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants made their way through the cabin to take our meal orders. I was thoroughly impressed with the crew’s efficiency in promptly taking our dinner order, allowing us to complete meal service early in the flight. This allowed us to unwind and get much-needed rest for the majority of the journey.

Just like economy passengers, premium economy customers didn’t receive a physical menu. However, the flight attendants made their rounds, offering passengers a choice of pasta or beef. I chose the beef.

The rest of our family sat in the larger economy cabin and had the option of pasta or chicken.

The beef was accompanied by creamy yellow mashed potatoes, a side salad with tangy balsamic dressing, and a baked bread roll. The dish was delicately tender and unexpectedly flavorful.

The dessert was a slice of tiramisu, which was dry and subpar at best. Both my mother and sister are bakers who make delicious desserts; this tiramisu would not have passed their taste test.

Shortly before landing, the flight attendants made their way through the cabin, offering a delightful selection of fresh fruits, yogurt with granola, and a tasty cinnamon roll.

Overall, the onboard catering met our needs and kept our bellies full for the duration of the 8-hour flight.

Hot Tip:

If you’re unsure which seats to book on your next American Airlines flight, read our guide to decide which American cabin class of service is right for you.

Amenities

Amenity Kit

Passengers flying in premium economy on the Boeing 787-8 received limited-edition amenity kits in collaboration with the renowned beauty brand Thirteen Lune.

The amenity kits included all the essential items that premium cabin passengers have grown accustomed to, including a toothbrush, dental kit, eye mask, earplugs, socks, lip balm, and body and hand lotion.

Blanket and Pillow

There was a blanket and lumbar pillow waiting for me at my seat. Compared to the paper-thin blankets in economy, this one was thicker and better at keeping me warm.

This lumbar pillow was perfect for those who suffer from back pain, poor posture, or both.

IFE

One notable advantage of flying American Airlines premium economy over Main Cabin was the 11-inch seatback screen, which made watching movies much more enjoyable than the 8.9-inch screen economy passengers use.

It was a touchscreen, but it could also be controlled with a remote found in the right armrest.

Unfortunately, I didn’t do much movie-watching because the baby took the majority of my focus in flight and my hands were full. However, in the little time I had while she slept, I tracked the flight’s progress and used the live map tool.

If I had wanted to and had the time, I could have streamed several of the hundreds of movies or TV shows from AA’s content catalog to keep me entertained.

Although they were not noise-canceling, the headphones I got were a significant improvement over the cheap, earbud-style headphones in economy class.

Wireless Internet

I bought a 2-hour pass for American’s inflight Viasat Wi-Fi. The service provided sufficient access to my social media accounts and email, but its capabilities were limited beyond that.

For $16, I didn’t expect fast connectivity, but the Wi-Fi speed could have been better. Refreshing my X and Instagram feeds took a minute or more most of the time.

Service

The flight attendants who served the premium economy cabin were exceptional, although I can’t recall their specific names (I was too preoccupied with toddler demands).

We faced a situation where my wife had accidentally left our diaper bag at the gate. Because this was an international flight, we were unable to deplane and search for it. The ground agent reluctantly assisted us in our search, but we were unable to locate the bag. Eventually, someone discovered the bag at the security checkpoint in Terminal A-West. The airport eventually sent it back to our home in Florida, though we had to pay for the shipping.

However, the sincere care shown by the 2 assigned flight attendants in our cabin did not go unnoticed. Thanks to the quick thinking of one of the flight attendants, we were able to find a solution for our toddler’s diaper needs during the 8-hour flight. They kindly provided us with female hygiene products, ensuring our daughter’s comfort and protection.

I was impressed by the attentive and considerate service of the flight attendants throughout the flight. It made me gain newfound admiration for the many exceptional employees of American Airlines.

Arrival

After our arrival at Naples International Airport, we disembarked the plane and proceeded down the stairs to board a shuttle bus that transported all passengers to passport control.

The ride lasted approximately 20 minutes because of runway traffic. However, during this time, I took the opportunity to appreciate the diverse range of aircraft liveries that surrounded us.

Upon reaching passport control, I noticed a designated line for families, which I greatly appreciate about Europe. After swiftly going through it, we promptly made our way out of the airport and hopped into our transfer Mercedes-Benz van bound for Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

Final Thoughts

Would I rather have a lie-flat business class seat for an overnight flight to Europe? Of course, I would. Who wouldn’t?

However, when flying with a large family, finding award availability for 5 people between the U.S. and Italy at reasonable rates can be incredibly difficult. In actuality, I was ecstatic to have secured 5 award seats in premium economy on American Airlines to Naples, Italy, for only 35,000 Alaska miles each.

The seats were well-cushioned and spacious. The 28-seat premium economy cabin was quiet despite its full capacity, and the service on the flight was excellent.

I would gladly choose to fly premium economy across the pond with American Airlines again. It is an excellent option for families who need to book multiple seats while also desiring a comfortable experience.