American Airlines Economy Class Review from Lima to Miami on the A321neo
Join me on a morning flight aboard American Airlines’ Airbus A321 Economy Class from Lima (LIM) to Miami (MIA). In this trip report, I’ll cover the full experience of flying a narrowbody aircraft one of the most popular routes between South America and the United States:
- Check-in and boarding at Lima Airport
- Economy Class seating and cabin comfort on the A321
- Breakfast service after departure
- In-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi options
- Early afternoon arrival in Miami
When searching for direct flights between the US and Peru, I could choose between Delta, United, American, LATAM and Sky Airline. Every airline, except American and Sky, operates this route with a widebody airplane. I ended up choosing American, as I wanted to try a US airline and this was the only one who let me choose seat before check-in. So , if you’re planning to fly American Airlines between Peru and the U.S., this review will give you a clear idea of what to expect in Economy Class on a morning departure.
Flight Details
- Flight number: AA1558
- Date: July 14, 2024
- Route: Lima (LIM) → Miami (MIA)
- Departure: 06:30 local time
- Arrival: 13:15 local time
- Duration: ~5 hours 45 minutes
- Aircraft: Airbus A321neo (international configuration)
- Class: Economy Class
- Frequent flyer program: AAdvantage / Oneworld
From early morning check-in to a packed Lima airport, from an underwhelming economy class to a scenic approach into Miami, this trip report showcases one of American Airlines’ flagship South America routes in style.
Lima Airport
I arrived at Jorge Chávez International Airport well before sunrise, and despite the early hour, the terminal was busy with departures to the U.S. and other international destinations. American Airlines’ check-in counters were well staffed, and the process was straightforward.
Security and immigration in Lima can sometimes involve long lines, but this morning it moved efficiently, and within minutes I was through to the gate area. As I hadn’t eaten breakfast, I strolled through the terminal in search for something to eat.
Boarding American Airlines A321
Boarding started 45 minutes before scheduled departure. As always when flying to the US, there was an extra security screening. To my surprise, it was not allowed to bring bottled water to the airplane, even if it has been purchased in the airport.
The American Airlines A321 Economy cabin is laid out in a 3–3 configuration, and looks modern and sleek. Greeting me on my seat was a pillow and a blanket.
A cool feature is the American flag-inspired red and blue mood lighting. Another cool thing with this A321neo is that there is also a toilet in the middle of the cabin.
American Airlines Economy Seat and Entertainment
The American Airlines A321 Economy Class Seat has around 31 inches of pitch and 17 inches of width. It is quite comfortable and the leg space is decent enough for a mid-haul flight of just under six hours. The seat padding was average, but the bright morning atmosphere and clean cabin made the flight feel less tiring than an overnight service.
Each seat had a USB charging port, while universal outlets were shared between rows. There was no personal entertainment screen at the seat, which is a major let-down on a long flight like this one. American’s A321 does however offer free connection to onboard entertainment through your phone or iPad. Other than this, I recommend that you choose a window seat at the right hand side of the airplane. The amazing views of the Andes provide a great alternative entertainment!
Food onboard
About 45 minutes after takeoff, breakfast was served. There was only one option, which was coffee and water/juice, a sandwhich, pastry and a bag of chips. A weird combination for breakfast, but it went down.
One hour before landing, I was offered a bag of pretzels with coffee and water. All in all, the food was underwhelming, but survivable. It did not exactly made me curious enough to see what American Airlines serve on a longer flight..
Flying from Lima to Miami
Leaving the night behind us, we pushed back from Lima on time. The short taxi to the runway offered some fascinating sights — rows of older aircraft and a few Peruvian military planes parked on the far side of the airport. We departed from runway 16L at Jorge Chávez International Airport, climbing into Lima’s signature morning fog.
Moments later, the A321 banked over the Port of Callao, giving passengers a unique view of the sprawling harbor, before making a wide U-turn over the Pacific Ocean and heading north. As we gained altitude, the skies cleared and the sunrise revealed stunning views of the Andes Mountains. Flying past Quito, Ecuador’s capital, was another highlight, with dramatic peaks surrounding the city below.
Roughly three hours into the journey, we reached the Caribbean Sea, beginning our long descent between Cuba and the Florida Keys. By early afternoon, we were on final approach into Miami International Airport (MIA). The arrival offered beautiful views of Florida’s coastline, glittering in the midday sun — a fitting welcome to the United States.
Immigration at Miami is notorious for long waits with multiple international arrivals, but on this occasion, the lines moved at a reasonable pace. Within the hour, I was landside and ready to continue my journey.
One of the great advantages of flying into Miami is that it serves as American Airlines’ largest hub. From here, passengers can easily connect to destinations across the U.S., the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, making it an efficient gateway for both business and leisure travel.
Final Verdict – Is American Airlines A321 a good option between the US and South America?
Flying American Airlines Economy Class on the A321 from Lima to Miami is a straightforward and reliable experience. The seat is basic but manageable for a mid-haul daytime flight, the breakfast service is ok, and the streaming entertainment helps pass the time.
It’s not a product designed to impress, but it gets you from South America to the U.S. efficiently and with the added benefit of American’s huge Miami hub for onward connections. If you find a good fare, this is a perfectly solid option. If the price is right, I would always choose flying on LATAM’s 767 or Delta’s A350 over the much smaller A321 that American operates.
