en.Wedoany.com Reported - The privacy door of the Flagship Suite on American Airlines' Airbus A321XLR has received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This means the doors can now be opened and closed normally, after being forced to remain open due to pending certification.

Aviation insider JonNYC reported that the FAA certified these doors on July 18. The fleet will phase in the sliding doors from now through fall, with aircraft tail number N302NY being the first to use the feature. The aircraft, registered as N302NY with serial number 12368 and German Airbus registration D-AZXK, was delivered on June 26, 2026, and is one month old.

American Airlines introduced the Flagship Suite on the A321XLR, the longest-range narrowbody aircraft, intended for "thinner routes" to and from Europe that typically lack demand for widebody aircraft. When the airline took delivery of the first five of its 40 A321XLRs, the sliding door feature of the Flagship Suite was put on hold as it had not met FAA certification requirements. Key advantages of the Flagship Suite include a privacy door, direct aisle access, a fully flat bed, a wireless charging pad, and universal power outlets.

The privacy door, a critical feature of the A321XLR in-flight experience, is an integral part of the overall Flagship Suite. First-class passengers can close the door on overnight flights to block out cabin disturbances, or work or watch the entertainment system without interruption. The cabin features a 1x1 herringbone layout with fully flat beds, wireless charging devices, large seatback entertainment screens, and individual overhead air vents. With certification secured, the feature will be gradually introduced on domestic routes and long-haul European flights between July and September this year. During the phased rollout, some aircraft may experience slight delays until fall.

Simple Flying contacted American Airlines for comment on the certification but was unable to immediately reach a company spokesperson.

American Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to operate the A321XLR and currently the only one to configure the aircraft with a business class (Flagship Suite), premium economy, and main cabin. The aircraft first flew on December 18, from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It features 20 Flagship Suite seats, 12 premium economy seats, and 123 main cabin seats. Initially operating on domestic transcontinental routes, it has since been added to European flights. Flagship Suite passengers enjoy priority check-in, security, boarding, and baggage handling, as well as access to the Greenwich Lounge at JFK.

The certification of the privacy door feature means passengers finally get the fully enclosed privacy door originally promised, shielding them from aisle traffic, neighboring passengers, and other disturbances. Previously, American Airlines had apologized for being unable to provide the feature until final certification was obtained.