AA 2320 is schedule to depart DFW at 7:10 am from gate D25, arriving at ORD at 9:38 am at gate L10! Not sure witch of these beauties will be the flight as there are 5 at DFW (one just arrived yesterday), but it looks like it is going out full! Looking forward to this next week as I'm taking it on Tuesday! Weather is a concern at DFW as we are due for nasty weather the next week, but not a total wash out (until Saturday).

I'm flying out on it tomorrow. I'm not too worried about the weather. I don't think it will get bad until later in the day.

Does anyone have any idea of any special events they'll do for the inaugural flight?

There will be some celebration at DFW and a water cannon at ORD as it approaches L10 (dedicated AA 787 gate at ORD).

The inaugural flight was 3 years ago?? (I think you have a typo in the title  )

Quoting nomorerjs (Thread starter): Not sure witch of these beauties will be the flight as there are 5 at DFW

Hopefully N800AN! That would be fitting.
Couldn't get on the inaugural flight but looking forward to flying on it next week.  

Also what are they going to do with the 4 other 787s until they start EZE and PEK? They should do more 787 domestic ops with their hubs  

[Edited 2015-05-06 17:59:52]

N800AN (8AA) it is! It's scheduled to operate both round trips tomorrow.

Flightaware now showing N801AC as the frame doing both round trips today.
Departure in 75 mins.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N801AC
A

Funny how the guy reporting from Airways Magazine on FB keeps posting that its a US Airways flight.

http://www.facebook.com/Airchive?fref=ts

[Edited 2015-05-07 06:03:15]

Quoting miaami (Reply 6): US Airways flight

Ha..I know noticed that too. Good on US/aa for the new 787.

I can't put my finger on it but I am not too crazed about this flight/announcement. With all the sensationalism when the AA 787 first went to DFW I had thought wow this is pretty cool. Now it is just ho-hum. Maybe the reason it is, afterall, it is still AA and I am not so glamoured by them. I can understand the UA 787 because it was first in NA, then AC.

I wonder why they switched it last minute for N801AC. It looks like it scheduled for tomorrow as well.

Quoting rta (Reply 8): I wonder why they switched it last minute for N801AC. It looks like it scheduled for tomorrow as well.

As many hours as N800AN has racked up with training hops, perhaps
she getting a "checkup" right now
  

N801AC probably has a lot of hours too since they've had it for a few months by now. In that case maybe should've used one of the planes they got in the last few weeks. I guess there's probably a good reason for it.

So now they have 5 planes, and only need one for their Dallas/Chicago service. So are they just going to keep four of them parked for the next month?

Quoting rta (Reply 10): So now they have 5 planes, and only need one for their Dallas/Chicago service. So are they just going to keep four of them parked for the next month?

3 of them just arrived on property , so they have prep work to perform at the DWH hangar
on the east side of the airport.

I wonder if they'll have random domestic substitute flights as well as the ORD flts?

I see, thanks. I guess they'll be busy with them then. It would've been really cool if they could do domestic 787 to MIA and LAX in addition to ORD.

Quoting rta (Reply 3): The inaugural flight was 3 years ago??

Was thinking (almost) the same thing . . . 05 July 2012 has passed quite some time already!  

I know a few people who were on the flight, seems like they did a good job with the first flight.

Quoting YYZAMS (Reply 7): With all the sensationalism when the AA 787 first went to DFW I had thought wow this is pretty cool. Now it is just ho-hum. Maybe the reason it is, afterall, it is still AA and I am not so glamoured by them. I can understand the UA 787 because it was first in NA, then AC.

   Fortunately I was around when the old AA would make a big production. I was on the inaugural flight into OMA and DSM in 1976. They had a red carpet at the foot of the stairs and a line of patriots dressed in 1776 uniforms with flags on either side. Ahhh for the old days!

Both N800AN and later N801AC have made numerous training flight during the past few months, traveling to Chicago, St. Louis and Phoenix domestically and England, Japan and South America internationally.

Just got home from the inaugural!

What a fun experience! Plenty of pictures posted in my Trip Report in the TRs forum!

Quoting flymia (Reply 14): I know a few people who were on the flight, seems like they did a good job with the first flight.

There must have been a lot of aviation geeks and airline reporters on that flight. I can imagine how quickly available seats got filled.

I haven't been on a 787 yet. I have no doubt that the 787 is a magnificent airplane and it must be a great experience to fly on it, especially when you experience flying on this airplane for the first time. I can understand how excited everyone is and how much most people are looking forward to fly on it when they book a flight. I can understand that people like to be part of a celebration, I would have a good time too.
But to be honest with you, if I were to fly DFW-ORD on that day May 7th (or any other day, but that day is particular) I would have chosen to fly on a Super 80 instead of the 787. I'm going to explain why: Because I know that the MD-80s are leaving the fleet soon and it is now that I have to fly on them before it's too late. The 787s are still brand new, which means that they'll be plenty of future opportunities to fly on those for many more years ahead. It's only the beginning of the 787.
So, although I do like to fly on a brand new aircraft, I'm not as excited as flying on a brand new airplane as flying on an older aircraft whose days are numbered. Flying on a final flight of an old plane is, in my opinion, more interesting that flying on a first flight of a new airplane that was just introduced. I would rather look after MD-80s, 757s and 767s, because their days are now numbered. 787s will still be around for many years to come, at least till the year 2040. When flying BA long haul, which doesn't happen often to me, I look after 747s, not A380s 777s or 787s, because I know the 747's days are also numbered.

Ben Soriano

Quoting American 767 (Reply 18): I would have chosen to fly on a Super 80 instead of the 787. I'm going to explain why: Because I know that the MD-80s are leaving the fleet soon and it is now that I have to fly on them before it's too late.

I agree!! and the fact the have a 2 -3 configuration.

Quoting American 767 (Reply 18): There must have been a lot of aviation geeks and airline reporters on that flight. I can imagine how quickly available seats got filled.

The flight was sold out and several avgeeks got the opportunity to see the cabin and cockpit. After the DFW reveal, ORD had a chance between flights during the ground time. It was a wonderful experience with some helpful AA employees leading the way.

Quoting American 767 (Reply 18):

When your first flight does happen make sure it's not flying Y class with QR......   

Quoting PW100 (Reply 13): Was thinking (almost) the same thing . . . 05 July 2012 has passed quite some time already!

Or May 7, 2012 which is how many in the US might read that.

Quoting PW100 (Reply 13): Was thinking (almost) the same thing . . . 05 July 2012 has passed quite some time already!

Would be nice if the thread title could be corrected - indeed the "Inagurial" (sic) was today I suppose!

Quoting American 767 (Reply 18): , if I were to fly DFW-ORD on that day May 7th (or any other day, but that day is particular) I would have chosen to fly on a Super 80 instead of the 787.

Easy! Take the 787 to Chicago and the S80 back to Dallas  

Quoting rta (Reply 24): Easy! Take the 787 to Chicago and the S80 back to Dallas

You have options, the 738, A319, A321, MD-80 or the good ol 787 for a short time. Too bad they will not do the "Employee Shuttle" with this on a permanent basis. I used to enjoy that because less than half of the pax were continuing on to LHR.



Some news stories regarding the flight.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2...ican-airlines-new-boeing-787.html/

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Ame...et-for-First-Flight-302897271.html

[Edited 2015-05-07 17:00:31]

Quoting hh65man (Reply 21): When your first flight does happen make sure it's not flying Y class with QR......

Why? They have 3-3-3 seating just like AA and every other carrier except JL.

There has to be a special gate for a 787?? I thought it would fit a 773 space?

Quoting b777900 (Reply 27): There has to be a special gate for a 787?? I thought it would fit a 773 space?

Probably only one gate has been striped and has a stop bar for a 787.

First time posting in 3 1/2 years but I figure this occasion is worth it!   

I was on both B787 flights this morning.    19C DFW-ORD then 8B ORD-DFW. I was lucky on the ORD-DFW leg as I was the very last person on standby to get on the flight (though I was not on standby on the DFW-ORD leg).

The upgrade list for the DFW-ORD flight was 78 people long.  

There was a lot happening pre-boarding at gate D25 @DFW. From AA reps to Boeing reps to CBS News (I made it on the news for a couple of seconds..LOL). Some AA management and IIRC, someone from Boeing's B787 program spoke before the flight.

All of us received some souvenirs (I still haven't opened mine yet to be honest).

DFW-ORD was a very fun flight-a lot of people walking around, chatting, checking things out. During the flight we got to check out the cabin crew rest area (in the rear of the plane) and post-flight we got to check out the pilots rest area (just behind the cockpit). Basically anyone who wanted to check the rest area as well as sit in the cockpit was allowed to do so. In fact, there was a person from the FAA who was helping to take photos of people in the cockpit (me included)   .

There were a number of representatives from AA/Boeing on the plane making sure the ride was smooth. There was also a tech from Panasonic to make sure the IFE went smoothly (he was sitting next to me). There were some minor glitches (for example, two of the Zodiac seats in J weren't working properly). Interestingly enough, some of the AA employees I spoke with actually paid for the flight. IIRC, one was a director of B787 operations (or close to that position and even he paid for the flight.

The DFW-ORD flight probably had 30+ Flyertalk members and 95% "I wanted to fly on the B787 inaugural today". About 5% didn't know they would be on the B787 inaugural and just got lucky.

The return ORD-DFW flight was much, much more mellow. There was basically no "partying" and a good amount of pax simply were "regular" pax (i.e. pax not knowing or caring if it was the B787) flying to DFW.

The same pilot crew and F/A crew did both flights. Also, the captain walked around the cabin during flight (his family was flying in the back of the plane..LOL). He was very cool, took photos with a lot of people (including me).

He also gave out a special AA B787 inaugural coin (IIRC, one of the souvenirs pre-boarding has an AA B787 inaugural coin as well).

All-in-all it was a phenomenal trip and I'm glad I was able to take part in it.

Hopefully I'll go into more detail/opinion about the plane (and post some pics) later in another post but after 6 flights in 2 days and two more coming up tomorrow, lets just say I'm a bit tired.   

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 26):

Don't know the seat type American are using for their economy class but when I flew on Qatars B787 the overall comfort of the seat design left much to be desired. After about 45 minutes of flight time it felt like I was sitting on a block of wood. I found it to be very uncomfortable and after we landed in Doha I sure was glad to leave it behind me....excuse the pun.

Oh, I did forget sense this topic is about the AAs first flight I wanted to congratulate them.mi think the new colours look pretty sweet on the Dreamliner...  

Quoting fraspotter (Reply 22): Or May 7, 2012 which is how many in the US might read that

It is well known that US and (most of) the rest of world use different date standard. Precisely for that reason I always prefer to write the month in Mmm format, rather than as number . That way, everybody can use their own preference (day - month, or month - day) and still be absolutely clear, without leaving any room for date-interpretation confusion.

07-05-15
05-07-15
07-May-15
May-07-15
May-07-2015 (I usually like to use the full year 2015)

See, how nice and understanding that now has become, to the whole wide world!

It would be nice if more would do that. After all, this is world-wide forum, so it would not hurt to let go just a little fraction of one owns preference, and think a little outside one owns borders . . .  

Ah well, I guess for some the world does stop at their own border.

PW100

Edit, unfortunately the moderator choose not to follow the Mmm convention . . .  

Anyone has pictures of the 787 on this first flight for AA.?

Quoting b777900 (Reply 33): Anyone has pictures of the 787 on this first flight for AA.?

someone had posted in the trip report section on the inaugural flight and had some good pics

I flew this on Thursday morning, was quite the experience!

Here's a video of the taxi and takeoff with ATC. Unfortunately my battery ran out so I couldn't film any further.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZQ0M0HI2Ks

I was onboard the inaugural 787 flight to ORD (AA2320) and flew back on AA2334 the next day. I just got back from the AA hangars where me and my friend toured N805AN. Certainly is a beautiful aircraft!