On October 13, 2025, I flew 
American Airlines from 
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to 
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to attend the Navitaire Customer Conference. I was booked in economy class on AA808, operated by a Boeing 737-800.
Having recently moved from Seattle to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I was excited to fly my new ‘hometown’ airline, though I’ve admittedly flown American countless times before. For this flight, I was assigned 13E, a middle seat. As someone who prefers a window seat, I was a bit disappointed. With that, I didn’t initially have very high expectations for the experience, at least in terms of my own personal comfort. However, I was excited to fly either way.
Check-In Process
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I used the American Airlines app to check in. The process was seamless, though I did notice that my mobile boarding pass didn’t list my known traveler number, which was understandable as I hadn’t booked the trip myself. I went onto the website to edit my traveler information, and within seconds, the “TSA Precheck” logo appeared on my boarding pass.
A couple of hours before the flight, I decided to check the seat map again, to see if by chance there was a window seat available. Lo-and-behold, there were two, so I snatched the forward-most one: 18F. I love taking photos and videos out the airplane window, as well as resting my head against the wall for an occasional snooze, so my expectations quickly became much higher following the seat switch.
I’ve had one too many checked bags lost or delayed over the years, so I’m a ‘carry-on’ girl. I even carried all my luggage on board with me for a 10-day trip to Morocco several years ago. With that, I had no need to stop at the check-in counter.
Departure Airport: Dallas/Fort Worth International
I took the Trinity Metro TEXRail train from downtown Fort Worth to DFW. It drops off at Terminal B, which is where I went through security. Thanks to my TSA Precheck, the process was a breeze. I was second in line and the few TSA agents I interacted with were very courteous and operated quite efficiently. I then walked about two minutes to the Skylink terminal connector, which brought me to Terminal D.
Terminal D is an international terminal, so naturally, there is a wide variety of retail and dining options. I typically bring my own water bottle and snacks with me to the airport, so I didn’t make any stops and instead headed straight to my gate: D1. My gate was at the far end of the terminal, so I had about a five minute walk from the Skylink station. The gate itself was spacious with plenty of seating. I plugged in my phone for a last-minute charge, which I typically do just in case the in-seat power isn’t working on the aircraft.
Boarding Process
American’s boarding process is very straightforward, with preboarding followed by nine groups. First to board are families, customers needing special assistance, First and Business class passengers, and ConciergeKey members. Groups 1-4 are various levels of elite and premium travelers, 5-8 are general economy, and 9 is basic economy. I was in Group 4.
The flight was scheduled to depart at 17:45 Central Time with boarding set to begin at 17:05, but surprisingly, the first announcement wasn’t made until 17:13. The gate agent let us know that boarding would be slightly delayed because the inbound flight was international (Mexico City) and was still deplaning. Boarding began at 17:40, and I was in my seat by 17:55.
Seating: Layout & Comfort
Credit: Annie Flodin | Simple Flying
The 737-800 was arranged in two-two for First and three-three for both Main Cabin Extra and Main Cabin. Since I boarded relatively early, I quickly and easily located my seat and had ample overhead bin space for my rollerboard bag. The space underneath the seat in front of me was more than big enough for my medium-sized backpack.
The seat itself was comfortable, with sufficient legroom and a great view. I plugged my phone into the USB port, and it immediately started charging. Cosmetically, everything near me was in good condition, with only a few minor scuffs on the seatback and tray table. My seat comfortably reclined, and despite the flight being completely full, it didn’t feel terribly cramped.
In-Flight Connectivity
Credit: Annie Flodin | Simple Flying
There were no seatback screens on our 737-800. Instead, passengers could watch hundreds of movies and television shows on their own electronic devices. T-Mobile customers get free Wi-Fi on American flights. Additionally, passengers can get free Wi-Fi for a limited amount of time after watching an ad. The airline also offers Wi-Fi packages: a 1-hour pass for $18 or Wi-Fi for the entire flight for $24. American also offers monthly and yearly subscriptions. Luckily, I have T-Mobile, so I enjoyed free Wi-Fi throughout the flight.
The Crew
Credit: Annie Flodin | Simple Flying
Upon boarding, I was immediately greeted by a flight attendant. The entire crew seemed to be in good spirits, and everyone I interacted with was exceptionally kind. Since I was sitting immediately behind an overwing exit, I heard a flight attendant conduct a thorough briefing for those passengers seated in the exit rows.
Shortly after boarding concluded, a flight attendant made an announcement apologizing for the delay, and letting us know they hoped to make up some time in the air. Not long after that, the captain made an announcement thanking us for our patience and letting us know that we were delayed even further because of required maintenance on a seat. We finally pushed back at 18:32 and were airborne at 18:56.
Meals & Services
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Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the crew began our in-flight service. Passengers could select from a variety of free beverages, including coffee, tea, juices, and soft drinks. I ordered a Diet Coke. We also were given the choice of free pretzels or cookies. A flight isn’t complete in my book without some Biscoff cookies, so I chose the latter. Additionally, several snacks and alcoholic beverages were available for purchase.
Arrival Airport: Harry Reid International
We landed on runway 26L at 19:17 Pacific Time (Las Vegas is two hours behind Dallas). We taxied for approximately five minutes to gate D11. A passenger on our flight needed medical attention, so we were asked to sit tight while paramedics came onboard to assist them. Deplaning was relatively quick, and I was off the aircraft approximately 15 minutes after we arrived at the gate.
There was clear signage directing travelers to baggage claim, so despite not having checked bags, I made my way there to meet the driver who would bring me to the conference hotel. As expected, there were slot machines throughout the gate and baggage claim areas.
About The Aircraft: N960NN
Credit: American Airlines
The following data is courtesy of Planespotters.net.
Registration: N960NN
Type: Boeing 737-800
Age: 11 years
Operator: American Airlines
First Flight: October 23, 2014
Delivery: November 7, 2014
We had a scheduled departure time of 17:45 Central Time, with an actual departure of 18:56. Arrival was scheduled for 18:41 Pacific Time, and we arrived at 19:17. Overall, despite the delay, the 2.5-hour flight was pleasant. I’ll most certainly fly American again in the near future.