American Airlines - Flight 95

American Airlines Flight 95, May 25, 2026 — Madrid Barajas (MAD) to New York JFK - Economy Transatlantic Review

We have said it before on Silver Classic Men and we will say it again — the journey is part of the experience. Which makes it all the more disappointing when an airline that carries the flag of one of the world's great aviation nations delivers an experience that falls so comprehensively short of the standard its passengers deserve.

American Airlines Flight 95 from Madrid to JFK was, from gate to landing, one of the most consistently frustrating flying experiences we have had in recent memory. And given that we recently documented our Iberia experience on these very pages — that is saying something.

Let us begin at the beginning. Because it started before we even boarded.

---

The Gate — A Masterclass in Overzealous Authority

Upon arriving at the gate, the first announcement informed passengers that the flight was full and that carry-on bags would need to be checked due to limited overhead space. A reasonable enough request in isolation — except that American Airlines specifically promises each passenger one carry-on and one personal item that fits under the seat. If the airline cannot honor that commitment on a full flight, that is an operational failure to own — not a problem to transfer to the passenger.

Then came the gate attendant.

As I approached the jet way she stopped me and informed me that my carry-on would need to be checked because my backpack would not fit under the seat. I explained — calmly and clearly — that the bag appeared larger than it was due to my new headphones, and that once removed the bag would fit perfectly. I offered to demonstrate this. She was unmoved.

This was a woman who had, shall we say, a particular relationship with authority. Overzealous does not quite cover it. Inflexible, unwilling to listen and entirely unwilling to engage with a perfectly reasonable explanation from a perfectly reasonable passenger. To avoid a scene — something no Silver Classic Man should ever have to consider at a boarding gate — I checked the bag.

In all my years of travel. All my flights. All my airlines. I have never once been forced to check a carry-on bag. That record ended here.

And for the record — the bag fit under the seat perfectly. Exactly as I said it would.

The Cabin — No WiFi. No Entertainment. No Apology Worth Having.

We settled into our seats and discovered that our screens were not working. No WiFi. No movies. No music. On a seven and a half hour transatlantic flight.

We flagged a flight attendant — a woman with short blonde hair and thick black glasses who had accessorized her uniform, during meal/beverage service, with what can only be described as an off-duty (Lordes?) apron. We explained the situation. Her response was immediate, confident, and entirely incorrect.

"Well, everyone in front of you is working."

They were not. Not one screen in front of us was functioning. We pointed this out. Her response shifted from incorrect to patronizing with impressive speed.

"Well, I guess we're just gonna have to reset it then for you — okay?"

She walked away. Nothing happened.

We then found Danielle — a second flight attendant — and explained the situation again. Danielle was efficient and engaged. She went to investigate. Several minutes later she came on the loudspeaker to announce that passengers in specific seats would have no in-flight entertainment due to an issue identified in Madrid — but that the airline had chosen not to delay the flight to fix it and would address the problem upon arrival in New York.

Let us sit with that for a moment.

First — they were not aware the screens were not working. That was made abundantly clear by the first flight attendant's insistence that everything was functioning perfectly. The announcement therefore contained information that was, at minimum, misleading. Second — if the issue was genuinely known in Madrid, why were the affected passengers not informed at the gate? Why were they allowed to board a seven and a half hour flight without the courtesy of being told they would have no entertainment for its duration?

Something in this explanation did not add up. And in the hospitality industry — on the ground or at 35,000 feet — a story that does not add up is a story that erodes trust.

The airline's solution? Purchase the in-flight WiFi package and contact American Airlines Customer Service upon arrival to request a possible refund.

Possible. Refund.

We genuinely did not know whether to laugh or ask for the complaints form.

The Service — One Bright Light in Considerable Darkness

With no entertainment to occupy us, we decided to focus on what we could enjoy — drinks. And here, finally, Silver Classic Men found something worth celebrating.

Amanda was, without question, the sole glowing example of genuine hospitality on this flight. Warm, attentive, professional, and present — she was exactly the kind of flight attendant who reminds you why the job, done well, is an art form. She is the standard American Airlines should be setting across its entire cabin crew. We want that on record.

The remainder of the crew, unfortunately, did not share her approach.

During a lull between service rounds my husband walked to the galley to request drinks — a perfectly ordinary and reasonable thing to do. He was met by a flight attendant who was, by any measure, gruff, dismissive, and rude. A bald gentleman of a certain vintage who, to be direct, gave every impression of a man who had long since stopped finding hospitality interesting. He told my husband to return to his seat and that he would come to us when he was finished.

He never came.

We told Amanda. She gave a knowing nod — the kind that speaks volumes without saying a word — and said simply: "Don't worry. I'll take care of you."

She did. She always did.

The Captains — Where Credit Is Genuinely Due

Full and sincere credit to the Captains — who delivered a smooth, safe, and professionally executed flight from Madrid to JFK. The one element of this experience that performed without fault was the aircraft itself and the men at its controls. That matters and we will not let it go unacknowledged.

The Silver Classic Scorecard — Flight 95

Experience | Rating

| Gate Attendant | ⭐ — Overzealous, unlistening, inflexible
| In-Flight Entertainment | ⭐ — Non-functional for 7.5 hours
| WiFi Resolution | ⭐ — Misleading explanation, inadequate remedy
| Flight Attendant — Blonde/Glasses | ⭐ — Patronizing and ineffective
| Male Flight Attendant — Galley | ⭐ — Rude and absent
| Amanda | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — The sole platinum standard on this flight
| Danielle | ⭐⭐⭐ — Engaged and proactive
| The Captains | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Safe, smooth, professional
| Overall Flight Experience | ⭐⭐ — Significantly below standard

The Silver Classic Verdict

We have flown a great deal. We travel with intention, with experience and with a standard that we apply equally to hotels, restaurants, bars — and airlines. We know the difference between an off night and a systemic problem.

This felt systemic.

It is worth noting that several months ago we had an experience on American Airlines so positive that we took the time to write a letter praising a flight attendant by name. We believe in acknowledging excellence as readily as we hold shortcomings accountable. That is the Silver Classic standard — and it applies in both directions.

But Flight 95 was not that flight. It was a seven and a half hour journey with no entertainment, a fabricated explanation, a gate attendant with a control problem, a galley attendant with a hospitality problem — and one extraordinary woman named Amanda holding the entire experience together with grace, warmth and professionalism that her colleagues would do well to study.

American Airlines — you are in the hospitality industry. Your pre-flight announcement says as much. Your crew tells passengers that if there is anything they can do to make the flight more comfortable, to please let them know. We let them know. Repeatedly. The results spoke for themselves.

It is time to decide what kind of airline you want to be. Because right now — alongside your partner Iberia, whose pages on Silver Classic Men tell a remarkably similar story — the answer is not one that inspires confidence or loyalty.

We are reconsidering our carrier of choice for future Madrid flights. We suggest American Airlines reconsiders its approach to hospitality before more passengers do the same.

Silver Classic Rating: Not Recommended — Seek Alternatives
With the singular exception of Amanda — who deserves every star we have. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐