Name: Janelle Anderson
Title: Vice President, Global Marketing
Company, city: American Airlines; Fort Worth, Texas
Number of employees: 100 people on AA’s marketing team and 130,000 worldwide
Recent project: Developing AA’s Flagship program as the only domestic airline with a truly first-class product
First job: I was a swimmer in college, so my first job as a lifeguard in Cambridge, Minnesota, was an easy choice.
Little-known fact about you: In college I minored in English and theology, which taught me how to think broadly and from different points of view.
Your Business
What innovations and initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next few years? Travelers will increasingly expect personalization, which will drive more segmentation of products and a wider array of differentiated choices. American Airlines is expanding options such as Flagship First and premium economy to give customers clearer upgrade paths and tailored experiences.
Best career advice you’ve received: On my first day out of college a senior vice president told me, “Come to work every day and try to hit it out of the park.” You will miss sometimes, but by aiming high you’ll also achieve more than many who don’t try.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? The travel industry is always changing. Be curious, learn quickly and don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. Dream big and be persistent—those qualities help you adapt and grow.
Janelle Anderson as a Traveler
Favorite travel memory or story: Scuba diving in Bora Bora, French Polynesia, stands out as a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Flying in over that vivid water and seeing the island’s colors for the first time was unforgettable.
One travel tip you cannot live without: When traveling with family, create an end-to-end experience. Plan from your flight onward—consider sharing premium elements like Flagship to make the whole trip feel cohesive and special.
Best advice for business travelers: Invest in the experience. Access to Admirals Clubs or a premium cabin delivers a smoother journey, and the experienced crew is often the first to provide help and solutions when issues arise.
About American Airlines
With AA’s recent schedule enhancements, what can travelers anticipate from the airline in the new year? We’ve added a range of interesting international routes such as Berlin, Bologna and destinations in Croatia, while domestically we’re expanding service to hub-adjacent cities like Flagstaff, Burbank, Kalispell and Santa Rosa. Over recent years we invested $3 billion to improve the customer experience, including rolling out high-speed satellite WiFi. By the end of 2019 our mainline domestic fleet will feature satellite WiFi and live TV, and every seat—about 86,000 in total—will have an electrical outlet.
For health and wellness, we partnered with Calm to create an in-flight relaxation channel and continue offering Casper sleep products in premium cabins. We’re also growing our Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining footprint, with the Dallas/Fort Worth Flagship Lounge opening next, while updating Admirals Clubs across the network to provide a consistent traveler experience.
Tell us about American’s menu enhancements across all cabins for onboard cuisine. In December we launched a partnership with Zoës Kitchen to introduce lighter, fresher main-cabin options. Premium cabin menus are refreshed regularly with input from recognized chefs to bring fine-dining insights to 35,000 feet. We continue our Bobby Stuckey wine program through 2019, highlighting wins from Global Traveler’s Wines on the Wing survey. Bobby Stuckey will also launch an exclusive wine label for American Airlines, which will be available in Admirals Clubs.
What can travelers expect from the whole flight experience in American’s premium cabins? Premium travel with American is designed to be private and seamless—starting with Flagship First Check-In, expedited security screening and access to Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining. In the air we focus on comfort, wellness and connectivity. Premium customers will enjoy enhanced amenities such as Bang & Olufsen headsets, a large, curated selection of movies and music, live TV and high-speed WiFi. We continue to evolve the premium experience to meet guest expectations.