American unveils centennial-themed trading cards

American Airlines is making the joy of flight a little more commemorative with card decks straight from the flight decks taking to skies soon. Starting in early May, trading cards will be available for customers to collect from their pilots, with cards becoming more widely available in time for summer.

The trading card line-up will include showcases of four fleet types currently flown by American: the A321neo, 737-800, 777-300ER and 787-9P. In addition, to commemorate the airline’s centennial anniversary, three special edition trading cards will be available of the DC-3, 707-123 and MD-80, representing three aircraft that were instrumental in shaping American’s history.

“These trading cards are a culmination of 100 years of special moments shared between pilots, planes and passengers,” said American’s Vice President of Flight Operations Captain Alan Johnson. “Whether flying for the first time or the 100th, these cards give everyone the opportunity to connect with pilots, commemorate meaningful trips and reflect on the progress of flight.”

Every trading card includes an image of the aircraft, aircraft specifications, diagrams and facts about each aircraft. For avid aviation fans, the cards also include specific aircraft registrations that provide more context and historical facts about past and present aircraft.

Customers are encouraged to request a trading card from pilots on their mainline American flights. Trading cards will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so they may not be available in some instances, but checking with pilots is always recommended.

American will print more than seven million trading cards in time for summer, giving travelers more opportunities to receive a trading card when they fly.

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