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Aviation and football collide this November as fans get the rare chance to fly aboard the Arizona Cardinals Boeing 777 team plane.
Offered by Cardinals Premier Travel, this all-inclusive, first-class experience will put up to 288 die-hard Cards fans on the team’s custom 777 charter for select away games, letting them travel in the same sky-high style as the pros.
The first opportunity for fans will begin with a high-profile Monday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on 3 November. This first-of-its-kind program blends the thrill of NFL fandom with the allure of flying on a customized aircraft tailored for professional athletes.
This adventure is a full-on, curated NFL road trip with all the trimmings. Who thought flying with a bunch of sweaty football fans would ever sound this fancy?
A Boeing 777 Built for the NFL
The Cardinals’ fleet, operated by Gridiron Air—a company specializing in aviation services for professional sports teams—consists of five ex-Delta Boeing 777-232ERs, with two currently active and three in storage, according to planespotters.net.
The two active aircraft include:
- N860DA | Delivered new to Delta Air Lines in March 1999 and to the Cardinals in September 2023 | Age: 26.4 years
- N866DA | Delivered new to Delta Air Lines in December 1999 and to the Cardinals in March 2025 | Age: 25.6 years
The three parked aircraft are:
- N777AZ | Delivered new to Delta Air Lines in March 2002 and to the Cardinals in October 2023 | Age: 23.4 years | Currently in storage at Marana Pinal Airpark (MZJ), Arizona.
- N861DA | Delivered new to Delta Air Lines in March 1999 and to the Cardinals in December 2022 | Age: 26.3 years | Currently in storage at Roswell Industrial Air Center (ROW), New Mexico.
- N864DA | Delivered new to Delta Air Lines in December 1999 and to the Cardinals in October 2022 | Age: 25.8 years | Currently in storage at MZJ
The Arizona Cardinals Boeing 777s feature 288 seats: 220 economy, 48 business class, and 28 first-class/lie-flat seats, with 166 boasting extra legroom and wider cushions for those of us who don’t have a linebacker’s quads.
The 777s boast other specialized amenities, including:
- State-of-the-art refreshment stations serving nutritional meals tailored to athletes’ dietary needs.
- A large lounge area for mid-flight team meetings and strategy reviews (or for fans arguing over the ref’s last call).
- Enhanced cabin features like extra noise-canceling materials, mood lighting, advanced climate control, enlarged overhead bins, and high-speed WiFi.
- Top-tier air filtration systems for a cleaner, healthier cabin environment.
From the description, I imagine the plane as part locker room, part luxury liner. And honestly, I wouldn’t complain about it.
Cardinals Premier Travel: The Fan Experience
The first fan flight will depart Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) on 1 November 2025. Up to 288 fans will be on board, on their way to Dallas for the Cowboys game. The same Arizona Cardinals Boeing 777 will bring everyone home following the game’s conclusion on 3 November.
The all-inclusive package, described by the Cardinals as a “curated trip,” includes roundtrip airfare on the team’s 777, hotel accommodations, game tickets, private destination transportation, team swag, a pregame tailgate, a reception with Cardinals legends, and more.
In a team press release, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, who has clearly noticed the hordes of red-clad fans storming away games, emphasized the program’s appeal.
“In recent years, the number of Cardinals fans who travel to support the team at road games has increased exponentially,” Bidwill said. “To meet that clear demand, we are introducing Cardinals Premier Travel, which will offer fans an unprecedented opportunity to travel to games in comfort, style, and convenience, just like the team.”
The number of Cardinals fans who travel to support the team at road games has increased exponentially.
Michael Bidwill, Arizona Cardinals Owner
The packages are tiered to offer varying levels of luxury, with pricing and amenities as follows:
- Silver Package ($2,500/person): Main cabin seating, two nights at the Marriott Dallas Uptown, and lower-level game tickets. Fans who prefer extra legroom that doesn’t make you feel like a pretzel can upgrade to Silver Premium for an additional $500/person.
- Gold Package ($4,500/person): Business class seating, two nights at the Marriott Dallas Uptown, and club-level game tickets.
- Platinum Package ($6,000/person): First-class/lie-flat seating, two nights at the team’s 4-star hotel, and private suite-level game tickets.
Seating is assigned based on the package purchased and the booking order, so early reservations are key for prime spots. Passengers are permitted one checked bag and one personal item at no additional cost, aligning with the premium experience.
Why a 777? Because NFL Teams Don’t Travel Light
The Cardinals’ use of Boeing 777s reflects the unique logistical demands of transporting an NFL team. When you’re hauling players, coaches, staff, and enough equipment to outfit a small army, a regional jet just won’t cut it. Plus, some teams split their rosters across multiple planes for safety and insurance reasons–nobody wants the whole starting lineup on one flight if turbulence gets feisty.
Beyond game days, the Cardinals’ 777s don’t just sit idle. During the off-season, they support charity work and emergency operations. For instance, in January 2025, two of the team’s 777s were deployed to evacuate the Los Angeles Rams and their families during devastating wildfires, relocating them to Phoenix until it was safe to return.
And now, with the 777s opened up to fans, they will be utilized even more. Honestly, realizing how valuable these assets are both on and off the field is a good business move. Either way, it’s pretty cool for a plane that’s older than some of the rookies it carries.
AvGeek Appeal and Fan Frenzy
For us avgeeks, this is a golden ticket to experience a 777 tricked out for NFL royalty. The custom cabin, from lie-flat seats to oversized bins, is a case study in how to turn a commercial airliner into a mobile team headquarters. The fact that these planes started life with Delta before Y2K and got a Cardinals makeover only adds to the nerdy allure. For Cards fans, it’s a chance to live like a player (minus the 5 a.m. workouts), rub elbows with legends, and scream your lungs out at AT&T Stadium.
But let’s be honest: $6,000 for a weekend might make your wallet cry harder than a fan after a bad call. Still, the Cardinals are breaking new ground by letting fans board their team plane, and that’s a pretty big deal. It’s like being invited to the cool kids’ table, except the table is a 777 at 35,000 feet, and the cool kids are probably arguing about who gets the armrest.
So, if you’re an avgeek who knows your 777-232ER from your 737-800 or a Cardinals fan ready to bleed red from a lie-flat seat, Cardinals Premier Travel is your chance to merge your love of planes and pigskin. Just don’t expect the pilot to do a flyover of the stadium—those are reserved for the Air Force, for now.
Want to geek out more or book a spot? Check the Cardinals Premier Travel website for details. And maybe bring a spare credit card.
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