Dec 6, 2015, 10:45 am
Last edit by: JDiver
American Airlines Preferred Seats
(Not Main Cabin Extra)
(Not Main Cabin Extra)
Link to page on aa.com
Link Link to Main Cabin Extra thread on FT
Standard legroom in a more favorable location
In the Main Cabin on American Airlines flights, Preferred seats are available to purchase when you book, during check-in or anytime in between.
Preferred seats are complimentary for:
- AAdvantage elite status members**
- oneworld Sapphire, oneworld Emerald and oneworld Ruby members
- Customers who purchase a full-fare Main Cabin ticket
**Includes Alaska Airlines MVP® Gold and MVP® Gold 75K customers and up to eight traveling companions on the same reservation.
American Airlines Preferred seats (master thread)
Oct 20, 2015, 7:17 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,664
No more LUS today, so all seats are AA allocated. Exit rows are within the realm of MCE now. So, on an LUS plane, you'll see a few rows of MCE (all exit rows and bulkheads - and many bulkheads are effectively NOT MCE though AA sells 'em that way) and some "preferred" seating (front of the plane and/or aisle seats, the only advantage to these seats.)
Now as a Gold, you can only grab an exit row or bulkhead seat on LUS planes at T-24.
Oct 20, 2015, 8:28 pm
#47
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
How many MCE class seats were available on LUS? How many MCE class seats were available on LAA? Use the number of passengers per aircraft, you have lots more MCE if you're flying a LAA aircraft. I'm still not sure what Doug Parker and his mostly US executive team will do with MCE and LUS aircraft, but I'm not at all convinced this is a "major downgrade" for our LUS members - even at half price, and certainly not closer to flight time, when some elites may well have been upgraded from MCE seats.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:46 pm
#48
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
I've got no sympathy for Golds who are missing out on free exit row seats. A lot of EXPs (even PLTs) and yes including myself book last minute travel and would like an opportunity to pick a nice seat when F is sold out (which it usually is). The last 4 trips i've taken in the past 2 months, 3 of them were coach bookings i booked within a week of departure and i was damn glad there were still MCE seats to pick.
At least you get a 50% discount as a gold. on UA/DL, you get no discount. you pay full price or you wait til T-24.
At least you get a 50% discount as a gold. on UA/DL, you get no discount. you pay full price or you wait til T-24.
Oct 21, 2015, 2:35 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,811
How many MCE class seats were available on LUS? How many MCE class seats were available on LAA? Use the number of passengers per aircraft, you have lots more MCE if you're flying a LAA aircraft. I'm still not sure what Doug Parker and his mostly US executive team will do with MCE and LUS aircraft, but I'm not at all convinced this is a "major downgrade" for our LUS members - even at half price, and certainly not closer to flight time, when some elites may well have been upgraded from MCE seats.
Just booked my wife on our Xmas trip. She is Gold. She's in 5A on one flight and 6A on the second flight.
One thing is nice, thank god that $@&%(*@&%ing "choice" seat nonsense has gone away (for now).
Oct 21, 2015, 5:45 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,664
Interestingly on routes which are flown with LUS birds, the entire front section of the plane seems to be "preferred seats".
Just booked my wife on our Xmas trip. She is Gold. She's in 5A on one flight and 6A on the second flight.
One thing is nice, thank god that $@&%(*@&%ing "choice" seat nonsense has gone away (for now).
Just booked my wife on our Xmas trip. She is Gold. She's in 5A on one flight and 6A on the second flight.
One thing is nice, thank god that $@&%(*@&%ing "choice" seat nonsense has gone away (for now).
Oct 21, 2015, 9:32 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,221
And in a related note - anyone know what happens to the non-MCE preferred seats at OLCI? Do they open for nonelites for free?
Oct 22, 2015, 9:03 pm
#53
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
It stinks if you have no status because you have a higher chance of ending up in an undesirable seat, but we can't blame AA for prioritizing their elite members.
Dec 6, 2015, 8:47 am
#54
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
Policy on assigning preferred seats for free?
Flying ORD to LAS and return next week and almost all exit row seats each and the front section of economy preferred seats that cost extra are available.
I am wondering for the person with no status, at what point can I get one of those seats for free if it's still available? Do I just have to wait and ask the gate agent and hope I get a friendly agent that won't charge me? I am guessing the app will never unlock these seats and make them "free".
I am wondering for the person with no status, at what point can I get one of those seats for free if it's still available? Do I just have to wait and ask the gate agent and hope I get a friendly agent that won't charge me? I am guessing the app will never unlock these seats and make them "free".
Dec 6, 2015, 9:06 am
#55
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,606
Flying ORD to LAS and return next week and almost all exit row seats each and the front section of economy preferred seats that cost extra are available.
I am wondering for the person with no status, at what point can I get one of those seats for free if it's still available? Do I just have to wait and ask the gate agent and hope I get a friendly agent that won't charge me? I am guessing the app will never unlock these seats and make them "free".
I am wondering for the person with no status, at what point can I get one of those seats for free if it's still available? Do I just have to wait and ask the gate agent and hope I get a friendly agent that won't charge me? I am guessing the app will never unlock these seats and make them "free".
Dec 6, 2015, 9:39 am
#56
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AA EP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 636
Flying ORD to LAS and return next week and almost all exit row seats each and the front section of economy preferred seats that cost extra are available.
I am wondering for the person with no status, at what point can I get one of those seats for free if it's still available? Do I just have to wait and ask the gate agent and hope I get a friendly agent that won't charge me? I am guessing the app will never unlock these seats and make them "free".
I am wondering for the person with no status, at what point can I get one of those seats for free if it's still available? Do I just have to wait and ask the gate agent and hope I get a friendly agent that won't charge me? I am guessing the app will never unlock these seats and make them "free".
Dec 6, 2015, 9:41 am
#57
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Aside from the risk of being subject to an IVB (probably unlikely) the OP is better off waiting for a seat assignment at the gate. At best there is nothing but MCE seats left and at worst he would still be shoved into a middle seat in the back of the a/c.
Dec 6, 2015, 11:03 am
#58
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
Just to clarify. I already have a seat assignment. There are seats available towards the back of the plane currently. I was just hoping to be able to move up to either an exit row or an aisle seat closer to the front.
If I can't switch I may just pull my trick I do on Spirit and wait until the flight has completely boarded and be the last one on the plane and just take an empty one of my choice.
If I can't switch I may just pull my trick I do on Spirit and wait until the flight has completely boarded and be the last one on the plane and just take an empty one of my choice.
Dec 6, 2015, 11:20 am
#59
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Anywhere
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 674
Originally Posted by MSP_Monopoly
Just to clarify. I already have a seat assignment. There are seats available towards the back of the plane currently. I was just hoping to be able to move up to either an exit row or an aisle seat closer to the front.
If I can't switch I may just pull my trick I do on Spirit and wait until the flight has completely boarded and be the last one on the plane and just take an empty one of my choice.
If I can't switch I may just pull my trick I do on Spirit and wait until the flight has completely boarded and be the last one on the plane and just take an empty one of my choice.
As for taking an empty seat of your choice, MCE seats are sold by AA. While you will get away with this most of the time, doing so is not ethical.
Dec 6, 2015, 11:32 am
#60
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
I would never take a MCE seat for free as I agree those are sold for a premium. But I would not hesitate to take a regular aisle seat that is closer to the front of the plane. I think that those non-MCE seats that are just more desirable should be released to whoever wants them at T-24.
