Nov 11, 2012, 10:15 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: dstan

MODERATOR NOTE

Over the last few years, several different names have been used for AA seats that are reserved for pre-assignment to elites, full-fare passengers, and those paying an additional fee. Note that all remaining seats are released for assignment to any passenger (for free) closer to departure time. Current and historical names are summarized below.

Can be pre-reserved by elite and full fare customers only for free
Nov 09, 2012: Preferred - Reserved for elite and full fare customers
Aug 25, 2011: Preferred Plus
Aug 05, 2010: Preferred

Can be pre-reserved by elite and full fare customers for free and by other customers for an additional fee
Nov 09, 2012: Preferred
Aug 25, 2011: Preferred
Aug 05, 2010: Express

Historical Threads
• Aug 2011 - Former "Express Seats" now rebranded "Preferred Seats" - free for elite and full-fare
• Aug 2010 - "Your Choice" inc. Express Seats - Paid "Premium" Y Seating domestic/international
• Nov 2009 - Preferred seat? What does it mean? (consolidated)

Former "Preferred Plus" seats now "Reserved for elite and full fare customers"

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Nov 9, 2012, 9:23 am

davidmiami

Original Poster

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: BOSTON

Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Gold SPG, Gold HH, Silver Marriott

Posts: 54

Former "Preferred Plus" seats now "Reserved for elite and full fare customers"

I just saw today under the "select seat" section that they replaced "preferred plus" by "Reserved for elite and full fare customers".

Any clue why?

Nov 9, 2012, 9:24 am

HNL

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2005

Posts: 10,947

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmiami

I just saw today under the "select seat" section that they replaced "preferred plus" by "Reserved for elite and full fare customers".

Any clue why?

My guess is that no one knew what Preferred and Preferred Plus seats were and how one qualified for them.

Nov 9, 2012, 9:26 am

beerup

Join Date: Nov 2008

Programs: AA EXP 3MM

Posts: 1,773

Quote:

Originally Posted by HNL

My guess is that no one knew what Preferred and Preferred Plus seats were and how one qualified for them.

+1. It's been showing this way on the 77W since the seatmaps were released.

I think it's also because some MCE are reserved for elites/full fare. They were running out of colors to have Preferred, Preferred Plus, MCE and MCE plus!

Nov 9, 2012, 9:45 am

bnamike

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: Nashville, TN, USA

Programs: DL PLT, WN A-List Preferred, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, National Exec Elite

Posts: 60

Selecting Seats

This may not be the right place to ask, but since the new "reserved for elite and full fare customers" seat map was released, I cannot select a seat for upcoming flights.

I just booked a new flight and the reservation automatically assigned me 18B, however if I try to select an exit seat, it doesn't do anything. No available seat is clickable. I've tried with IE and Chrome browsers.

The same happened with an existing reservation I had too.

Anyone else experience this?

Nov 9, 2012, 9:50 am

miamigrad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev

Posts: 2,593

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnamike

Others are experiencing various issues... it appears that some site re-work is being done. See this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...idated-40.html

Nov 9, 2012, 9:56 am

AA-Flyer-SAN

Join Date: Feb 2012

Location: SAN

Programs: AA-EXP; US-Silver; Marriott-Platinum; Starwood-Platinum; Hilton-Gold

Posts: 1,260

Call the desk until it has been fixed

Nov 9, 2012, 11:14 am

billgrates3

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: SFO/OAK

Programs: AA EXP 3.4MM, BAEC, UAMP, Skyteam (<10k) HH Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz Gold, GE/TSA TT

Posts: 2,723

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamigrad

Others are experiencing various issues... it appears that some site re-work is being done. See this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...idated-40.html

no kidding, web site very glitchy -- last night my reservations all disappeared on the "My Reservations" page.... but they are back this morning.

Nov 10, 2012, 11:06 pm

qiuxiaolei

Join Date: Jun 2011

Posts: 7

If you redeemed miles for AA ticket and get cabin T,you can choose preferred seats.
If you input your one world elite menbership no into the reservation or booked Y,you can choose :Reserved for elite and full fare customers"
Basically "preferred seats" is a broader category than "Reserved for elite and full fare customers"

Nov 11, 2012, 8:41 am

jefftf1

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Los Angeles

Programs: AA EXP (2.2mm), SPG Plat, Accor Plat

Posts: 225

No more preferred and p-plus?

Forgive me if this is old news and delete accordingly if that's the case...

I just noticed that there are now Preferred seats and a little star at a seat means it is "Reserved for Elite and Full Fare Customers."

I honestly never got the P and P-plus thing. It was not clear at all, so I think this is a big improvement. Plus, it strokes the egos of the elites (particularly the golds) who will feel special when selecting a seat.

Nov 11, 2012, 8:56 am

#10

beerup

Join Date: Nov 2008

Programs: AA EXP 3MM

Posts: 1,773

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefftf1

Yes, it would have been a spectral <mess> in the seatmaps if they kept the P/PP system with flights that had MCE since there are some MCE seats reserved for elites/full fare. They would have needed Preferred, Preferred Plus, Main Cabin Extra and Main Cabin Extra Plus. It sure would devalue a regular coach seat if there were four higher tiers with the cabin!

Last edited by beerup; Nov 11, 2012 at 2:02 pm Reason: <> not allowed

Nov 11, 2012, 9:09 am

#11

ESpen36

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2002

Location: NYC, USA

Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold

Posts: 10,967

The "Preferred" and "Preferred Plus" monikers still appear on this page:

http://www.aa.com/seats

Nov 11, 2012, 9:36 am

#12

cynicAAl

Join Date: Jan 2007

Location: Laguna Niguel, CA

Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm

Posts: 6,988

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefftf1

I honestly never got the P and P-plus thing. It was not clear at all, so I think this is a big improvement. Plus, it strokes the egos of the elites (particularly the golds) who will feel special when selecting a seat.

I think that even the Golds know that there is nothing inherently different about those seats, except that they are closer to the front, so they arrive at the destination slightly before the back of the plane.

Nov 11, 2012, 11:08 am

#13

jefftf1

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Los Angeles

Programs: AA EXP (2.2mm), SPG Plat, Accor Plat

Posts: 225

Quote:

Originally Posted by cynicAAl

Yes. I am not suggesting that people think these are better seats. But the fact that they can select these seats while others can't will surely stroke the ego.