Originally Posted by
asf-07
That's not true. PE is absolutely its own class of travel. AA are simply waiting until all 77W are fitted with PE cabins/seats (late June) before activating it from a sales & service standpoint.
Not according to what I was told by an AA agent. AA operates 3 classes of service on its 777 300 ER equipment, First Class, Business Class and Economy. Economy is being subdivided further to offer Basic Economy, Regular Economy, Economy with Preferred or Main Cabin Extra Seating and Premium Economy. The fare class will be equivalent with the Joint Business Partners across the Atlantic and the Pacific but unlike BA it is not a separate class of service. Upgrades from Coach continue to be to Business Class and Premium Economy will not be available as an upgrade (at least initially). Unlike MCE it derives extra revenue from Elite Frequent Flyers and it regularises the fare options across Carriers. Where BA have been selling it into corporate clients who have cut back on Business Class travel, AA seem to be positioning it as having a slightly more upmarket Coach experience. Still coach though. I am intrigued whether Basic Economy will work for them on international. American have a history of offering a better coach experience, with more room throughout Coach and more recently MCE which Elites receive complimentary. Interesting how Premium Economy will work and whether they will end up offering that to Elites on miles upgrade or complimentary basis. CK's will remain comped to rows 1 and 2 no doubt.