Preferred plus vs preferred seating on MD80
Dec 28, 2011, 9:43 am
#16
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As a very frequent denizen of the MD80 exit rows, I can confirm:
- Row 20 has greater pitch than 21.
- 20A does not recline, 20B does.
- 19A cannot recline into row 20, but 19B can.
- Row 21 has normal recline.
Dec 28, 2011, 9:58 am
#17
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Great....shouldn't someone update seatguru with this info...don't think it's reflected that way. Might be moot once they retire all the mad dogs!
Dec 29, 2011, 1:32 am
#18
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I have noticed more exit rows being available for sale as preferred seats throughout the system. I hope that this does not make it harder to snag an exit row as an EXP.
Dec 29, 2011, 3:06 am
#19
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Dec 29, 2011, 5:11 pm
#20
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The T&Cs read as if all passengers, including elites would have to wait until the 24hr window to book a preferred seat, but that isn't the case AFAIK since I claimed a preferred only exit row seat 21A when I booked a Jan flight three days ago.
Dec 29, 2011, 5:39 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2010
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But non elites who want to pay for these seats have to wait til the 24hr period to upgrade. This leaves the window open to claim a preferred plusnexit row seat when booking your flight.
The T&Cs read as if all passengers, including elites would have to wait until the 24hr window to book a preferred seat, but that isn't the case AFAIK since I claimed a preferred only exit row seat 21A when I booked a Jan flight three days ago.
The T&Cs read as if all passengers, including elites would have to wait until the 24hr window to book a preferred seat, but that isn't the case AFAIK since I claimed a preferred only exit row seat 21A when I booked a Jan flight three days ago.
Dec 29, 2011, 6:21 pm
#22
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Dec 29, 2011, 10:46 pm
#23
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Unfortunately, one can inform SeatGuru (TripAdvisor) as often as one likes, but that doe snot mean they will be responsive and modify their (mis)information.
Dec 30, 2011, 9:57 am
#24
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Right, haven't been paying attention to all of the email traffic from AA...is this why only two exit row seats 21ab are preferred seats rather than preferred plus? Reserves the other exit row seats for elites only rather than a free for all paid upgrade.
Question is: what does the preferred vs. Preferred plus map look like for other aircraft configurations? How many exit row seats are preferred plus?
Question is: what does the preferred vs. Preferred plus map look like for other aircraft configurations? How many exit row seats are preferred plus?
Dec 30, 2011, 11:33 am
#25
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Right, haven't been paying attention to all of the email traffic from AA...is this why only two exit row seats 21ab are preferred seats rather than preferred plus? Reserves the other exit row seats for elites only rather than a free for all paid upgrade.
Question is: what does the preferred vs. Preferred plus map look like for other aircraft configurations? How many exit row seats are preferred plus?
Question is: what does the preferred vs. Preferred plus map look like for other aircraft configurations? How many exit row seats are preferred plus?
A dummy booking indicates that AA charges $34 for a preferred seat on LAX-JFK. And for such a long flight, I can bet there will be novelties willing to pay the $34 for the extra legroom.
I "protest" this policy by picking the green preferred seats in the exit row, saving the purple preferred plus seats for other elites.
Dec 30, 2011, 11:43 am
#26
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I will do the same, every opportunity I have... I hope all FT AA elites will join us in this "protest" against the devaluation of our benefits!
Dec 31, 2011, 11:04 am
#27
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Question is: who gets preference for open exit row seats on the day of flight? Elite or paid upgrade at kiosk?
Dec 31, 2011, 12:15 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 22
It seems to vary by routes. AA 4 LAX-JFK is a 762. There are only 4 seats in the exit row on this aircraft. Of those, 2 are "Preferred" meaning non-elites can buy them. You can check which are preferred by looking at the seat maps under Reservations --> View Available Seats on AA.com.
A dummy booking indicates that AA charges $34 for a preferred seat on LAX-JFK. And for such a long flight, I can bet there will be novelties willing to pay the $34 for the extra legroom.
I "protest" this policy by picking the green preferred seats in the exit row, saving the purple preferred plus seats for other elites.
A dummy booking indicates that AA charges $34 for a preferred seat on LAX-JFK. And for such a long flight, I can bet there will be novelties willing to pay the $34 for the extra legroom.
I "protest" this policy by picking the green preferred seats in the exit row, saving the purple preferred plus seats for other elites.
Dec 31, 2011, 3:14 pm
#29
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In the comparison of 20 and 21 on the MD80, I'm ignoring recline (again, I think it's rude to recline back into someone if the seat in front of me isn't reclining - there just isn't enough pitch... I'm not over 6' tall though). But, 20 does have 6" more pitch than 21 I'm pretty sure - I used to always take row 21 and about a year or two ago switched to always taking row 20 for that reason.
I don't recline in coach as I too find it rude due to leaving the person behind you not even enough space to read a newspaper. I always choose 20A if it is available.
Jan 1, 2012, 12:29 pm
#30
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But before we get too excited, SeatExpert says there are three different configurations of the MD80 that AA uses (often subsituted for each other).
So unless the people who report that 20 has more pitch than 21 know which of the three configurations they were on (as actually flown, not just as shown on their seat map ahead of time), I don't know that we have enough information yet to document this precisely.
And figuring out the difference between two of them -- the ones SeatExpert calls Version 1 and Version 2 -- may require measuring seats in the front cabin! Only version 3 actually differs in which seat numbers exist. Version 1 and Version 2 differ from each other in more subtle ways, mostly left vs right pitch in First, but who knows what else they might differ in that hasn't been documented?
http://seatexpert.com/seatmap/76/Ame...0_(Version_1)/
http://seatexpert.com/seatmap/77/Ame...0_(Version_2)/
http://seatexpert.com/seatmap/78/Ame...0_(Version_3)/