Dec 24, 2012, 2:41 am
Last edit by: Microwave
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST
This thread is for discussing the announcement of MCE only, and not for the discussion of the practical impacts, seating, eligibility or rollout.
For the general discussion concerning the rollout, seat eligibility and the like, see this thread: Main Cabin Extra / MCE in service; questions, eligibility (consolidated).
Links to aircraft specific discussions surrounding seating strategies can also be found at that link and questions should not be posted here.
This thread is for discussing the announcement of MCE only, and not for the discussion of the practical impacts, seating, eligibility or rollout.
For the general discussion concerning the rollout, seat eligibility and the like, see this thread: Main Cabin Extra / MCE in service; questions, eligibility (consolidated).
Links to aircraft specific discussions surrounding seating strategies can also be found at that link and questions should not be posted here.
Main Cabin Extra / MCE Announcement Discussion
Mar 1, 2012, 9:40 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
If that's the timetable (dunno if it is), that would be easy. It takes a few mechanics just a few hours to remove a row of seats and adjust the seat pitch of several other rows (including adjusting the location of the overhead PSUs). Can easily be done overnight.
Mar 1, 2012, 9:41 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA CK, SPG Plt, Marriott Plt, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 443
Just makes Plat better than GLD in terms of flying in Y....where as now they are basically the same...as you noted.
Mar 1, 2012, 9:48 am
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
In this case it's a zero-sum game. The devaluation of GLD is a value enhancement to PLT/EXP (in that it gives higher-tier members a better shot at getting these seats).
Do you not consider 100% bonus RDM vs. 25% to be a significant differentiation between the two tiers?
Do you not consider 100% bonus RDM vs. 25% to be a significant differentiation between the two tiers?
The exrta bonus RDMs are significant, but their value is post-flight, and it's quantifiable (no more than 37.5K/yr).
Right, and possibly better, if the PLTs opt for these seats and if GLDs can still select exit rows. But almost every other change rolled out over the last few years, PLTs and GLDs were treated the same (bag fees, standby policy changes, expedite fee waivers), so that's the trend I'm afraid is beginning to change.
Mar 1, 2012, 9:49 am
#49
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
I cannot complain about this. 
Very nice to see this being rolled out, for those times the sticker upgrades fail me! ^
Very nice to see this being rolled out, for those times the sticker upgrades fail me! ^
Mar 1, 2012, 9:54 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Not only that, but for those times you really want to standby for an earlier flight and get home when the flights are fairly full. Previously, if you couldn't get an exit row, you were practically guaranteed a normal economy seat with no space. Now, better chance that you can standby into a seat with more space.
Mar 1, 2012, 9:56 am
#51
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, Citi AA Elite, HH GLD, Grand Wailea Elite
Posts: 94
Yes! Unexpectedly good news. I'm just curious if there will be issues with window alignment between the seats. Personal peeve I like the windows closed and don't like to start a window territory war.
Mar 1, 2012, 9:56 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
Press release:
http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=3466
http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=3466
Mar 1, 2012, 9:56 am
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
It's hard to complain too much about this news no matter what your level. By itself, it's a genuine enhancement for all elites. The downside (for us as fliers) is tougher to quantify...maybe there are some routes that operate at such a high load factor that pulling a row out of each airplane gives more pricing power to anyone flying those routes.
Mar 1, 2012, 10:00 am
#54
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,570
While this has obvious advantages, I wonder which/how many seats will be held back. On every flight I have come across recently, 50% of what I consider to be the best seats in coach on the 738's and 763's (exit row that reclines), are available for sale to anyone and therefore are not available to me as often as they were before they were for sale. I guess if the aisle seats in the front of coach that are currently reserved for elites remain reserved for elites, then this is a win-win.
Presumably, AA expects this to generate more money, so it is a "win" for AA (and by extension, us) regardless.
Presumably, AA expects this to generate more money, so it is a "win" for AA (and by extension, us) regardless.
Mar 1, 2012, 10:05 am
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
This has real value to me and similarly tall and/or long legged individuals. Enough value to me that I'd pay for it, even as an EXP. But just like upgrades, it will be free to EXPs. I hope that there are enough seats that AA is able to sell some for upcharges to non-status tall passengers (after the elites, of course).
Mar 1, 2012, 10:05 am
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
While this has obvious advantages, I wonder which/how many seats will be held back. On every flight I have come across recently, 50% of what I consider to be the best seats in coach on the 738's and 763's (exit row that reclines), are available for sale to anyone and therefore are not available to me as often as they were before they were for sale. I guess if the aisle seats in the front of coach that are currently reserved for elites remain reserved for elites, then this is a win-win.
Presumably, AA expects this to generate more money, so it is a "win" for AA (and by extension, us) regardless.
Presumably, AA expects this to generate more money, so it is a "win" for AA (and by extension, us) regardless.
Mar 1, 2012, 10:07 am
#57
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
Mar 1, 2012, 10:11 am
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
Mar 1, 2012, 10:14 am
#59
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,570
I am not at all saying that this is not a good thing; personally, I am looking forward to it for myself and my family. I am just saying that I expect that there will be minor, irritating aspects and that, until we see it in practice with real numbers, we don't really know their extent. I imagine that the high fare paying customer is not going to be too happy if he/she can't get one of these seats even by paying extra for it because too many were allotted for sale and they sold out.
Last edited by Ord Liza; Mar 1, 2012 at 10:15 am Reason: oops; meant to quote post 56
Mar 1, 2012, 10:21 am
#60
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,145
What about award tickets
Will EXP or Plat get access to these seats if they are booking award tickets? I know you don't get on the auto-upgrade list if you book an award ticket in coach, but would these seats be available for reservation if i booked an award seat in coach and wanted to sit here (and not spend the miles to upgrade to business or first)?