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
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA Concierge Key, Marriott Titanium Elite, National Executive Elite
Posts: 326
Main Cabin Extra / MCE Announcement Discussion
Its officially public folks so we can start talking about it! Traveling in the Main Cabin is about to get a lot better. Soon, our entire mainline fleet will offer more leg room and priority boarding.
Main Cabin Extra is our new seating product that will be installed later this year and over time updated on all existing aircraft. New 737-800 aircraft being delivered to American will come equipped with Main Cabin Extra seating beginning this fall. Anticipated future aircraft, including A321s, A319s, B777-300ERs and 787s will also offer Main Cabin Extra.
• Main Cabin Extra seats will be located in the front portion of the Main Cabin for easier boarding and deplaning.
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum and customers who have purchased a full-fare economy class ticket will receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra.
• AAdvantage Gold members will receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra at time of booking through Dec. 31, 2013.
• For all other customers who wish to purchase Main Cabin Extra, prices will range between $8 and $108 per segment, depending on the length of the flight.
• Customers traveling onboard the 777-300ERs can begin purchasing Main Cabin Extra in the spring of 2012.
----------------------------------------------
MODERATOR NOTE:
November 2012 - Main Cabin Extra is now being seen on several aircraft seat maps, and can be reserved. For details on this, and questions about individual seats, see this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
AA.com page explaining Main Cabin Select: http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/mainCabinExtra.jsp
(There is a "Frequently Asked Questions" section on the page.)
More information from truthknown posted downthread:
AA Forum Co-Moderators
Main Cabin Extra is our new seating product that will be installed later this year and over time updated on all existing aircraft. New 737-800 aircraft being delivered to American will come equipped with Main Cabin Extra seating beginning this fall. Anticipated future aircraft, including A321s, A319s, B777-300ERs and 787s will also offer Main Cabin Extra.
• Main Cabin Extra seats will be located in the front portion of the Main Cabin for easier boarding and deplaning.
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum and customers who have purchased a full-fare economy class ticket will receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra.
• AAdvantage Gold members will receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra at time of booking through Dec. 31, 2013.
• For all other customers who wish to purchase Main Cabin Extra, prices will range between $8 and $108 per segment, depending on the length of the flight.
• Customers traveling onboard the 777-300ERs can begin purchasing Main Cabin Extra in the spring of 2012.
----------------------------------------------
MODERATOR NOTE:
November 2012 - Main Cabin Extra is now being seen on several aircraft seat maps, and can be reserved. For details on this, and questions about individual seats, see this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
AA.com page explaining Main Cabin Select: http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/mainCabinExtra.jsp
(There is a "Frequently Asked Questions" section on the page.)
More information from truthknown posted downthread:
All AAdvantage Executive Platinum, all AAdvantage Platinum, and all full-fare Economy Class customers have complimentary access. As an added benefit, up to eight of their companions traveling in the same reservation will have the same complimentary access.
To celebrate the launch of Main Cabin Extra, AAdvantage Gold members and eight of their companions traveling in the same reservation will also receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra at time of booking for seats reserved through Dec. 31, 2013.
Customers with complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra can select a seat at the time of booking through check-in. As they do today, American will continue to reserve a portion of Main Cabin Extra seats and other desirable seats - namely, Preferred Seats - in the Main Cabin exclusively for all AAdvantage elite customers.
For customers who wish to purchase Main Cabin Extra, prices will range between $8 and $108 per segment, depending on the length of the flight. Seats are available for purchase at booking, check-in or anytime in between.
Main Cabin Extra is not an upgradeable product. Upgrades will continue to operate as normal into First/Business class from all of the Main Cabin.
To celebrate the launch of Main Cabin Extra, AAdvantage Gold members and eight of their companions traveling in the same reservation will also receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra at time of booking for seats reserved through Dec. 31, 2013.
Customers with complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra can select a seat at the time of booking through check-in. As they do today, American will continue to reserve a portion of Main Cabin Extra seats and other desirable seats - namely, Preferred Seats - in the Main Cabin exclusively for all AAdvantage elite customers.
For customers who wish to purchase Main Cabin Extra, prices will range between $8 and $108 per segment, depending on the length of the flight. Seats are available for purchase at booking, check-in or anytime in between.
Main Cabin Extra is not an upgradeable product. Upgrades will continue to operate as normal into First/Business class from all of the Main Cabin.
Code:
American Airlines Continues Fleet Modernization With Plans for Main Cabin Extra New Product Offers More Leg Room and Priority Boarding FORT WORTH, Texas, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines today announced plans to outfit its entire mainline fleet with Main Cabin Extra, which will offer more leg room as well as priority boarding. American plans to begin installations this year, and over time will update all of its existing aircraft. New Boeing 737-800 aircraft being delivered to American will come equipped with Main Cabin Extra seating beginning this fall. Anticipated future aircraft, including Airbus A321s, and A319s, and Boeing 777-300ERs and 787s, will also offer Main Cabin Extra. "Customers traveling in Main Cabin Extra seats will enjoy four to six inches of extra leg room compared to a standard Main Cabin seat, as well as priority boarding privileges," said Virasb Vahidi, American's Chief Commercial Officer. "We continue to provide our customers with choices that enable them to customize their travel on American to be the experience they desire and value." Main Cabin Extra seats will be located in the front portion of the Main Cabin, allowing easier boarding and deplaning. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, and AAdvantage Platinum® members, and customers who purchase a full-fare economy class ticket will receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra, subject to availability. Also, AAdvantage Gold® members will receive complimentary access to the new seating product through Dec. 31, 2013. American will continue to reserve a significant portion of Main Cabin Extra seats and other seats in the Main Cabin exclusively for elite customers who can select these seating options at the time of booking up until check-in. For other customers who wish to purchase Main Cabin Extra, prices will range between $8 and $108 per segment, depending on the length of the flight. Main Cabin Extra will be available for purchase beginning in spring 2012 for travel onboard the 777-300ERs. Customers will be able to reserve these seats on AA.com, at self-service check-in machines, through American Airlines reservations, and through travel agencies using American's direct connect. Seats will be available for purchase from time of booking up until check-in. American intends to complete installation of Main Cabin Extra on the vast majority of its fleet within 18 months. In addition to American's Main Cabin Extra seating, the airline's existing Preferred Seats product will continue to offer other desirable Main Cabin seats on a complimentary basis for all of American's AAdvantage elite customers. Preferred Seats will also remain available for purchase by all other customers, and are complimentary for active U.S. military and their family members traveling on the same reservation. For more information on Preferred Seats, visit: www.AA.com/seats. For more information on American's fleet renewal program and Main Cabin Extra, visit www.AA.com/MainCabinExtra. SOURCE American Airlines media relations
AA Forum Co-Moderators
Last edited by Microwave; Nov 26, 2012 at 9:57 am Reason: Updated with link to seating thread
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York
Programs: AAdvantage EP
Posts: 368
Main Cabin Extra
Looks like AA will be going into the Premium Economy. For elites (Platinum and Executive Platinum) it looks like it will be complimentary. For Golds there will be an initial complimentary selection. Not sure how it will work after that. The good news is that an upgrade (SWU) from Y anywhere in the cabin will go to J, not the Main Cabin Extra. My fist pass look is quite positive. This will be on the 777-ERs later this year.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum and customers who have purchased a full-fare economy class ticket will receive complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra.
So how will this play into comp upgrades to first/business for EXP? Stickers for PLAT?
So how will this play into comp upgrades to first/business for EXP? Stickers for PLAT?
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Edit: Really need to read more clearly (and have more coffee) before posting sometimes
Thanks, as always, for the info.
Cheers.
Thanks, as always, for the info.
Cheers.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Good to hear. Any specifications on how it will look?
#7
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: AS 100K, AA Gold, IC Diamond AMB, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,840
+1 -- this is what a lot of us are going to want to know I am sure!
#8
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: New York City
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,127
Just to be clear (although it does seem clear already).
EXP/PLT on discount economy will still pay for these.
GLD or below customers on full fare economy will still pay for these.
Not sure I agree with these two aspects, but I like the program. A match to UA's E+, although I know nothing of their pricing.
Thanks, as always, for the info.
Cheers.
EXP/PLT on discount economy will still pay for these.
GLD or below customers on full fare economy will still pay for these.
Not sure I agree with these two aspects, but I like the program. A match to UA's E+, although I know nothing of their pricing.
Thanks, as always, for the info.
Cheers.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Seems I miss an "and" (along with a few other words) in there.
Cheers.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 87
From the FAQ:
Q: How will this program impact my upgrades from Main Cabin to Business Class cabins?
A: We will retain our current Main Cabin to Business Class upgrade policies. Main Cabin Extra will be considered part of the Main Cabin, not a separate cabin.
Take a deep breath and relax, everyone, the world is not ending.
Q: How will this program impact my upgrades from Main Cabin to Business Class cabins?
A: We will retain our current Main Cabin to Business Class upgrade policies. Main Cabin Extra will be considered part of the Main Cabin, not a separate cabin.
Take a deep breath and relax, everyone, the world is not ending.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: AS 100K, AA Gold, IC Diamond AMB, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,840
#12
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: AA EXP / 2MM, BAEC GGL, CCR, Marriott AMB
Posts: 288
It's like MRTC but with Throughout being replaced by At The Front Of.
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
Looks like AA will be going into the Premium Economy. For elites (Platinum and Executive Platinum) it looks like it will be complimentary. For Golds there will be an initial complimentary selection. Not sure how it will work after that. The good news is that an upgrade (SWU) from Y anywhere in the cabin will go to J, not the Main Cabin Extra. My fist pass look is quite positive. This will be on the 777-ERs later this year.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP & 1MM (Lifetime Gold); Marriott Gold; National Exec Emerald's
Posts: 337