AA flights blocking "regular" economy seats for non-elites?

 
Old Jul 3, 2015, 2:03 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 498
AA flights blocking "regular" economy seats for non-elites?

Did some searching but found nothing, and I asked in the sticky above, but wanted to elaborate a bit. I am looking at flights from JFK-LAX in September, but when I go to select seats, the only seats available are "Main Cabin Extra" seats, or a few middle seats in the back. Am I not able to get 2 seats together without paying this premium($60-80 a seat each way...)? Is this new, because I booked a flight back in March and did not have this issue with AA? I checked random flights throughout the year, and this seems to be happening with them all.

Also, ExpertFlyer shows these "unavailable" seats as available... For example with AA flight 181 on 9/09/2015, here is AA.com vs ExpertFlyer





Does this mean those seats are really there, but AA is blocking them? Anyway to get around this, like booking, but not choosing seats?
Amex For Children Of Africa is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 2:21 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Originally Posted by Amex For Children Of Africa
Does this mean those seats are really there, but AA is blocking them? Anyway to get around this, like booking, but not choosing seats?
Expertflyer and AA.com are telling you the same story: those seats are only available to elite and full-fare (i.e. "premium") passengers. AA shows them to you as blocked (since presumably you don't qualify to select them), EF labels them with "P."

Premium seats are usually made available to everyone 24 hours before departure. Your options are either to pay for two seats together now, or pick two free middle seats now and roll the dice that two adjacent seats will open up at check-in.
rjw242 is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 2:35 pm
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 498
Then what is their logic behind this? I am willing to spend $400 RT on flight right now, but the only way to get seats together is to pay for these "main cabin extra" seats, and not even an option to buy these "premium" seats? This is a great way to lose customers, but I guess the flight will fill up anyway.
Amex For Children Of Africa is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 2:44 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,388
The logic is you are paying $400 to fly cross country twice, which is probably less than what you would pay to drive it. The solution has been given: pay or wait until the day before the flight. The other option is fly a different carrier.

This isn't new and AA isn't the only carrier that has "premium" seats.
skunker is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 2:52 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Originally Posted by Amex For Children Of Africa
... but I guess the flight will fill up anyway.
Bingo.
rjw242 is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 2:57 pm
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 498
Originally Posted by skunker
The logic is you are paying $400 to fly cross country twice, which is probably less than what you would pay to drive it. The solution has been given: pay or wait until the day before the flight. The other option is fly a different carrier.

This isn't new and AA isn't the only carrier that has "premium" seats.
I guess what is confusing me is that I just did this flight a couple months ago, and did not come across this "premium" seat issue. Can these become regular seats as prices adjust over the next few months?

I am looking to find C class availability using points+cash anyway, so maybe I will just book and not pick seats.
Amex For Children Of Africa is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 2:58 pm
  #7  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,790
AA made a business decision when they replaced the JFK-SFO/LAX 767-200 flights with A321's that they just wanted to cater to the business/rich/famous travelers on these routes, not the average economy/family traveler. Hey, that's fine. That being said, if you are not looking to book a MCE seat, I would highly look over to Delta/Virgin America/JetBlue, who do cater to the average economy/family traveler on these routes.
airplanegod is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 3:08 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SAN
Programs: AA-EXP; US-Silver; Marriott-Platinum; Starwood-Platinum; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 1,260
The freebie seats are already assigned. All that are left are those premium seats. All the airlines are doing the so you won't find another carrier with out the same process. Delta is even worse. If you look further out you will see that seats available. The seats aren't blocked. They are reserved. Generally people get upgraded so 4 days out start checking seat maps - you can get lucky. If you got kids the airline is pretty darn good getting you seats together for families.
AA-Flyer-SAN is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 3:12 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Originally Posted by AA-Flyer-SAN
The freebie seats are already assigned. All that are left are those premium seats.
Incorrect - freebie seats are available, but they're all middle seats. If you look at the seat maps, you'll see that all window and aisle seats either carry a fee or are premium-only.
rjw242 is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2015, 6:31 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Originally Posted by Amex For Children Of Africa
I guess what is confusing me is that I just did this flight a couple months ago, and did not come across this "premium" seat issue. Can these become regular seats as prices adjust over the next few months?

I am looking to find C class availability using points+cash anyway, so maybe I will just book and not pick seats.
Designation of premium seats can vary by flight. I would presume on flights they expect to have more elites, they will block more premium seats. I see most aisle and window seats reserved on many of my elite-heavy peak Monday morning flights, but sometimes less so mid-week or Saturdays. Remember that Golds cannot select MCE seats in advance, so this is one way to allow them to reserve better seats as part of their loyalty benefits.
aamilesslave is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2015, 4:50 am
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Originally Posted by Amex For Children Of Africa
Then what is their logic behind this? I am willing to spend $400 RT on flight right now, but the only way to get seats together is to pay for these "main cabin extra" seats, and not even an option to buy these "premium" seats? This is a great way to lose customers, but I guess the flight will fill up anyway.
The logic is the increase in revenue from blocking seats is greater than the loss in revenue from people who chose not to fly AA.
mvoight is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2015, 5:41 am
  #12  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Originally Posted by Amex For Children Of Africa
I guess what is confusing me is that I just did this flight a couple months ago, and did not come across this "premium" seat issue. Can these become regular seats as prices adjust over the next few months?

I am looking to find C class availability using points+cash anyway, so maybe I will just book and not pick seats.
If there is C availability, there shouldn't be a problem.
Once I booked the upgrade and it cleared before I bought the ticket.
mvoight is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2015, 9:34 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
Originally Posted by Amex For Children Of Africa
I guess what is confusing me is that I just did this flight a couple months ago, and did not come across this "premium" seat issue. Can these become regular seats as prices adjust over the next few months?
I suppose it's possible. All I know is that I gained status in 2005 and those seats never did show when I wasn't logged in and/or before I had at least GLD status. So this blocking of seats (at least the exit rows back some ten years ago) is old news.
akarneboge is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2015, 10:08 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 597
There are plenty of available set pairs back there, they are just not available unless you pay extra for them.

The logic of this is to boost the RASM by charging people extra for the privilege of sitting together.

Those seats will, of course, open up the day before the flight, but that's a crap shoot. If the flight is sold out, you might not have a chance to change seats at that time to be able to sit together.

The bean counters at AA have figured out this is a way to boost revenue without once again hiking the basic fare.

Of course, sooner or later, some parent will be separated from a small child and some creep will touch that child inappropriately. Only then - when the police and the lawyers become involved - will the airlines - or our lawmakers - do anything about ensuring that families can sit together on airplanes without having to pay a premium.

The BEST way of getting around this - in the future - is to fly Virgin America on this route. They don't block available seats, except for the last row. And they have more room, better food, and better entertainment.

Last edited by HomerJay; Jul 4, 2015 at 10:16 am
HomerJay is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2015, 10:14 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Originally Posted by HomerJay
There are plenty of available set pairs back there, they are just not available unless you pay extra for them.

The logic of this is to boost the RASM by charging people extra for the privilege of sitting together.
The notable thing here is that getting two seats together in advance requires paying for both seats. Normally, one might expect getting a middle seat for free and paying for the window/aisle next to it. Not on this flight. It's a neat trick AA has pulled.
rjw242 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.