Oct 27, 2012, 8:24 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Main Cabin Extra ("MCE") Enhanced Legroom in Coach
Eligibility, costs, refunds, what happens if bumped from MCE, etc.
Link to MCE page on aa.com
AA announced enhancements to MCE:
“Enhanced bin access” (bins over MCE seats placarded for MCE use only; Flight Attendants will not be required to enforce this placarding as police).
*Overhead bin space availability varies by aircraft
“Complimentary beer, wine and spirits.”
**Free alcohol is available on flights with full drink service
On aa.com, FAQ on MCE: Link
All listed members are allowed complimentary access for up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
*For travel ticketed in booking code Y on or after August 30, 2017, you'll no longer get complimentary Main Cabin Extra or Preferred seats. This includes AAnytime awards booked in Main Cabin.
On a related note, and with a dedicated thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html and
Link to AA Preferred Seats FlyerTalk thread
Older posts have been archived to: ARCHIVE: Main Cabin Extra / MCE in service; questions, eligibility (consolidated)
Now that individual threads exist for each aircraft type, specific questions and comments regarding each aircraft should be posted in the relevant threads.
Examples:
Eligibility, costs, refunds, what happens if bumped from MCE, etc.
Link to MCE page on aa.com
aa.com: ... With Main Cabin Extra you get a seat towards the front of the Main Cabin with up to six inches of additional legroom to stretch out and relax. You also receive Group 5 boarding which gives you plenty of time to get on the plane, stow your luggage and get settled with prices starting at $20.
Beer, wine and spirits are on us; plus free Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels and soft drinks. Additional food or drinks may be available for free or to buy, depending on your route.**
Beer, wine and spirits are on us; plus free Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels and soft drinks. Additional food or drinks may be available for free or to buy, depending on your route.**
“Enhanced bin access” (bins over MCE seats placarded for MCE use only; Flight Attendants will not be required to enforce this placarding as police).
*Overhead bin space availability varies by aircraft
“Complimentary beer, wine and spirits.”
**Free alcohol is available on flights with full drink service
On aa.com, FAQ on MCE: Link
Who gets complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats?
- AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members
- oneworld® SapphireSM and oneworld® EmeraldSM members
Customers who purchase a full-fare Main Cabin ticket*
- oneworld® SapphireSM and oneworld® EmeraldSM members
All listed members are allowed complimentary access for up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
AAdvantage Gold and oneworld® RubySM members
- Enjoy complimentary access within 24 hours of departure when seats are available
Other restrictions
Basic Economy fare tickets aren't eligible for complimentary/discounted access to Main Cabin Extra seats.*For travel ticketed in booking code Y on or after August 30, 2017, you'll no longer get complimentary Main Cabin Extra or Preferred seats. This includes AAnytime awards booked in Main Cabin.
Link to AA Preferred Seats FlyerTalk thread
Q: Can I purchase the new seat product if I am traveling on an AAdvantage MileSAAver Award ticket or Business Extra PlanAAhead ticket?
A: Yes, Main Cabin Extra is available for purchase when traveling on a Business Extra Plan AAhead ticket. Main Cabin Extra can be purchased by travelers on an AAdvantage MileSAAver Award and by travelers on an AAdvantage AAnytime Award. This is for travelers without status. Ability to purchase on the SAAver award and requirement to pay on an AAnytime award are recent changes.
A: Yes, Main Cabin Extra is available for purchase when traveling on a Business Extra Plan AAhead ticket. Main Cabin Extra can be purchased by travelers on an AAdvantage MileSAAver Award and by travelers on an AAdvantage AAnytime Award. This is for travelers without status. Ability to purchase on the SAAver award and requirement to pay on an AAnytime award are recent changes.
Now that individual threads exist for each aircraft type, specific questions and comments regarding each aircraft should be posted in the relevant threads.
Examples:
- A321T: MCE Rows 11-16. Best Economy / MCE seat on AA transcon Airbus A321 / A321T / 32B (consolidated)
- 737: MCE rows 8-13 (row 7 removed). Best MCE / Main Cabin Extra seats on the 738 / 737-800 (consolidated)
- 777-300ER / 77W: MCE rows 16-19. Best 77W / 777-300ER Economy Class / Main Cabin Extra / MCE seat (consolidated)
Main Cabin Extra / MCE questions, eligibility, etc. (consolidated)
Apr 16, 2014, 7:02 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 118
Only experienced Elites that know rules well read
I am gold and am trying to upgrade an award ticket to Main cabin extra purchased through BA. I know it is 50% off and not free anymore but the webpage didn't allow me to select those seats. The first supervisor I spoke to said that I cannot get MCE on award ticket and explained to them that elites can do this and even showed them this from aa.com but he said well you can look at it two ways.
Q: Can I purchase the new seat product if I am traveling on an AAdvantage MileSAAver Award ticket or Business Extra PlanAAhead ticket?
A: Elite status members may select Main Cabin Extra seats when traveling on MileSAAver or PlanAAhead Award tickets. However, Main Cabin Extra is not available for purchase by non-elite customers traveling on MileSAAver or PlanAAhead Award tickets.
The next supervisor read through this and said well since you didn't book this through aa.com so you can't get MCE either. I explained to them I used to be able to select those seats as a gold member and I always book through britishairways.com but she did not believe me.
It seems after the system changed Mar 1 it is having troubled with reservations imported in from BA.com and even excluding elites from purchasing MCE seats.
Is there something I am missing. Do aa award tickets purchased through britishairway.com get treated differently from aa milesaver tickets. It seems there are many ignorant employees over at aa and they keep trying to make up reasons.
Q: Can I purchase the new seat product if I am traveling on an AAdvantage MileSAAver Award ticket or Business Extra PlanAAhead ticket?
A: Elite status members may select Main Cabin Extra seats when traveling on MileSAAver or PlanAAhead Award tickets. However, Main Cabin Extra is not available for purchase by non-elite customers traveling on MileSAAver or PlanAAhead Award tickets.
The next supervisor read through this and said well since you didn't book this through aa.com so you can't get MCE either. I explained to them I used to be able to select those seats as a gold member and I always book through britishairways.com but she did not believe me.
It seems after the system changed Mar 1 it is having troubled with reservations imported in from BA.com and even excluding elites from purchasing MCE seats.
Is there something I am missing. Do aa award tickets purchased through britishairway.com get treated differently from aa milesaver tickets. It seems there are many ignorant employees over at aa and they keep trying to make up reasons.
Apr 16, 2014, 8:41 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP - Marriott LT Platinum - National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,112
MCE is not granted to Milesaaver tickets for any other reason than status. EXP and Plat members can still choose MCE on Milesaaver, but Gold's and Non-Members cannot. You cannot pay for MCE on a Milesaaver ticket.
At T-24, you can select a MCE seat as a Gold.
At T-24, you can select a MCE seat as a Gold.
Last edited by miamigrad; Apr 16, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Apr 16, 2014, 8:44 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP - Marriott LT Platinum - National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,112
Apr 16, 2014, 8:45 pm
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
Apr 16, 2014, 8:49 pm
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
As the FAQ also says,
However, Main Cabin Extra is not available for purchase by non-elite customers traveling on MileSAAver or PlanAAhead Award tickets.
As of 1 March, those with Ruby status fit into those requiring seat purchase and it is not permitted
The FAQ was written before march and seems not to have been updated to properly indicate the situation for ruby status members
However, Main Cabin Extra is not available for purchase by non-elite customers traveling on MileSAAver or PlanAAhead Award tickets.
As of 1 March, those with Ruby status fit into those requiring seat purchase and it is not permitted
The FAQ was written before march and seems not to have been updated to properly indicate the situation for ruby status members
Apr 16, 2014, 9:33 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
I have the same issue when I use Avios miles for those short haul NAmerican flights. Since the booking is made under the Avios FF number, AA agents can't change the FF number to our AAdvantage number and thus their system won't let them allocate MCE seats. Since my flights are about an hour's duration (YYZ-JFK/LGA or JFK-ORD) this is not a problem...and on the flight I just show my ExecPlat card and still get my free drink and BoB item.
Apr 16, 2014, 9:56 pm
#25
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 946
Unfortunately the rules changed, what you quoted from the AA site isn't current. Maybe a phone agent will be kind and change your seat based on the site not being updated (not sure if they have the ability to), but the policy has been altered and Golds no longer get MCE in advance.
Apr 16, 2014, 10:12 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
This rule has always struck me as strange. It seems odd that I shouldn't be able to give American money for some price.
(Certainly, you would think that if I were willing to pay the full one-way, unrestricted F fare for a MCE seat on an award seat, they should happily take that money.)
(Certainly, you would think that if I were willing to pay the full one-way, unrestricted F fare for a MCE seat on an award seat, they should happily take that money.)
Apr 17, 2014, 1:29 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,111
Most people with PLT or EXP status not only spent money on the airline tickets, but put effort into being loyal to AA in the long term.
Apr 17, 2014, 1:57 am
#28
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
An award ticket is not remarkably different than a revenue ticket.
(Edit: It's worth nothing that the EXP in my profile is up to date. If I'm going to book an award for someone else, it's going to be with non-AA miles due to policies such as this one.)
Apr 17, 2014, 3:35 am
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
You'll recover.
I am curious about why the different experiences. I have not had that problem with AA flights on my BA-issued mileage tickets this year or last year. I've booked and flown a huge number of these kind of trips myself, and I've booked and had others flown on AA even more on these kind of tickets than I've flown myself -- and they aren't getting my BA or AA elite status showing on their AA boarding passes; and I've been able to get my AA number into my AA PNR when flying on these BA-issued award tickets.
I am curious about why the different experiences. I have not had that problem with AA flights on my BA-issued mileage tickets this year or last year. I've booked and flown a huge number of these kind of trips myself, and I've booked and had others flown on AA even more on these kind of tickets than I've flown myself -- and they aren't getting my BA or AA elite status showing on their AA boarding passes; and I've been able to get my AA number into my AA PNR when flying on these BA-issued award tickets.