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Older posts have been archived to: ARCHIVE: Main Cabin Extra / MCE in service; questions, eligibility (consolidated)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)
Jan 24, 2018, 2:20 pm
#543
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Well this is interesting. Thanks to JonNYC again for retweeting this.
An enhancement is coming to MCE, including certain complimentary beverages, non-guaranteed overhead bin and "priority" boarding:
An enhancement is coming to MCE, including certain complimentary beverages, non-guaranteed overhead bin and "priority" boarding:
Jan 24, 2018, 3:29 pm
#544
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
Well this is interesting. Thanks to JonNYC again for retweeting this.
An enhancement is coming to MCE, including certain complimentary beverages, non-guaranteed overhead bin and "priority" boarding:
https://twitter.com/xJonNYC/status/956254603829538817
An enhancement is coming to MCE, including certain complimentary beverages, non-guaranteed overhead bin and "priority" boarding:
https://twitter.com/xJonNYC/status/956254603829538817
Putting placards on the bins is probably all they could do without getting push-back from the flight attendant unions.
Jan 24, 2018, 4:35 pm
#545
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Madrid
Programs: IB+ Emerald (Platino), M&M Senator (Gold), Meliá Rewards Platino, NH Platinum
Posts: 436
I wonder how they check if someone indeed purchased the MCE seat.
As far as I know, some people with regular MC ticket that check in last , finally get MCE seat because the regular economy is full.
As far as I know, some people with regular MC ticket that check in last , finally get MCE seat because the regular economy is full.
Jan 26, 2018, 6:34 am
#546
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
So, I am traveling with a companion, but we are now under 2 PNRs which are "linked" (it was booked under 1, but we had to split it for other reasons). Since we are within 24hrs, I can select my MCE seat for free, but it is asking me to pay for my companion (as I figured). However, now that we've checked in, apparently the phone reservation agents cannot modify seating assignments as it is "under airport control" (right at check-in opening?). I can still make changes online though.
Can I just pay for the MCE assignment for my companion, and get it refunded? Has anyone had success in this? Update: I had no problem getting this refunded.
Last edited by Aero137; Feb 5, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Feb 5, 2018, 1:22 am
#547
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
Hello. I'm visiting from the BA forum. I've just booked into Y on JFK-LHR aboard AA104 on 27th May this year. In the past, I've been able to seat select into MCE as a Oneworld Emerald, but the whole cabin is blocked, and even the phone agents can't put me there. Is this because of the impending rollout of premium economy? I would have booked on BA if I'd known this was going to be the case.
Feb 5, 2018, 1:11 pm
#548
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
So, I am traveling with a companion, but we are now under 2 PNRs which are "linked" (it was booked under 1, but we had to split it for other reasons). Since we are within 24hrs, I can select my MCE seat for free, but it is asking me to pay for my companion (as I figured). However, now that we've checked in, apparently the phone reservation agents cannot modify seating assignments as it is "under airport control" (right at check-in opening?). I can still make changes online though.
Can I just pay for the MCE assignment for my companion, and get it refunded? Has anyone had success in this?
Can I just pay for the MCE assignment for my companion, and get it refunded? Has anyone had success in this?
Feb 5, 2018, 1:20 pm
#549
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
Up to 8 people on your reservation get your gold benefits as long as you all booked together under the same reservation. You cannot combine reservations after the fact and "linking" them will not give them your MCE benefit, although gate agents are allowed to put people in MCE without a fee at their discretion.
Feb 5, 2018, 1:31 pm
#550
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 161
Hello. I'm visiting from the BA forum. I've just booked into Y on JFK-LHR aboard AA104 on 27th May this year. In the past, I've been able to seat select into MCE as a Oneworld Emerald, but the whole cabin is blocked, and even the phone agents can't put me there. Is this because of the impending rollout of premium economy? I would have booked on BA if I'd known this was going to be the case.
Feb 5, 2018, 2:50 pm
#551
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
Hello. I'm visiting from the BA forum. I've just booked into Y on JFK-LHR aboard AA104 on 27th May this year. In the past, I've been able to seat select into MCE as a Oneworld Emerald, but the whole cabin is blocked, and even the phone agents can't put me there. Is this because of the impending rollout of premium economy? I would have booked on BA if I'd known this was going to be the case.
Technically, there are some seats marked as MCE that they should be able to assign still (rows 20, 31-32, center section of 33-35), but they are obviously inferior to "real" MCE seats.
Hopefully, the launch date will be after your flight, then they should open these Premium Economy seats as MCE.
Feb 5, 2018, 4:17 pm
#552
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
Hi there, this has happened to me before, and the only folks that could move our seats were the gate agents (even the check-in agents said they could not). I was not an Admirals Club member at that time, but I think they can help if you are in the lounge. All in all "linking" reservations doesn't seem to do much other than benefit the airport in knowing who is traveling together, so I just make sure everyone is on my reservation to avoid the hassle.
Feb 6, 2018, 12:53 am
#553
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
Are they failing to put you in any MCE seat? Or only failing in assigning rows 16-19? MCE on 77W is 3-3-3, while Premium Economy is 2-4-2 (which is showing for that flight, even though it is designated as Main Cabin). Additionally, in EF, those seats are showing as blocked, not occupied. Your assumption is probably correct, these are blocked as they haven't rolled out Premium Economy on that route yet.
Technically, there are some seats marked as MCE that they should be able to assign still (rows 20, 31-32, center section of 33-35), but they are obviously inferior to "real" MCE seats.
Hopefully, the launch date will be after your flight, then they should open these Premium Economy seats as MCE.
Technically, there are some seats marked as MCE that they should be able to assign still (rows 20, 31-32, center section of 33-35), but they are obviously inferior to "real" MCE seats.
Hopefully, the launch date will be after your flight, then they should open these Premium Economy seats as MCE.
Feb 8, 2018, 9:54 am
#554
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Anywhere
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 674
I've been assigned 20D, which is less than ideal, as I'd much prefer a window to lean against to sleep. It's frustrating because the phone agents see them as occupied, and the twitter team are saying that 16-18 are used for 'day of departure for qualified customers'.
The new 77W with PEY has almost no MCE. See this thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-2017-a-4.html
Feb 11, 2018, 1:47 pm
#555
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: AA
Posts: 343
Not sure if this was an "enhancement" or not, but impressed by the service I received on a flight POS-MIA yesterday. In addition to the standard drink service, flight attendant came through 2/3rds through the flight to take additional drink orders for MCE only and brought them back on a tray. Nice touch.