What happens to MCE seats that are unsold?
Nov 30, 2016, 6:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 3
What happens to MCE seats that are unsold?
Hi, all.
I'm on the fence about the whole $150, even tho I know MCE is much better than coach.
Can I ask what happens 24 hrs before departure? Do these seats then become "free" for the taking at online check-in? Or do you still have to pay for them?
Thank you.
I'm on the fence about the whole $150, even tho I know MCE is much better than coach.
Can I ask what happens 24 hrs before departure? Do these seats then become "free" for the taking at online check-in? Or do you still have to pay for them?
Thank you.
Nov 30, 2016, 6:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213
They become "Free" for GOLD members at T-24 (instead of 1/2 price before that.) If you are asking if you can score one at online checkin - it's been reported....but, YMMV
Nov 30, 2016, 6:15 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: NYC,MIA,XFL
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, DL PM
Posts: 863
They don't become free, except for AA Golds and oneworld Ruby. Passengers without seat assignments will be assigned to them if no other seats are available, otherwise they'll go out empty.
Nov 30, 2016, 8:36 pm
#5
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
At 193 cm / 6'4", I have a different point of view than you. MCE is a knee saver for me.
Nov 30, 2016, 11:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
that won't work. On my last several flights, FAs checked MCE seats with the flight manifest. People who self-upgraded were told to go back to their original seats or pay for the upgraded seat.
Dec 1, 2016, 12:12 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
Yeah no don't do that. Everyone who pays for those seats (being an elite or shelling out $$$) will hate your guts, and FAs will catch you anyways. I've seen FAs send self-upgraders back plenty of times
Dec 1, 2016, 8:53 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,487
^ It's pretty easy, especially on domestic flights, for FAs to spot seat poachers because they usually scrutinize the seat maps on their handheld devices to identify where the ExPlats are for the free drink and snack item.
Dec 1, 2016, 10:45 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
I'm a 5'7" 120 pound woman and I agree about the legroom - my knees hit the back of the seat in front of me (in economy) on many aircraft. Can't even imagine who you tall guys go through - the legroom in economy is Draconian.
Dec 1, 2016, 11:16 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Dec 1, 2016, 11:45 am
#15
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
Do you currently have an assigned seat?
My worry would be if I didn't have an assigned seat, and was on a long-haul flight, that I could be stuck in a middle seat somewhere.