Enhancements in Main Cabin Extra Seating (now Q2 2018)
Jun 6, 2018, 2:33 pm
#301
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Join Date: Dec 2000
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It's the first step for AA playing catch-up to DL who has the exact same service in their MCE equivalent (Comfort +). The next step will be giving comp upgrades to MCE and F for all elite tiers, though that would not go over well with the veteran AA PP and EP members.....
Jun 6, 2018, 5:02 pm
#303
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
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Posts: 3,226
Jun 10, 2018, 8:29 pm
#306
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Join Date: Aug 2012
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one would think MCE would show up in a different color now. So the FA isnt having to check row numbers
Jun 10, 2018, 10:41 pm
#307
Join Date: May 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Platinum (OWE), HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum, AX
Posts: 190
the tablet shows EXP and CK. EXP are green and CK are green and purple. That's how they know who gets free food and drinks in the back. It shows up in F too, but matters less as everything is included there.
one would think MCE would show up in a different color now. So the FA isnt having to check row numbers
one would think MCE would show up in a different color now. So the FA isnt having to check row numbers
Jun 11, 2018, 9:51 am
#308
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Flew MIA-LGA today and could see FAs handled device. No difference in color between MCE and general main cabin (but noticed that I was marked green as OWE not that there was any difference in service). Could also hear the FAs discussing which rows are MCE (presumably for the purposes of drink service).
Jun 11, 2018, 6:24 pm
#310
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 163
Unlikely.
It's the first step for AA playing catch-up to DL who has the exact same service in their MCE equivalent (Comfort +). The next step will be giving comp upgrades to MCE and F for all elite tiers, though that would not go over well with the veteran AA PP and EP members.....
It's the first step for AA playing catch-up to DL who has the exact same service in their MCE equivalent (Comfort +). The next step will be giving comp upgrades to MCE and F for all elite tiers, though that would not go over well with the veteran AA PP and EP members.....
Jun 12, 2018, 12:17 pm
#311
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
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Posts: 10,065
Why? EXP and PP upgrade ahead of the rest, P G won't upgrade with stickers if there are any EXP PP waiting, so it's really a no loss for them. It would be a huge win for me, flying the segments for EXP or at worst PP, but all short hauls, so I've never cleared $7k in a year in spend. With all those flights, especially on the 700-900 mile RJ routes, I'd appreciate being able to upgrade into those empty seats that are there almost 90% of the time.
It also, to a degree, benefits Golds and Platinum members who opt to use their upgrade balance versus those who don't have any left and don't want to pony up $40 per 500 miles. A midcon trip can cost $120 and a transcon trip $200 extra, which many would just as soon be content in at least a MCE seat if they can score it. This reduces the competition within those 2 lower levels. I get a fair amount of upgrades as a Gold and ~$7000 spend in the past 12 months mainly because, I believe, other Golds have not chosen to pay with an e-certificate. The upgrade list is often much smaller for >500 mile trips than it is on a trip like PHL-CLT that is elite heavy and has an upgrade list 50+ long because they are all comp upgrades automatically applied to the reservation.
Recalling past threads about this, the jury within this forum seems to be divided on whether or not to move to an all complimentary upgrade system. For now, AA has kept the status quo.
Jun 22, 2018, 4:19 pm
#313
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
with the small enhancement of a drink or three, MCE could end up being the not so bad consolation of missing your upgrade to first, and you don't have to ever wonder if you'll clear into MCE. You can pick it when you book your flight.
First without the bigger seat, hot towel, nuts & cookie.
Jun 22, 2018, 5:26 pm
#314
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
more legroom than first in *some* MCE seats, but never a bigger seat than first. If lucky you might get a PE MCE seat on a widebody flying domestically, but you'll never be in a bigger seat than those in first get, in MCE.
with the small enhancement of a drink or three, MCE could end up being the not so bad consolation of missing your upgrade to first, and you don't have to ever wonder if you'll clear into MCE. You can pick it when you book your flight.
First without the bigger seat, hot towel, nuts & cookie.
with the small enhancement of a drink or three, MCE could end up being the not so bad consolation of missing your upgrade to first, and you don't have to ever wonder if you'll clear into MCE. You can pick it when you book your flight.
First without the bigger seat, hot towel, nuts & cookie.
On short flights (LGA-CLT, for example), all you get in FC is a snack basket and drinks so I don't see the point in using certificates to go FC now.
Jun 23, 2018, 9:18 am
#315
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 163
Even on the long RJ flights up to 1000 miles, you are still just getting a snack basket in first, depends on who is flying it, drinks in plastic as well. In MCE, you at least get the whole can, so you can deal with the refill as needed. I'll sometimes request the upgrade if it was a long week, and I'm tired, the seat is marginally less painful to sit in. But really, there's not much value left on the upgrade over MCE.