Enhancements in Main Cabin Extra Seating (now Q2 2018)
Apr 4, 2018, 9:03 pm
#211
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 552
I think it's more likely that they are "walking it back" because the person who came up with it never flies coach (like some director or VP in the marketing department) and doesn't understand the logistics of doing it. It's the kind of thing that seems like a good idea then you try to implement it and it's a disaster.
Apr 5, 2018, 6:53 am
#214
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AUS, LAX
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Apr 5, 2018, 6:55 am
#215
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AUS, LAX
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Sorry my memory was foggy, but it was covered on a popular travel blog and spoken about at an AA Media event, and I recall seeing specific screenshots of official AA material explaining it. Definitely not a press release, I sent that in a hurry, but I've definitely had two AA Flight Attendants confirm it's coming at some point, but I've had more AA FAs have absolutely no clue, so who knows....
Apr 5, 2018, 7:56 am
#216
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
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I don't think that they would check MCE paid either, but rather MCE assigned seats for that flight. It would be easy enough to see if someone had claimed a seat in MCE that wasn't assigned to them and ask to see their boarding pass.
Apr 5, 2018, 8:05 am
#217
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AUS, LAX
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I suspect they’d want to avoid manually checking. I bet they may do a sweep at the beginning of the flight to ensure people aren’t in unsold MCE seats and loosely enforce that throughout flight then just not bother with any checking during drink service. That’s how I’d design it to not slow down service.
Apr 5, 2018, 8:43 am
#218
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
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I suspect they’d want to avoid manually checking. I bet they may do a sweep at the beginning of the flight to ensure people aren’t in unsold MCE seats and loosely enforce that throughout flight then just not bother with any checking during drink service. That’s how I’d design it to not slow down service.
Apr 5, 2018, 10:37 am
#220
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https://thepointsguy.com/2018/01/aa-...-enhancements/
Here is the actual memo, plus TPG claims they spoke with an AA rep who confirmed these changes.
Here is the actual memo, plus TPG claims they spoke with an AA rep who confirmed these changes.
Apr 5, 2018, 7:39 pm
#221
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 617
The only reason I think this is going to happen at some point is the change they made to the 321 seat maps, changing the "unlimited legroom" seats (10F, 23A, 23F) from MCE to preferred. That doesn't make any sense unless they are worried about having a mixed row.
However, my opinion is the free drinks (IF they dont change their minds) will not start until much later this spring. A leaked memo / 3rd party blog article saying the changes will happen this spring does not hold much weight
However, my opinion is the free drinks (IF they dont change their minds) will not start until much later this spring. A leaked memo / 3rd party blog article saying the changes will happen this spring does not hold much weight
Apr 5, 2018, 7:51 pm
#222
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
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Don't if it only applies to paid MCE, but they could include both Paid (non-elite) and Elite (get it for free). Just color code on the hand hand seat map. Those in MCE (by aircraft being full) but otherwise not being eligible can be coded to not receive free drink. They would just get the normal green box in the seat map.
Apr 6, 2018, 7:41 am
#223
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
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I asked my FAs on my flight last night and they haven't heard anything about it but one of them told me "you guys know about these things before we do, I only work here! I'll give it to you anyway, what can I get you?".
Doesn't hurt to ask I guess. But it certainly does not look official yet.
Doesn't hurt to ask I guess. But it certainly does not look official yet.
Apr 6, 2018, 5:38 pm
#224
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More anecdotal evidence.... On a mainline LUS A319 flight today, no placards and the F/A's were a little vague about the new "upcoming" changes. One said they got an email about something happening in May, but wouldn't go into more detail. So, for now it appears to be a YMMV situation.