Originally Posted by acoburn73 (Post 30961338)

Something new for me this year.

EXP with nearly $20,000 EQDs from last year, already approaching 50,000 EQMs and $9,000 EQDs for 2019.

Booked a trip with wife to FCO back in January for Apr 7 returning Apr 21. Got us C upgrades at booking on flight out using SWUs, but was wait-listed for return (FCO-ORD) on 787-8. For two months Expert Flyer has shown plenty of availability in C, so I figured no problem on the 21st return for using two more SWUs. Then last week I did a quick check, and noticed a plane change to the 787-8 retrofit with Premium Economy, and that our seats had changed (MCE on original plane).

Now the plane change isn't what was new. It was that whomever reassigned passengers with the new layout decided to put my wife and I into the new PE section rather than back in the MCE part of economy. Not complaining, just found it interesting and wondered if anyone else has had the same experience.

Also as expected with changing to a plane with 8 less business class seats, the # of available seats nearly vanished. Now down to 5 open, so still good odds on that return to ORD, but not as good as the 15 that were available before!

Originally Posted by acoburn73 (Post 30961338)

Something new for me this year.

EXP with nearly $20,000 EQDs from last year, already approaching 50,000 EQMs and $9,000 EQDs for 2019.

Booked a trip with wife to FCO back in January for Apr 7 returning Apr 21. Got us C upgrades at booking on flight out using SWUs, but was wait-listed for return (FCO-ORD) on 787-8. For two months Expert Flyer has shown plenty of availability in C, so I figured no problem on the 21st return for using two more SWUs. Then last week I did a quick check, and noticed a plane change to the 787-8 retrofit with Premium Economy, and that our seats had changed (MCE on original plane).

Now the plane change isn't what was new. It was that whomever reassigned passengers with the new layout decided to put my wife and I into the new PE section rather than back in the MCE part of economy. Not complaining, just found it interesting and wondered if anyone else has had the same experience.

Also as expected with changing to a plane with 8 less business class seats, the # of available seats nearly vanished. Now down to 5 open, so still good odds on that return to ORD, but not as good as the 15 that were available before!

Originally Posted by JJeffrey (Post 30961683)

Yea, this is standard AA protocol when they are updating their fleet like they are with the 788. AA isn't selling PE on that flight, so you still are getting Economy service just in a PE seat. AA offers the PE section as MCE in these scenarios, same thing happened with the 77W's, 772's, and 332's when they were getting updated with PE. It's a great little perk if you happen onto one of these flights, and takes the edge off of a possible SWU not clearing.

Originally Posted by acoburn73 (Post 30961771)

Good to know.

Any ideas on how AA determines who gets moved into those on a change to a retrofitted plane?

Originally Posted by JJeffrey (Post 30961793)

AA's computers process equipment changes like this, and it can be all over the map. Sometimes you will keep the same seat number, i.e 8A stays 8A, sometimes you'll get an equivalent seat, i.e. aisle to aisle, and other times youll go from say a MCE aisle to row 100 middle. There's certainly no standard protocol, although if the same seat number is available you will usually end up there, although not always.

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Originally Posted by LHSEN (Post 30969602)

Originally Posted by GTITAN (Post 30978424)

Hey all,

So for my flights from CLT-GIG are wait listed for three SWUs on 4-10 (we are in PE), EF is showing J2 R2 D2 I2 W1 P1 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 G0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 E0. Seat map (which I know is not reliable) is showing 6-7 seats in B/C "available." How would folks interpret this data past the obvious that AA is willing to sell 2 seats in B/C, 1 seat in P/E and 0 seats in Coach? Trying to "read the tea leaves" on this!

Safe Travels and TYIA!

Originally Posted by Austin787 (Post 30978492)

Could mean 4-5 have purchased business tickets but haven't selected seats yet. Or Y may be overbooked, and AA is reducing J inventory to accomodate potential cabin rolls.