Premium Economy Buyup - What happens to seat selection cost?
Mar 11, 2020, 10:39 am
#1
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Premium Economy Buyup - What happens to seat selection cost?
I'm booked on AA ATH-PHL-PWM in June and just saw that it offered me a buyup to PE for $350. I've already spent a couple hundred bucks picking seats (no status here). If I buy up to PE can I get a refund of the seat selection cost?
Is the $350 worth it for PE? I'm not familiar with AA's PE product but a bigger seat on an 11 hour flight is always a nice thing.
Is the $350 worth it for PE? I'm not familiar with AA's PE product but a bigger seat on an 11 hour flight is always a nice thing.
Mar 11, 2020, 10:43 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 632
If you buy an upgrade to a higher cost of service you will get a refund for existing paid seat selection fees such as Main Cabin Extra. You MAY have to resort to asking to get them back if it doesn't happen automatically but you are eligible to get that money refunded.
Yes I would pay $350 for an 11 hour flight for PE. It is basically a domestic F seat and similar meal quality to domestic F as well, just without glassware or really any better service. The pillow and blanket are nice too, and the bigger screen.
Yes I would pay $350 for an 11 hour flight for PE. It is basically a domestic F seat and similar meal quality to domestic F as well, just without glassware or really any better service. The pillow and blanket are nice too, and the bigger screen.
Mar 11, 2020, 7:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2009
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I haven't flown in PE on AA, but I came home from Spain last Fall in J and took a couple walks down the aisle to the back of the plane. It was my first time to see a PE cabin, and I'd say it would definitely be worth $350 to upgrade on a 11 hour flight. IIRC, it does look life a domestic F seat, with the added bonus of having an extending legrest, so more like a recliner.
If I was in MCE on a TATL, I'd jump on that upgrade in a heartbeat. And yes, as noted upthread you should get a refund of your original seat purchase.
If I was in MCE on a TATL, I'd jump on that upgrade in a heartbeat. And yes, as noted upthread you should get a refund of your original seat purchase.
Mar 12, 2020, 7:11 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 632
Just a note that only the bulkhead row which is the first row of PE has the extending legrest. The rest have the little useless peg footrest, I wish they all had the legrest. I do recommend getting the bulkhead row if you can, only downsides are you can't have your bag in front of you and you can't use the IFE on the ground/takeoff/landing. Overall though the extra space, ability to get up and around your companions to get to the lav, and the legrest are big pro's. The regular PE is still definitely worth doing though, I just think those little plastic footrests are pointless.
Mar 12, 2020, 7:49 am
#6
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I think the refund *should* be automatic, but it might not happen until after the flight is taken. You could try manually submitting it now via prefunds.aa.com if you have the ticket number associated with the original seat assignment fees. Sounds like a good trip! 
Mar 12, 2020, 7:54 am
#7
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Thanks, all. It turns out the upgrade offer was only available for the BOS-LHR leg (my outbound). The only thing it offered me for ATH-PHL was $3500 to upgrade to J. In the end, I did pay the $350 (well, $700 for two of us...I'm not telling Mr. Gfunk until he finds out on his own, as he will give me That Look) because when we flew PE on Air Canada a few years ago it was well worth it for the ability to sleep more than 45 minutes.
Really wish we had it on the longer flight but it's an A333, which doesn't have a PE cabin as it turns out. It also doesn't seem to have MCE, which seems odd. But I haven't flown AA in a very long time, so I'm clearly not up to date on things. I had no idea they offered real PE, for example!
Really wish we had it on the longer flight but it's an A333, which doesn't have a PE cabin as it turns out. It also doesn't seem to have MCE, which seems odd. But I haven't flown AA in a very long time, so I'm clearly not up to date on things. I had no idea they offered real PE, for example!
Mar 12, 2020, 8:10 am
#8
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Yes, I know that Look too! 
AA was actually first of the big 3 to have PE widely installed. DL and UA are still actually quite far behind. I think AA has it on all its widebodies now, except the small handful of 333s they're supposed to be getting rid of (it is on the 332s, however). And maybe some 763s that are still left? (Those are going soon too if not already.)
AA was actually first of the big 3 to have PE widely installed. DL and UA are still actually quite far behind. I think AA has it on all its widebodies now, except the small handful of 333s they're supposed to be getting rid of (it is on the 332s, however). And maybe some 763s that are still left? (Those are going soon too if not already.)