AA removes free MCE seating perk for BA elites [Update : now restored]
Oct 1, 2020, 7:44 am
#1
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AA removes free MCE seating perk for BA elites [Update : now restored]
Not sure where this best fits, but this seems a reasonable place, BAEC status will no longer get you free access to MCE seats on AA.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...world-seating/
https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...world-seating/
Effective immediately, AA’s partner elites will no longer receive complimentary access to the airline’s extra-legroom Main Cabin Extra seating. This policy change has been updated on AA’s Main Cabin Extra webpage, and we’ve reached out to the carrier for more details. In fact, TPG tested booking a British Airways elite on an AA flight and confirmed that Main Cabin Extra seating is no longer free.
Oct 1, 2020, 7:53 am
#2
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 579
That is a huge downgrade for OW Elites flying on AA. Indeed it was one compensation for having to squeeze into 10-abreast 777 on TATL, as well as having comfortable domestic flights (and lets face it, domestic in the US can be positvely mid-haul by european standards.
Why the change? Surely airlines want to be capturing business at times like this. More perks to bring back frequent flyers not less, especially those that cost relatively little.
Why the change? Surely airlines want to be capturing business at times like this. More perks to bring back frequent flyers not less, especially those that cost relatively little.
Oct 1, 2020, 8:04 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
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America First! Haha... Kidding. Will this now lead to some kind of response from other programs? Hope this is not the start of shared benefits eroding across all of OW as each airline looks to start protecting ever cent of revenue (which I get they need to do). MCE was a good perk for my frequent US trips. With no lounges currently, now no MCE, other than a few TPs, I don't see the need to use American, seeing most competition on the routes I need already includes a bag either directly or with a CC.
Oct 1, 2020, 10:22 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
That's a shame, this was a good "hack" , along with the T3 lounges and WiFi made AA my preferred carrier into JFK . But it was a very generous benefit on a cheapo ticket so it's pretty fair IMO
Would be nice to see seat fee discounts like KLM has
Would be nice to see seat fee discounts like KLM has
Oct 1, 2020, 10:39 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,539
I could stomach a small fee for.long haul. But a typical Mexico to Dallas flight is 400 dollars for regular economy. To now have to pay extra for a good seat is stretching fares to crazy amounts. I can live without it, but I feel a good perk lost
Oct 1, 2020, 11:03 am
#6
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 579
As noted above, I hope other alliance benefits are not eroded - more difficult as things like lounge access are part of OW rules.
Travelling is just going to be less fun and comfortable in the 'new normal'...
Oct 1, 2020, 1:10 pm
#7
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America First! Haha... Kidding. Will this now lead to some kind of response from other programs? Hope this is not the start of shared benefits eroding across all of OW as each airline looks to start protecting ever cent of revenue (which I get they need to do). MCE was a good perk for my frequent US trips. With no lounges currently, now no MCE, other than a few TPs, I don't see the need to use American, seeing most competition on the routes I need already includes a bag either directly or with a CC.
Oneworld status has "Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating" but has always meant different things on different airlines
https://www.oneworld.com/travel-bene...world-priority
Edit
AA equivalent thread--> AA drops oneworld airliner partner elite seat benefits Oct 2020
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Oct 1, 2020 at 6:03 pm Reason: Now separate thread
Oct 1, 2020, 1:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
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I am not aware of any other OW that has MCE. That is economy seat with more leg room, other than exit rows /row 1 on some aircraft (but may be incorrect).
Oneworld status has "Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating" but has always meant different things on different airlines
https://www.oneworld.com/travel-bene...world-priority
Oct 1, 2020, 1:37 pm
#9
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Airlines can have other perks they extend to other OW status pax of other ffp's
Oct 1, 2020, 1:42 pm
#10
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It is not a published OW benefit. Better for OW carriers to agree on uniform and for a benefit to be defined without jargon. MCE is a bit of legroom and free booze on domestic. If that's what BA gets on AA, BA has to offer the same to AA.
Oct 1, 2020, 2:28 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 140
I agree and we took advantage of this a few times - especially great value when getting a seat for the under 2 year old as well. On a daytime flight to New York this was easier to manage with kids than seats in J.
Given AA now have their premium economy offering on long haul I’m not surprised to see this going as it gives a good place for elites to be bumped up to.
Given AA now have their premium economy offering on long haul I’m not surprised to see this going as it gives a good place for elites to be bumped up to.
Oct 1, 2020, 2:36 pm
#12
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I have no insight on this one, but on the speculation side, I wonder if this is related more to Alaska than BAEC? This is more of an issue on domestic services, where at the moment the small number of BAEC travellers would not make much difference. But if a wodge of MVP members are being drawn into oneworld from early next year, perhaps that's what they are trying to head off? Alaska doesn't allow their top tier to their MCE equivalent with Saver fares.
Oct 1, 2020, 3:10 pm
#13
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I have no insight on this one, but on the speculation side, I wonder if this is related more to Alaska than BAEC? This is more of an issue on domestic services, where at the moment the small number of BAEC travellers would not make much difference. But if a wodge of MVP members are being drawn into oneworld from early next year, perhaps that's what they are trying to head off? Alaska doesn't allow their top tier to their MCE equivalent with Saver fares.
Oct 1, 2020, 3:19 pm
#15
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I have no insight on this one, but on the speculation side, I wonder if this is related more to Alaska than BAEC? This is more of an issue on domestic services, where at the moment the small number of BAEC travellers would not make much difference. But if a wodge of MVP members are being drawn into oneworld from early next year, perhaps that's what they are trying to head off? Alaska doesn't allow their top tier to their MCE equivalent with Saver fares.