Hello all,

I've just become a low-level elite for the first time via AA, and I have a question.

The AAdvantage Gold pamphlet that I received indicates that I'm now permitted to pre-select exit row seats on other OneWorld airlines if my miles are set to be credited to AA.

Is there any way to reap this benefit if, for example, I book an award flight on British Airways using Executive Club Miles/Avios Points?

Thanks!

OW Ruby has not been a valid BAEC tier until BA announced a new "Bronze" tier this week (and I'm not sure when it becomes effective.) Up till now, only OW Sapphire and above (AA Plat) could pre-select seats on BA, so you'll have to wait for BA to synch its Ruby tier perks with the rest of OW to see if AA Golds will get any benefits.

You're permitted if the OW airline supports that for the flight you're on. But apparently not all OW airlines do for all their flights. Per the LANPASS forum, even LANPASS elites cannot select exit rows until 24 hours before (ie, at checkin time, online or otherwise), at least on LAN Argentina and such.

Btw, be aware that on BA intra-European shorthaul flights, exit rows aren't the only seats with better legroom. Typically the first row of economy, immediately behind the curtain, where AA/BA puts me into automatically in most cases, has much better legroom that rows further back.

But no, if you book a flight on BA with your EC account which doesn't have status, BA has no way to "see" that you have OW Ruby status. Your OW Ruby status is only attached to your AA account.

However, if you book a BA flight in a class above economy, it won't matter. BA's World Traveler Plus (premium elite cabin) has every seat having roughly the same legroom as an exit row seat, and the seat itself is probably even more comfortable.

IMHO, BA economy is even worse than AA economy. If you have AA Gold status, I would hold off on using BA miles for a situation where you can book a class higher than economy.