TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin AA now has Main Cabin Extra

I didn't know this, not sure how long it's been the case, but AA now has Main Cabin Extra, which is like Delta Comfort. More legroom, expedited boarding and free alcohol!

That said, I had the chance to book it and chose not to. I just booked for next year, paid $270 each for ROUND TRIP from Miami, for the assigned seats. Amazing price, I think cheaper than we've ever booked. I originally was going to book the Main Cabin Extra for the return (only), which was $35 a person. Not a bad price at all. However, I am spooked that, as of now, AA has two planes leaving Miami within two hours of each other and I'm afraid they will cancel the one I'm booked on. And if they do that, I just KNOW I won't get my $70 back, when they switch me to the other plane. I booked the NON Max 8 flight because I like the later flight time of the regular 737 (and because I'm terrified of the Max 8!! ).

Here's a pretty extensive report from a few weeks ago on AA Main Cabin Extra and its' perks

"Upgraded Points."..AA Main Cabin Extra link

Hmmm...link no workee....I'll investigate

Link below works..;)

Try again..link

Huhm, a little birdie tells me that AA has had this option for a while, but I never knew about it. Anyway, they were wanting $80 a person for the flight down to SXM, which I thought was too much. For the flight back, it was 'only' $35 a person and I would have pulled the trigger on that, if I had known for sure that AA wouldn't cancel the flight and put both Miami flights together.

When I flew AA r/t to SXM 7 months ago they had "Main Cabin Extra" but it was only bulkhead and exit row seats. and no perks other than group 5 boarding which I get with my wife's CC. So if they actually added rows that would be an improvement..I hate bulkhead seats

They have had MCE seats on the long hauls for a bit.....

What upset me was that we had the exit row MCE seats AND used an AA CC that gets a free bag per person...but only flights in the USA and to Europe...Caribbean was an outlier for some weird reason....

Maybe this has changed

Pretty sure it is at least several months old.

AA has had this for many years, I want to say maybe 4-5. Last time we used MCE, they had 2 different "classes" and prices--regular seats up front with no perks, and extra pitch seats with enhanced food/drink. I seem to recall the lesser seats at around $25 and the better ones around $50 per leg.

cruzer--sorry, no they have not had this for 'many years' with regard to Miami to SXM, for sure. For flights next year to SXM from Miami, the Main Cabin Extra was like $86 TO SXM, and $37 on the return. Way too much $ for the way down.

I know they have had it on other routes, and I'd like to say also MIA, but maybe only domestic in the past. The differences in price you cite could be the "class" differential, but I really don't now. I doubt it's worth the extra cost, but it is a nice perk for elite flyers--at least the seats that give you free drinks and have extra legroom.

It's actually not even available for October THIS year from Miami. $35 one way is worth it to me, but not $80 one way.. Eric kind of disagrees, but we often disagree about things!!!

Edit--well, I see, as of this morning, they have changed the plane to a 757 and main cabin extra is now available on our flight. Still want way too much for it, to me though.

Main Cabin Extra was implemented on Feb 1st 2018 and was limited to the bulkhead and exit row seats until planes could be reconfigured to add MCE rows at the front of the economy cabin. These new config planes and the added perks associated started in service on June 5th of this year. It will be expanded as planes are reconfigured.

My January 2019 flights were of the bulkhead and exit row variety ...

Not to be argumentative but........

We were on AA connecting flights from SXM through CLT into HPN last November and we did have extra space seats in the main cabin on the first leg of the trip although I don’t remember them being bulkhead as we usually try to avoid those seats. i didn’t know why at the time but The flight attendant offered us drinks and made a point of saying they were complimentary with our up-graded seats. I don’t recall being offered any drinks at all from CLT to HPN though we might have been. I don’t know when the new seat pricing structure was introduced but that’s the only time we’ve flown AA home in years.

Maybe it was due to DH’s charming personality? I know it wasn’t because of mine, and particularly NOT when I’m in travel mode!

I wouldn't be concerned about getting the extra fare refunded if you lose your "extra" seats due to a flight cancellation. We've been on canceled flights where we had purchased first class and ended up in coach. You just have to apply online for the fare difference, and they refund it. You do have to actually apply; it's not automatic, but it's a simple process.

Oh, ok. I didn't know that. Wouldn't you have to prove what you paid extra though? I had an issue with Jet Blue one time, I paid more for a particular routing and they refused to give me any consideration when they changed it, because they said that I couldn't prove how much extra I paid. In that respect, on our trip from June, we had Delta Comfort seats on the way home. We got them for the trip from SXM to Atlanta, but then missed the connection in Atlanta because our flight was late leaving SXM. We were able to catch a later flight, but no Delta Comfort seats for trip to Orlando. Thing is, I bought them with FF miles, and I have NO idea how much extra I paid for them.

We're pretty much stuck with AA. Love their trick that lets you get to the book your seat page and low and behold, the only seats available are upgrades! You do get a separate receipt for that payment, which I always carry just in case.

Last trip a week or so ago showed every seat filled, but was 3/4 full

Huh. I just booked for next May-June, and was able to book seats in Main Cabin without any extra payment. It's toward the back of the plane, but I don't really care about that. That one fare class doesn't have any assigned seating at all. Maybe that's what you're booking?

Elaine - do you fly out of Hartford or JFK. We gave up trying to go from Hartford. Just JFK and can almost always get a direct on JB or Delta. Other option would be connection to Westchester which sometimes works great. Other times not so much!!!!

Hartford. We did Jet Blue JFK since Irma until AA reopened the BDL route. JFK is just too far for us. We don't have a car to leave at the airport and I'm not asking anyone to do that horrible drive back and forth. While we had to do it, we paid a driver. Big bucks

Carol, your record locator and ticket number have the exact breakdown of your fare.

Huh, ok, learn something every day! Although our booking with Delta was with miles, so no way to tell how many extra miles I paid for the Delta Comfort, I don't think?

When researching and then booking flights, I always use a private window, or whatever your browser calls it. That way, the airlines don't know I'm returning to check price or seats and the results are always as though I'm a first-time visitor to the site.

Always book back of the plane when heading to SXM since Irma, they unload from front and back so a lot quicker if you are in the last few rows

AA started their premium economy late in 2016, but was probably only on the international flights, they are one of the first to create the premium economy.

I hear a lot of complaints about AA, and I have been on some of the old US Air jets and while they are not sometimes in the best condition I have also recently been on Delta flights that are even worse. I personally prefer AA over Delta, but while not good for most of you on the east coast my favorite for domestic travel would be Alaska Airlines. Good economy plus and their first class is better than Delta or AA, unless you end up with jet (usually wide body and somewhat rare these days on domestic flights) that has lie flat seats.

I put a lot of miles in each year in the air, I do my best to fly well.

Cheers, T

Not sure about Delta, or the extra miles for Delta Comfort, but on AA, I had booked my First Class ticket with miles, the flight was canceled, and I ended up flying coach. They refunded the difference in miles upon my request.