There are different ways to choose American Airlines seats, and not all of them are the same. There are three types of seats in the back of the plane (called the “Main Cabin”): standard Main Cabin seats, Preferred seats, and Main Cabin Extra seats.
Here are the differences between Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seating, as well as the best seats on each type of plane and the benefits that come with them.
What Kinds of Service Does American Airlines Offer?
No one likes to sit in economy, but if you have to be in the back of the plane, you can be a smart traveler and choose seats that make your trip better.
Before we get into your economy options, here’s a quick look at the different types of seats on American:
– Flagship First
Flagship First is American’s best service, and you can only get it on planes with three classes, like the 777-300ER and the A321T, that fly from one coast to the other. Flagship First lets you use the Flagship First Dining area and the Flagship Lounge at certain airports. On board, each passenger has their own “pod” so they don’t have to be close to other people.
– Flagship Business
Flagship Business is American’s standard business class. It is available on wide-body international flights or transcontinental A321T flights, and it comes with upgraded meals, access to the Flagship Lounge, and other perks on certain routes. On wide-body planes, the seats are set up in a 1-2-1 layout or a 2-2 layout on cross-country flights.
– First-Class Economy
Between Main Cabin and Business Class, Premium Economy is in the middle. Here, you’ll find large leather recliners that look like the seats in first class on domestic flights. This cabin has seats that are set up 2-3-2 or 22-4-2, and it has more legroom, space to lay down, and amenities than the economy cabin. Customers will get meals that look like they came from a high-end restaurant, and entertainment on bigger screens on their seatbacks.
– Domestic First Class
On narrow-body planes with two classes, the first class is at the front and has two rows of two seats each. First class is a more comfortable place to sit than Main Cabin in the back because it has more ways to lean back and tilt. Depending on how long the flight is, you can get drinks, hang your coat, and eat.
– Extra Main Cabin
Main Cabin Extra seats are in the best parts of the main cabin and have 3 to 6 inches more legroom. These seats are near the bulkhead, in the first few rows, or near the exits. Customers in the Main Cabin Extra get free alcoholic drinks and more legroom.
– Preferred Seats
Preferred seats don’t have more legroom, but they are closer to the front of the plane and in better locations in the Main Cabin. This means you can get to your seat faster when boarding and leave the plane faster when getting off.
– The usual seats
There are Standard Main Cabin seats all over the Main Cabin, but most of them are in the back. There are no extra features on these seats, and the pitch and recline are just like any other.
Sum up
As you can see, there’s no doubt that Main Cabin Extra seats are some of the best economy class seats on the plane. If you can’t get one of these seats, the Preferred seats are also in a great spot, but they don’t have as much legroom.
When you fly American, try to find a way to sit in Main Cabin Extra, whether it’s through a buy-up or an elite status. If you can’t, be picky about where you sit in the Main Cabin. If you can, get a Preferred seat.
To have access to all information about the flight, seating places, you can use the Seatmaps service. On the site, you can find information about different flights and flights on BAe 146 and American Airlines as well.
