American Airlines' app now lets AAdvantage members set seat preferences and automatically switches them into a better seat if one opens up before departure.
Those insidious mobile phones ought to be banned from all airplanes and schools .
@Lucky are you a slender fellow? Those fixed armrests with tray tables feel restricting. I avoid the bulkhead. Maybe I should also be avoiding all of the lounge food...
I wish they would invest in their website now too. It’s basically the same since 2014
Would like to understand how it prioritizes requests (eg similar to a waitlist) in the instance there are multiple pax waiting on a preferred seat assignment and one opens up ie 6 people have requested an aisle seat and one opens up; who gets it? What are the criteria for used for determining the priority order?
Seems like a good update. Yeah, MCE is often better than not, unless it’s a middle, when you preferred the aisle or middle, even with less legroom. At least they’re trying.
This is only for single-passenger reservations, as you note. So if traveling with a spouse/family... I have the same concern about the "hack". Will depend on the timing of when this is processed - just before or just after the 24 hour window. Likewise for Golds who only get MCE at check-in - if those 2 seats are taken right before the 24-hour period opens up, no MCE for Golds.
The bigger problem is that AA does not have enough MCE as it is. This extends to their new planes as well - the XLR has no MCE that's usable by families (it's all exit row) and the 787-9P is likewise paltry with only 18 MCE seats (6 of which are exit row). AA did announce they will roll out more MCE, but it's unclear on what timeline that will be accomplished.
Not sure why AA is sucking up to DJT, but an executive order for more MCE would be ideal.