AA Is Selling Its Best Business Class Seat as Economy
Due to scheduling or positioning needs, American Airlines will periodically fly internationally configured aircraft on domestic routes. Since most of the airline's international aircraft only have two cabins, AA will sell the international business class cabin as domestic first class — leaving the economy cabin as economy.
Update 10/6/16: In addition to the two flights already listed, below are all of the available flights where American Airlines is selling the 777-300ER business-class cabin as part of Main Cabin Extra:
| To | From | Flight # | Date | Depart | Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFW | MIA | 1412 | 4-Nov | 15:20 | 19:01 |
| MIA | DFW | 969 | 11-Nov | 11:05 | 13:18 |
| DFW | MIA | 1412 | 11-Nov | 15:20 | 19:01 |
| DFW | MIA | 1425 | 20-Nov | 16:25 | 20:10 |
| MIA | DFW | 2305 | 21-Nov | 7:05 | 9:20 |
| DFW | LAX | 2477 | 26-Nov | 19:15 | 20:42 |
| DFW | MIA | 2336 | 26-Nov | 6:25 | 10:05 |
| MIA | ORD | 242 | 26-Nov | 12:13 | 14:27 |
| ORD | DFW | 2339 | 26-Nov | 16:30 | 19:02 |
| LAX | DFW | 2406 | 27-Nov | 0:22 | 5:24 |
| DFW | LAX | 2477 | 24-Dec | 19:15 | 20:42 |
Most of AA's internationally configured three-cabin aircraft are flown on transcontinental routes, where it's logical for AA to sell three distinct cabins. Every once in a while, you'll "luck out" and get an un-refurbished three-cabin AA 777-200 on a domestic route. Since the business class product on this aircraft is quite sub-par, American Airlines wisely sells the business class cabin as part of economy.
Best of all, these seats aren't even designated as Main Cabin Extra. This means that anyone with an economy class ticket can experience the epitome of a business class product — that is, the best business class product from the early 1990s. These angle-flat seats are certainly better than any American Airlines economy seat you'd get, but it's nothing worth changing plans to experience.
This weekend, we noticed a much more appealing option. Starting October 8, American Airlines is flying a 777-300ER (77W) between New York's JFK and Miami (MIA). Unfortunately, there aren't many options: there are flights every Saturday and Sunday through October 30 and then every Sunday in November.
On this route, the small eight-seat first class cabin is being sold as first class, but the 52-seat top-notch business class product is being sold as economy. That's right, you can experience the best American Airlines business class seat for the price of a regular coach ticket. For dates starting October 29, this price is just $133 one-way.
However, for those without status, you're going to have to pay the reasonable Main Cabin Extra price of $37 to select these seats — however, this is a small price to pay to experience one of the best business class hard products in the skies.
American Airlines Gold elites will be charged 50% less to choose these MCE seats anytime before check-in — or you'd be able to pick them for free if any still remain at check-in. AA Platinum and Executive Platinum members can choose these Main Cabin Extra seats for free anytime before departure.
Are you planning to fly the 77W between New York and Miami?