American Selling Its Best Business-Class Seat as Economy From January-April 2017
Back in October, we alerted you that American Airlines was selling its best business-class seat for the price of the main cabin on certain routes. Given the tremendous interest in that post, we crunched the data to find more examples over the coming months.
Update 12/26/16: The price has dropped on flight 64 from MIA-JFK on February 17. An economy class ticket will cost just $68 one-way:
As a quick recap: Due to scheduling or positioning needs, AA will periodically fly internationally configured aircraft on domestic routes. Since most of the airline's international aircraft only have two cabins, the airline will sell the international business-class cabin as domestic first class and the economy cabin as economy. But, on three-class cabins like the 777-300ER (77W), American Airlines sells the international business-class seats as part of economy. Even better, this is the best business-class hard product in American's fleet.
Note that you'll need to pay extra to select these Main Cabin Extra seats unless you're an American Airlines Platinum or Executive Platinum elite member. Gold elites are charged 50% of the standard Main Cabin Extra seat price before check-in. Although it's free for Gold elites to choose Main Cabin Extra seats at check-in, I doubt many of these top-notch business-class seats will be left by that point. Also note that aircraft substitutions are possible — since you're purchasing an economy ticket, there's no guarantee you'll get to fly in biz.
Between Miami (MIA) and New York (JFK)
| From | To | Flight # | Date | Depart | Arrive | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MIA | JFK | 236 | 1-Jan | 9:26 | 12:14 | $459 |
JFK | MIA | 65 | 1-Jan | 15:30 | 18:59 | $137 |
MIA | JFK | 236 | 9-Jan | 9:26 | 12:15 | $137 |
JFK | MIA | 65 | 9-Jan | 15:30 | 18:57 | $68 |
MIA | JFK | 64 | 17-Feb | 13:10 | 15:56 | $128 |
JFK | MIA | 65 | 17-Feb | 15:30 | 18:59 | $224 |
While this route had a consistent slate of 77W flights in November-December, unfortunately there are only six options over the next four months.
If you're looking forward to trying out this hard product at the cheapest cost, the January 9 flight from JFK to MIA costs just $68 one-way. Even better, almost all of the business-class seats are open on that particular flight.
Between Miami (MIA) and Dallas (DFW)
| From | To | Flight # | Date | Depart | Arrive | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MIA | DFW | 969 | 11-Jan | 11:05 | 13:18 | $168 |
MIA | DFW | 969 | 2-Apr | 11:05 | 13:18 | $189 |
DFW | MIA | 1412 | 2-Apr | 15:30 | 19:13 | $162 |
Unfortunately, there are only three flights between these two American Airlines hubs over the next four months.
Between Dallas (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX)
| From | To | Flight # | Date | Depart | Arrive | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LAX | DFW | 70 | 1-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $226 |
DFW | LAX | 71 | 1-Jan | 16:25 | 17:52 | $226 |
LAX | DFW | 70 | 2-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $226 |
DFW | LAX | 71 | 2-Jan | 16:25 | 17:52 | $286 |
LAX | DFW | 70 | 3-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $385 |
DFW | LAX | 71 | 3-Jan | 16:25 | 17:52 | $286 |
LAX | DFW | 70 | 4-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $499 |
DFW | LAX | 71 | 4-Jan | 16:25 | 17:52 | $286 |
LAX | DFW | 70 | 5-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $286 |
DFW | LAX | 71 | 5-Jan | 16:25 | 17:52 | $189 |
LAX | DFW | 70 | 6-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $189 |
DFW | LAX | 71 | 6-Jan | 16:25 | 17:52 | $189 |
LAX | DFW | 70 | 7-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $138 |
DFW | LAX | 71 | 7-Jan | 16:25 | 17:52 | $175 |
LAX | DFW | 70 | 8-Jan | 8:45 | 13:50 | $138 |
Although there were only a few options between DFW-LAX in November-December, there are daily flights between these airports from January 1-8. After that, there aren't any options through the end of April 2017.
Other Domestic Routes
Speaking of both LAX and MIA, American also flies the 777-300ER (77W) daily between these airports. However, this transcontinental flight is sold as a three-cabin flight. So, you're going to have to pay for a business-class ticket — or use a few 500-mile upgrades — to get these business-class seats.
Are you planning to fly the 77W on any of these routes?
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