- Know which routes and aircraft have the new seats
- Discover special analysis on where the “Sweet Redeems” are
Due in part to many years of neglecting the competitiveness in the Business Class market, there’s always an airline (or five) in the middle of a New-Seat Rollout. Many airlines, instead, have historically chosen to garner loyalty by greasing the palms of business travelers with bonus miles and promising elite perks on the come to compensate for their in-flight experience shortfall. Today’s focus: American Airlines
[aside headline="How to Look for the New Seat?" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
Every airline moves its aircraft around, so the best FCF can do, is produce a list based on current data. So, before you book, check the seat map layout because the old and new seats are configured differently. (Getting the new AA seat is not guaranteed until the seat roll-out is done because the possibility of AA changing the aircraft around last minute.)
- B777-300ER: New plane, new seat. Your best bet.
- B777-200: New lie-flat Business Class seats come in a 1x2x1 configuration instead of 2x3x2. Also, the First Class cabin has been eliminated in the new layout.
- B767: New lie-flat Business Class seats arranged 1x2x1 instead of 2x3x2.[/aside]
Rollouts Take Years to Complete
When an airline is in mid-rollout, you have to know which routes and/or which planes have the new seats to get the most for your money (or miles). Airlines aren’t trying to deliver an inconsistent in-flight experience necessarily; the rollouts simply take time.
It's 2014; almost 2015. There are self-driving cars I hear, yet American Airlines doesn’t have a lie-flat seat in Business Class across its long-haul fleet.
American is a prime example. It is in the middle of rolling out new lie-flat Business Class seats on its long-haul fleet. (The old seat offered an angled 171-degree recline.) The upgrade started back in January 2013 and currently all new B777- 300ERs have the new seat. Some B777-200s and some B767s have also been updated. So there are many routes on which the old seats are still flying.
Complicated Consumer Buying Experience?
When an airline is in mid-rollout, you can very often find multiple seat-and-aircraft-types on a single route. Let’s take Dallas-London as an example: There is flight AA80, operated using a B767; AA78 with a B777-200; and AA50 with a B777-300ER—all with the same fares.
One route. Three different types of aircraft. Two types of seats. One headache. No?
So how do you get the free in-class upgrade? Be in the minority who avoids AA78 and 80 and book AA50 instead.
FCF’s Cheat Sheet on Where to Find Free Upgrade Opportunities
By knowing the routes, flight numbers, and aircraft type that have AA’s new lie-flat Business Class seat, you can vastly improve—or upgrade—your in-flight experience.
American Routes With New Seat Upgrade Opportunities
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Booking New Seats With Miles
If you’re paying in cash, you definitely don’t want to fly an old seat. If you’re paying in hard-earned miles, you likely feel the same way, and really value the Free In-Class Upgrade. To this end, below is a list of ways to purchase the new seats with miles, and below that there is a special report on where you can find easy upgrade availability.
Round-trip Business Class—Free Tickets:
American Miles: 110,000 to Europe or South America.
Starwood Point Transfer to AA: 90,000 for Business Class.
Round-trip Business Class—Upgrade Awards:
American Miles: To Europe or Southern South America, on almost any economy fare. Upgrade costs 50,000 miles plus $700 co-pay round-trip.
Starwood Point Transfer to AA: 40,000 for Business Class Upgrade.
Analysis of Free & Upgrade Award Availability on American’s New Seat
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