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Coach class used to be the great equalizer.

Coach class used to be the great equalizer.

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by: airguy Active Indicator LED Icon 3 OP 
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 11:42am  
Coach class used to be the great equalizer.
 
if i had paid for "premium coach" and had an empty seat next to me and some bozzo from "coach" dashed up to take that seat the shxt would hit the fan. And I certainly would complain to American for a refund. Who is the idiot that thought that one up.....
great for customer relation.........just another stupid move to confirm how bad AAL is.
 
But now, there's coach--and then there's "REALLY coach."
There are the premium coach passengers up front, who enjoy basic perks that once upon a time, were available to everyone on board.
Then, there are the unwashed masses in "REALLY coach," looking with envy toward the folks ahead of them in premium.
Recently, American Airlines made an announcement that made the division between the two coaches even more stark.
But it turns out they also made a decision that sort of upends the whole model.
First, the new perks, then the upending.

Passengers in the premium economy section that American calls Main Cabin Extra will be entitled to free alcoholic drinks, plus dedicated overhead bin space.
The bin space is on the honor system, as my colleague Chris Matyszczyk reports.
Meantime, the upending also has to do with the honor system.
Because American says that when passengers from "REALLY coach" spot empty seats in Main Cabin Extra and rush to grab them, they won't be stopped.
Instead, they'll be allowed to settle into the roomier seats, and enjoy the free booze and the baggage space, even though they didn't pay for any of it.
This isn't really a matter of turning a blind eye, either. In fact, American's specifically says passengers are allowed to improve their station in life by moving up to Main Cabin Extra (aka, "MCE")--at least according to a copy of the guidance it issued to its flight crews, which was obtained by View From the Wing:
Outside of complimentary beer, wine and spirits, what does MCE include?
In addition to complimentary beer, wine and spirits, MCE seats will receive preferential boarding, additional legroom, and reserved overhead bin space.
Can customers move into open MCE seats once boarding is complete?
Yes. Once the door is closed, customers are allowed to move to any available seat within their ticketed cabin (no change to current procedure).
Other airlines put their flight attendants in the position of having to act like traffic cops when "REALLY coach" passengers try to promote themselves to the class of travel formerly known as coach.
Last year, for example, United Airlines kicked a couple who were traveling to their wedding off a plane for trying to move from basic economy to premium.
Things did not end well. (It's disputed whether the airline called the cops.)
So, one might guess that American's flight attendants are happy with the new policy, assuming they would rather not have to play police at 30,000 feet. But is the decision a a good thing for passengers?
 
Certainly it's a benefit for the folks in "REALLY coach"--except that they'll now be participants in an airborne Hunger Games, where people jockey and race from the back of the plane to the "free booze and more legroom section" in the front, as soon as the doors close.
And woe to the passengers who actually paid for Main Cabin Extra seats, who will now find that they could possibly have had the extra perks for free if they'd bought cheaper, "REALLY coach" tickets, and then just sprinted to the front of the plane.
 
They'll also be robbed of one of life's sublime pleasures, which when you book a flight and find upon boarding that the seat next to you is empty.
Not for long, not on American in MCE anyway.
But that also means some lucky "REALLY coach" passengers will wind up with two seats on flights that aren't full--since their would-be seat mates will now be enjoying free drinks and more legroom in MCE.
Where do you come down on the issue? Pro-premium, or in the corner of "REALLY coach" passengers?
. 4951
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luv2eatsushi Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 11:50am  
Thats flat out bad policy. I am a frequent flier and dont like sitting next to the former greyhound traveler pj and shower shoe wearing person that wants to yell at everyone type. 4951
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sweetie Active Indicator LED Icon 11 Forum Moderator
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 11:55am  
I don't want to be on an airplane where musical chairs is being played. 4951
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teatime Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 11:57am  
4951
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Jpgurl Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 12:42pm  
Won’t be flying AAL. At Lufthansa the flight attendants flat out stop the economy passengers from going into Premium Economy. There’s a galley and some lavatories between the 2. I’ve even seen flight attendents shooing economy passengers when they try to use PE lavatories 4951
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Fallon Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 12:47pm  
Removed By Request 4951
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ZMAN Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 12:52pm  
When I’m flying, I always have my headphones and sunglasses on and give zero ***** where anyone else sits as long as none of them try to talk to me. 4951
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monyhoney Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 12:55pm  
That is an absolutely terrible plan! I hope the other airlines don't follow suit. 4951
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Spork Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 1:51pm  
There are no flights from one point in the continental United States to another that is worth paying more for some illusion of "first class", in my opinion.
 
The drinks are not complimentary. You are actually paying MORE for those drinks than people in coach. You simply prepaid more for them whether you drink or not.
 
What you're paying for is more space and comfort, and better odds of not having to wait when your bladder and bowel control issues introduce themselves during a brief flight.
 
I don't mind paying for space and comfort. But I'd rather spend it for longer term comfort and convenience such as a nice hotel room, or a nice restaurant.
 
In my opinion, spending extra money for a "first class" seat on a flight is just stupid, unless it's a long distance flight or if you have bladder/bowel control issues. 4951
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Jpgurl Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 1:54pm  
@Spork : Totally agree with that- for US we fly SWA for international we fly Lufthansa 4951
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Fallon Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 2:01pm  
Removed By Request 4951
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Fallon Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 2:02pm  
Removed By Request 4951
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Chrisinkingwood Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 2:19pm  
[ Removed by Request ] 4951
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Jpgurl Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 2:34pm  
@Fallon : I heard Singapore Air was nice. If United was the only choice to Europe then I guess we’d be taking a cruise over 🤣- no way would I be taking United Economy over- I’d be a lunatic at the end of the flight 4951
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airguy Active Indicator LED Icon 3 OP 
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 3:21pm  
There was a bill board in LAX that showed an airplane with the heads of cattle looking out the windows. Delta's comment. "We won't treat you this way....we're ready when you are.' 4951
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HollyHobby Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 6 years ago   Jan 28, '18 3:30pm  
That's quite a screed. 4951
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