More premium economy seats on American Airlines flights

Considering the growing popularity of premium economy flights, American Airlines recently announced that it will remodel its coach class seats and convert them into premium economy flights.

The airline said that it will offer extra legroom, with priority boarding, and sell premium economy tickets for extra fees ranging from $8 to $108 per flight.

American Airlines in a statement said that the standard coach class seats with four to six inches of extra legroom, which will be offered as premium economy, will be provided free to executive platinum and platinum frequent fliers. However, for gold-level frequent fliers this will be offered free only through the end of 2013.

The airline is not planning for a rapid roll-out of the remodeled coach seats, and said that it will start with “Main Cabin Extra” rows on its Boeing 777-300 aircraft this spring. It also said that a majority of its fleet will be reconfigured within 18 months.  

Other leading international carriers in the US, such as United Airlines, Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines have adopted the strategy of offering coach class seats with extra legroom at cheap premium economy airfares.