What Are The Benefits Of Flying American Airlines’ Premium Economy?

When flying with American Airlines, you have a few options for class of travel. All flights feature an economy as well as an extra-legroom (Main Cabin Extra) option. Most short-haul flights (except for those operated by 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft) offer a domestic first-class cabin. Long-haul flights and select transcontinental routes offer Flagship business class, and flights operated by the Boeing 777-300ER and select Airbus A321-200 aircraft offer an international first class cabin (which will be going away). Then, there’s premium economy.

Premium economy is available on all American Airlines widebody aircraft and Airbus A321XLR aircraft. It slots above the Main Cabin Extra cabin, but below Flagship business class, and it competes with Delta’s Premium Select and United’s Premium Plus cabins. This is the newest cabin offered by American Airlines, as well as domestic and foreign competitors. While premium economy is a relatively new concept, it’s proven to be incredibly lucrative for airlines and is becoming mainstream. But what does American Airlines’ premium economy offer passengers?

Overview Of American Airlines Premium Economy

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American Airlines sells premium economy on all long-haul flights and select transcontinental routes. The cabin is available on all Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft, as well as the Airbus A321XLRs that are now joining the American fleet. American primarily uses the Collins Aerospace MiQ seats for premium economy, while new Boeing 787-9s coded as “78P” use the Safran Z535i, and the A321XLR uses the Recaro R5. The MiQ seats are the same model that are used for domestic first class on American narrowbodies.

Data from aeroLOPA shows that American Airlines installs seats eight-abreast on the Boeing 777, while the Boeing 787’s premium economy seats are configured seven-abreast. The A321XLRs feature four-abreast premium economy. The Boeing 777-200ER fleet comes with 24 premium economy seats, while the 777-300ERs currently feature 28 seats, but will be reconfigured with 44 seats in premium economy. The 787-8s feature 28 premium economy seats, and the standard 787-9s include 21 premium economy seats, while the 78P subfleet comes with 32 premium economy seats. The A321XLRs have 12 premium economy seats.

American Airlines was the first airline in the US to introduce premium economy when it debuted the cabin on new Boeing 787 deliveries in 2016. The Collins MiQ is also used for Delta Premium Select and United Premium Plus, albeit with minor variations between the three airlines. As a whole, however, the seats are essentially the same. American is the only one of the three to use the Safran Z535i and Recaro R5 for its updated premium economy cabin, while United’s updated Premium Plus cabins, debuting in 2026, will instead feature a revised version of the Collins MiQ. Delta Air Lines is introducing the Airbus A350-1000 in 2026, and it’s expected that these planes will feature an updated interior, but the seat models are not yet known.

Ground Experience With American Premium Economy

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At the airport, American Airlines premium economy passengers are entitled to receive Priority privileges. This is essentially a collection of benefits that permit eligible passengers to pass through the airport quickly. Priority privileges mainly include dedicated security and check-in lines, separate from the standard lanes. Priority privileges are also granted to first and business class passengers, along with AAdvantage status members, AirPass travelers, oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby members, and Citi / AAdvantage Executive cardholders. Priority privileges can also be purchased.

While business class passengers receive access to Flagship lounges, premium economy does not grant access to any American Airlines lounge on its own. The only way a premium economy customer can access American Airlines’ lounges is if they already hold an eligible status with American Airlines or a partner carrier. Otherwise, premium economy customers must make do in the general airport terminal.

At the gate, however, premium economy passengers receive another benefit of Priority. Namely, gates include a separate line for Priority passengers, and premium economy passengers are included in Boarding Group 4. Groups 1, 2, and 3 are reserved for AAdvantage and oneworld elite members, while business and first class passengers board separately. Group 5 is for Main Cabin Extra and AAdvantage status holders. Group 6 is for AAdvantage members, while Groups 7 and 8 are for economy passengers, and Group 9 is for basic economy.

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Onboard The Aircraft In Premium Economy

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The first thing that you’ll notice is the seats. American Airlines configures its Boeing 777s ten-abreast in economy, but premium economy is only configured at eight-abreast. Economy on the Boeing 787 is installed nine-abreast, while premium economy is seven-abreast. The A321XLR features six-abreast seating in economy, while premium economy is only configured four-abreast. As such, the 777s feature premium economy seats that are 18.5 in (46.99 cm), while the 787’s premium seats are 19 in (48.26 cm). The economy seats on these planes are roughly 17 in (43.18 cm).

The difference is even more apparent on the Airbus A321XLR, which features 18 in (45.72 cm) seats in economy, while premium economy includes seats that are 21 in (53.34 cm) wide. In addition, the aisles are wider on all aircraft in premium economy than in economy, and the seats feature wider screens. The A321XLR and the 787-9 aircraft with the Safran Z535i feature 4K screens that are 13.3 in (33.78 cm), while the premium economy screens on other aircraft are 11.5 in (29.21 cm).

Premium economy on American Airlines includes more legroom, 38 in (96.52 cm) to be specific. In addition, the seats include more recline than economy and retractable footrests. Front row seats on the 777s and most 787s lack a footrest but include a legrest, while all seats on the A321XLRs and the 78P aircraft feature a legrest. The seats include powerports (USB-C on the newest aircraft), and the new premium economy seats also feature privacy wings. Premium economy is located between Flagship business and economy on all aircraft.

The Onboard Service In Premium Economy

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Onboard service can ultimately vary by flight, and US carriers as a whole are known for having inconsistent service. However, one measurable benefit of premium economy is the size of the cabin. With a size of 12 to 32 seats (44 on the future 777-300ER layout), premium economy is the smallest cabin on all American Airlines planes (excluding first class), meaning more attentive and personalized service. The cabin is served by two flight attendants from the economy section, who serve premium economy passengers first.

The food is plated in a more upscale fashion compared to economy, using ceramic dishes and metal utensils. The meals are presented in a manner consistent with the price tag, and the dining options themselves are also upgraded from economy. The portions are larger than in economy, and there are also more options that all represent an upgrade compared to the offerings in the back.

Premium economy passengers receive the same access to Wi-Fi as the rest of the aircraft, and all passengers on long-distance flights are offered complimentary alcohol. Premium economy passengers do, however, receive an amenity kit that features travel essentials and skincare products, along with an upgraded pillow and a superior blanket to those served to economy passengers.

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Is American Premium Economy Worth It?

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Prices vary between routes, and as such, whether premium economy is worth it depends on a person’s price sensitivity, but premium economy on its own provides a very compelling experience. While business class continues to get better, it’s also expensive, and with airlines continuing to focus on densifying economy class, the market has grown for a mid-range offering.

The seats are essentially larger, more comfortable, and more spacious versions of the economy seats, as opposed to modern business-class seats that lie flat into a bed and doors to create a suite-like space. But for many passengers, economy would be good enough if it weren’t so tight. Premium economy is essentially a more comfortable economy cabin, and this makes it especially desirable on long flights where the extra comfort is most desired. As such, many passengers find it well worth the price premium to upgrade for a more comfortable flight.

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both offer competing products, but American’s older Collins MiQ seats lack legrests and have smaller screens than the seats installed by its competitors. The newer seats, however, are an improvement compared to before, and even the carrier’s prior seat models are comparable to those of competitors. All three carriers have experienced tremendous success with these cabins, and American as well as United are increasing the size of their premium economy cabins, while Delta already flies large premium economy cabins on its Airbus A350s.