This might have been covered elsewhere and I’ve seen posts but I’m still not clear. It appears I wasted money paying for Main Economy on American. I don’t really “need” it for the short flight from CVG to JFK. I definitely wanted the Main Economy benefit of advanced seat selection to Barcelona. But Iberia says I have to pay MORE for seat selection when I click on seats on their webpage. How confusing and frustrating. Am I right?
Posted by
Massachusetts
839 posts
With Iberia, unless you pick the (more expensive) flexible rate, you cannot pick your seat for free until 24 hours before check in, even in premium economy and business class. I know it's frustrating. That seems to be their business model.
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
I'm a little confused... On American 'Main Cabin Extra' is paid for at the time of seat selection, per leg. So even if you were flying an AA plane across the ocean, you'd still have had to pay for that selection. (The difference being that you could have done so at the time of booking.) So, you I don't think you've paid for anything you didn't get.
Paying Iberia for seat selection isn't a whole lot different. (Though IB doesn't actually have an "extra legroom economy" section—just a few seats that happen to have extra legroom—usually exit rows and bulkheads—and those sell for a premium.
Posted by
4518 posts
Well, only US airlines have free seat selection above basic economy.
You will get more rights if you cancel or change with your main cabin ticket over basic economy.
Sometimes it works that the difference between a regular seat reservation and an exit row or coach plus seat is rather small and I feel better about paying for a premium seat reservation for $16 when a plain Jane seat goes for $9.
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
Actually, I have an additional confusion... Iberia doesn't fly JFK-BCN Their low-cost subsidiary Level does, but I don't think that code-shares with AA.
Posted by
OP
Georgetown,KY
107 posts
I’m completely confused. I booked CVG to BCN. Through JFK. On American Airlines. Main Cabin Economy which has several flexibility benefits and free seat selection. It says Iberia on my email confirmation. No mention of Level at all. I can’t pre-select seats on AA. Have to go to Iberia. When I go to Iberia’s website, I can book seats for it looks like $30 or more per seat. Each way.
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
Paying for a seat on Iberia sounds perfectly normal.
But I really am confused about the flight being Iberia's mainline.
Posted by
OP
Georgetown,KY
107 posts
It says “Iberia” when you book but in reality there is no so much a code share as they actually put you on Level, Iberia’s low cost airlines. But that is not obvious when you book.
Posted by
4518 posts
American definitely codeshares with Level, I can pull up the flights on aa.com, it says:
Plane and crew by Iberia for Level Spain Ticket also sold by American, Finnair
There does appear to be a daily AA flight from JFK (and PHL, and ORD) to Barcelona. If the Level thing bothers you and you bought from AA.com, you should be able to switch at no fee to an AA plane and pay the difference.
Posted by
San Francisco area
1803 posts
Well, only US airlines have free seat selection above basic economy.
Virgin Atlantic allows free advance seat selection.
Posted by
4518 posts
Virgin Atlantic allows free advance seat selection.
So does Icelandair, but these 2 are outliers.