Main vs Premium seats on American

I mostly fly American, and usually choose Premium Economy for overnight to Europe flights, but save money on the daytime flights back home by choosing Economy extra. You do get a few more inches of leg room, nothing else.

Isn't the price shown on the seating chart? I have a teeny bit of status and can choose those seats so I don't see a price.

In recent years we've flown Delta almost exclusively. The comfort plus are always priced good amount more. My husband is 6-2. For now, except for when we were upgraded, we've only traveled main. We figure we can make due and spend our money on more travel! (We've been going to Hawaii once a year and Europe twice a year). I've traveled a lot with my kids. They are low key and will make due with most anything, just happy to travel.

I flew to South America in American Premium and it was well worth the money I spent to do so--which was not that much. I was offered an upgrade before the flight and hopped on it. Not sure about 5k, but it was a world better than Main Cabin Plus, which I fly regularly domestically. Those are cheap and are the bare minimum of comfort one should expect (certainly choose that at the very least at your heights). If you luck out and get an offer to upgrade, do not hesitate to do so (you can get back what you spent on main cabin seat assignments if you upgrade later).
If choosing for one leg or the other, some choose to prioritize arriving in comfort, and some choose to head home in comfort. It might depend on if I have to go to work the next day, that kind of thing.

Get exit row seats for the kids over 18 (?). For prices, go through the booking process and you will reach the seat selection page. You don't have to buy, but you will see the prices.

We’ve always been Basic Economy people, but this past summer we decided to upgrade to what American Airlines calls Main Cabin Extra. It was worth it to us for more legroom. I believe you also get alcoholic beverages (and maybe a checked bag) included, but the food and everything else is the same as regular economy. You also have the advantage of being a bit closer to the front of the plane for disembarking (in the past we’ve been in the very back of the plane). It was a couple hundred bucks more per person, I think, but we felt it was worth it. So we booked those type of seats for our trip in 2025. It seems unlikely we’d ever spring for Premium Economy so this is a good compromise.

Pretty sure you can either book as the Main Cabin Extra from the start or book in Economy and purchase the MC Extra seats separately. We did the math and the cost difference was negligible (we normally don’t check luggage).

Tall people on your first overnight flight to Europe - if you can afford it, I would definitely go with Premium Economy. Even if you don't get a wink of sleep, you will have more space, and better treatment, that you will in Main Cabin seats.

I have flown Preimim 15% of the time maybe, cheapo the rest. "Treatment" was always the same on every airline x 3 international a year x 20 years.

I've done better with cheap economy and good seat selection than with anything else. An aside seat in the center section with the opposite asike seat already sold. 90% of the time the center seats are empty. At checkin, look at the seats again and adjust if necessary. If there is an empty row, I grab it and use it for a bed.

I'm 6 foot, I fit in economy just fine. For me it was always about cheaper flights for more trips. I can survive a few hours in coach of it means another trip sooner, or the money saved for something special while on holiday.

Pay the money for the extra legroom at least for you and your husband. The kids are more adaptable. Avoid exit row seats as they often do not recline and even the paltry main cabin recline is better than nothing. The seat size is usually the same, it’s the legroom you are paying for. Look at the aircraft you will be flying. If they have a 2-4-2 or 2-5-2 such arrangement get the 2 seats on the side not the center section. Have a great trip!

The American flights PHL to/from Europe I have been on this year, and have reserved for 2025 all seem to have a 3-3-3 configuration in economy.

I fly out of DFW, almost always on American. I’m 5’10”, an average size gal, size 10 ish, and I do NOT fit just fine in basic economy and I’ve yet to have an empty seat next to me. I usually travel solo. Most of my flights to Europe the last 4 years have been very full. I always get main cabin extra seats for the extra leg room now and have started to bite the bullet and pay for premium economy. The seats are wider and have more padding and you get earlier boarding, and have dedicated overhead space. When I do travel with my 6’2” husband it’s definitely in premium economy. But it is a killer how much more it costs, especially for 4 tickets.

We get basic economy aisle seats across from one another. Has worked well for trips all over the world. Flying overseas you can check bags and get basic wine and beer with your meal. The seats are towards the back of the plane so be sure to have enough time to make plane changes if needed. We like to spend the extra money on experiences during the trip and as others mentioned more trips.

basic economy

Since “basic economy” is the term for a restricted fare class (non-changeable ticket and no seat selection, usually), it’s misleading to use this term when all you really want to say is economy, coach, main cabin, cheap seats, etc.

I’d follow Mr E’s advice and go with an exit row or bulkhead. Usually with exit row pairs only the front exit row in not recline-able. Note that if you change plans seat upgrade fees are usually lost.

Okay, at least one airline has adopted the vernacular term "basic" but that does not remove the word from general use. The cheapest, most basic ticket on some airlines includes the ability to select a seat, rarely free, and rarely flexible. With some airlines, you can rebook for a fee. All that aside, i think the intent of racquet588's post was clear a basic economy ticket, not necessarily a "Basic Economy" ticket. And i detest Bulkhead seats.

American (and Delta and United) use the “basic economy” terminology,

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/seats/basic-economy.jsp

Most European airlines coined a new term “economy light” which makes more sense not causing overlap with everyday speech. Some basic economy tickets can’t be upgraded to more legroom, not sure about American, which matters to the OP.

Edit: 3 posters on this topic used the term basic economy, not picking on one poster. The OP was clear.

Checking: on an American flight to Europe, basic economy fares can be upgraded to main cabin extra or an exit row for a fee, and it’s only $10 more than the upgrade from a main cabin fare. No free checked bags though.

My kids and I sat in the bulkhead last summer in economy on AA, and it was the best value for seating I have ever had. So much space I couldn't even reach the seat pocket in front of me without unbuckling. I would recommend those seats over PE.

Premium Economy seats on long-haul flights are wider, have more legroom, usually a foot rest, and more recline. This applies to United, Delta, and American. Be careful, though, as Alaska uses 'Premium' to denote extra legroom only. Premium Economy should also get you better food and drink on china and glassware.

YMMV, of course. Check with aeroLOPA (https://www.aerolopa.com/) for exact seat dimensions and pitch for the flights you are contemplating.

My kids and I sat in the bulkhead last summer

My problems with the bulkhead are there is no underseat in front to stow things, so everything has to go above and there are things I like to keep handy. And, those dining trays that fold down into the armrest sit too close to my gut to use ..., and the entertainment screens that fold down are at a strange angle. But I am a big guy so that does make a difference for me. I still go for a basic economy* exit row seat for shorter flights.

"basic economy" not necessarily "Basic Economy"

For long haul flights I get an asile seat with an empty center seat next to it or better yet an entirely empty center section.