Is Main Cabin Extra Worth It on American Airlines?

Planning to fly American Airlines and wondering if Main Cabin Extra is worth the upgrade? In this Getting There adventure, we compare regular coach to Main Cabin Extra across two real flights — one to Austin and one to California for our Disneyland trip.

We cover what makes the experience different — from legroom and seat placement to boarding group and overhead space — plus a surprising difference in in-flight entertainment. If you’re traveling with kids, flying long-haul, or trying to decide whether to splurge, this comparison is for you.

👉 Watch more of our Getting There series here:

   • The Ultimate Travel Journey: Planes, Train...  

00:00 Start
00:37 American Airlines from NYC to Austin in Economy
01:28 American Airlines Legroom in Economy
01:56 American Airlines In Flight Entertainment
02:12 American Airlines Main Cabin Extra to California
03:12 American Airlines Economy vs. Main Cabin Extra
03:56 American Airlines Main Cabin Extra Cost
05:06 American Airlines Tips and Tricks
05:46 Is Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines Worth it?
06:12 Wrap-up


American Airlines Coach Seat (NYC to Austin)
Main Cabin Extra (NYC to SNA)
A321 vs 737 differences
Inflight entertainment comparison
Carry-on travel tips
Real upgrade cost breakdown
Best seats for families


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