American Eagle is the regional counterpart for American Airlines operating mainly short haul routes connecting smaller cities to American Airline hubs. The American Eagle fleet comprises of the Embraer E145, E175, Bombardier CRJ-200, CRJ-700 and CRJ-900. These aircraft are not the largest nor the most comfortable out there, yet they play a vital role in American Airlines route network. The Main Cabin Extra product on PSA’s CRJ-900 will be reviewed from Columbus, Ohio (CMH) to Philadelphia (PHL) flown on 04/17/2023.
First impressions
Boarding commenced right on time. As with many other regional aircraft, the boarding was slightly held up as passengers had to gate check carry on items. Main Cabin Extra boards with Group 5, marketed by American as a preferred boarding group. The CRJ-900 is a narrow aircraft, passengers should watch their heads when boarding. Seat 8F, the seat for todays flight is right behind First Class. It’s immediately apparent how much legroom these seats have with over 34″ of seat pitch. It is worth noting that these seats are narrower then other seats in the main cabin as the tray table is stored in the center arm rest. Seats are in a dark blue and grey color with a hint of red near the headrests.
Inflight expierence
Total flight time wheels up to wheels down was only 52 minutes. After passing through 10,000 feet the crew immediately started a beverage service. Service was conducted from the rear of the aircraft going forward with the exception of first class. Due to the short duration of the flight, no snacks were offered. Tucked away in the armrest is a tray table that folds out partially or can be fully extended accommodating a laptop or tablet with ease. The tray table slides forward and back providing extra space if needed. Located between the seats is an AC power outlet. WIFI is available for purchase and is complimentary for select T Mobile customers. The seat has ample recline and the winged headrests provided a comfortable ride for the remainder of the flight.
Final Approach
If extra legroom and priority boarding are desired, American Airlines Main Cabin Extra on their regional jets hold a strong value. Generous legroom in the first row of Main Cabin Extra provides a great amount of space to stretch your legs or get some work done. Taller passengers may want to look at row 8 or the exit rows on PSA CRJ-900s as these seats have arguably the best legroom despite smaller footprint of the aircraft. The two crewmembers who worked this flight were outstanding. They personally greeted each passenger with a smile. Throughout the flight they were checking on passengers even cracking a few jokes, adding some lightheartedness to the Monday morning flight. Overall, the first row of Main Cabin Extra on the CRJ-900 makes a smaller regional jet a much more enjoyable experience. On longer flights this may be the prime seat to select on American Eagle operated regional jets as the legroom and comfort are comparable to regional jet first class products.