AA status win: Complimentary extra legroom seating on JetBlue

My first encounter with a useful benefit from my American Airlines loyalty points game pursuit was last weekend, when I was able to get complimentary extra legroom seating at check-in on JetBlue. It's for. The number is six. There are people in this picture Everyone in my party received the elite benefit. It was a nice little victory.

 I currently have American Airlines Platinum status and Platinum members are entitled to Even More Space seats on JetBlue at check-in (pending availability of course). My wife and sons and I and two family members flew from Albany, NY to Orlando, FL last weekend on one of the few nonstop routes JetBlue operates out of Albany. I booked our six seats using 9,600 JetBlue TrueBlue points each (that I had earned entirely from JetBlue card-linked offers on Lowe’s purchases, though it seems Lowe’s is no longer available for those offers).

I was aware that I was entitled to extra legroom in my seat based on my American Airlines Platinum elite status, but my understanding is that most programs limit this kind of benefit to the status member and a companion. I didn't think I'd be able to get six extra legroom seats for free at check in.

The aisle and window in the extra legroom seating area were selling for less than the middle seats. It would have taken me $314 to buy those seats. I wouldn't have done that, but it shows that this benefit was worth it. I had booked an additional family member after making the initial reservation for the first six of us, so she wasn't on the same PNR with the rest of us, and we tried to ask the check-in agent if she could also be moved to extra legroom seating with us.

I received 2 free checked bags as well. I was unable to get those for free until check-in, but I was able to get my two checked bags for free after we paid for them.

There was a nice amount of legroom provided by the extra legroom seating on the airline. There were no complaints from the rest of the family. We were able to get through the check-in line at the airport without having to wait in line.

This was very well done. I don't fly JetBlue often because they just don't fit with my plans most of the time, but the ability to get extra legroom seating with them is a nice benefit of playing the AA Loyalty Points games.