10.27.25 – APFA LAX Base President Brief – Request for Reports on Premium Economy Service

Request for Reports on Premium Economy Service

Monday, October 27, 2025

Hey All,

I have been compiling evidence and arguments to support my Base Grievance challenging the Company’s designation of the 777-200ER and 321XLR as two-class aircraft.

Now that we have about three weeks of real-world experience with the 777-200ER operating Premium Economy on the LAX-JFK route, I need your input. I have set up a dedicated email address for you to send your reports:

[email protected]

It is clear that AA management is mistaken. They are marketing this service as three-class and have differentiated the level of service between Premium Economy and standard Economy (for instance, offering hot meals versus cold snacks) to such an extent that there is no doubt.

**Premium Economy is indeed a separate class of service.**

I am looking for the following information from you:

• General feedback on recurring issues across multiple LAX-JFK flights operating with Premium Economy
• Specific feedback regarding particular LAX-JFK flights operating with Premium Economy
• Information on how long the service is taking
• Insights on passenger reactions
• Details of any issues related to the company’s failure to meet passenger expectations
• Challenges faced in physically and logistically managing this service
• Issues regarding provisioning by the company
• Information on cabin coverage and staffing concerns

When you submit a report to **[email protected]**, you will receive an automated message confirming that your report has been received. I will compile these reports to support my argument that the 777-200ER and 321XLR with Premium Economy in the LAX-JFK market are effectively three-class aircraft.

I also included a clause in the grievance that covers any and all current and future aircraft that may operate in this market with a Premium Economy service, in case AA decides to add the 787 to the route.

Since the inception of Premium Economy on IPD in 2016, I have argued that it is a separate class of service. We now have an excellent opportunity to challenge this distinction once again, particularly with AA’s intentional differentiation of service levels between Premium Economy and standard Economy.

My ultimate goal is for APFA to advocate for the Premium Economy issue on a global basis across all flights and bases where it is offered.

The LAX-JFK Premium Economy issue is likely to spread quickly to all routes where the XLR could operate domestically, such as BOS-LAX and MIA-LAX. At last week’s Board meeting, I reminded representatives from NY, BOS, and MIA that they should be supporting us in this matter.

Furthermore, there is nothing preventing AA from offering Premium Economy on any domestic route operated by 777-300, 777-200, 787, or XLR aircraft. For example, in the 1980s, TWA offered Business Class on all domestic widebody flights.

This issue should concern every flight attendant systemwide. It could result in more work with fewer staffing resources while AA sets unrealistic expectations in the passengers’ minds.

Once more, the email address for feedback is:

[email protected]

I would prefer to conduct the grievance hearing for this case as soon as possible, but I also want to be equipped with real-world experiences.

Thank you!

In Solidarity,

John Nikides
APFA LAX Base President 
[email protected]