American Airlines Introduces Main Select Fare as Shuttle Replacement

Last year, American Airlines retired its Shuttle branding in the Northeast, something that had been around well prior to even the US Airways years. Back then, the Shuttle was a term used for the following routes:

• Boston (BOS) to New York (LGA)
• Washington, D.C. (DCA) to Boston (BOS)
• Washington, D.C. (DCA) to Chicago (ORD)
• Washington, D.C. (DCA) to New York (LGA)

These high-frequency routes would get special perks, though the program officially ended in 2021. Now, American has introduced a new fare category, Main Select, that replaces the Shuttle concept.

Routes With Main Select Fares

American will offer the new Main Select fare product on only certain routes, so you won’t find it on every flight. That said, these routes are some of the most high-trafficked and tend to have lots of frequencies every day:

• Boston (BOS) to Washington, D.C. (DCA)
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Chicago (ORD)
• New York (LGA) to Chicago (ORD)
• New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York (LGA) to Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Benefits of Main Select Fares

By purchasing a Main Select ticket, the customer will get a number of benefits, much different than the perks afforded to traditional Main Cabin customers, but similar to those that an elite passenger would receive.

Refundable Tickets

Main Select fares will be refundable, allowing for last-minute adjustments or cancellations. As these fares are catered to business customers, it’s foreseeable they may need the flexibility to cancel at the last minute.

Same-day Flight Change

This perk is normally only afforded to elite status passengers, but as a Main Select customer, you can change to any other flight on the same day, so long as it keeps the same routing. For example, if your plans are to fly in the morning from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Chicago (ORD) but plans change, you can change to an afternoon flight, so long as the proper same-day-change inventory is available.

Hot Tip: Learn how to change or cancel your American Airlines ticket in our detailed guide.

Priority Boarding

Main Select customers will get Group 4 boarding, following behind first class, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum elites.

Priority Check-in

Main Select customers can use the Priority labeled queues when checking in. These are usually reserved only for passengers with elite status.

Main Cabin Extra Seating

As a Main Select customer, you’ll be able to select any Main Cabin Extra seat with extra legroom for free. These seats also come with complimentary alcoholic drinks.

Purchasing Main Select Fares

Purchasing a Main Select fare will require you to initially select a Main Cabin fare and then “upgrade” to Main Select as you go through the purchasing process.

Final Thoughts

Main Select will offer more perks without having to be an AAdvantage elite member. For customers who need flexibility, or who don’t possess elite status with American, Main Select fills that void and provides another fare product when choosing flights.