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American to upgrade planes on transcontinental flights

Remember a few years ago when American used to go on and on about its “extra legroom” in coach? Well, perhaps soon we can expect to hear the airline talking up its “brighter upholstery” on transcontinental routes.

No, I’m not making this up. Travel Weekly (free registration required) reports that American is set to pour about $20 million into upgrading the cabins on its transcontinental flights, beginning next summer. In addition to the aforementioned interior decoration, which applies to all cabin classes, first- and business-class flyers can expect to see “a more advanced in-flight entertainment system that includes unattached personal entertainment systems, … fully motorized seats in first class, and one additional first-class seat per aircraft.”

Obviously the bulk of the improvements will benefit those at the front of the aircraft, but at least the economy-class seats will have that nice “new plane” smell. Do I sense a new ad campaign in the making? (Admittedly, anything would be better than last year’s creepy, Big Brother-esque “We Know Why You Fly” theme.)

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