Domestic first class seats on U.S. airlines certainly aren’t the most lavish in the market. These seats typically only serve short-haul flights, after all, so just having the larger and roomier seat is usually more than enough.
I do, however, have a big preference for first class on the Embraer 175. I fly the aircraft fairly often on short flights around New York, and I’ve come to love it over the years.
My experience on the E175 is mostly on American Airlines, since they’re my most frequented airline. But much of this applies to other airlines as well.
The 1-2 Configuration
First class on mainline domestic aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 family, has a 2-2 configuration. However, the Embraer 175 offers a 1-2 configuration.
This gives solo travelers an option to sit alone, which itself is a massive plus when compared to the experience on traditional narrowbody jets.
This of course applies to the rest of the regional fleet across all airlines. I highly recommend grabbing these solo seats (the A seats) on these jets.
I often touch on this, but the smaller aircraft with fewer passengers allow for a quicker boarding process, too.
Underrated Comfort
The seats themselves are plenty comfortable of course, no matter if you’re alone in the 1 seats or have a seatmate in the 2 seats.
In American’s case, I find these seats to be softer and nicer to the back, whereas the mainline first class seats can sometimes feel a bit harder. Maybe that’s cause the mainline aircraft are responsible for longer flights, but it’s a thought I always have either way.
If you manage to grab the solo seat, an underrated benefit there is having not one, but two overhead air nozzles to yourself.
Better Upgrade Probabilities
The Embraer 175 (and regional jets overall) offer better opportunities to score first class upgrades.
American’s E175s have 12 first seats and 64 economy seats, meaning that about 16% of the plane’s seats are first class. The E170s are even better, with 12 first and 53 economy, so 18% of the plane’s seats are first class.
For comparison, American’s Boeing 737-800s have 16 first seats and 156 economy seats. That’s a total of 172 seats, with first class accounting for just 9% of seats.
Fewer economy class seats and more first class seats increase your chances for an upgrade. I’m by no means an ultra frequent flyer for American, but this aircraft has offered me some luck over the years.
Concluding Thoughts
The Embraer 175 is a great aircraft, and probably one of the most comfortable for any domestic jet, whether you’re in economy or first. It’s a very nice ride, and its smaller dimensions offer a comfortable 1-2 configuration and better upgrade opportunities.
I never hesitate to book the E175, and it’s served me well throughout my life.
All photos taken by the author unless otherwise labeled.
