A Deep Look at American Airlines Embraer 175 Service

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world. They offer flights to destinations all over the United States. However, they can’t fly large aircraft to most of these destinations due to aircraft performance or economic reasons.

Enter the Embraer 175. 

The Embraer 175 is a regional commuter aircraft that is at the wheel behind of American Airlines regional flight service. It is very versatile, capable of flying into just about any airport offering commercial flights.

In this guide, we will discuss the role of the Embraer 175 for American Airlines, the routes you can expect the aircraft to fly, the seating configurations & amenities, and what American Airlines passengers have said about the flight experience.

What is the role of the Embraer 175 for American Airlines?

The role of the Embraer 175 for American Airlines is to function as a vehicle to ferry passengers from smaller destinations to American Airlines hubs so they can continue and catch a connecting flight. 

The Embraer 175 holds a smaller passenger load compared to a normal airliner such as a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A320. The 175 can hold up to 76 passengers while the latter two can fit close to 150 passengers.

Another difference is the range of the Embraer 175. The Embraer was not designed to fly cross country. The plane has a 3 to 4-hour flight range, meaning it can fly about ¾ of the country instead of going coast to coast. The aircraft’s layout wouldn’t make it a viable option for cross-country flights either. Narrow seats, one aisle, and one or two bathrooms make longer-duration flights uncomfortable.

The limited range of the aircraft makes it perfect for destinations within 1 to 3 hours away. Also, the Embraer is a lighter aircraft than most airliners which helps its ability to operate out of smaller airports that don’t have a long runway length, unlike most larger intercontinental airports.

American’s Embraer 175 Aircraft Inventory

Technically, American Airlines doesn’t fly any Embraer 175s. All Embraer 175 flights for the airline happen under the American Eagle emblem. 

American Eagle is a brand of American Airlines that features 6 regional type airlines that fly flights using an American Eagle aircraft livery. The six airlines that make up American Eagle are Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airways, Air Wisconsin, and Skywest Airlines.

The American Airlines Group owns Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, and PSA Airlines. The others operate as their entities.

Only three airlines under the American Eagle emblem own Embraer 175s. Envoy Air, Republic Airways, and Skywest Airlines are the three airlines that operate the Embraer 175 for American Eagle.

Envoy Air

Envoy Air primarily operates in the northeastern, southeastern, and southwestern parts of the United States providing regional flights for American Eagle. The airline shares American Airlines bases in Dallas Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami, and Phoenix.

The airline operates one of the largest Embraer 175 fleets in the world, totaling 106 aircraft in active service as of December 2023. That accounts for nearly 90% of all available Embraer 175s for American Eagle.

Republic Airways

Republic Airways is a regional airline that primarily provides flights west of the Mississippi River. The airline is contracted by the American Airlines Group to operate flights for American Eagle. Republic shares hubs with American Airlines at New York-LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia, and Washington-National. 

Republic has 177 total Embraer 175s with 169 being active. However, Republic Airways does operate with two other brands, United Express and Delta Connection. That limits the number of operating Embraer 175s for American Eagle significantly as aircraft need to be painted in the American Eagle’s livery. There are 91 aircraft operating solely as American Eagle under Republic Airways.

Skywest Airlines

Skywest Airlines is a regional airline that’s predominantly found all over the United States. However, when flying under the American Eagle brand, the airline is mostly situated in the Southwest corner and West Coast of the United States. Skywest shares bases with American Airlines at Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare, and Phoenix Sky Harbor.

The airline exclusively operates the Embraer 175 type for its Embraer aircraft class. It boasts a large total of aircraft available at 277 Embraer 175s in its fleet. But just like Republic Airways, Skywest does have to share the aircraft with other regional brands for Alaska Airlines, Delta Connections, and United Express. There are only 20 SkyWest aircraft flying with American Eagle.

American Eagle Embraer 175 Routes

American Eagle uses the Embraer 175 on short to medium routes from larger hub airports in the American Airlines system to smaller served markets. The idea is to provide access to these smaller destinations in both directions. 

People can fly into an American Airlines hub and connect to a destination that doesn’t have much airline service. 

Passengers from these smaller destinations can hop on an American Eagle flight to a large American Airlines hub where they can catch a connecting flight to a destination elsewhere.

See below for an example of routes flown by each operator under American Eagle:

American Eagle Embraer 175 Flights by Envoy Air

American Eagle Embraer 175 Flight by Republic Airways

American Eagle Embraer 175 Flights by SkyWest Airlines

American’s Embraer 175 Seating Configurations and Amenities

American Eagle configures their Embraers in a two-class seating arrangement, first class, and the main cabin. The main cabin has an upgraded level of service that passengers will have to pay a little bit extra to take advantage of. 

Since these regional flights are so short, comfort may not be much of a desired option. However, if you opt to travel in comfort, you do have some options available to you.

First Class

There are 12 first-class seats on an American Embraer 175. In this class, you receive the most seat width and seat pitch. Passengers receive almost 20 inches of seat width and 37 inches of seat pitch.

Passengers will have to pay more to obtain these seats. This class is best for passengers who desire and can afford extra comfort on their flights or passengers who fly on business frequently.

Main Cabin Class Extra

American configures its Embraer 175 aircraft with 20 seats that fall under the Main Cabin Class Extra section. These seats are the second highest level of service on board the aircraft. Flyers who purchase a ticket in this class receive 34 inches of seat pitch and between 18.2 to 19.3 inches of width.

There is a slight upcharge to gain access to these seats. This configuration is great for passengers who desire added comfort but don’t want to spend a larger than-needed sum of money for first-class seats.

Main Cabin Class

The most basic seating class onboard American Eagle’s Embraer 175 is the main cabin class. This section is configured with 44 seats, providing passengers with 30 inches of seat pitch and 18.2 to 19.3 inches of seat width. 

Onboard Flight Amenities

In terms of amenities onboard American Eagle Embraer 175s, since these are used on small regional flights you can’t expect them to be tricked out with all the bells and whistles you can expect to find on a normal airliner like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320.

According to American Airline’s website, their Embraer 175s do not have any power outlets and don’t have a flight entertainment system. However, you can bring your device onboard and use that for entertainment. There is a wifi package available for purchase during the flight. With First Class fares, Wifi is complementary.

In terms of food onboard these flights, main cabin class ticket holders are treated to complimentary snacks and soft drinks. With added service in the Main Cabin Class Extra and First Class, alcoholic beverages also come complimentary.

Reviews of Embraer 175 Flights by American Airlines Passengers

The overall consensus on the internet about American Airlines/American Eagle and their Embraer 175s is either you love it or you hate it. 

Several reviews are saying that the Embraer 175 is the best commuter plane on the regional scene and provides more comfort than what you would get on flying on some of the larger airliners.

Some individuals complain about how cramped the aircraft is in terms of seating arrangements. Those reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt because the main objective of this aircraft is to get you from location A to location B safely. These flights are typically under 3 hours into smaller airports so you may need to sacrifice comfort. You aren’t flying on a Boeing 787 across oceans.

What The Flight Reviewers Are Saying

See below for some quotes we’ve found on the internet describing the experience of flying on the Embraer 175 under the American Airlines brand.

“First time flying this route via American Eagle. Seats were tight but not Spirit-level unbearable for the hour-long flight. Biggest issue is the tray table. It is huge. Comes down right at the level of your stomach and juts into your belly a little if you’re slouching forward. I can’t imagine bigger people find this very comfortable. Overhead storage is quite tight, if your flight is full and everyone has roller bags, you’ll likely be checking at the gate. Otherwise, a fine plane for a quick flight.”

– Seat Guru Reviewer

“I might be in the minority, but I will take a E175 over a 737 any time.”

American Airlines Embraer 175 Reviewer on Reddit

“Me too! E175 has great first class and MCE seats. It is only 2 – 2 main cabin seating so no middle seat. Plus, very high ratio of first class. Lots of overhead bin spaces too.”

American Airlines Embraer 175 Reviewer on Reddit

“I’ll always take a 175 over a mainline plane. No middle seats and more legroom, and more comfortable seats. All around better experience.”

American Airlines Embraer 175 Reviewer on Reddit

“As it turns out, the E-175 is a nice ride, especially at the pointy end. As Rocky noted, these planes represent a significant improvement over the typical CRJ or E-145. No, I don’t think I’d want to fly one of these on a 3-hour flight, but for a short 600-mile flight like this one, it’s a good plane. Especially if you score one of those single seats!”

Travel Codex

“I love the E175 as it is a very comfortable commuter plane! And, if you have extra legroom, it’s even better (but not needed in most cases in my opinion, unless you are very tall). The plane is very stable in the air and provides a comfortable ride.”

Travel Update

If you want to read about our experience flying on an Embraer 175, be sure to check our flight review of a United Express Embraer 175 from Newark to Grand Rapids.

Sources

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/planes/planes.jsp?anchorEvent=false&from=comp_nav

https://www.envoyair.com/bases-commuting-policy/

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Envoy

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/SkyWest-Airlines

https://www.aa.com/

https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Republic-Airways-Holdings