American will start filling planes after doing the least of big US airlines to protect passengers. Here's what it was like to fly the airline during the pandemic.

American Airlines aircraft in Atlanta.Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

• American Airlines is selling its planes to capacity starting July 1 as more passengers take to the skies for the typically busy summer travel season.
• The airline had previously only sold 85% of seats on its jets and had not blocked middle seats like some of its competitors.
• I saw American's already poor social distancing policies in action during a recent journey from Atlanta to Hartford, Connecticut via Charlotte.

American Airlines will start selling every seat onboard its aircraft this summer as it abandons a policy of limiting capacity, the airline announced Friday, which was implemented to help assuage fears of full flights.

Taking effect on July 1, the policy reversal comes as more travelers are taking to the skies this summer, with the Transportation Security Administration showing over 500,000 flyers passing through checkpoints nearly every day since June 18. American was previously only selling seats on its aircraft up to 85% capacity, as opposed to the approximately one-third of capacity limits implemented by competitors Delta and Southwest.

"As more people continue to travel, customers may notice that flights are booked to capacity starting July 1," the press release stated.

Passengers on full flights, however, will continue to be offered alternatives including a free rebooking if they chose not to travel due to concerns of crowding.

I flew on American in early June on a one-stop journey from Atlanta to Hartford, Connecticut via Charlotte, North Carolina and saw how the country's largest airline is adapting to the pandemic.

Here's what it's like flying on American right now.