I've posted about this before, and though no one else has voiced similar concerns I certainly can't be the only one upset that AA is no longer loading in any "U" seats for JFK-FCO. I've just emailed AA Customer Relations (below) and I'll update this post with any reply I receive.
Hello,
I'm a loyal AAdvantage Gold member who loves flying on American and my favorite destination is Rome. For several years now I've been actively monitoring Business Milesaver Awards for JFK-FCO ("U" Booking Code). Historically AA would release 4 "U" seats at about 314 days out and that's when I would always book (as I did for my current upcoming Rome trip scheduled for this May).
However last fall when JFK-FCO was temporarily made a seasonal route that pattern changed. Now AA is releasing the Economy Milesavers, but "U" seats are no longer being loaded 314 days out, or anytime for that matter.
Please look at the award availability calendar for next January and see for yourself.
Can you please reply with either confirmation that this is a computer programming error (which is what I'm hoping), or with confirmation that AA has decided to only offer Economy Milesaver seats for this market.
(Out of curiosity, I've checked JFK-CDG, which I deem a similar destination in terms of demand, and that has an abundance of "U" seats loaded in for next January - as well as having many "U" seats between now and next winter.)
I do realize that I could use my AA miles on IB or BA to get me to FCO, but I seriously prefer to fly on American - just not in coach.
Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate your help and I look forward to your reply,
sk3
I received the following reply from AA (and below that cut and paste I'll add my thoughts on the matter).
March 15, 2011
Dear Ms. sk3:
I am sorry for your perception that AAdvantageŽ business award availability is hard to find to your desired destination. It only takes one or two disappointing experiences to make a member feel that it's easy to earn miles but difficult to use them. We are committed to helping our members travel on their awards.
Still, I would be remiss if I didn't point out an important reality: Since MileSAAver(both coach and business class) awards are capacity controlled and seats are limited on flights where revenue demand is high, you may be expecting more flexibility than this type of award is designed to provide. While no one likes to use more miles, the AAnytime award option may well be the better choice during peak times such as holidays or for special events or to the most popular destinations.
When managing our award seat inventory, our capacity specialists use a predictability model which first takes into consideration the demand for seats from fare-paying customers. As with any business that offers a perishable product (once an aircraft departs any empty seat on that flight has "spoiled"), it is important to utilize every opportunity to sell our product when it is in demand.
Many customers ask us exactly how many awards seats we allocate per flight. In answer, the application of the predictability model factors in customer demand, seat cancellations and "no-shows" and, as a consequence, the number of award seats available on any given flight can fluctuate over time. This same principle holds true for discounted fare seats (purchased seats). They, too, are "inventory controlled" based on customer supply and demand statistics.
An examination of the market between New York and Rome reveals no computer error causing the MileSAAver business class seats not to be available.
Ms. sk3, we are determined to lead the industry in services and marketing programs that benefit frequent travelers such as yourself. It is a privilege to serve you, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
Customer Relations
American Airlines
Reading AA's email effected me the same way as when AA first implemented the copay charge to upgrade awards.
I fully understand capacity controls and high demand markets/peak seasons. But previously I've been consistently able to book my single "U" ticket by doing so when the seats were first loaded in, a year in advance (by making the booking literally within the first seconds of it being made available).
For AA to insinuate that their prognosticators have deemed next January, for instance, to be such a high demand time for FCO bound J paying customers that they're not loading in "U" seats - is a hard pill indeed.
My opinion is this: AA is continuing to load in the Econ Milesavers but they've rationalized that if someone is willing to cough up 60,000 more miles to fly in J, than that same type of person would be willing to cough up even more for the Anytime J award. Of course, this is merely my own speculation.
The result for me is this: IB here I come.
Which makes me very curious, since I'll now be using my 100,000 AA miles to fly IB's J product (vs spending these AA miles on AA metal), does that
affect AA's revenue detrimentally at all? Conversely, does IB benefit that I'll now be spending my AA miles on their flights?