aero0729

Hello! I just received my EXP match and you should all consider details I have realized and stated below!

- No way to view Upgrade Inventory ahead of time.
- Same day confirmed starts at 12 hours, not 24 hours and IS NOT FREE! $75 for all! Stand by is FREE (you know you will not get upgraded)[/U][/U]
- You must hit 100K from today's date to end of year.
- I know we hate SHARES and AA can work their system well, but it still takes a VERY long time to ticket. Much longer than SHARES. MUCH longer!
- You must pay for companion upgrades (Not a big deal for me since I fly alone but the one trip with a companion, she cleared all 4 legs with me at window!
- Possible AA/US Merger..Ahhhhh!!!!

What do you all think????? Most 1Ks may not be able to hit another 100K! you could end up at the bottom of both!

demkr

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Why'd you get the match if you think it's so horrible?

aero0729

Did not say it is horrible... just wanted to state some differences I found to be quite different that I did not realize until I switched and started reading up on rules and policies. I switched but have not booked travel yet. I am in decision mode!

UAkls

I would add to the list that UA international business class seats are far superior (at least until AA updates its seats).

Jorgen

I think a "random things to be aware of re: AA status" is a good idea for a thread.

"United and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the United Clubs and US Airways Clubs within the U.S. when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight."

vs

"American Airlines AAdvantage® members, regardless of their tier status, cannot access lounges when travelling on North American itineraries within or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean."

Bad news for anyone who travels to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.

SEA1K4EVR

I thought AA's upgrade inventory comes out of A class (discounted paid F)...which can easily be viewed in ExpertFlyer and other sites where normal inventory is displayed. I'm no expert on AA, but I think read that in lucky9876coins One Mile at a Time blog.

demkr

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So you expect to have lounge access when you're flying Miami to Aruba based on your status vs membership?

Of course you can access lounges when traveling domestically or to Canada/Caribbean- you just have to be a lounge MEMBER. How is this different from anyone else?

AAExPlat

Point 1 and 2 are really non-issues.

A (domestic SWU and domestic mileage upgrades) inventory is easily visible with KVSTool or Expertflyer. X inventory (domestic EXP upgrades) isn't visible at all, I believe. C inventory (intl SWU upgrades) is visible on EF. What else do you need?

And on SDCs I actually find AA's SDC process to be FAR better than UAs given that you are FAR more likely to sit upfront. And the fee if I am not mistaken is $50 for EXPs.

REPUBLIC757

I'd also like to add that UA doesn't have 200 S80s either.

demkr

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On AA I don't need to constantly monitor inventory because there's actual transparency with upgrades. When A or X opens up I clear- imagine that.

Oh, and if I want to use a SWU/evip or miles+copay, its deducted ONLY when the upgrade clears. Imagine that too!

Yes, a guaranteed aircraft with16 F seats wifi and a quiet F cabin is so unappealing.

channa

Regarding upgrades, remember without an EUA system, there is often upgrade space last minute on flights. So standing by, then getting an upgrade is not unreasonable. UA used to work this way until a couple years ago -- you could switch flights and confirm right into F because it would be open.

As for ticketing, I think the issue is not as much the delay as it is the reliability. CO's systems can ticket in 5 minutes, 10 minute, an hour, 3 hours, a day, or never. If they consistently ticketed in a specified time period, this would be less of an issue. The problem is that it's illogical, and when you do have an issue (e.g., hasn't ticketed in a day), it's difficult to get someone to force it.

So the fact that some never ticket, and there are ramifications to that (especially with partner space where you could lose it), you have to babysit the ticketing process. While AA does not use instant ticketing, you don't really see posts on the AA board about things falling out of a ticketing queue and award space disappearing as a result.

fieldeng

A few things:
A. AA does soft landings so that makes it a moot point. It should be expected by all that when matched, your status only lasts until the next year (2013 and not thru 2013 into 2014). Worse case is: You get dumped to Plat next year from EXP and have to earn your status (just like you would on UA)
B. We've got 7 months left and with DEQM promotions going, it helps make this less of an issue.

It's also worth noting that AA is adding their version of E+. For those low to Mid tier elites (Silver, Gold and Plat) that were screwed by UA by the reduction in mileage earning and the loss of E+ prior to the day of flight), this will solve most of those issues. AA exit rows are a fine substitute for E+ in the meantime.

REPUBLIC757

I don't think many S80s have wi-fi and either way there is no IFE or E+. In addition they are old so they tend to break down a lot.

demkr

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Many of them if not most do. Read the wifi page. And I've had very few maintenance delays on M80s.

AA is in the process of retiring the plane too. The new 737s are beautiful

janetdoe

With all of the double EQM promos this year, it's probably easier than you think... Worst case, you will receive a 'soft landing' to platinum status, so you would have Plat status from March 2013 (when EXP status ends) until you hit 100k in 2013.

Have fun with it. Yes, things will be different; some things will be worse, some will be better, but most EXPs are really happy with their elite experience with AA.