RUMOR: American SWUs Downgrading to Premium Economy?
Joe Cortez April 25, 2018
After following the sage advice of “hang up and call again,” one FlyerTalker thinks they may have stumbled on a new limitation of American Airlines system-wide upgrades. So we reached out to American Airlines for an answer.
Rumors are flying on the FlyerTalk forums after one traveler stumbled upon what might be a potential downgrade to the American Airlines’ system-wide upgrades (SWUs). In an ongoing thread, FlyerTalkers are debating and speculating about the semantics of future upgrade requests.
According to American’s website, an SWU is a“confirmed upgrade from most Business and Economy Class fares to the next class of service anywhere American flies.” Accordingly, flyers on qualifying fares could confirm an upgrade from economy to business class, or business to first class.
This particular rumor started after FlyerTalker shadymg made a call to American to redeem their SWU. During their first contact, a customer service representative for the company allegedly claimed the SWU could only be used on a basic economy ticket to move up to the “next class of service” – in this case, American’s international premium economy cabin.
But after hanging up and calling back again, the flyer quoted another agent who claimed they were being “trained” to say SWUs could only be used to move up to the “next cabin.” This quote suggests international economy could only be upgraded to premium economy, similar to oneworld partner British Airways. They were only allowed to use their SWU to move up from economy to business because the agent claimed the changes “had not taken effect” in the system.
We reached out to American about the rumor and a spokesperson responded: “Nothing has changed with SWUs.” Flyers who hold or are gifted SWUs by AAdvantage elites will still be able to use them to move economy to business, or business to first. The policy on American’s website reads: “Systemwide upgrades can be used for one-way travel for up to three segments on American and American Eagle marketed and operated flights.”
The website is very clear. Premium Economy is Economy. I know a number of seasoned flyers keep insisting Premium Economy is not economy but it is. As MCE was an enhanced Economy product, so is Premium Economy. Now BA rushed to embrace Premium Economy when Virgin Atlanttic started it so they could stop upgrades to business but they also charges high fees for "free" award flights, so BA's sharp practice and rush down market is not necessarily an indicator for AA actions in future. AA have a rate for upgrading from Discounted Economy or Premium Economy and a rate for Discounted Business and separate rates for Full Fare Economy/Premium Economy and Full Fare Business. One would assume that SWU's retain the rules they had. It makes perfect sense for AA to charge copays and ask for more miles from a discounted ticket as they run a business. I am afraid all this fuss over Premium Economy is from those corporate flyers whose employers do not value them sufficiently or have the funds to fly them in a premium cabin and they wish to perceive one part of Economy Class or Coach as a separate premium cabin which it is not. AA clearly list their equipment as 3 class, 2 class and 1 class whereas BA list 4 class, 3 class, 2 class, 1 class. The fact that booking codes further divide the classes of service and Premium Economy has added benefits would be like someone who subscribed to 5 star service claiming they were in a different First or Business Class. Premium Economy is thus a way for carriers like BA to go downmarket with their corporate customers but still maximize revenue. The Premium Economy rows are smaller on AA and hopefully will be seen as an extension of MCE with perhaps discounted access for Elite Aadvantage members in time.
"[B]asic economy" should be "regular economy." BE fares are not eligible for upgrades.
No need for loyalty... get credit cards for free bags...get Precheck to skip the worst of the lines.. i HATE THE CRAP out of boarding first. Who he HE&^ wants to sit on an airplane longer. First Class is dreadful now and really a dumb downed product. Its less stressful flying without status than worrying about the upgrade. You also save TONS of money by not having to be loyal. Keep half the money, use half for some upgrades when you really need it. This is working for me! SWUs - who cares... cheapo biz class fares and using AMX points to transfer when I need a free trip in biz class works perfect.
Once again, Doug Parker devaluing the AAdvantage program. Used to be 8 SWU now just 4 per year, and soon to be not even useful for Business Class. What a joke.
I called American about this specific issue and the agent confirmed the above. I do think that American is using wording that introduces concern and gives them an easy way to change their mind in the future.