Originally Posted by
DillMan
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The OP is aware that AA was the world's largest airline for several years and was only bumped to second by the union of DL and NW. It isn't like DL beat AA by good old fashion hard work or brillant treatment of plat flyers.
For that matter, I'd rather AA continue to charge plats for upgrades and continue to allow eVIP/miles upgrades on most published fares vs. going the DL way and allowing plat upgrades for free but requiring stupidly expensive tickets for international upgrades.
I am award that DL took the lead by acquiring NW. In many instances when someone buys into number 1 they become arrogant and start to alienate their best customers. That is the time other companies have an opportunity to take as many customers as possible. That "silver bullet" would be to find a way to give those customers a tool, PLT unlimited, to make that transition very easy.
The issue over there is that they now require 125K (25% over EXP) with really nothing in return; their BIGGEST argument is horrible SWU. AA's SWU are great and they know it. With PLT challenge and free upgrades AA would get many DL people, not only the NW people that were so upset with all the changes but now even DL people.