Originally Posted by
orbitmic
3 - EC members based in some parts of the world such as the North East US (and presumably Eastern Canada), parts of South East Asia such as China, HKG, Thailand - who directly benefit from cheaper awards and MFUs/UUAs.
Not sure about this - only really applies if they have a direct flight. Since October last year I thought it had been possible to book (e.g.) LHR-JFK-[AA destination] in WTP and then MFU the whole thing for 25k which will also put you into domestic F on the AA leg (if it exists). Under the new system from what I can see you can either stay in Y on the AA leg for 20k or pay something >25k (not sure what) to get into domestic F.
Worst case is probably something like LHR-(LAX/ORD/DFW)-HNL which currently you can MFU for 25k WTP->CW/domestic F. That will now be 20k or 25k plus something else (unclear how much to me)... Does anyone know what the cost under the new system will be to do the same?
I would view this as different to the CE/ET situation for European feeder flights as there is a much greater differentiation between domestic F and Y on AA than there is between CE and ET.