Originally Posted by
AA53
Most CK members don't upgrade. They are premium pax paying full fare.
While you may be right that greater than half of all CKs pay full fare all of the time, I suspect that there is a significant minority that do not.
For example, there are a bunch of CKs at my company (including me) and we travel in paid F about half the time (shorter flights via aairpass). But on longer domestic flights we buy coach seats - sometimes YUP but often not - and play the upgrade game. Now when I fly overseas, you're correct, it's in paid J or F.
If what you are saying is correct, then this is even more of a no-brainer for American. If only a minority of an already small group are even trying for upgrades, then it will have an even smaller effect on EXPs. And if, on the margin, it makes CKs happier, why not do it?