If the whining is bad now, I can't wait until they announce which cities get de-hubbed. </sarcasm> (Looking at you, PHL and PHX.)
Originally Posted by
dcpatti
Well the upsides I can see would be the potential flight into Narita, which I can only imagine would not sit unused for too long, given that AA does already have aircraft with the range for that trip; one-way awards; bigger allowance of upgrade certs and those certs are, I believe, transferrable; and more flexibility in segment- based/distance-based OW partner awards. Assuming of course all of those stay in place and the NRT flight materializes. Which is a big IF. These are all nice things for the frequent traveler, and areas where US has been lagging behind its competition. How I've envied the 100k/year AA fliers and their 8 or 10 upgrade certs!!!!!!
AA also has an unused NRT slot. The long-running rumor is that they want to do an MIA-NRT nonstop, but none of the current aircraft can make it.
Also, I'm betting the generous top-level SWU policy will be "revised."
Originally Posted by
Superguy
AA's program works much like UA's did before it started aligning with CO's. If you're familiar with that program, AA's will be easy.
That, of course, assumes it stays in its current form and isn't "enhanced" in a combined carrier.
Here's how the AA upgrade process works:
First, there is "advance" upgrade inventory bucket (A for first, C for business on three-cabin/INTL) which can be reserved any time, with either:
(1) A system-wide upgrade,
(2) A business upgrade certificate,
(3) 15,000 - 25,000 miles plus a co-pay if not on a full-fare ticket. (Co-pay ranges from $75 for US domestic, $150 for Hawaii, and $350 for INTL).
(The miles and co-pay are different for going from business to first on a three-class flight, but I forget those amounts.)
As for elite upgrades, they are processed as follows:
(1) Top level elites can clear 100 hours out,
(2) Mid-tier elites 72 hours out,
(3) Low-tier elites 24 hours out.
The algorithm for determining who gets what upgrade works as follows:
(1) Sort by elite status,
(2) Sort by full-fare vs non-full fare,
(3) Sort by connecting vs non-connecting,
(4) Sort by time of upgrade request.
Example: a top-tier elite on a discount fare trumps a low-level elite on a full fare ticket, but a top-tier elite on a full-fare trumps a top-tier on a discount fare.
For top tier elites, all domestic upgrades are complimentary. For all others, upgrades require a "sticker" for every 500 miles flown (rounded up with a grace amount, so 510 miles = 1 sticker, 600 miles = 2 stickers). Stickers can be purchased, and you receive 4 free for every 10,000 miles flown.
Finally, you can designate one other passenger (booked with you or on a separate reservation) to be upgraded with you, inventory permitting. They will be with you in the queue, but your upgrade will only be processed if 2 or more upgrades are available. If only one is available, you'll be by-passed.