Originally Posted by
bdemaria
AAs current system of upgrades, seat choice, etc... favors people who purchase Y tickets well in advance. We all know that purchasing early usually means you are purchasing a lower fare ticket (not always - but usually) and thus you have the following:
EXP A purchases JFK-LAX, Q fare, 300rt, 5 months in advance and requests an upgrade.
EXP B purchases the same flight, M fare, 1500 rt, 6 days in advance, and request an upgrade
Does it make sound business sense to give higher priority for upgrades, seats, etc. to the less profitable passenger? Airlines avidly court the last minute business traveler and as its presently set up, the Aadvantage system does not favor the latter. I'm not saying it should change (I purchase well in advance and have a 100% upgrade rate) but I understand the argument.
To have to wait until flights are 3, 4, 5x as expensive to have any advantage, there would be no point for my family ... that would certainly cause us to bail on loyalty to a single airline. There are exceptions, but we typically book business travel 4-6 weeks in advance and personal travel (vacations/holidays) about 6-11 months ahead depending on destination. If planning ahead put us at the back of the line, that would certainly be the last straw.
That, on top of the many straws already stacked up with the end of any hopes of lifetime platinum status in our traveling future.