Remember, his position wrt AA as an execplat is 'limit upgrades for thee, but not for me.'@:-)


Anyway, as I said in his comments:

IME, AC typically has cheaper business class tickets from DC to Asia than any other carrier. So I buy them whether I am using my own or my employer's money. So their strategy is working on me!

Selfishly, having gone airline agnostic, I hope that's the future of flying: fewer upgraders and more 'reasonably' priced business class fares.