Originally Posted by
bse118
How do you come to the conclusion that "most elites are already spending a lot for upgrades?"
I won't ever buy stickers. I'll happily upgrade using the ones I earn from flying, but would never think about buying additional ones.
None of the domestic first class products on UA, DL, AA are worth paying anything for (outside of the NYC - SFO/LAX runs).
I know a lot that do. As EXP I still buy a lot of stickers - for when I have a traveling companion in my PNR - since EXPs do not earn any stickers.
If the companion upgrade clears (and it would clear with the EXP) - many times the cost of the stickers exceed the cost of the original ticket. And the stickers are not taken until you check in at the airport.
So if you do DCA-DFW-LAX RT - that is 12 stickers or $360. The ticket many times is less than that amount - so you are really paying more like $700 for the RT ticket. Sometimes it likely pays just to by the F ticket.
If you buy a ticket on aa.com as EXP and have someone else in your PNR, the system automatically puts both you and the companion on the wait list. I guess you need to call and separate the PNR if you don't want to upgrade the companion or cancel that upgrade at the check in counter.
Now who is going to do that - cancel their companion's upgrade at the airport? (you pay up)
And if you don't have enough stickers in your account, you have to buy them at a higher price at the counter.