Originally Posted by
weirdlyndon
Friend of mine flew PHX-MCO on Friday and I saw in her PNR she was offered a buy up to first for $260.45. It was a very specific amount, down to the cent level.
My take is that might be a fare difference upgrade which AA could sell even with people on the upgrade list. The approximately $55 per 500 miles option should only be offered when all expected elite or mileage upgrades will be done.
Specifically, AA's "safest" route to FCM is to lower close-in Business/First seats domestically when there are many empty seats such that those who paid higher Economy prices will find the buy-up difference very attractive (or last-minute shoppers just buy premium class tickets since it is so close to price to last-minute Economy seats). This will allow AA to maintain its elite/mileage upgrade policy, but in reality would allow them to sell more seats than provide "free" upgrades.
Rasheed