FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Does Free Alcohol in MCE Decrease the Value of Gold Status?
Old May 31, 2018 | 3:12 pm
  #24  
coolcoil
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,517
Originally Posted by EQDsSUCK
I see the complimentary access to MCE within 24 hours of the flight as the greatest benefit of Gold status.

Now that MCE includes free alcohol, I wonder if more people will buy up to MCE and decrease chances of a Gold member getting a free MCE seat within 24 hours of the flight. Thoughts?
I think there will be some small number of times when enough people are tempted to buy up to MCE and it will impact availability, but it will be rare. A rational buyer (not everybody) will realize that if you want a drink, just pay on the plane. Also, there is no value to this for most people on morning flights and many people on afternoon flights.

As to the questions about whether you get one per beverage service or not, it's probably a moot point for me. The vast majority of my flights are 2.5 to 3.25 hours. I've only seen the FA's come around with the beverage carts 2X in Y one time over the last year-and-half that I've been paying attention.
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