Originally Posted by
eigenvector
’Standard' pricing has to compete against other airlines' pricing for the price-sensitive buyer. 'Flex' doesn't, because it primarily affords Altitude-related benefits that no other airline can offer to those locked-in customers. Accordingly, RM thinks they can always charge a premium for Flex and I don't think they are wrong.
As long as AC maintains their Standard copay ongoing never ending promotion, for trips like this a non SE has to change compare a $750 copay from Flex with $850 from Standard. Now yes you also get twice the miles but I query the value of paying $2k for what amounts to under 8000 miles. Given AE sells 8,000 miles for $361!
And yes the odds of an upgrade are lower. But fare class is pretty low on the list for upgrades.
AC charges for so many things now I wonder if it’s going to backfire as people start doing some very simple calculations.