Originally Posted by
Boofer
On occasion, I have needed to fly an airline on which I have no status. It has been tempting to purchase a premium fare, to make sure I'm OK in case I encounter delays or disruptions. I have almost never given into that temptation, and a couple of times it burned me.
So is it worth it for a non-status pax to pay up for a premium cabin ticket in order to get these benefits?
Since 2003 I have only bought full fare (refundable) J (or F as the case may be) tickets no matter where I go. Most flights are OneWorld but my choice of flights is all based on schedule and connections (e.g. not connect in MIA for Central America flights) on whatever airline works at the moment, including one way there on airline X and back on Y in *Alliance.
I have lifetime AA Gold, close to lifetime Platinum but other than accumulating more miles on flights all the services are provided on the J/F fares. Paid J/F flights offer all the same privileges without needing the elite level. From time to time I may do enough on an alliance to garner a higher elite level for a year but it buys nothing.
I may fly to Ireland soon. Aer Lingus seems to have their own program or something sort of aligned with Avios (which I don't have) but they fly non stop to Dublin and offer good J service. That's who I will fly. No or few points, unimportant vs. a non stop J flight with the affiliated services.
On AA awards I just get AAnytime awards. There are no decent SAAver awards anyway 99% of the time and J AAnytime awards are essentially the same as full fare J. You change/cancel and even no show without penalty.