Originally Posted by
timfountain
I don't understand the SDC WRT paid premium seat. I am just MVP so I pay for premium out of my own pocket.... Tomorrow I am on an early fight tomorrow PDX-SAN, which is packed. I paid for a premium seat a month ago. I wanted to change to a later flight, so I called them as I could not change the flight and select a premium seat, only regular economy. Was told that in addition to the change fee ($50, which I was prepared to spend) I would also loose the premium seat payment and would need to buy it again, even though there was plenty of availability of premium seats on the later AS572 flight, at least when I looked at 0800 today. I don't get why AS would do this, and as a result I am still on my original flight, which being the first of the day will go out oversold. Maybe I am missing something in the business model here?
Well, you don't pay for premium as a MVP, unless you're on a Saver fare. Unfortunately, the same rule applies to MVPG and MVPG75k. This is one reason (the bigger one being F upgrades) that many consider the difference between Saver and Main fares an Elite Tax.
In regards to the premium seat charge and inability to transfer it to a new flight, AS is not alone in this policy. Whether it's E+ on UA, or MCE on AA, the rules are the same across the board. Seats are non-transferable and valid only on the flight purchased.