Originally Posted by
Stripe
Completely agree with that. However, from AA's standpoint it is extra revenue and if it reduces standby lists it gives agents less to do and, in theory, get the plane out more quickly. Not sure where the balance lies.
Just waiting to see which airline is the first to bring back change fees. Probably not AA but they will follow within seconds. AA has to be losing tons of revenue on that, and it presumably complicates revenue management. I take advantage all the time.
I think with AA's new auto-assign program for upgrades and standby, it shouldn't add too much operational complexity, and elites shouldn't have too much issue with the free standby unless they are adding themselves to the list less than 40 minutes before departure.
Change fees will be hard to put back for AA and DL unless they take more away from Basic Economy. The second AA adds a change fee of $50 or more for elites is when I likely start booking BE for my travel, including business travel. The only reason to book Main Cabin as an elite, as far as I know, is just the free changes (except fare difference). If they put in a change fee, the $60-$80 r/t surcharge (more if not domestic) is no longer worth it to me unless I know there is a high chance of needing (vs wanting) to change a trip, and I would expect a good number of others would be in the same boat.