Originally Posted by
VegasGambler
For me, the biggest status benefit is getting free premium (eg exit row) seats when seated in economy. These are quite expensive and definitely something that I would pay for (and do pay for us rare time I fly economy without status).
So basically on AA domestic flights I pay for economy (or, usually, get a cheap economy award) and get upgraded to first a little over half the time, and the rest of the time I'm in the exit row without paying extra.
The more time I spend in lounges, the less I care about them. If I have a long connection they are useful but if I'm flying direct I usually will wait at the gate even if I have lounge access. I'm at the gate, maybe, 20-30 minutes before boarding. Being on my phone in a lounge vs being on my phone at the gate for half an hour is not a huge upgrade.
Ah never flown PE but when I look now BC is usually less or the same price just crazy. Never thought about seats being near the exit, always trapped either way 🙃. I currently have no status but interesting to know.
Ah your in the states if you mainly use AA not seen them for a while. So your saying because of your status when you book economy you get upgraded to first wow. Is that part luck and status?
I never usually have time for lounges, if I can explore and have time would rather do that but no point in our case. First time in J class so will freeze, eat and rest as much as I can.
I'm always later to the gate but hasn't always worked out so a bit more cautious now. I can't do long international flights anymore hence flying Overspent before I left so have to struggle with Y on the way back already dreading it.