Originally Posted by
skunker
Ultimately, my opinion is that AA management were a lot of holdovers from US and they really never let their past go. For example, look at their emphasis on former US hubs instead of the more international connected hubs with better amenities (i.e PHX over LAX and PHL over JFK). They know they cannot compete based on service, so they don't. They put those exact words into press releases when canceling routes. They pull flights from hubs (LAX) or shift to other hubs with no/lesser competition (PHL and CLT). And, let's be honest, SEA-BLR was a pipe dream and BA out of SEA is going to be better than AA most days of the week.
I hit the 2 MM threshold just as US was taking over AA, only surprise is that it took this long for the apparent failure in strategic planning, attributed to the extended downturn in business travel.
To be fair, AA has done a good job ramping up international service from fortress hubs DFW and MIA, and to a lesser extent, ORD.
Here is SAN, AS' One World membership provides access to BA's 2x daily service to LHR, JL service to TYO; combined with frequent connections on AA to DFW, OW serves my needs quite well.