Unfortunately, this thread is not setup to succeed, and there have been many threads of a similar thought process. We spin in circles as a result.

There is no question that AA is currently providing the best value for domestic miles redemption traveling. Should we be upset that they are filling the plane with cheaper award redemption? No, because these miles are good revenue, and partners like Citi are going to be happy that their members are getting great use. Does this hurt profitability? Maybe/probably.

Does this address AA in any premium setting? Nope. I know the J/F customers will be upset from so many perspectives and UA/DL are doing a much better job. There are many here that feel AA is lost because it is not adequately addressing the premium customer. Well, I am not in that echelon currently, so I am pretty happy with their Main/Economy product. But we know profitability of the premium customer can be very significant/better ROI.

I don't think there is any disagreement that AA management/board are not making the right decisions or are not making fast enough changes to improve the situation. In some cases, we as AA customers are benefiting in underpriced or higher value situations, but it does chip away at AA's long-term survival (if that is what the thread title question is referencing).

But, I think for many AA customers, DL/UA just don't offer enough convenient routes from the regions where we live to switch over. Otherwise, we would be flying DL/UA more often. I have seen many AA flyers who do use UA/DL have to take more inconvenient routing. I am not interested in that. For many AA domestic flyers, SWA would be a closer alternative, but their product doesn't work as well as it used to for many (or never did if it is the premium flyer). I think this is why Kirby is attacking Chicago so loudly because if he can get AA to give-up, he can own that market. Right now, AA in Chicago is just depressing his pricing power. This has nothing to do about the customer, just to improve his position. He wouldn't bother saying that about LAX (where he could potentially argue similarly), but it is not just about AA in that market.

There is truth in what is being said by these other executives, but let the customer decide. I don't need a CEO to tell me what is convenient for my travels. i am worried about AA, but I don't drive enough of the business to demand those changes.