Originally Posted by
hhdl
My understanding from reading FT over the years is that AA (as with UA) chooses downgrades by the reverse of the complimentary upgrade priority (so non-status gets ordered by rolling LPs). If F to Hawaii was otherwise booked by elites, a full-fare no status pax would get picked instead of a complimentary upgrade or SWU-applier (UA would prioritize by fare class as well, but it's probably the same dynamic).
DL policy IIRC is to retract upgrades first (including reversing certificate upgrades) before downgrading a revenue or award passenger (award being considered equivalent to revenue).
I believe all will downgrade a non-rev who can be downgraded (which in AA's case would not include a deadheading pilot).
Given that complimentary upgrades are becoming increasingly rare, this method of ranking will matter less and less over time.
Personally, I think it's despicable to bump full fare, paying passengers from business/first to make room for pilots, particularly on long haul flights, I don't care what the contract provides for. Airline management should have never made that concession.
Regards