Originally Posted by Wrong Way
Oh hi honey. I didn't know you followed the threads on here. When's dinner?
I wouldn't agree. I don't think you'd lose any J seat sales at all. People go J for reasons that specifically preclude going Economy and I don't they'd risk being left in economy:
They need to work. You can't do that in economy.
They need real rest. Same as above.
They like the comfort/service - Those folks won't ever buy Economy.
They want the meal, first on and first off, etc. - stuff you don't get in economy
They want etc.
None of those people would risk not getting the upgrade. They would simply buy J to start with.
Those are all fair points, but that doesn't mean that a good chunk of the people who buy J now would continue to buy it if there was a good chance of getting an upgrade by virtue of being elite.
There are a number of airlines in the States who do this and we all know how good at making money they are. I'd bet there are fewer people who buy J, and wait for an upgrade, especially in the more generous programs, like CO, or US, or to a lesser extent AA EXP.
Now I know we're not here to help the airline make money, and I'm all for gaming the system. But I don't think we need to change the system all together.
As to the crew in the front cabin issue, in my personal view it isn't that big a deal. Lots of employers give perks to their employees, it's not exactly unique to the airline industry. Those kids working at the cinema getting free passes are obviously selfish jerks because they are taking up seats that could have been given for free to the guy who pays to go to 5 movies a week. Damn them!
I'm sometimes lucky enough to fly J for work. Why shouldn't they be?