Is E50k now (relatively) more valuable?
 

I was reading another thread where a poster suggested that with the new devaluations in the Altitude programme, it might not be worth doing a MR to reach E50k.

After changes to the programme or flights or services; I try to take a step back and analyze what it all means in the big picture.

So E50k still gets *G, lounge access, higher luggage luggage, boarding, priority check in, access to preferred seats on domestic, rebate on preferred int'l etc.

In my experience, E50k can't get upgrades on flights (fingers crossed for Friday, but I haven't gotten one since summer 2013), so the new eUpgrade values will have little or no effect on most E50ks,

With eUpgrades to PY and no copay, and my theory I detailed on another thread that many SEs would probably book PY to upgrade to J there might actually be a way for E50ks to use eUpgrades into PY instead of letting the whither every February.

So, after all the dust has settled, relative to all the other tiers, is E50k now more valuable?

It might retain value though doubt it will be more valuable. As you rightly pointed out eupg as a E50 on some routes is tough or impossible. However I believe some E75s will drop to E50 next year with the reduction in benefits and the high AC metal requirement.

At the very most, I am not MRing to 75K anymore. I hope to not exceed E50K next year...so yes, 50K is still a target for me, so relatively useful.

I got an upgrade on the 07:00 AC174 YYC-YYZ last week. It's possible! And that is a mega heavy elite route. Preboarding is probably as populated as general boarding.

I felt like I had won a grammy when I walked to the counter

Posts like that make me appreciate SE, well this years SE... I love being the only one called to the podium on J1 flights.

I've only missed twice this year, and one of those flights was a J0 787 flight.

E50Ks can definitely upgrade flights. As an E50K for much of this year I upgraded a dozen or so flights - 75% Latitude 25% Flex. You have better luck of course if you book Latitude fares which can be found at reasonable price points for many markets, which was my strategy for much of the year.

My upgrade on YVR-YYZ on Saturday cleared as soon as I requested it. Although a Saturday afternoon not long before Christmas may not be the busiest time for business flights.

Cutting upgrades in half may actually benefit lower tiers, depending on how AC manages upgrade space. If SEs, who get a higher priority for more upgrades will get upgraded half as often, that might leave something on the table for E35s and E50s. Maybe.

I'm hoping that the E tiers don't have enough eups to request upgrades that fill the J cabins and the SE's will be op up'd more often.

I think what you'll find is that SEs request fewer upgrades (because we have fewer credits), and as a result, there are more seats available on Elite heavy flights for lower tiers to upgrade.

But overall, there will be fewer upgrades, due to fewer credits.

The result will be J cabins full of employees and opups :p

Glad to hear your success rate, although your Flex rate is closer to mine.

Latitude is usually at or near the price of restricted J, so given the choice, I'll take paid J. I fly for personal reasons and pay out of pocket, so I'll take a 100% chance of a big seat if I can.

Considering SEs can gift it for free as part of their benefits package, I guess E50K is more valuable... :p

Let us not forget as the 787s come in, with new config A321s, and soon to be new 777 interiors there will be less J. Demand had not changed, supply will be lower and prices results in increased

With 21 PY seats per wide body aircraft save 330s (not sure what setup the 330s will have, maybe 2-2-2) there are now more 'better' seats available for eUp.

Time will tell, but generally speaking, I don't think E50ks were that affected by the new changes.

With all due respect, posts like are what fuel resentment toward the 'average' SE. Here's a bulletin... every single E knows that SE is better. We all know why SE is better.

This thread was about if E50K has more value than the past. Nowhere was anyone asking "hey I'm only E50K and have trouble getting upgrades, are the SE's having this trouble?" And why wasn't it asked? Because we already know you're higher in the pecking order.

So... while it's great that I made you feel more awesome for being SE, was it really necessary to hijack this E50K thread to tell all of us how you don't have a problem with upgrades because you're SE?

I would be curious to know how many former 2014 E75s will be falling into the 2015 E50 pool (like myself). To me it looks like that with E50 remaining SA* Gold and basically the same benefits are before, its probably the tier with the least amount of changes for 2015 (or am I missing something?). cheers.

I thought you saw the light and had bailed from AC?