Zero "U" Upgrade Availability?
Apr 5, 2021, 2:15 pm
#91
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SAN
Programs: AS Mileage Plan 100k, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 991
When I fly DCA — LAX (operated by an A321 on both AS & AA) I’d choose AS over AA any day of the week for the more comfortable F cabin, better service, etc. but can’t think of a situation where I would choose AS premium class (even with a blocked middle seat) over AA F. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose...
In no way would I ever put AS Y+ above AA F. Not even close.
Apr 5, 2021, 5:14 pm
#92
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,029
With all due respect, I find this statement to be far-fetched. AA F is no better than AS premium? Really? AA’s premium cabin pricing has been so reasonable that I’ve been strategically booking flights on AA widebody aircraft. DFW-MCO on a B77W and snagging seat 2J (F seat) or 3J (mini cabin) on MIA-LAX have been some of my go to routes. I’ll let the below pics speak for themselves, but suffice to say — I’ll requalify for 75K very comfortably and economically this year.
In fact I had a friend flying with me who doesn't fly a lot. We had connected to AA from AS also in first. He wanted to know why we were not in F on AA....and we were!
Apr 5, 2021, 5:54 pm
#93
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 535
I knew as soon as I posted that, someone would come up with this and say...SEE. Yes AA has a small number of premium cabin aircraft operating between like three cities domestically. And of course there are widebodies doing these flights due to the pandemic. That said, that is a tiny fraction of the F product out there. Most everything else was like my last two AA F transcons, cramped, no power, grumpy crew, and stale sandwiches.
In fact I had a friend flying with me who doesn't fly a lot. We had connected to AA from AS also in first. He wanted to know why we were not in F on AA....and we were!
In fact I had a friend flying with me who doesn't fly a lot. We had connected to AA from AS also in first. He wanted to know why we were not in F on AA....and we were!
Apr 5, 2021, 6:36 pm
#94
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 535
4/8, 4/10, 4/12, and 4/13: DCA - SEA
4/14, 4/18, and 4/20: IAD - LAX
I didn't look beyond April, but space is definitely sparse from the few D.C. area to west coast flights queried.
Apr 7, 2021, 5:42 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
Just received the following alert from Expert Flyer:This is a notification that your Flight Alert "11Apr21 SAN-HNL" has located at least 1 availability opening(s) at this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For: AS895/First - Upgrade (U)
From: SAN to HNL
Date: 04/11/21 10:10 AM
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For: AS895/First - Upgrade (U)
From: SAN to HNL
Date: 04/11/21 10:10 AM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apr 7, 2021, 6:00 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,721
Just received the following alert from Expert Flyer:This is a notification that your Flight Alert "11Apr21 SAN-HNL" has located at least 1 availability opening(s) at this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For: AS895/First - Upgrade (U)
From: SAN to HNL
Date: 04/11/21 10:10 AM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For: AS895/First - Upgrade (U)
From: SAN to HNL
Date: 04/11/21 10:10 AM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apr 7, 2021, 9:07 pm
#97
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
Apr 7, 2021, 9:12 pm
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,721
Y+ being booked full and then clearing the upgrade list always throws me for a loop....I usually think I don't have a chance when Y+ is full before the elite upgrade windows.
Apr 7, 2021, 9:25 pm
#99
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
Apr 7, 2021, 10:20 pm
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,721
More passengers are purchasing Premium for the blocked middle seat and not all of them are Elites. How full Premium appears isn't indicative of the number of Elites in those seats. On a few close in bookings, I selected Exit row because Premium was full but I still was upgraded to F.
James
James
Apr 7, 2021, 11:09 pm
#102
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,289
More passengers are purchasing Premium for the blocked middle seat and not all of them are Elites. How full Premium appears isn't indicative of the number of Elites in those seats. On a few close in bookings, I selected Exit row because Premium was full but I still was upgraded to F.
James
James
Apr 7, 2021, 11:38 pm
#103
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AS 100K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 189
That being said, if they did that I'd fear they'd class it as a separate cabin and only do 1-cabin "upgrades"
Apr 7, 2021, 11:40 pm
#104
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AS 100K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 189
Apr 7, 2021, 11:49 pm
#105
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO, CLT
Programs: AA Bonsai EXP (2.9 MM), AS MVPG
Posts: 1,393
I think you could mention your $329 fare without making many fellow pax feel bad at all. After all, for many people, especially from the Bay Area, $1,329 and $329 are exactly the same price... nothing.