Another flight, another full First class
Dec 7, 2012, 11:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 17
Another flight, another full First class
Just venting. This is the ~10th flight in a row now where I have not been able to get an upgrade. Oversold flight. 1 spot in 1st available, 2exps waiting for it, 4 plats ahead of me, 10+ plat/gold behind me.
Absurd.
Is anyone matching AA status to switch? I would love to go to Delta or pretty much anyone at this point. AA really sucks now. I think we are ripe to be snatched up.
Absurd.
Is anyone matching AA status to switch? I would love to go to Delta or pretty much anyone at this point. AA really sucks now. I think we are ripe to be snatched up.
Dec 7, 2012, 11:30 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT, UA Silver, EK Gold, Hilton Diamond, Global Entry, Clear
Posts: 1,082
Dec 7, 2012, 11:30 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Its also a function of flights being cut, which is occuring at most airlines. I fly DL occassionally out of NYC and the board is rolling away with upgrade requests no different than AA. Its a sign of the times.
I fly usually non prime times (Saturday night, T/W and Sunday AMs) and its a rare for me to have an empty seat next to me.
I fly usually non prime times (Saturday night, T/W and Sunday AMs) and its a rare for me to have an empty seat next to me.
Dec 7, 2012, 11:37 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
Just venting. This is the ~10th flight in a row now where I have not been able to get an upgrade. Oversold flight. 1 spot in 1st available, 2exps waiting for it, 4 plats ahead of me, 10+ plat/gold behind me.
Absurd.
Is anyone matching AA status to switch? I would love to go to Delta or pretty much anyone at this point. AA really sucks now. I think we are ripe to be snatched up.
Absurd.
Is anyone matching AA status to switch? I would love to go to Delta or pretty much anyone at this point. AA really sucks now. I think we are ripe to be snatched up.
Dec 7, 2012, 11:38 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,487
Also, a lot more people are paying for F now that AA has started selling instant upgrade fares for not that much more than the coach fare + the cost of the 500 mi upgrade certs. I believe DL has been doing this for some time now... I believe the posters over on the DL board refer to it as "FCM" (first class monetization)?
Dec 7, 2012, 11:43 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
Just venting. This is the ~10th flight in a row now where I have not been able to get an upgrade. Oversold flight. 1 spot in 1st available, 2exps waiting for it, 4 plats ahead of me, 10+ plat/gold behind me.
Absurd.
Is anyone matching AA status to switch? I would love to go to Delta or pretty much anyone at this point. AA really sucks now. I think we are ripe to be snatched up.
Absurd.
Is anyone matching AA status to switch? I would love to go to Delta or pretty much anyone at this point. AA really sucks now. I think we are ripe to be snatched up.
The idea though that it is better - on average - at DL or UA is simply wrong though.
Dec 7, 2012, 11:49 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA Platinum - 1MM+
Posts: 147
OK, so I know that "it depends on many factors" but I am going to say that in three years as an EXP I probably had 2-3 flights that I didn't get upgraded on per year. I just re-qualified as EXP and I have had a total of 4 mainline flights since I got my lovely status back after 10 months in the back of the bus, and only one of them cleared (MIA-ORD), the rest (PHX-MIA, MIA-PTY, PTY-MIA) did not clear - these bookings were done 1+ month in advance.
Let's hope for better luck on my last 8 flights this year
Let's hope for better luck on my last 8 flights this year
Dec 7, 2012, 11:53 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, MR Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 926
I'm 100% for the past two years. Of course, I don't fly elite heavy routes. Still, I'm happy with my odds.
Dec 7, 2012, 11:57 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MIA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC, Delta PM, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,031
Where/when are you flying? Generally speaking, EXP upgrades clear. There are routes and times where they are difficult. While it is incrementally more difficult now, that has always been the case.
The idea though that it is better - on average - at DL or UA is simply wrong though.
The idea though that it is better - on average - at DL or UA is simply wrong though.
Out of last 10 flights on both AA (as EXP), and DL (as Plat):
AA: 6 of 10 upgrades cleared
Notables missed: STL/ORD ????
DL: 8 of 10 upgrades cleared (would have been 9/10 if agent followed official DL policy - neither here nor there)
Just last night was #1 on the list 1 avail at check in (according to agent). Arrived at gate, #2 on list, 0 available.
OP, I hear and share your frustration. The two things I value, reliability and upgrades are both way down this year.
Dec 7, 2012, 12:04 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 17
This is sea to dfw.
Called delta and they will match me for 3 months while i earn there.
After done with my current booked flights, I am jumping ship. Called the platinum desk to let them know and they did not care at all. Pathetic customer service. Didnt even ask why.
Cant do virgin. I need more coverage. I fly to tons of random places domestic us.
Called delta and they will match me for 3 months while i earn there.
After done with my current booked flights, I am jumping ship. Called the platinum desk to let them know and they did not care at all. Pathetic customer service. Didnt even ask why.
Cant do virgin. I need more coverage. I fly to tons of random places domestic us.
Dec 7, 2012, 12:07 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 17
I can't get exp. I travel domestic about every other week usually, though more lately (wife not happy). One international vacation per year.
Regular platinum is basically meaningless now. It just lets you board first.
Regular platinum is basically meaningless now. It just lets you board first.
Dec 7, 2012, 12:10 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
Really? What do you expect a reservation agent to say? You flew on flights where they sold F or they gave it to people higher on the upgrade list. This is not a customer service issue. The system works exactly as it should. Have upgrades gotten harder on every carrier over the last several years due to consolidation and capacity cutting? Yes. But its not an AA customer service issue.
Dec 7, 2012, 12:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MIA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC, Delta PM, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,031
This is sea to dfw.
Called delta and they will match me for 3 months while i earn there.
After done with my current booked flights, I am jumping ship. Called the platinum desk to let them know and they did not care at all. Pathetic customer service. Didnt even ask why.
Cant do virgin. I need more coverage. I fly to tons of random places domestic us.
Called delta and they will match me for 3 months while i earn there.
After done with my current booked flights, I am jumping ship. Called the platinum desk to let them know and they did not care at all. Pathetic customer service. Didnt even ask why.
Cant do virgin. I need more coverage. I fly to tons of random places domestic us.
One thing that helps on DL is more domestic widebody flights, 757 with 24-26 FC seats on the routes I need to fly. That might help you too. Good luck.
Dec 7, 2012, 12:12 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
sts, I generally agree with you but my actual recent experience shows otherwise and the trend is getting worse.
Out of last 10 flights on both AA (as EXP), and DL (as Plat):
AA: 6 of 10 upgrades cleared
Notables missed: STL/ORD ????
DL: 8 of 10 upgrades cleared (would have been 9/10 if agent followed official DL policy - neither here nor there)
Out of last 10 flights on both AA (as EXP), and DL (as Plat):
AA: 6 of 10 upgrades cleared
Notables missed: STL/ORD ????
DL: 8 of 10 upgrades cleared (would have been 9/10 if agent followed official DL policy - neither here nor there)
And I will point out that you noted missing a DL upgrade to the agent - something that happens FAR less on AA.