rumor : new upgrade co-payment effective 01dec04
Oct 5, 2004, 5:57 pm
#151
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Atlanta
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Silver, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 3,656
I know AA needs money but what a terrible thing to do. I sugest AA rethink this because if not it will lose it's loyal flyers and its main business international market. United is looking better everyday.
Oct 5, 2004, 5:58 pm
#152
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,702
Old miles
Any word on if they will apply this fee to old miles used for upgrades under the old program????
Oct 5, 2004, 5:58 pm
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PIT
Posts: 10,985
Originally Posted by TerryK
This is fun! I could see new posts coming up by hitting refresh! 
^ ^ ^
It is interesting to see how others view the world of flying and what is important to them.
Interesting mix of reactions and comments.
Oct 5, 2004, 6:04 pm
#154
Join Date: May 2001
Location: is everything...but...
Programs: dont matter anymore...
Posts: 3,019
I was so dumbstruck by this I couldn't even reply for a few hours..
I have been insanely loyal to AA for years. 99.9% of all my paid flights in the last 5 years have been with AA. Even if it was a few to a few hundred dollars more.. even if I had to make crazy connections to get where I needed to go.
This changes everything... I will not pay $500 to upgrade. Now I'll shop by price only
I have been insanely loyal to AA for years. 99.9% of all my paid flights in the last 5 years have been with AA. Even if it was a few to a few hundred dollars more.. even if I had to make crazy connections to get where I needed to go.
This changes everything... I will not pay $500 to upgrade. Now I'll shop by price only
Oct 5, 2004, 6:14 pm
#155
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
I just got the call....and quickly logged in...
Holly ****
That announcement tomorrow better start out with AA announce the introduction of flat beds on all 777/767 aircraft to be completed by Dec 1st 2004
Note to self: Manage VIPS very well in the future
and good question about miles that were grandfathered under the old program. Somehow, I doubt AA has even thought of these. But there are 2 schools of thought -- 1) they were grandfathering the miles required and the terms (ie, no cash payment needed) and as an example when they introduced 3 class on transcon, they didn't chgange the terms to "one class upgrade only" but 2) as we know, they have made these miles old subject to restrictions of availability so they could roll them in under this change. I have about 275K of the old miles, so I am interested in how these are dealt with....
Holly ****
That announcement tomorrow better start out with AA announce the introduction of flat beds on all 777/767 aircraft to be completed by Dec 1st 2004
Note to self: Manage VIPS very well in the future
and good question about miles that were grandfathered under the old program. Somehow, I doubt AA has even thought of these. But there are 2 schools of thought -- 1) they were grandfathering the miles required and the terms (ie, no cash payment needed) and as an example when they introduced 3 class on transcon, they didn't chgange the terms to "one class upgrade only" but 2) as we know, they have made these miles old subject to restrictions of availability so they could roll them in under this change. I have about 275K of the old miles, so I am interested in how these are dealt with....
Oct 5, 2004, 6:17 pm
#156
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
Well, as long as there are no changes in the fares for eSWU use, I can live with an occasional fee for UPG'ing with mileage, though I haven't done that since early 2003. While I don't like this any more than you, all good things come to an end. Too bad it had to happen now.
I think it's definitely time to check out Virgin for international travels.
I think it's definitely time to check out Virgin for international travels.
Oct 5, 2004, 6:26 pm
#157
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,748
My prediction on the thinking of AA for future evolution of the program:
EXP status now worth a lot more (relatively speaking) with free domestic upgrades and now fee-free international upgrades. Once the dust settles here, we will make VIPs valid only on non-deep-discount fares. After the dust settles on that, the EXP status will be on points only and/or no 100% EQM for discounted fares.
At the same time, my feeling of the thinking of most FTers as they evolve:
#@$%, ok I will try to get to EXP to at least get the VIPs, &@%E# now I cannot even use the darn VIPs on my fares, $@%#& there is no chance in $@% I can make EXP now. Screw it. Enough traveling for a lifetime for me.
The biggest effect of this change may be that many will simply stop renewing their PLT/EXP "membership" with discretionary flying to top it up when their business travel isn't sufficient to make that level.
EXP status now worth a lot more (relatively speaking) with free domestic upgrades and now fee-free international upgrades. Once the dust settles here, we will make VIPs valid only on non-deep-discount fares. After the dust settles on that, the EXP status will be on points only and/or no 100% EQM for discounted fares.
At the same time, my feeling of the thinking of most FTers as they evolve:
#@$%, ok I will try to get to EXP to at least get the VIPs, &@%E# now I cannot even use the darn VIPs on my fares, $@%#& there is no chance in $@% I can make EXP now. Screw it. Enough traveling for a lifetime for me.
The biggest effect of this change may be that many will simply stop renewing their PLT/EXP "membership" with discretionary flying to top it up when their business travel isn't sufficient to make that level.
Oct 5, 2004, 6:32 pm
#158
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Originally Posted by askworldtraveler
Couldn't read through 10 pages....
yes it's 25,000 miles plus $250 each direction
Yes the $ are for discounted fares
Any ticket BOOKED OR WAIT LISTED prior to the start date will NOT pay
VIP's will continue to come out of the same inventory with expanded availablity
Better seats would sure be great!
yes it's 25,000 miles plus $250 each direction
Yes the $ are for discounted fares
Any ticket BOOKED OR WAIT LISTED prior to the start date will NOT pay
VIP's will continue to come out of the same inventory with expanded availablity
Better seats would sure be great!
Oct 5, 2004, 6:55 pm
#159
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: CA, AA EXP, MR Gold, SPG PLT
Posts: 1,850
Ebay
I am sure this is a blessing to folks that sell VIPs on Ebay.
Oct 5, 2004, 7:01 pm
#160
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Programs: AA2MM
Posts: 1,754
Still some time with no fee....
Plat desk just told me the fee won't take effect until Dec 1st...
Oct 5, 2004, 7:05 pm
#161
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: ABQ
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Dia
Posts: 268
Hoping against hope...
Is it possible that the charge would apply only to non-elites upgrading with miles? Maybe? It seems like a less-suicidal thing for AA to do, since it would still give them a new revenue stream without crimping availability for elites.
And do they really have to do this the first year I'll be making PLT the hard way? It figures...
And do they really have to do this the first year I'll be making PLT the hard way? It figures...
Oct 5, 2004, 7:23 pm
#162
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Looks like the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal has just posted a story on this. I don't subscribe, but if someone here does maybe they can take a quick look and see if there's some additional details there that might not be posted in this thread.
Oct 5, 2004, 7:26 pm
#163
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Originally Posted by tom911
Looks like the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal has just posted a story on this. I don't subscribe, but if someone here does maybe they can take a quick look and see if there's some additional details there that might not be posted in this thread.
BTW, Tom, are you referring to the article "How airlines resisted change for 25 years and lost"?
Last edited by JonNYC; Oct 5, 2004 at 7:30 pm
Oct 5, 2004, 7:32 pm
#164
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: LI, NY
Programs: AA PLT, AAdv since Day One
Posts: 2,682
Originally Posted by tom911
Looks like the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal has just posted a story on this. I don't subscribe, but if someone here does maybe they can take a quick look and see if there's some additional details there that might not be posted in this thread.
Oct 5, 2004, 7:33 pm
#165
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,803
Originally Posted by tom911
Looks like the on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal has just posted a story on this. I don't subscribe, but if someone here does maybe they can take a quick look and see if there's some additional details there that might not be posted in this thread.