eVIPs / SWU - the COSTS and inability to upgrade I, O & Q (consolidated)
Aug 6, 2009, 10:04 am
#406
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Los Angeles, CA - Nearly 4 Million Actual Miles Flown
Posts: 5,522
Your questions re: 767-300 business class seats have been asked dozens, if not hundreds of times. I think it all boils down to whether you want to take $70 to move to a higher fare class and risk it. BRP would do it. I would do it. I think every sane person here would do it just for the chance of getting the possibility of not being stuck in coach. But even you yourself said "it's worth it". Don't forget there will be a co-pay if you clear.
Aug 6, 2009, 10:12 am
#407
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Always on vacation
Programs: aa exp - spg gold - Hyatt Diamond - HH Gold
Posts: 6,007
So a few months ago, I purchased a flight for my fiance and myself to Spain. Last week, I achieved EXP. I call the EXP desk to use my SWU. The agent says my fare Q cannot be upgradable. I read the brochure and sure enough that's what it says. My two complaints are:
1. I thought a Q fare would be something like priceline not something I directly book on AA. I've traveled on United on a tour group booking and was able to use my SWU with no problems.
2. To pay $70 to get on the next fare level just to get waitlisted. What if I don't get upgraded? Then, I would lose $140! I would rather be put on the waitlist and if confirmed then pay the $140. But the agent said this wasn't possible.
I don't want to pay $70 as I could just be throwing money away. What would you do?
Thanks!
Albutt
1. I thought a Q fare would be something like priceline not something I directly book on AA. I've traveled on United on a tour group booking and was able to use my SWU with no problems.
2. To pay $70 to get on the next fare level just to get waitlisted. What if I don't get upgraded? Then, I would lose $140! I would rather be put on the waitlist and if confirmed then pay the $140. But the agent said this wasn't possible.
I don't want to pay $70 as I could just be throwing money away. What would you do?
Thanks!
Albutt
You could subscribe to EF and set up an alert. In this way you only purchase seats after you know that they will be upgradeable. The bad part is that there may be others who enter the waitlist prior to the seats becoming available.
good luck on whatever you choose to do.
Aug 6, 2009, 10:23 am
#408
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
The other problem with that is the cost of changing to an upgradable fare may go up as well once the cheaper buckets get zeroed out.
Aug 6, 2009, 10:26 am
#409
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,044
So a few months ago, I purchased a flight for my fiance and myself to Spain. Last week, I achieved EXP. I call the EXP desk to use my SWU. The agent says my fare Q cannot be upgradable. I read the brochure and sure enough that's what it says. My two complaints are:
1. I thought a Q fare would be something like priceline not something I directly book on AA. I've traveled on United on a tour group booking and was able to use my SWU with no problems.
1. I thought a Q fare would be something like priceline not something I directly book on AA. I've traveled on United on a tour group booking and was able to use my SWU with no problems.
2. To pay $70 to get on the next fare level just to get waitlisted. What if I don't get upgraded? Then, I would lose $140! I would rather be put on the waitlist and if confirmed then pay the $140. But the agent said this wasn't possible.
I don't want to pay $70 as I could just be throwing money away. What would you do?
I don't want to pay $70 as I could just be throwing money away. What would you do?
Aug 6, 2009, 10:36 am
#410
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Always on vacation
Programs: aa exp - spg gold - Hyatt Diamond - HH Gold
Posts: 6,007
Aug 6, 2009, 1:03 pm
#412
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
Aug 6, 2009, 4:25 pm
#413
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: United 1k, American Executive Platinum, Hyatt - Diamond Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 197
Oh man, that's just what happened. Right after I hung up with them, I called back. They said the fare shot up an additional 700 bucks! Eeeks! Should have took it at 70. I guess we'll just be hanging back in coach and will use the SWU's on another trip. At least our layover to part of the way will be up front. =(
someone said it best earlier... AA lowest fares, does not mean the lowest upgradable fares!
someone said it best earlier... AA lowest fares, does not mean the lowest upgradable fares!
Aug 6, 2009, 9:06 pm
#414
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: BOS
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Free Agent
Posts: 142
Keep calling back; things change; and maybe someone misread something. (Sounds like a pretty large change in such a short time)
Added: Might be the case that a lower upgradeable fare bucket zeroed out in the intervening time. Always a chance that Revenue Management might add more seats to that bucket as time goes on....or not.
Added: Might be the case that a lower upgradeable fare bucket zeroed out in the intervening time. Always a chance that Revenue Management might add more seats to that bucket as time goes on....or not.
Last edited by fanch26; Aug 7, 2009 at 10:17 am Reason: Addtional speculation
Aug 7, 2009, 9:42 am
#415
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: AA EXP 3.4MM, BAEC, UAMP, Skyteam (<10k) HH Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz Gold, GE/TSA TT
Posts: 2,723
advance.
So, my conclusion: the $70 fare differential is a no-brainer, for an EXP, it's almost a "can't lose" investment.
Aug 7, 2009, 10:06 am
#416
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,541
Aug 7, 2009, 11:07 am
#417
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP 1.5MM, AC Member, Marriott Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 513
My first six EVIPs this year were applied and cleared when booking (MIA-RDU-LHR-AMS-LHR-ORD-MIA, MIA-LHR-ORD-MIA and MIA-ORD-LHR-ORD-MIA). I just booked MIA-ORD-MAN-LHR-MIA for September 3rd/8th and had to waitlist for the first time. The fare difference between Q and N was $47. Of course, I'll have to pay the difference in APD (about $60) from LHR if and when it clears. I feel it's a small price to pay for the chance to sit in a comfier seat and eat and drink myself silly for 8 hours! 
Aug 20, 2009, 6:41 pm
#418
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
For the first time in all the years that AA has been providing VIPs under all its guises for EXPs, their value to me has plummeted because it is near impossible to find routings without I inventory for business class. I typically have a good deal of flexibility on the dates I travel, at least 3-5 days either side, but now that competitive pricing at broad volumes is built on I fare basis, there is no way to have my company travel agent book flights that I can upgrade to first.
I agree with your point that by offering the lower price in I, AA is losing business from some of their EXP members. Especially when UA has comparable fares in D.
Aug 21, 2009, 3:53 pm
#419
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: 33,000 feet
Programs: aa exp and ck, spg plat, hz pc, dl life gld, marriott life plat, others
Posts: 553
Oct 7, 2009, 4:39 am
#420
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London (~75% of the year).
Programs: AA PPro
Posts: 477
This thread should probably also mention that AA now allows EVIPs to be used with Q fares:
Effective October 6, 2009, you can use your Systemwide Upgrades with published fare tickets booked in I or O class and fares booked in Q between North America and Asia, Europe, India or South America.
http://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/...ardChanges.jsp
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ys-coming.html
Effective October 6, 2009, you can use your Systemwide Upgrades with published fare tickets booked in I or O class and fares booked in Q between North America and Asia, Europe, India or South America.
http://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/...ardChanges.jsp
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ys-coming.html