rasheed

I don't follow because now LUS flights sell seats to non EXP, so revenue might increase because I know Gold and Plats were getting upgrades on LUS.

I was also recently on a under 500 miles flight with an empty seat so every elite who could upgrade received it.

Where I see the potential silver lining as mentioned upthread is increased availability as LUS no longer has free companion. I have seen elites at all levels get free companion on LUS. Even I have gotten cross country seats for two non elites (with two elites) on one PNR at under T-24 because seats were available.

Now, it is SWU or stickers.

Rasheed

grahampros

US is now officially and permanently gone. So you either have to accept the changes or move onto another carrier.

JDiver

An EXP neither earns, nor has need of, stickers.

carlosdca

It was a discussion of the effect of companions to AAs bottom line in the hypothetical scenario that AA starts requiring EXPs to earn/redeem stickers.

tom911

I generally travel solo. I have upgraded friends I've been traveling with to both HKG (scored three seats on DFW-HKG) and LHR-LAX (three seats there, too). I do get some extra systemwides for crossing million mile thresholds which makes that easier as I have 12 some years.

If the companion is on the same itinerary on a domestic route, they get my EXP priority. You are limited to one sponsored upgrade with 500 milers. I've only done that once and it was in the Admirals' Club just before departure when all three of us were on the same itinerary. I surrendered some of my 500 milers from 2004 that are still in account.

It's a little different on international. If it's a tough route to clear, such as DFW-HKG, I split the reservation so I can clear separately if just one seat might open up, and then my companions will clear based on their own elite status. There is some risk in waiting for 3 seats to open at the same time. On the LHR-LAX flight, we were all on my booking and immediately cleared from hidden EXP inventory. Had started that trip in DUB so no extra charges from LHR. There is some advantage in keeping everyone on the same itinerary in case of irregular operations, otherwise we could end up being rerouted on different flights.

There's been discussion here about the pros and cons of splitting international bookings for the purposes of upgrades. Not sure there is a definitive answer there as to the best course of action every single time.

Hotel_junkie

STL is probably not a heavy elite route. When I fly to Baton Rouge, I get upgraded all the time LOL.

iadisgreat

I am not sure, but I think LUS upgrades were automatically requested; GLDs and PLTs may not be aware that they have to request upgrades on what were LUS flights.

RogerD408

Yes, it's a new game with new rules. Just because it was one way does not mean it is still that way. Unfortunately, those not reading the FT posts are likely to get bit more so than those that are.

It would be wise for pmAA members to refresh their understanding of the rules just to make sure they are aware of the changes. The school of hard knocks is not pleasant.

GregL

STL has a significant core of AA FFs.

When TWA's FF program was merged into AAdvantage, TW lifetime to date miles were added to AA lifetime to date miles and quite a few lifetime statuses were given out.

When the tornado hit the airport in 2011, AA worked to open up a temporary AC while the reconstruction of the C concourse took place.

STL != BTR

Greg

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

BTR? When I flew DFW and CLT/BTR this summer I only remember the horrific CR2s. Finally wised up after a few flights and flew to MSY and just drove to Baton Rouge.

fordan

Which is a lot of Flyertalk users who only pop in when something happens. Having a centralized "complain/ask basic questions about the upgrade change" thread when it only just hit for a large number of users isn't a bad thing. Lots of us in LUS hubs would have had to work hard to get on a LAA flight to see how things were done there pre-Oct 17. Plus give up a potentially free upgrade.

aktchi

If either she or you had enough stickers in your accounts, they could just have been deducted silently. Happened to us a few times.

The only time you are truly guaranteed to hear about it is if the ug clears and you don't have enough stickers.

GotCalcio4

???? EXPs need to use stickers for companions. I am often (but not always) traveling with someone in my same itinerary. They are useful for EXPs.

mvoight

I wouldn't call it Phantom. As a PLT, I have had good luck with PHX-LAX and LAS-LAX

Ty Vil

My most commonly flown route is PHX-PDX at 1009 miles it requires 3 stickers. I flew it on the 17th; ugh that pissed me off using a sticker for 9 measly miles.