ARCHIVE: 2015-17 AA Premium Economy / PE / PEY on widebody a/c announced
Oct 23, 2016, 11:33 am
#571
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
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That doesn't make it "unsafe to waitlist a SWU", that makes it "unsafe to buy a coach ticket on the assumption that you'll eventually be upgraded without confirmed C availability at the time of booking". I mostly agree with that proposition, but think it's been true for a while and has only a little bit to do with this change.
Oct 23, 2016, 3:10 pm
#572
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
This is a calculated risk that a lot of us take, under the assumption that if you book several months out, you will clear, barring any major irrops and snowball effects. Now this thing is likely entirely different. I personally don't want to fly 16 hours to Asia in PE, it is either J or nothing.
Oct 23, 2016, 5:53 pm
#573
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
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The way I approach this I am 95% certain it will clear (booking many months in advance and using EF alerts). If it doesn't clear the choices are trying to change flights/reroute to ones that have C, trying using double SWUs, rescheduling trip, or slamming it in MCE (assuming a 77W). Thank God I didn't have to resort to any of these yet. But mostly I have been able to find confirmed C space at booking to Asia, with the exception of the HKG route where I chance it very safely (and only on the 77W, I would never risk this on the 787, with the smaller J cabin and awful Y). The only real threat is irrops, and it is not negligible, unfortunately, maybe around 5%?.
Oct 23, 2016, 7:02 pm
#574
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Per the q2, earnings call, it was said that they need to inform customers of the PEY changes. and on the latest call they said that pey is more of a 2018 revenue initiative. Combining these 2, I am not looking for SWUs to change until they have more PEY cabins and they give notice. So am thinking we are good till maybe Fall?
Oct 24, 2016, 2:59 pm
#575
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 164
Has anybody booked on the DFW routes (GRU, MAD) starting next week? These should have the seats even though the official launch for the service is early next year...
I am curious, can these seats be selected with Oneworld status or is it really only AAdvantage status as the site suggests. I have Emerald with BA, equivalent to Executive Platinum, which typically allows me to pick good/special seats but with this I'm not sure.
I am curious, can these seats be selected with Oneworld status or is it really only AAdvantage status as the site suggests. I have Emerald with BA, equivalent to Executive Platinum, which typically allows me to pick good/special seats but with this I'm not sure.
Oct 24, 2016, 5:12 pm
#576
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Has anybody booked on the DFW routes (GRU, MAD) starting next week? These should have the seats even though the official launch for the service is early next year...
I am curious, can these seats be selected with Oneworld status or is it really only AAdvantage status as the site suggests. I have Emerald with BA, equivalent to Executive Platinum, which typically allows me to pick good/special seats but with this I'm not sure.
I am curious, can these seats be selected with Oneworld status or is it really only AAdvantage status as the site suggests. I have Emerald with BA, equivalent to Executive Platinum, which typically allows me to pick good/special seats but with this I'm not sure.
Oct 24, 2016, 5:35 pm
#577
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 164
I don't want to buy without knowing. I can see the seats are available (rows 9-11) during a dummy booking but I don't know if I will be able to get them for free. I don't have AAdvantage status to check this before booking and the seats appear as 'unavailable' without status.
Oct 24, 2016, 5:56 pm
#578
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
I don't want to buy without knowing. I can see the seats are available (rows 9-11) during a dummy booking but I don't know if I will be able to get them for free. I don't have AAdvantage status to check this before booking and the seats appear as 'unavailable' without status.
Oct 26, 2016, 5:29 am
#580
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold
Posts: 1,887
I feel for you, varkey. I think that's just saying that nobody really knows. Personally I was Gold and Platinum on QF for years before migrating back to the US and AAdvantage, and I never encountered an AA-only restriction on seat selection like other airlines have - they've always treated OW elites equally (IME). As they say in investing, though, past performance is no guarantee of future returns, so it may have changed. So there's your non-answer.
Oct 26, 2016, 7:36 am
#581
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Join Date: Mar 2001
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Could also try buying the ticket on expedia w/ hassle-free 24 hour cancellation and see what seats AA.com lets you select (or even calling in.) No downside.
Oct 26, 2016, 9:29 am
#582
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
Yes, call AA and ask them.
Can you put the flights in hold on aa.com? That's even better, and then call, or you may even be able to see the 0 pricing, if it recognizes you as an elite.
Can you put the flights in hold on aa.com? That's even better, and then call, or you may even be able to see the 0 pricing, if it recognizes you as an elite.
Oct 26, 2016, 2:28 pm
#583
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 164
I feel for you, varkey. I think that's just saying that nobody really knows. Personally I was Gold and Platinum on QF for years before migrating back to the US and AAdvantage, and I never encountered an AA-only restriction on seat selection like other airlines have - they've always treated OW elites equally (IME). As they say in investing, though, past performance is no guarantee of future returns, so it may have changed. So there's your non-answer.
Oct 26, 2016, 5:35 pm
#584
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: OMA/LNK
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 210
I posted in a 787 thread too. The EXP agent booked me in PE for free on my return trip from CDG to DFW in February. Though I'm hopeful I am not sitting there and my SWU clears...
Nov 3, 2016, 7:30 am
#585
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,487
The writing has clearly been on the wall on the AA side, but Delta has just announced their new PE product and also confirmed that upgrade instruments from Y will only be for PE. At least they are giving almost one year's notice. AA should really just announce what we already know at this point.