NostalgiAA - What Have we Lost?
Sep 2, 2016, 2:00 pm
#1
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
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NostalgiAA - What Have we Lost?
I know this thread will go off track soon, but talking just about customer experience (not cost, not competition) these are things that I miss that used to be part of the AA experience:
1. Seats blocked next to premium members - There was a time when they actually blocked the seat next to you and it was only released if they needed the space (and that rarely happened because loads were lower).
2. Award tickets were all like anytime - They were paper certificates which you ordered in advance. And once you had one, it was as good as a "Full Y" ticket, which meant that you could take any available coach seat on any qualifying flight. You could even walk into the airport and say "I want to take the transcon in an hour," hand them the award certificate and get your ticket.
3. Award tickets could be upgraded by "paying the difference" - And this was really valuable. Because award tickets were valued as "Y" and the redeyes (there were lots of them) had "Fn" (First night) fares. So, for our honeymoon, we were booked on the 747 from LAX-JFK on award ticket in coach. Day of flight I changed it to paid Fn. Cost $25 a person.
4. Real food, in all classes, on most flights. (You can debate quality all you want - I flew more than any of you (500,000 BIS/yr without leaving the US) and I cared about getting a meal.
5. Napkins with a button-hole.
6. All glass service items (plates, glasses) in F.
7. A feeling that AA cared about its best fliers. (Admittedly, I still fly, but I don't fall into that category any more - but I was invited to spend the weekend, with my wife, all expenses paid to fly F to Dallas for the weekend, stay in a hotel, enjoy meals and golf with other AA customers and executives).
8. Stopovers were free on awards.
9. When Mike Gunn sent me a letter, and said my legacy miles would never expire and could always be used on the old award chart, I believed him. (Of course, 14(?) years later AA told me "never mind, we changed our mind").
10. When I showed up at LAX, even before I was Platinum, a red coat (Anna) would personally walk me onto the DC-10 transcon and give me a first class seat.
11. The old upgrade system where, even as a Platinum, I was almost 100% for upgrades because I knew ALL the tricks and I was willing to be persistent. (I realize this one is a little controversial, but this is my thread.)
I am sure I am leaving out a bunch of others. Contributions welcome.
1. Seats blocked next to premium members - There was a time when they actually blocked the seat next to you and it was only released if they needed the space (and that rarely happened because loads were lower).
2. Award tickets were all like anytime - They were paper certificates which you ordered in advance. And once you had one, it was as good as a "Full Y" ticket, which meant that you could take any available coach seat on any qualifying flight. You could even walk into the airport and say "I want to take the transcon in an hour," hand them the award certificate and get your ticket.
3. Award tickets could be upgraded by "paying the difference" - And this was really valuable. Because award tickets were valued as "Y" and the redeyes (there were lots of them) had "Fn" (First night) fares. So, for our honeymoon, we were booked on the 747 from LAX-JFK on award ticket in coach. Day of flight I changed it to paid Fn. Cost $25 a person.
4. Real food, in all classes, on most flights. (You can debate quality all you want - I flew more than any of you (500,000 BIS/yr without leaving the US) and I cared about getting a meal.
5. Napkins with a button-hole.
6. All glass service items (plates, glasses) in F.
7. A feeling that AA cared about its best fliers. (Admittedly, I still fly, but I don't fall into that category any more - but I was invited to spend the weekend, with my wife, all expenses paid to fly F to Dallas for the weekend, stay in a hotel, enjoy meals and golf with other AA customers and executives).
8. Stopovers were free on awards.
9. When Mike Gunn sent me a letter, and said my legacy miles would never expire and could always be used on the old award chart, I believed him. (Of course, 14(?) years later AA told me "never mind, we changed our mind").
10. When I showed up at LAX, even before I was Platinum, a red coat (Anna) would personally walk me onto the DC-10 transcon and give me a first class seat.
11. The old upgrade system where, even as a Platinum, I was almost 100% for upgrades because I knew ALL the tricks and I was willing to be persistent. (I realize this one is a little controversial, but this is my thread.)
I am sure I am leaving out a bunch of others. Contributions welcome.
Last edited by sbrower; Sep 2, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Sep 2, 2016, 2:27 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: St. Louis, MO - AA PLT/2.98MM (Lifetime PLT), Delta PM, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat
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Posts: 1,923
Sep 2, 2016, 2:31 pm
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
The OP speaks of a time gone by for the entire airline industry. Today its all about putting a butt in every seat for whatever price the airline can get. First class cabins are being more monetized. Despite what many FTers want its never going back to what it was either from a service standard (like in the 60s and 70s) or an elite standard (like it was in the previous decade).
The new reality is that for high dollar spenders not much will change. For everyone else it will feel more and more like a NYC subway ride.
The new reality is that for high dollar spenders not much will change. For everyone else it will feel more and more like a NYC subway ride.
Sep 2, 2016, 3:13 pm
#4
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
Sep 2, 2016, 3:14 pm
#5
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
The OP speaks of a time gone by for the entire airline industry. Today its all about putting a butt in every seat for whatever price the airline can get. First class cabins are being more monetized. Despite what many FTers want its never going back to what it was either from a service standard (like in the 60s and 70s) or an elite standard (like it was in the previous decade).
The new reality is that for high dollar spenders not much will change. For everyone else it will feel more and more like a NYC subway ride.
The new reality is that for high dollar spenders not much will change. For everyone else it will feel more and more like a NYC subway ride.
Sep 2, 2016, 3:19 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
Short version (Have to go to meeting)
8/66 Family moving, Corporate paying. 1966. Males in coats, white shirts and ties. Ladies, including the 4 year old in dresses and hosiery. SYR-DTW. Change planes. DTW-SFO.
LOBSTER (and 2nds). 1st taste of Filet Mignon. At 16,1st taste of wine in
public. FA's loved thier job, and more importantly, loved US! (And we loved them in return).
8/16 Bi-monthly return to USA from CDG (in J). Inattentive service, inedible food, and less.
1966-FA's were wonderful. 2016-Union seniority system gives high$ PAX "Grumpy Granny Roulette". YMMV
NET RESULT: As EXPs and we commute DFW-CDG 1-3 times a month, BUT all post 1/10/17 travel in $J, out of DFW is on ....
NOT AA.
Go figure. Once again, YMMV.
8/66 Family moving, Corporate paying. 1966. Males in coats, white shirts and ties. Ladies, including the 4 year old in dresses and hosiery. SYR-DTW. Change planes. DTW-SFO.
LOBSTER (and 2nds). 1st taste of Filet Mignon. At 16,1st taste of wine in
public. FA's loved thier job, and more importantly, loved US! (And we loved them in return).
8/16 Bi-monthly return to USA from CDG (in J). Inattentive service, inedible food, and less.
1966-FA's were wonderful. 2016-Union seniority system gives high$ PAX "Grumpy Granny Roulette". YMMV
NET RESULT: As EXPs and we commute DFW-CDG 1-3 times a month, BUT all post 1/10/17 travel in $J, out of DFW is on ....
NOT AA.
Go figure. Once again, YMMV.
Last edited by Dallas49er; Sep 2, 2016 at 3:58 pm
Sep 2, 2016, 3:23 pm
#7
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,065
The OP speaks of a time gone by for the entire airline industry. Today its all about putting a butt in every seat for whatever price the airline can get. First class cabins are being more monetized. Despite what many FTers want its never going back to what it was either from a service standard (like in the 60s and 70s) or an elite standard (like it was in the previous decade).
The new reality is that for high dollar spenders not much will change. For everyone else it will feel more and more like a NYC subway ride.
The new reality is that for high dollar spenders not much will change. For everyone else it will feel more and more like a NYC subway ride.
What the OP discusses will never come back. The new reality is here and here to stay unfortunately. Loyalty today means boarding into coach before others, getting a "coach plus" or whatever each airline calls it (exit or bulk head row for free). Yes you still earn miles but redeeming them like you could in the past is long gone.
Sep 2, 2016, 3:27 pm
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
Cheaper (in today's dollars) service allowing the economy to grow at a faster pace today than it did back in the days when you think it was better but it wasn't.
If there really is a market for a carrier with a dress code which serves lobster, why isn't there somebody offering it?
If there really is a market for a carrier with a dress code which serves lobster, why isn't there somebody offering it?
Sep 2, 2016, 3:30 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,633
o All flight awards came with included car rental and hotel awards
o I was Gold and remember getting special treatment; I'd say "I don't want to use stickers" and I'd get upgraded anyway. Now I'm Platinum and rarely get upgraded using "stickers".
o MRTC
o No security theater (questioning) when boarding outside the US
What I don't miss: No personal IFE on any plane, no OLCI, no electronic bp, and (not AA-specific) no GE; Customs would make everyone open their suitcases (seventies); no Tortas Frontera at O'Hare.
.
o I was Gold and remember getting special treatment; I'd say "I don't want to use stickers" and I'd get upgraded anyway. Now I'm Platinum and rarely get upgraded using "stickers".
o MRTC
o No security theater (questioning) when boarding outside the US
What I don't miss: No personal IFE on any plane, no OLCI, no electronic bp, and (not AA-specific) no GE; Customs would make everyone open their suitcases (seventies); no Tortas Frontera at O'Hare.
.
Last edited by SeeBuyFly; Sep 2, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Sep 2, 2016, 3:43 pm
#12
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Maybe I'm getting too damn old but yes mentally I long for days when traveling was more formalized. Today you see men dressed in tank tops (and I mean severe overweight older men) in the ACs, children running wild in F and J cabins, airline employees treated like personal servants and on and on. However, those days are not coming back at least not in probably my lifetime.
Sep 2, 2016, 3:55 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
How about just the days when you didn't need preCheck? I used to love as a kid going to the airport and meeting my dad at the gate when he came home from a business trip. Now my family doesn't even both coming to the airport!
Sep 2, 2016, 4:27 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,633
Don't know what I was thinking. Deleted "PreCheck".