Does AA miss its former elites?

Old Apr 11, 2018, 6:00 pm
  #46  
 
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Originally Posted by 3Cforme
If you can point to any data on that (indeed, for any US carrier), I would like to see it. I've been reading SEC filings and Investor Updates for a long time and I've never seen anything, nor even any decent allusions to such. Sources of passenger revenue by fraction just aren't mentioned, in my recollection.

.
There will never be anything to "point to" in ANY public offering regarding pricing and how much of each fare is bought by whom - that is very closely guarded by the airline.

That said, I can say having worked for an airline for nearly 10 years (not anymore of course) is that it certainly ain't Joe and Jane taking the kiddos to Disney World that the airlines covet unless they are filthy rich and paying full fare F to get there. Business travelers - those who pay for the higher fares for flexibility - very much drive the revenue of most airlines in the US (even Southwest).
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Old Apr 11, 2018, 7:35 pm
  #47  
 
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Originally Posted by diver858
1. Even with the increased requirements to earn elite status, upgrades are as elusive as ever; as a LT PLT, I typically find myself at 15 - 35 on upgrade request lists.
I sat next to a corporate flyer on a domestic segment (on the way to Asia), and he indicated that everyone in their company (which has a corporate contract) gets AA Platinum at a minimum, regardless of how many miles they fly. Could just be a couple of trips. And there is an allotment of EXP and CKs, and I am guessing many get EXP. The company decides who gets what.

AA seems to be focused on corporate contracts and giving way status as part of those contract - and that includes more higher levels of status. Hence Elite status is becoming more of a corporate benefit and less of a benefit to those that meet the requirements. I think this is why I am seeing 20 EXPs on a flight out of DCA. Upgrades as EXP are zero for midweek flights. Saturday seems to be the best time for upgrades.
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Old Apr 11, 2018, 7:54 pm
  #48  
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Originally Posted by cova
Upgrades as EXP are zero for midweek flights
Makes sense for that route. This week flying DFW-ORD Tuesday afternoon on a 738 I was 11 on the list. Since my EQD last year was only $18K that's why.
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Old Apr 11, 2018, 8:41 pm
  #49  
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Originally Posted by Often1
Full doesn't matter. Anybody can fill an aircraft if they price the ticket right.

What's up are AA's profits. While that isn't directly due to moving its FFP to a spend-based operation, that is part of it.

Anybody who thinks that AA suffered financially because a few people who pay attention to this stuff are miffed, sorely overestimates their value and underestimates their impact.
Correction: Anybody can fill an aircraft if they price the ticket WRONG,
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Old Apr 12, 2018, 8:52 am
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I have to agree with others in that I haven't really noticed much of a change this year. My flying patterns now more typically align to that of the typical business flyer schedule (I work in big 4 consulting), out on Mondays and return on Thursday evenings. On Monday morning flights (CLT-MSP) for example, I've been number 13 on the list.

However, other flights, it all depends, I've sometimes seen no one on the list at all.
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Old Apr 12, 2018, 9:18 am
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I've been a CP/EXP for the last 6-7 years straight, and some form of preferred for 13 years straight. I am already booked to meet PP by the end of the year. Most of my travel is personal. I tend to book international J, albeit from cheaper originals than PHL. I would still pay probably 6-7K a year each for my fiance and I, mostly on AA metal. With the new EQD changes, we actually moved most of my international flying away from AA metal. A better return for money than spending on AA metal. Just last week, I took a step back and asked myself what is the point of going for EXP from PP again. I'm struggling to convince myself to go for it. Higher on the upgrade priority list for the few times a year I fly AA domestic? Meh. The free award redeposit has been useful in the past, but still that's maybe only used 2x a year. Flip side is, my options open up for international J travel on better, more competitively priced airlines than AA/BA.

To the topic at hand - I don't think they'd miss me/us. They'd probably be happy to see usgo since most of my money goes to other OW airlines at this point.
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Old Apr 12, 2018, 9:30 am
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I can promise you they don't care. I was gold for many years. Last year, I didn't fly as much (only award travel on AA) and haven't heard squat from them except the general offer to buy back to gold.

As many have done, I've gone free agent. I just booked my first trip on United this week, in business class. Because I am in business, there are no real benefits that I am missing from elite status. The flight was ~$140 cheaper than AA and offered better flight times. The ONLY thing I am losing is about 5K of AA miles, which at the current rate of buying AA miles, I could easily get for the $140 saved, if I really want them and have the best of both worlds. (Of course, I'll now have miles on UA - time will tell if I rack up enough to make any use of them).

So no, AA doesn't miss me, and I don't miss them either. Free agent status is great.
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Old Apr 12, 2018, 12:00 pm
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Is it me, or does the question about AA missing the former elites kinda imply the former elites miss AA? Or at least miss their elite status on AA?
I thought from reading most former elites were pretty much :"Good riddance, now I'm a free agent"

I just not sure I understand the point of asking this? I doubt AA regrets their decision, as it was all financial and they're the only ones who can see the years of spending data that FT are armchair quarterbacking about. No insult intended, it's just ironic to me that people who fell down a few notches and said they were happy to be free agents would give two sh!ts about what AA thinks about them now.
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Old Apr 12, 2018, 1:09 pm
  #54  
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Originally Posted by elperro
There will never be anything to "point to" in ANY public offering regarding pricing and how much of each fare is bought by whom - that is very closely guarded by the airline.

That said, I can say having worked for an airline for nearly 10 years (not anymore of course)...
Carriers have - in the distant past - discussed what fraction of seats was bought as Y walk-up fares - about 12% for UA ~15 years ago. DL and UA have - in the present - talked about what fraction of premium cabin seats are sold rather than given as upgrades (>50%, in contrast to about 15% five years ago). DL has - as recently as today - cited the growth in corporate fare revenues. But they never, ever, say anything of the form 'Corporate fares make up XX% of revenues.'

The absence of evidence shouldn't leave anybody more inclined to believe your argument.
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Old Apr 12, 2018, 1:56 pm
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Every business has customer churn.
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Old Apr 12, 2018, 6:38 pm
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I'm sure they do not.
I miss my former AA though!
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Old Apr 13, 2018, 6:32 am
  #57  
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Originally Posted by nrr
Related issue: Casinos in AC (in NJ) were doing reasonably well, until PA legalized gambling, AC had not planned properly. In the last 2 years 5 AC casinos closed.
AC didn't just have competition from PA casinos, but also MD, DE, and NY - all reasonable distances people would drive for a 1 or 2 night visit (often comped). 2 of those 5 casinos are in the works to re-open, as well. Taj Mahal (good riddance) will become a Hard Rock this Summer and Revel is said to be near a deal to reopen under new ownership/management.
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Old Apr 13, 2018, 6:34 am
  #58  
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I have to say that my upgrades as a Gold have been more frequent this year than last, however, my 12 month rolling EQD is around $6000 whereas last year I re-started work travel and had <$3000 EQD on my rolling counter. So I can't be sure if my upgrades are due to my EQD improvement or a reduction in the ranks of overall elites competing for the seats. I've even gotten a few upgrades on the A319 with just 8 seats up front on ex-CLT and ex-PHL routes.
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Old Apr 13, 2018, 8:02 am
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Originally Posted by bchandler02
I can promise you they don't care. I was gold for many years. Last year, I didn't fly as much (only award travel on AA) and haven't heard squat from them except the general offer to buy back to gold.

As many have done, I've gone free agent. I just booked my first trip on United this week, in business class. Because I am in business, there are no real benefits that I am missing from elite status. The flight was ~$140 cheaper than AA and offered better flight times. The ONLY thing I am losing is about 5K of AA miles, which at the current rate of buying AA miles, I could easily get for the $140 saved, if I really want them and have the best of both worlds. (Of course, I'll now have miles on UA - time will tell if I rack up enough to make any use of them).

So no, AA doesn't miss me, and I don't miss them either. Free agent status is great.
Sounds great, until the inevitable IRROPS, when you go to the bottom of the list (no status, cheapest fare)...
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Old Apr 13, 2018, 8:28 am
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AA doesn't like it's current Elites. Why would you think it misses it's former ones?
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