♦️RUMOR♦️: SWU “Next Service Class” Upgrade to go to Y -> W/PE -> J -> F
Apr 24, 2018, 8:33 pm
#1
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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♦️RUMOR♦️: SWU “Next Service Class” Upgrade to go to Y -> W/PE -> J -> F
It appears the BA et al upgrade path may be coming to AA, at least to SWU. This horrendous devaluation of SWU has been discussed at length here since the debut of longhaul Premium Economy class, and it appears once all widebodied are refitted we could possibly see this limitation (Main Cabin to Premium Economy, Premium Economy to Business, instead of Main Cabin to Business, and assumedly Business to First) applied to SWU (if not a new miles and copay chart as well).
Today, member shadymg posted here:
OTOH, JonNYC doesn’t agree.
Caveat: as indicated by the thread title, this is a rumor without any verification or hard data.
Today, member shadymg posted here:
Basically what she said, off the record, was that technically they have started training their CSRs to say that Economy seats when using an SWU can only be upgraded to the "next cabin" which would be Premium Economy.
Caveat: as indicated by the thread title, this is a rumor without any verification or hard data.
Last edited by JDiver; Apr 25, 2018 at 7:46 am Reason: Add caveat and about JonNYC take
Apr 24, 2018, 8:47 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2015
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If this happens, I'm gone. I've been a fairly happy AA EXP despite the devaluations (honestly came over after some of them anyways), but this would really piss me off. Delta has already shown that they won't do this and have said as much on their website. And I live in a UA hub (they have a version of this with their fare requirements) with a big DL and AS presence so I have choices
Apr 24, 2018, 9:00 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
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That's what I was thinking. While this would not be something I'd welcome, it could play into my benefit. My company only pays business class on flights over 10 hours with a reasonable connection available. This means that from PHX to Europe I have to book Y (even though PHX to LHR on BA is over 10 hours). They do allow for PE to be booked on any international flight so it may increase my chances to use an SWU. I wonder if a lot of people have some sort of similar policy.
Apr 24, 2018, 9:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
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That's what I was thinking. While this would not be something I'd welcome, it could play into my benefit. My company only pays business class on flights over 10 hours with a reasonable connection available. This means that from PHX to Europe I have to book Y (even though PHX to LHR on BA is over 10 hours). They do allow for PE to be booked on any international flight so it may increase my chances to use an SWU.
Apr 24, 2018, 9:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
Lame... why cut down the number of SWU's from 8 to 4 then a few years later remove the ability to upgrade from Y to J?
Will every AA widebody be retrofitted with PY? I have a feeling people will be burning SWU's on transcon routes making the upgrades even that much harder...
Will every AA widebody be retrofitted with PY? I have a feeling people will be burning SWU's on transcon routes making the upgrades even that much harder...
Apr 24, 2018, 9:38 pm
#8
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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Lame... why cut down the number of SWU's from 8 to 4 then a few years later remove the ability to upgrade from Y to J?
Will every AA widebody be retrofitted with PY? I have a feeling people will be burning SWU's on transcon routes making the upgrades even that much harder...
Will every AA widebody be retrofitted with PY? I have a feeling people will be burning SWU's on transcon routes making the upgrades even that much harder...
787-9 PE “out of the box”
787-8 none refitted as yet, to be refitted
77W 15 of 20 refitted
772 35 of 47 refitted
A330-200 all refitted
(763 will not be refitted)
(A330-300 returning to lessor, A350 cancelled, more 787s in the works)
Last edited by JDiver; Apr 24, 2018 at 11:29 pm Reason: Reminded by dkc192 763 not for refit
Apr 24, 2018, 9:40 pm
#9
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Apr 24, 2018, 9:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
I'm a bit skeptical that this is somehow "solidifying" right now based on a couple of AAgents saying so, without a clear rollout process/timeline attached. We know there are all kinds of inconsistency in training.
Yes, in the long run, this is very plausible (though very unfortunate). It's a big blow to EXPs, that might be softened a bit if they're granted a lot more SWUs.
But for now the devil is in the details. For this to be happening in the immediate term there need to be answers to: When will all AA widebodies have PE (sold as PE)? If they pull the trigger before then, will those without PE still get Y->J, or be ineligible for SWU? What about the international 757s -- will they become the only intercontinental lie-flat seats accessible by SWU from Y (and perhaps become highly sought after as such)?
Yes, in the long run, this is very plausible (though very unfortunate). It's a big blow to EXPs, that might be softened a bit if they're granted a lot more SWUs.
But for now the devil is in the details. For this to be happening in the immediate term there need to be answers to: When will all AA widebodies have PE (sold as PE)? If they pull the trigger before then, will those without PE still get Y->J, or be ineligible for SWU? What about the international 757s -- will they become the only intercontinental lie-flat seats accessible by SWU from Y (and perhaps become highly sought after as such)?
Apr 24, 2018, 10:51 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
Every AA widebody is being refitted with Premium Economy. link
787-9 PE “out of the box”
787-8 none refitted as yet, to be refitted
77W 15 of 20 refitted
772 35 of 47 refitted
A330-200 all refitted
(A330-300 returning to lessor, A350 cancelled, more 787s in the works)
787-9 PE “out of the box”
787-8 none refitted as yet, to be refitted
77W 15 of 20 refitted
772 35 of 47 refitted
A330-200 all refitted
(A330-300 returning to lessor, A350 cancelled, more 787s in the works)
Apr 24, 2018, 11:13 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
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I think there are ways that they could do this and not really upset everyone ... for example, SWU's become a one cabin upgrade, but it is possible to use two to go from Y to J. And couple this with returning to 8 per year instead of 4.
Apr 24, 2018, 11:21 pm
#14
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Location: Bye Delta
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True, but then again you know who we’re dealing with here.
Apr 24, 2018, 11:38 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 642
But that would maintain the status quo of essentially the same number of SWUs to J. The strategy is to cut.