Does Free Alcohol in MCE Decrease the Value of Gold Status?
 

I see the complimentary access to MCE within 24 hours of the flight as the greatest benefit of Gold status.

Now that MCE includes free alcohol, I wonder if more people will buy up to MCE and decrease chances of a Gold member getting a free MCE seat within 24 hours of the flight. Thoughts?

Unlikely. It is not unlimited alcohol. Maybe just one free drink, like CK and EXP gets in coach.

Ah, I didn't know it was just one free drink. Thanks!

I haven't seen it reported anywhere that it's just one free drink. AA's release says as "Complimentary beer, wine, and spirits," which makes me believe that you can get a drink on each beverage service.

MCE is still pretty pricey on long hauls. Maybe a few more people will buy up on shorter flights, especially if they're gold already - it can be as low as $10-15 on shorter flights, so if you have a drink every time you fly that makes it a good deal. Personally I can remember the last time I paid for alcohol when I was alone (I drink in the lounge and when I'm gambling and sometimes in F), so I can't personally identify.

so one? :p

For the manority of flights, pretty much. Call button?

ha. there's also a button over your head with a pic of a person offering a beverage. You can probably push that for a drink (assuming the Credit Card Saleswoman cares enough to stop texting and offer a beverage).

Sometimes the FA will give a CK/EXP two instead of one drink. Others go strictly by the limit of one.

If it is more than one drink - then I suspect a CK/EXP in MCE would get more than one. They may give you two - but I doubt they would give you 4 or 5. Likely what was said above - a drink per cart service. Some people ask for a double, maybe they would accommodate that - but we will see. Probably more up to the FA working at the time.

Only 13% of AA passengers fly more than once per year. My guess is that the 87% percent of passengers are deciding if they want to cross the hurdle between Basic Economy which is anywhere from $10-$300, will not be down for another $10-$40 at that point. It seems like a move to scrape a few extra bucks from business passengers that are not yet elite; however, every job that I've had wont even let me expense extra leg room seats, so in the end, it should be ok for Gold folks.

I am retiring this year and will not hit ExPlat this year and become a leisure traveler from now on.

I have 3 million miles on AA and this is good news for my wife and myself.

As a permanent Platinum I always get to book a MCE seat on my trips.

No. I think the implication here is that it will make more people buy MCE, which will reduce availability at T-24. But this ignores the fact that MCE seats often come open just before T-24 as higher level elites (who selected MCE at time of booking) get upgraded.

Plus it increases the value of "free MCE at T-24", which is a Gold benefit.

No. It adds a benefit to MCE pax with no harm to anyone else, whether they bought up (people who are driven by cost will snatch BE) or status.

I disagree. It decreases the perceived value of EXP status, because now anyone in mce gets a free drink. I mean I guess I still get a free snack...

Hopefully they let exp have free sparkling or something, if they're going to charge extra for that.