What's so special about MEX route?
Sep 10, 2018, 1:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 148
What's so special about MEX route?
Hi all,
This year I was upgraded 100% on variety of routes which include JFK-SFO, SFO-JFK, LGA-DCA, JFK-MIA, LGA-MIA, MIA-LGA, MIA-EWR. For all of them I would get upgraded 4 days ahead of the flight (100+ hours as EXP).
Last week I got upgraded on JFK-MIA but did not get anything for MIA-MEX. When I got to the airport I was #6 on upgrade list, after all available seats were already upgraded prior to the flight. On the way back I was flying MEX - DFW where I was #4 on the upgrade list and DFW-LGA cleared 4 days before. I also spoke to a woman in the airport and she said she was #7 on MEX - DFW upgrade list as PP.
What is so special about MEX route? How come there are so many people way ahead of me on the upgrade list on this route as compared to other routes which I would assume are more popular at AA? I had ~$27k spent last year and about $16k this year so far. All of the routes I've done this year I'm assuming I'm in top 3 for upgrades and this is before airport and my guess there are others who are behind me on upgrade list that had smaller amount spent in 2017. If I'm #6 in the airport most likely there were 3-4 people who were upgraded previously (ie. 100+ hours). With this in mind it would mean there are 10+ passengers that had a higher spend than me in 2017.
Is MEX a special destination for AA that would have higher spend travelers who spend more than travelers to bigger AA hubs (ie. MIA / SFO / DFW / JFK / LGA). I'm puzzled how I am top of the EXP upgrade list for all different places except for MEX where I appear to be at the complete bottom, almost on same level as PP.
This year I was upgraded 100% on variety of routes which include JFK-SFO, SFO-JFK, LGA-DCA, JFK-MIA, LGA-MIA, MIA-LGA, MIA-EWR. For all of them I would get upgraded 4 days ahead of the flight (100+ hours as EXP).
Last week I got upgraded on JFK-MIA but did not get anything for MIA-MEX. When I got to the airport I was #6 on upgrade list, after all available seats were already upgraded prior to the flight. On the way back I was flying MEX - DFW where I was #4 on the upgrade list and DFW-LGA cleared 4 days before. I also spoke to a woman in the airport and she said she was #7 on MEX - DFW upgrade list as PP.
What is so special about MEX route? How come there are so many people way ahead of me on the upgrade list on this route as compared to other routes which I would assume are more popular at AA? I had ~$27k spent last year and about $16k this year so far. All of the routes I've done this year I'm assuming I'm in top 3 for upgrades and this is before airport and my guess there are others who are behind me on upgrade list that had smaller amount spent in 2017. If I'm #6 in the airport most likely there were 3-4 people who were upgraded previously (ie. 100+ hours). With this in mind it would mean there are 10+ passengers that had a higher spend than me in 2017.
Is MEX a special destination for AA that would have higher spend travelers who spend more than travelers to bigger AA hubs (ie. MIA / SFO / DFW / JFK / LGA). I'm puzzled how I am top of the EXP upgrade list for all different places except for MEX where I appear to be at the complete bottom, almost on same level as PP.
Sep 10, 2018, 1:38 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 148
If people are paying for their F seats they wouldn't need to be upgraded. I am sure there are plenty of EXP / CK that always travel in paid F and therefore are never need to be upgraded. My original question still stands as why MEX has so many high spenders who are outspending me but at every other location I am the opposite. This is not 1-2 people ahead of me, its a lot of people.
Sep 10, 2018, 3:34 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
You're correct only 8 in F, on MEX - DFW 3 people were upgraded and I was #4
If people are paying for their F seats they wouldn't need to be upgraded. I am sure there are plenty of EXP / CK that always travel in paid F and therefore are never need to be upgraded. My original question still stands as why MEX has so many high spenders who are outspending me but at every other location I am the opposite. This is not 1-2 people ahead of me, its a lot of people.
If people are paying for their F seats they wouldn't need to be upgraded. I am sure there are plenty of EXP / CK that always travel in paid F and therefore are never need to be upgraded. My original question still stands as why MEX has so many high spenders who are outspending me but at every other location I am the opposite. This is not 1-2 people ahead of me, its a lot of people.
Sep 10, 2018, 4:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
You're correct only 8 in F, on MEX - DFW 3 people were upgraded and I was #4
If people are paying for their F seats they wouldn't need to be upgraded. I am sure there are plenty of EXP / CK that always travel in paid F and therefore are never need to be upgraded. My original question still stands as why MEX has so many high spenders who are outspending me but at every other location I am the opposite. This is not 1-2 people ahead of me, its a lot of people.
If people are paying for their F seats they wouldn't need to be upgraded. I am sure there are plenty of EXP / CK that always travel in paid F and therefore are never need to be upgraded. My original question still stands as why MEX has so many high spenders who are outspending me but at every other location I am the opposite. This is not 1-2 people ahead of me, its a lot of people.
Sep 10, 2018, 6:13 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Sep 11, 2018, 7:06 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 148
Hence my confusion why with ~$27k for last year + $16k current year (+ upcoming $9k international flight + several domestic trips in F/J/economy). I think I will be over $30k spend this year because I'm booking AA marketed CX flight and I have one less Asia J flight this year.
Sep 11, 2018, 12:26 pm
#12
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
For one, MEX likely offers more premium traffic. Ergo the exception for Admirals Club use if flying to or from MEX, but not other North American & Caribbean destinations, etc.