American Airlines post-merger reflection... 6 years later?
Jan 27, 2019, 1:16 pm
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
It's not like DL and UA haven't made the same kinds of moves. If you an International J traveler your experience has probably gotten better with any of the US3 over the past six years because you are a huge money maker for the airlines. If you are the 2-3 times a month domestic business traveler mostly in Y with an occasion upgrade your experience is either the same or worse (depending the number of times your able to sit in MCE/Delta Comfort/E+). That's the reality of the business. Parker is a creature of Wall Street. Wall Street wants Spirit amenities other than for those willing to pay and Parker obliges Wall Street.
Jan 27, 2019, 6:58 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,347
CK certainly have pretty good upgrade chances, and I personally do pretty well. But I've been in Y a few times recently, and had a few close calls. And I'm seeing an increasing number of times when J isn't even available for sale when I'm booking...
Jan 27, 2019, 7:10 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,689
Except she didn't end up at CLT; she ended up in the Hudson River. US 1549. @:-)
Later, on short notice, she flew on US out to LAX to appear on Ellen. And once again, she couldn't get into F. She had to fly THAT segment coach.
Jan 27, 2019, 7:12 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Charlottesville, Va. USA
Posts: 1,752
jayer you are absolutely right. The unions had the last defined benfit pension plan in the industry, It wasn't financially sustainable but they refused to negotiate. It left aa no choice but bankruptcy. Doug Parker promised the aa unions the " sky' as he did with us air' and after the merger reneged. Someone earlier noted the stock price history. He has made huge bonuses because of the drop in oil prices.
No he didn't "save" either airline. He made them all third class in the 3 major us airlines.
No he didn't "save" either airline. He made them all third class in the 3 major us airlines.
Jan 28, 2019, 12:50 pm
#50
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, DL UA
Posts: 457
AA has a dual focus and its going to cost people in the middle. The middle will move out to Delta. You have the LCC in Coach and premium FC up front. Premium Econ on long hauls can bridge the gap but on domestic flights it cannot. They close lounges at outposts and are making the beautiful FL lounges. Half Greyhound half premium. Soon enough they will be forced to go in a direction. As they lose contracts they can become an LCC or as they lose people in the back maybe they can be a full fledged premium airline. People like myself who we dont spend on J or F but enough in Y and W will slowly switch over to places where the middle of the road will be treated better. Delta is trying to become that.
Last edited by CLTRob; Jan 28, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Jan 28, 2019, 1:04 pm
#51
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
If you're PLT and above and have an AC membership things have on the whole gotten better other than for LUS flyers that didn't need to use stickers to upgrade. You get MCE free at booking, free drinks in MCE (albeit the second one will likely involve a trip to galley), and occasional upgrades. Boarding Group 3 means you will still have your bags stowed near your seat. While some smaller ACs have closed, which bites, the complimentary food menu in the ACs has vastly improved. I remember when it was solely mushy apples and pretzels.
Now if we can just get showers at CLT, PHL and if really dreaming PHX.
Now if we can just get showers at CLT, PHL and if really dreaming PHX.
Jan 28, 2019, 2:12 pm
#52
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
Doug Parker promised the aa unions the " sky' as he did with us air' and after the merger reneged. Someone earlier noted the stock price history. He has made huge bonuses because of the drop in oil prices. No he didn't "save" either airline. He made them all third class in the 3 major us airlines.