I知 leaving - I guess AA won't miss me

Old Apr 26, 2019, 12:21 pm
  #31  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
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Posts: 3,557
I was a UA loyalist until the 2012 merger and AA made a good offer to us to move over. It was great at first, but then a bit rockier recently. That said, it still currently works for me for my personal reasons (nonstops from LAX to where I fly, OW partners that fly where I want to fly) that may not necessarily be the same for others. I'm reluctant to go back to UA but have started dipping my toe in the DL waters.

I think it's a lot easier when you don't actually expect the airline to give a hoot about you and your business. So long as they deliver what they promise (get me there in one piece, reasonably on time, and in MCE with the occasional upgrade), I'll put up with the rest. It's a lot harder when you think they actually care, or should care.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 12:24 pm
  #32  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Us at UA and *A partners look forward to seeing you onboard your next flight . The grass may not be greener over here (c.f. DOM UCs, the demise of upgrades, etc.) but at least we have the route network to get you where you need to go.

Auf Widersehen,

James
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 12:27 pm
  #33  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
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Originally Posted by chongcao
pmUS management has visions of how to run merged AA? No dear, it has been proved from the B787 refit and Oasis project that they have no such thing called vision. The only vision they have is LAX expansion but that is not turning out to be whatever they dreamt to be. PmUS management continue to think they are managing an airline on the size of US Airways. They do not know how to run a global airline in AAs size. The only one who has some vision left AA to UA.
I think pmUS management has a vision: to turn AA into the world's largest ULCC, and Oasis project is just the latest move to accomplish that. Doesn't seem to be working, given USdbaAA's underwhelming financial performance and low satisfaction scores.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 12:50 pm
  #34  
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Originally Posted by IADCAflyer
I'm not going to blame AA for retiring the F-100s. They were absolute maintenance pigs.
The problem was that they didn't have a replacement plane, the 145s were not the solution for 500-700 mile legs when United was flying 175s with F.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 1:06 pm
  #35  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
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As a 1K on UA and a plat on AA, I am able to compare both airlines, and I believe that both do a pretty good job of what they are suppose to do, which is to get me where I am going on time and in one piece.
While I don't fly international with AA (unlike UA), I do domestic and as far as I am concerned, time and price are the two criteria for me (in that order). Both airlines allow me to same day change if necessary, and both will work to put me on alternative flights when things go boing in the night. And I don't expect an upgrade on most of the flights I take which have F seats because I pay for Y and people up front are paying for F. Furthermore, as everyone else has noted, using miles for anything is a lottery experience.
I have actually found domestic AA crews, especially on the commuter flights, to be quite nice and pleasant.

Finally, I know that both airlines track me, because they constantly nudge me when I have a gap in flying with them due to schedules or travel breaks.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 1:08 pm
  #36  
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At the end of the day, you must choose the airline that works best for you. The industry has drastically changed over the past decade and one has to make rational choices. I've stuck with AA because I'm in PHX, I can redeem Saver awards from time to time, and am generally happy with the current schedules. I've considered changing to DL since my main destinations are SEA and ATL, but honestly the Skypesos situation has kept me from changing. But, today, I'm sticking with AA as my main carrier with WN as a backup for shorter hops.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 1:09 pm
  #37  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,407
Originally Posted by tomj888
The days of loyalty are over!. Flying a certain carrier for me is based upon these criteria:
1. Is it the most direct route to where I want to go?
2. Does it offer me the hard product I care about, i.e. FC for HK, LHR. Lie flats for TPAC and TATL.
3. Times that work for me.
4. Pricing.
That's the business component of air travel for most people who travel for business vs. Leisure.
I travel for leisure and those are pretty much my criteria, although not necessarily in that order.

Often the option is non-stop on another airline, compared to stopping in LHR or MAD with AA and OW. That choice is easy and is made easier by devaluations in the benefits of status and accumulating miles (not just on AA).
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 1:29 pm
  #38  
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Originally Posted by radonc1
they constantly nudge me when I have a gap in flying with them due to schedules or travel breaks.
Oh? That's the first time I've heard this (for AA at least).
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 1:52 pm
  #39  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO/MIA/JFK
Programs: AA EXP/*wood Plat/Hilton Gold/Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 288
Originally Posted by nrr
Due to AA's killing off JFK intl. operations (for me, loss of n/s to ZRH) and only two n/s (sometimes 3) between JFK and LAS (vs DL's 5*), I've quit flying AA (in revenue flts.)
I did fly two itns, one through a Casino promo to LAS and one to use SWUs. I have 1579 EQD and 16896 EQM now. I've been EXP for 8 years and ended 2018 with 17181 EQD and 177,448 EQM, last year by May 1 I was midway to those totals.
I wonder how many other "loyal" flyers have/are defecting.
*one flt in each direction is Delta 1: 180 degree recline in FC.^
With that 2019 EQD seems like bye bye EXP for you barring major spend remainder of year...only you would know that though but off pace from your numbers provided.

So the airline doesn稚 work for YOU. Oh well, life sux, find another airline that does. Pretty simple. Insert 匝 name of airline here and you end up in the same place no matter the airline for the most part just takes some time to realize it...
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 1:59 pm
  #40  
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The fastest growing airlines are the ULCCs and for the US3 that is what Y- is coming close to. We live in the Wal Mart era. Pay low prices, get horrific treatment and then complain about it on social media. When the leisure traveler flys again in six months he/she repeats the process.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 3:21 pm
  #41  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Originally Posted by newyorkgeorge
Pay low prices, get horrific treatment and then complain about it on social media. When the leisure traveler flys again in six months he/she repeats the process.
Actually, people on FT complain far, far more that the average leisure traveler (and they repeat the process, like... every week)

Regards
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 6:29 pm
  #42  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Watching the very slow, painful downward spiral of AA under PMUS leadership is quite unfortunate, but not surprising. Parker, et al took US and flew it into the ground when they merged it with HP. Today, AA is a tale of two airlines. By and large, their TATL and TPAC premium product is goof and competitive with DL and UA. The domestic product is a hot mess and their customer services (sans the EXP desk which is lovely) is absolutely in the toilet. Actually, that's kind of insulting to the toilet.

DL is on their game. US is slowly getting their mojo back and B6 is picking up steam. Funny thing is that when Parker looks in his rear-view mirror he can;t see his competition. He thinks he's way out front but the reality it they've long ago passed him.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 7:06 pm
  #43  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: houston, tx,usa
Posts: 86
Originally Posted by PUCCI GALORE
I am at that point as well. I really think that the service has gone to pot. Routes being dropped are, sadly. a part of airline life. What has changed for me is the staff attitude on board. No one appears to care less any more. I'm afraid that it seems as though the name over the door says American, but what is within is not. I will be interested to see their results. Friends that I have made who swore by AA, have now gone to Delta. I'm hardly a big customer but I use them for 3 round trips a year to HNL to inspect my properties without any other flights. Last week, the Lead FA's idea of a PDB was a bottle of water, and when asked why said that she was not paid to do so. The best service came PHX - SEA flying with a lady who was ex TWA. She was excellent but she is in a minority I fear.

All these flights do is increase my BAEC account with Tier Points - there would be no other reason to stay.
Yeah, PDBs are at the discretion of the Flight Attendants. So while you will almost always get one on American Eagle, very hit or miss on mainline.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 7:11 pm
  #44  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
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I went free agent 2 years ago, but OW flights work pretty well for our TATL and TPAC travels. The use of miles and CC points etc does reduce the cost of J travel for us, and I like it as a hobby. *A has been getting some love lately via Air NZ, SAS, and LH.
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Old Apr 26, 2019, 7:23 pm
  #45  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
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Originally Posted by boerne
I went free agent 2 years ago, but OW flights work pretty well for our TATL and TPAC travels. The use of miles and CC points etc does reduce the cost of J travel for us, and I like it as a hobby. *A has been getting some love lately via Air NZ, SAS, and LH.
Agree with you to some extent. Whilst I do all revenue flights with *A partners to keep my UA Gold status, I'm a free agent when it comes to award flights. In particular, I find BA's programme to be quite good for short haul redemptions having recently flown OW in CE from ZRH to LuCY for 9000 miles + 25 GBP. That's about how much I would spend with UA on a similar short haul route in Y! In this environment of limited award availability and award costs, being a free agent means you can find the one programme that has what you need and book with them versus being handcuffed to one program.

-James
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