Rumor, Speculation: AAdvantage Program Devaluation 31 Jul 2019
#166
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,563
MY SWUs generally go to waste now. We all complained about the reduction from 8 to 4, but the fact that they are so difficult to use with the tiny J cabins AA has anyways makes it a mute point. They are completely worthless without AA releasing any upgrade space in advance, so I won't care nor be shocked if they change these. I mean, you can't devalue something if it holds no value already, in my opinion.
I mean it's certainly your prerogative to not want to waitlist. That's certainly a choice people make - and have good reason to do so. No criticism from me about a choice to approach things that way.
But where it loses me is the extension that a choice to not want to waitlist means SWU's are across the board "difficult to use" and "worthless". Plenty of people clear SWUs off the waitlist. My own personal experience is that I waitlist SWUs regularly - and I've missed 1 request during 4+ years of EXP status. Easy to use and plenty of value, IME.
YMMV.
#167
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,319
It always amuses me that people who voluntarily eliminate a large portion of potential SWU use are so quick to declare SWUs "worthless".
I mean it's certainly your prerogative to not want to waitlist. That's certainly a choice people make - and have good reason to do so. No criticism from me about a choice to approach things that way.
But where it loses me is the extension that a choice to not want to waitlist means SWU's are across the board "difficult to use" and "worthless". Plenty of people clear SWUs off the waitlist. My own personal experience is that I waitlist SWUs regularly - and I've missed 1 request during 4+ years of EXP status. Easy to use and plenty of value, IME.
YMMV.
I mean it's certainly your prerogative to not want to waitlist. That's certainly a choice people make - and have good reason to do so. No criticism from me about a choice to approach things that way.
But where it loses me is the extension that a choice to not want to waitlist means SWU's are across the board "difficult to use" and "worthless". Plenty of people clear SWUs off the waitlist. My own personal experience is that I waitlist SWUs regularly - and I've missed 1 request during 4+ years of EXP status. Easy to use and plenty of value, IME.
YMMV.
In the end though, they are worthless, because I'd rather purchase W or J to have my expectations set instead of upending them for the better at 25 hours prior to departure.
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,765
I, like you, have done many a waitlist because that's pretty much the defacto way it works with AA these days. I've also cleared 90%+ of those waitlists. That's not really the issue most people have, it's a mental thing. It's the massive difference between Y and J, and having to wait, watch, wonder at the inventory until the magic T minus 25 hour clearance occurs. The waitlists don't even clear until it's really close in for most flights. The only saving grace to AA SWUs is the ability to use them on every class, unlike UA. But with UA, they at least release a decent amount of upgrade space in advance.
In the end though, they are worthless, because I'd rather purchase W or J to have my expectations set instead of upending them for the better at 25 hours prior to departure.
In the end though, they are worthless, because I'd rather purchase W or J to have my expectations set instead of upending them for the better at 25 hours prior to departure.
#169
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,247
It always amuses me that people who voluntarily eliminate a large portion of potential SWU use are so quick to declare SWUs "worthless".
I mean it's certainly your prerogative to not want to waitlist. That's certainly a choice people make - and have good reason to do so. No criticism from me about a choice to approach things that way.
But where it loses me is the extension that a choice to not want to waitlist means SWU's are across the board "difficult to use" and "worthless". Plenty of people clear SWUs off the waitlist. My own personal experience is that I waitlist SWUs regularly - and I've missed 1 request during 4+ years of EXP status. Easy to use and plenty of value, IME.
YMMV.
I mean it's certainly your prerogative to not want to waitlist. That's certainly a choice people make - and have good reason to do so. No criticism from me about a choice to approach things that way.
But where it loses me is the extension that a choice to not want to waitlist means SWU's are across the board "difficult to use" and "worthless". Plenty of people clear SWUs off the waitlist. My own personal experience is that I waitlist SWUs regularly - and I've missed 1 request during 4+ years of EXP status. Easy to use and plenty of value, IME.
YMMV.
#170
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 67
FWIW, I had a chance to use a SWU off the waitlist on SYD-LAX but passed on it because it would have meant traveling separately from my spouse. It certainly isn't impossible to clear, just... more onerous if you're trying to clear more than one seat at a time
#171
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 328
Passengers won't have any confirmed upgrade space if there's no saver award space. Win win for AA.
MY SWUs generally go to waste now. We all complained about the reduction from 8 to 4, but the fact that they are so difficult to use with the tiny J cabins AA has anyways makes it a mute point. They are completely worthless without AA releasing any upgrade space in advance, so I won't care nor be shocked if they change these. I mean, you can't devalue something if it holds no value already, in my opinion.
#173
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,133
I, like you, have done many a waitlist because that's pretty much the defacto way it works with AA these days. I've also cleared 90%+ of those waitlists. That's not really the issue most people have, it's a mental thing. It's the massive difference between Y and J, and having to wait, watch, wonder at the inventory until the magic T minus 25 hour clearance occurs. The waitlists don't even clear until it's really close in for most flights. The only saving grace to AA SWUs is the ability to use them on every class, unlike UA. But with UA, they at least release a decent amount of upgrade space in advance.
In the end though, they are worthless, because I'd rather purchase W or J to have my expectations set instead of upending them for the better at 25 hours prior to departure.
In the end though, they are worthless, because I'd rather purchase W or J to have my expectations set instead of upending them for the better at 25 hours prior to departure.
With that said, I've never missed one I requested.
#175
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,563
That's not really the issue most people have, it's a mental thing. It's the massive difference between Y and J, and having to wait, watch, wonder at the inventory until the magic T minus 25 hour clearance occurs. The waitlists don't even clear until it's really close in for most flights.
I buy discount Y because that's company policy (occasionally W is allowable). I buy the tickets I need for the dates and destinations I need. I request the upgrade if I want to and have instruments to use. If not available at booking, I check back around T-30 to T-25 to see if it's cleared and I can order a meal. Sometimes I don't request the upgrade in advance and just check AA.com shortly before departure to see if any C space has shown up.
I do all of this knowing there is a very good likelihood that I'll clear.
Matter of fact - just cleared a Y-->J Miles and Copay upgrade off the waitlist for LAX-HND.
And, yes, I fly solo. I can appreciate that it might be a somewhat different situation for couples/groups.
Last edited by bse118; Jul 5, 2019 at 12:02 pm
#176
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), Marriott Tit
Posts: 1,032
MY SWUs generally go to waste now. We all complained about the reduction from 8 to 4, but the fact that they are so difficult to use with the tiny J cabins AA has anyways makes it a mute point. They are completely worthless without AA releasing any upgrade space in advance, so I won't care nor be shocked if they change these. I mean, you can't devalue something if it holds no value already, in my opinion.
I was 0/5 in 2018 (all waitlists that failed to clear). Currently have my first 4 2019 requests waitlisted.
And for the record, as someone who buys W, I would be delighted to not lose upgrades to Y passengers.
#177
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 58
It’s this simple: The loyalty programs are nothing but a lie to lure people to a carrier. If Dougie Boi can change the rules and inflate the value or make it harder and harder to use the points, he will.
And so it goes.
And so it goes.
#178
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Well whatever the changes are, you know JonNYC will inform us of them likely before anyone else in the general public. They will be either negative or positive depending on the person, and we will figure out how to maximize or to minimize the impact as the case may be. Thus, it will be much like any other change over the last gazillion years or so impacting the dAArkside.
Safe Travels
Safe Travels
#180
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,985
Overall, though, I'm not sure how this could all be construed to be pure lying. As far as I can tell, with the exception of a few errors over the years (mostly human error), I've received all the benefits to which I'm entitled. Those benefits may be ever-changing and, these days, seemingly constantly shrinking, but it's not like the whole thing is just some massive fraudulent scheme lol.