Rumor, Speculation: AAdvantage Program Devaluation 31 Jul 2019
May 30, 2019, 7:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 255
If so, why would AA want to be the odd man out?
May 30, 2019, 7:37 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 270
As far as I can tell it is all speculation at this point.
May 30, 2019, 7:39 pm
#18
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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: 16,273
In the not-too-distant-future, I expect SWUs to become single-cabin upgrades on all the US legacy carriers. Up until a few years ago, Delta required VERY expensive fare classes to use the upgrade certificates... often more expensive than just buying discount J. So the carriers haven’t exactly been in lockstep here. I think AA would be fine offering single-cabin upgrades while Delta allowed Y—> J.
May 30, 2019, 8:05 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
This would be a major set back - SWU changes. If AA opened up inventory to make it easier to confirm - then maybe OK. J to F on the 77W usually has good availability. If W to J had lots of advance availability at time of ticketing then maybe this would work.
But if you have to buy W with no guarantee - then really bad.
UA fliers can only use SWU with a W fare or higher (W is not Premium Economy on UA). W is about $300 higher than a cheap fare. But flyers have to buy up with no guarantee.
I am not a big fan of the new Premium Economy on AA. Just flew to Europe on a 77W and outbound SWU did not clear, but I had better seat in Y Bulkhead then the Premium Economy seat in front.
Planning to drop from EXP to Plat Pro for next year then phase out to Plat earn or just use LT Gold. Going back to UA with the EXP changes.
Big issue with AA in my view - is lack of MCE seats on the wide bodies that now have PE. The 77W has 28 PE seats and only 28 MCE. And the MCE are mostly only Exit rows and a couple of rows way in the back of the plane. UA still has a large number of E+ seats. I had trouble getting a decent MCE when I booked a ticket 2 months in advance. With Oasis configurations on 738 - AA is eliminating the reasons to fly them.
But if you have to buy W with no guarantee - then really bad.
UA fliers can only use SWU with a W fare or higher (W is not Premium Economy on UA). W is about $300 higher than a cheap fare. But flyers have to buy up with no guarantee.
I am not a big fan of the new Premium Economy on AA. Just flew to Europe on a 77W and outbound SWU did not clear, but I had better seat in Y Bulkhead then the Premium Economy seat in front.
Planning to drop from EXP to Plat Pro for next year then phase out to Plat earn or just use LT Gold. Going back to UA with the EXP changes.
Big issue with AA in my view - is lack of MCE seats on the wide bodies that now have PE. The 77W has 28 PE seats and only 28 MCE. And the MCE are mostly only Exit rows and a couple of rows way in the back of the plane. UA still has a large number of E+ seats. I had trouble getting a decent MCE when I booked a ticket 2 months in advance. With Oasis configurations on 738 - AA is eliminating the reasons to fly them.
May 30, 2019, 8:18 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
For those that cannot reach Twitter, there was a followup tweet from JohnNYC:
That wouldn't be bad, if that's all it is, though could see that being a harbinger of things to come regarding SWUs...
so, one informed interpretation is that this phase could just be the addition of Y-> PE mileage upgrades-- everything else unaffected. I can't read it that way myself, but FWIW.
May 30, 2019, 8:56 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
It felt like time for an award devaluation to me. I’ll point out that the last round of significant changes, there was nothing about devaluation of awards until it hit. There were even countless people here saying it was only earning and EQD and SWU changes. I felt like a devaluation had to happen starting about 6 months ago because i could get way more with AA miles than almost any other miles except AS miles. I found 5 biz awards to Asia and 5 first awards to europe and some exKTM biz tickets to burn SWUs for 5 of us into F because it seemed like time to burn, notwithstanding some very attractive premium cabin fares we could have used instead.
Happy to watch this one play out with just the miles i earn this year!
Happy to watch this one play out with just the miles i earn this year!
May 30, 2019, 9:07 pm
#22
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
Yes, Don Casey, the head of revenue management said today at an investment conference that dynamic award pricing was coming...
ETA - oh duh now I see that was posted in another thread.
ETA - oh duh now I see that was posted in another thread.
Last edited by ijgordon; May 30, 2019 at 9:14 pm
May 30, 2019, 10:02 pm
#25
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May 30, 2019, 10:04 pm
#26
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May 30, 2019, 10:12 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
After dropping to PLAT a few years ago with the introduction of EQDs, I've actually started buying Premium Economy on many long-haul flights. It's been a decent compromise when I don't have the miles to upgrade to J. So, my perspective is probably different, but I do like the idea that the upgrade would go from Y to PE to J. In the United world, you would pay extra for a booking class with no guarantee of upgrade to J. However, if the upgrade was from PE to J, at least you'd still be in Premium Economy, getting some value for your extra spend.
Also - isn't this the upgrade order on BA?
Also - isn't this the upgrade order on BA?
May 30, 2019, 10:20 pm
#28
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,017
Yes that's true but I remember upfaring to qualifying fare (M was it? ) then using expert mode of search to find an available ticket to upgrade right away, click purchase then call the 1K agent to have it processed. Is this no longer the case?
May 30, 2019, 11:37 pm
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Especially if it's only dynamic pricing on AA awards. I can't even remember the last time I used miles on an AA flight. If I can still book CX/JL F at the same rate with miles, use my SWUs and not have the program otherwise trashed I won't care. Of course i'm sure it'll be horrible.