Rumor, Speculation: AAdvantage Program Devaluation 31 Jul 2019
#91
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
If you don't select a seat - you will need get one at the gate. You can't board without a specific seat assignment on the boarding pass.
#92
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I have been elite for so many years, not sure how it works for non-elites at check in time. So what you are saying is that at check in time anyone in Economy (including Basic Economy) can choose any Economy seat for no extra charge?
I thought at least BE restricted seats to the very back and I thought MCE was additional cost or only for Gold or higher elites.
Yes, I know agents can place anyone in any seat - which happens when all other non-preferred seats are taken.
I thought at least BE restricted seats to the very back and I thought MCE was additional cost or only for Gold or higher elites.
Yes, I know agents can place anyone in any seat - which happens when all other non-preferred seats are taken.
#93
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Why can't they? And why shouldn't they? PE is its own distinct cabin both in terms of the seat and the service offering. It also has its own fare classes. I really don't see why people feel that they should be able to leapfrog from Y to J and skip PE as if it didn't exist. It may well be "devastating" to some people if it happens, but I personally don't see it being particularly unfair when it does.
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
I think a lot of people still fly AA out of habit from when they still had the better FFP program...their ffp is now becoming clearly the worst of the three legacies and these final straws should convince people to switch elsewhere or just become free agents...
#95
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,952
I don’t understand why anyone would be upset if a BE customer gets a seat assignment in MCE? Every elite passed on that seat. Literally no one is out anything here. The only problem I see is AA’s if this is happening on a regular basis it means they either have to much inventory of MCE or have overpriced it.
#96
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,509
I don’t understand why anyone would be upset if a BE customer gets a seat assignment in MCE? Every elite passed on that seat. Literally no one is out anything here. The only problem I see is AA’s if this is happening on a regular basis it means they either have to much inventory of MCE or have overpriced it.
#97
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,952
The big thing I see is Gold get free MCE at T-24. If a BE fare on a connection like SYR-PHL-MIA checks in at T-24 and the PHL-MIA sector only has MCE available, they will get it, bypassing a Gold flying nonstop PHL-MIA who only gets access to free MCE 24 hours before that departure. They may not get MCE now, or get a middle when the BE fare got the last aisle, etc.
#99
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP sad former CK, Bonvoy LT Plat, BAEC Gold, VS, former UA, UA no longer, never, ever, QF
Posts: 228
How is it that AA has the "worst" ffp of the legacy 3? SWUs still operate on any fare basis. UAL still completely sucks (plastic plates in First, hit or miss wifi, a general hatred directed toward their paying customers etc). DL "sky pesos" are, well, sky pesos. I will take the 321T, the 789, the 773 and do what I can. Devaluation, yes. Sad, but nothing lasts. They are responding to the market and the vast majority who just don't care.
#100
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Are you saying that you believe that AA is going to yank this as a benefit in its upcoming revisions or that its a current charge for certain customers?
#101
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
The charge made by AA online is for advance seat selection - similar to how other airlines operate in charging for seat selection
#102
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 255
How is it that AA has the "worst" ffp of the legacy 3? SWUs still operate on any fare basis. UAL still completely sucks (plastic plates in First, hit or miss wifi, a general hatred directed toward their paying customers etc). DL "sky pesos" are, well, sky pesos. I will take the 321T, the 789, the 773 and do what I can. Devaluation, yes. Sad, but nothing lasts. They are responding to the market and the vast majority who just don't care.
#103
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
Hi everyone. Long time reader, first time poster. Please be gentle as I dont know the posting rules here very well!
So my wife and I have over 140K miles each for about 1p years and I keep refreshing them in hopes that one day I can use them but it is getting harder and harder.
Originally we got the miles hoping we ca use40K miles to Europe. Well most of those are now 60K. Ok fine.
Then there are layovers. Its getting al.ost impossible to get ticket with aa miles without a layover or massive UK airport taxes. The layovers to Madrid are 12 hours in Dallas mostly overnight and in a way that is impossible with a family. Arrive at 11pm fly out at 10am?? So sleep in the airport? Or flights with layover in London that have $180+ taxes. Heck I can buy a flight to London for less than $400 these days.
So my question is, can someone please show me a single Europe direct flight from LAX that I can take with 60K miles and small taxes or $60ish pp? At this point I just want to identify miles and dont even cade which City in Europe.
Thanks a lot!
So my wife and I have over 140K miles each for about 1p years and I keep refreshing them in hopes that one day I can use them but it is getting harder and harder.
Originally we got the miles hoping we ca use40K miles to Europe. Well most of those are now 60K. Ok fine.
Then there are layovers. Its getting al.ost impossible to get ticket with aa miles without a layover or massive UK airport taxes. The layovers to Madrid are 12 hours in Dallas mostly overnight and in a way that is impossible with a family. Arrive at 11pm fly out at 10am?? So sleep in the airport? Or flights with layover in London that have $180+ taxes. Heck I can buy a flight to London for less than $400 these days.
So my question is, can someone please show me a single Europe direct flight from LAX that I can take with 60K miles and small taxes or $60ish pp? At this point I just want to identify miles and dont even cade which City in Europe.
Thanks a lot!
#104
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: BA SIL, WN A, UA SIL, Marriott TIT (LT), Hilton DIA
Posts: 1,969
Hi everyone. Long time reader, first time poster. Please be gentle as I dont know the posting rules here very well!
So my wife and I have over 140K miles each for about 1p years and I keep refreshing them in hopes that one day I can use them but it is getting harder and harder.
Originally we got the miles hoping we ca use40K miles to Europe. Well most of those are now 60K. Ok fine.
Then there are layovers. Its getting al.ost impossible to get ticket with aa miles without a layover or massive UK airport taxes. The layovers to Madrid are 12 hours in Dallas mostly overnight and in a way that is impossible with a family. Arrive at 11pm fly out at 10am?? So sleep in the airport? Or flights with layover in London that have $180+ taxes. Heck I can buy a flight to London for less than $400 these days.
So my question is, can someone please show me a single Europe direct flight from LAX that I can take with 60K miles and small taxes or $60ish pp? At this point I just want to identify miles and dont even cade which City in Europe.
Thanks a lot!
So my wife and I have over 140K miles each for about 1p years and I keep refreshing them in hopes that one day I can use them but it is getting harder and harder.
Originally we got the miles hoping we ca use40K miles to Europe. Well most of those are now 60K. Ok fine.
Then there are layovers. Its getting al.ost impossible to get ticket with aa miles without a layover or massive UK airport taxes. The layovers to Madrid are 12 hours in Dallas mostly overnight and in a way that is impossible with a family. Arrive at 11pm fly out at 10am?? So sleep in the airport? Or flights with layover in London that have $180+ taxes. Heck I can buy a flight to London for less than $400 these days.
So my question is, can someone please show me a single Europe direct flight from LAX that I can take with 60K miles and small taxes or $60ish pp? At this point I just want to identify miles and dont even cade which City in Europe.
Thanks a lot!
The lack of saver availability, with decent flights/connections if frustrating.
You could call AA and have an agent search for saver availability on the dates you require, and see what comes up - tell them you don't care what cities in Europe (or have a list)
you could just keep checking yourself, or you could hire an award search service that will do this for a fee.
With a long airport (overnight) layover I would get a hotel room at the airport. Cost of doing business, unfortunately.
Perhaps someone on Flyertalk with more time than me can give you some specific help.
good luck!
#105
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,404
There are award search services that do this for a fee? Wow. I have been away from the Award game for a long time.
Are there any decent ones folks here would recommend? LoL. The amount of time I have spent in the past two weeks trying to a) come up to speed on AA's program, partners, and nuances specific to possible destinations I'd consider, and b) actually trying to look for awards, is actually becoming nonsensical. An absurd amount of time, even to me who loves travel and plan travel and learn about travel.
Along with this general topic, how much easier would my life be in looking for awards, if I subscribed to EF? Is it user friendly? / How big is the learning curve to use?
Are there any decent ones folks here would recommend? LoL. The amount of time I have spent in the past two weeks trying to a) come up to speed on AA's program, partners, and nuances specific to possible destinations I'd consider, and b) actually trying to look for awards, is actually becoming nonsensical. An absurd amount of time, even to me who loves travel and plan travel and learn about travel.
Along with this general topic, how much easier would my life be in looking for awards, if I subscribed to EF? Is it user friendly? / How big is the learning curve to use?