Observations on Buy Up to F Offers
Feb 18, 2020, 6:53 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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
To address one of OP’s original questions... as a DL refugee, yes, this upsell push results in far fewer upgrades. It also results in more upgrade inventory being held back for longer... fewer upgrades at the window, even on empty flights, and more gate upgrades.
Feb 19, 2020, 7:32 am
#63
Join Date: May 2017
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Gold, National Exec
Posts: 41
Has anyone seen these offers on award tickets, or just revenue? I took an offer for $85 for DEN-MIA-PTP, which I think was an amazing deal for a total of over 7 hours in the air (even if the second leg is just business on an Embraer 175). I just booked the return on an award ticket web saver and wonder if its worth stalking the app to see if I get lucky again, or are these offers just on revenue tickets?
Yes that is a pretty good deal and I would have taken it also. All of my offers leaving out of DFW have been ridiculous. Last one was DFW - RDU, upgrade to first for the low low bargain price of $1,400. My next couple of flights, DFW - SLC, for $856 and DFW-LAX for $1,659. Yeah that will be a pass for me.
Feb 19, 2020, 7:51 am
#64
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I'm convinced AA is mining acceptance points to include and determine items like day and time, hub versus non hub (less competition versus more), local income levels, etc. to optimize revenue on buy ups. I believe that buy ups will ultimately replace the domestic complimentary upgrades albeit AA will spin it as an "enhancement to the flyer experience."
Feb 19, 2020, 8:50 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Platinum, AA EXP, UA Gold
Posts: 719
No buy up offer for PE from CDG-PHL on 2/18. Cabin went out with 7 empty seats and Expert Flyer showing W7 before departure.
I thought there was going to be a mutiny over the empty seats. Lots of Exec Plat noise over it.
I would have paid for it... if it had been offered.
I thought there was going to be a mutiny over the empty seats. Lots of Exec Plat noise over it.
I would have paid for it... if it had been offered.
Feb 20, 2020, 3:26 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
I recently endured AA for a SFO-PHX-LAS route just for the sake of doing it as ease.
I ended up being comp-upgraded on the first leg and wasn't expecting on the latter one as the flight had always been "no availability" in front cabin. Nonetheless, I recall AA offering $480 fare to upgrade (SFO-LAS, apparently!) since my return (LAS-LAX-SFO) was already in the front cabin.
Crazy to expect someone to pay (extra $480) on top of the RT fare already purchased for the entire trip. I'm suspecting the "buy-up fare was nothing more than the difference between flying J over Y for the entire trip (minus, perhaps??!!) the PHX-LAS portion since it was consistently "full".
I ended up being comp-upgraded on the first leg and wasn't expecting on the latter one as the flight had always been "no availability" in front cabin. Nonetheless, I recall AA offering $480 fare to upgrade (SFO-LAS, apparently!) since my return (LAS-LAX-SFO) was already in the front cabin.
Crazy to expect someone to pay (extra $480) on top of the RT fare already purchased for the entire trip. I'm suspecting the "buy-up fare was nothing more than the difference between flying J over Y for the entire trip (minus, perhaps??!!) the PHX-LAS portion since it was consistently "full".
Feb 20, 2020, 7:36 am
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
I would have paid for it... if it had been offered.
Jul 1, 2021, 2:10 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,022
Today at BA check in for my AA flight lhr-Dfw the agent asked if I wanted to upgrade to first for $500. I said “no thank you. Not with the service levels they way they currently are”.
Jul 1, 2021, 7:20 am
#69
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,428
So I just had an odd situation. For my one-way flight next week, I've had an offer showing in the app for a while to upfare to F for $314. I just happened to view my same flight reservation on the website, and it had an upfare to F offer for $132. Both are active at the same time. IT glitch or is AA trying to give better offers on website for some reason?
Jul 1, 2021, 7:29 am
#70
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
I'm convinced AA is mining acceptance points to include and determine items like day and time, hub versus non hub (less competition versus more), local income levels, etc. to optimize revenue on buy ups. I believe that buy ups will ultimately replace the domestic complimentary upgrades albeit AA will spin it as an "enhancement to the flyer experience."
Jul 1, 2021, 8:50 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 515
So I just had an odd situation. For my one-way flight next week, I've had an offer showing in the app for a while to upfare to F for $314. I just happened to view my same flight reservation on the website, and it had an upfare to F offer for $132. Both are active at the same time. IT glitch or is AA trying to give better offers on website for some reason?
Jul 1, 2021, 9:43 am
#72
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,428
My BF had a similar experience this week ORD-TPA-ORD. The app was showing the buyup to 1st in the neighborhood of $250-$275....basically the difference in what he paid and lowest F fare. The desktop site showed $131 and $135 to upgrade. As a lowely Gold he almost took it, but he clear his upgrade both ways. The pricing looks pretty close to what 3 500 mile stickers would cost. I kinda wonder if AA offers lower prices when they expect an upgrade to clear....to tempt you at a lower price.
Jul 1, 2021, 9:56 am
#73
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,428
So I just had an odd situation. For my one-way flight next week, I've had an offer showing in the app for a while to upfare to F for $314. I just happened to view my same flight reservation on the website, and it had an upfare to F offer for $132. Both are active at the same time. IT glitch or is AA trying to give better offers on website for some reason?
Jul 1, 2021, 10:33 am
#74
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 515
His ORD-MCO for next week shows $396 in app and $137 on the desktop site to upgrade. It's a 787-900 with only 3 seats taken and very few MCE taken so he's going to roll the dice on a sticker upgrade. A few days later his LAS-ORD is J1 and the buyup price is the same via app or desktop. I think he'll be upgraded on the first flight and has zero chance on the second.
Jul 1, 2021, 10:58 am
#75
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
My hunch is that AA is trying to get their technology to look out 1-2 weeks and if F is wide open offer generous upgrade offers rather than have a cabin full of upgraders. Which will make upgrading even more difficult for lower elite levels.