Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > American Airlines | AAdvantage
Reload this Page >

How AA are flight loads being affected by Coronavirus?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Oct 12, 2020, 1:39 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: JDiver
At the beginning of the Covid “era” flight loads appeared quite light. As AA refined flights, routes and aircraft, many fewer seats has meant in some instances full aircraft and oversold flights. In others higher capacity widebody aircraft may offer less crowded cabins. International flights are often operating way below capacity at this time, as many nations have bans in place for American and other specified country’s visitors other than those permitted to travel for essential services. Check aa.com sherpa for further information about international destinations’ current Covid-related restrictions.

AA does not block middle seats in coach.
Print Wikipost

How AA are flight loads being affected by Coronavirus?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 17, 2020, 9:02 am
  #331  
Marriott Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ATL/TLV/SDF
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT Ag, Marriott LT Ti, Hyatt Glob, Avis PC, Busted-Knuckles Club Grand Poobah.
Posts: 2,590
Originally Posted by MiamiAirport Formerly NY George
I think some higher end leisure travelers are buying F seats knowing that the main cabin will likely be packed. Usually F is totally full (including crew) even if Y is empty. Seems as though flight loads are all over the map but generally flights seem to be full, particularly as AA has pared back expanding capacity. Even flights out of MIA are pretty much packed despite quarantines, which in most cases aren't being enforced or even announced by airline personnel.
My return IAD/ATL a few weeks ago was on UA, and on check-in was offered a $139 fee to sit in the 1-seat side of the F cabin on an ER170 as the back was filling up. I took it. I have (lifetime?) silver there based on my LT Marriott status.

AA has never offered me paid upgrades, and I hate burning two 500-milers for a 732-mile flight (and I probably would not have made it anyway given the load).

Neither carrier is blocking seats. I may have to fly DL going forward because this last AA experience was so anxiety-inducing... and I still have to fly home on Friday. The seat map for that one looks fine, today. It'll probably fill up an hour before departure.
born sleepy is offline  
Old Aug 17, 2020, 12:49 pm
  #332  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,022
I wonder if AA will be adding capacity any time soon.
enviroian is offline  
Old Aug 17, 2020, 3:11 pm
  #333  
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 228
AA1024 (ORD to LAX) on Monday, August 10 was 100% full.
merlin90 is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2020, 8:50 am
  #334  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal (ONT), PVD/BOS, JAX, RSW
Programs: AA/US PlatPro & 1.05MM, DL Plat (challenge), UA dirt
Posts: 3,189
8/16, PVD-CLT (AA5257): F 100%, Y 75%
8/16, CLT-LAX (AA2044): F 100%, Y 100% (first time I've heard the "we are going to need to check at least 20 bags...")
fgirard is offline  
Old Aug 19, 2020, 7:27 am
  #335  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I arrived at the MIA AC yesterday afternoon to do some work before a 7PM flight and it was dead. About an hour later after a call I looked up (around 5PM) and the MIA D30 AC was packed to the gills. Looked like typical pre COVID 19 days, even with few evening International flights. The terminal was also packed albeit with a reduction in the flight banks I've noticed there's a much more pronounced ebb and flow with crowds.

My flight to RDU F was less than half full (love when I get a row to myself) and based upon the number of paxs that seemed to troop through the F cabin Y couldn't have been much more than half full. Great F FA that did beverage refills.
thunderdeacon likes this.
MiamiAirport Formerly NY George is offline  
Old Aug 19, 2020, 4:34 pm
  #336  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AZ
Programs: AA Million Miler, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 246
Flew AA3279 and 3252 between PHX and EUG three weeks ago and the plane was completely full both ways. Two weeks ago I flew AA 5817 and 5839 between PHX and MRY and both flights were less than half full. On all four flights F was completely full but I was in the back. Of course all of these flights were on smaller Canadair planes.
scottinaz is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2020, 10:06 am
  #337  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 193
Last Sunday i was on AA352: SJC - DFW; 30 people on the flight, 738. 8 people upgraded to 1st class at gate.
dc9703 is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2020, 2:43 pm
  #338  
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
8/22 AA 5155 CLE-CLT CRJ-900: 3 passengers in F, one of whom was a uniformed pilot, at most 20 in Y
8/22 AA 595 CLT-RDU 737-800: 14 passengers in F (two empty seats) and about 80% full in Y.
CMK10 is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2020, 3:38 pm
  #339  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Well, a friend flew into town yesterday from the Left coast to visit - both his flights were in his estimation 80%+ full.

TSA numbers for yesterday were 800,000 through TSA checkpoints. This was the first day since March 15 when the gap between the current year and the prior year was 1,000,000 passengers. Now granted, many more kids were in school by this point last year, but....
IADCAflyer is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2020, 5:16 am
  #340  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI,SFO,SJC,IAD,LAX,DCA
Programs: mvp75k, DL-0body
Posts: 310
8/30 AA1524 (BWI-DFW) 100% full
8/30 (DFW-LAX) 100% full.

Time for plan C.
ccna101 is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2020, 7:46 am
  #341  
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, Amex
Posts: 420
8/29 AA1539 CLT-EWR 100% full. Oversold even.
jerseytom is offline  
Old Sep 7, 2020, 3:58 pm
  #342  
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
9/5 AA 5172 GSO-PHL CR7: 27 total passengers. F left with two empty and no upgrade list. MCE had all of six people.
9/5 AA 2265 PHL-JAX 319: 100% full. The gate agents were soliciting volunteers, not sure if they had to take any.
9/7 AA 1973 JAX-CLT 320: 100% full. The gate agents solicited volunteers and it wasn't enough because they had to come on the plane and get two more to volunteer to get off.
9/7 AA 4252 CLT-GSO ERD: 100% full. Again gate agents were taking volunteers but due to 7 no shows they got everyone on.
CMK10 is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2020, 6:50 am
  #343  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: CLE
Programs: UA, AA Plat Pro, DL, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 477
Originally Posted by CMK10
9/5 AA 5172 GSO-PHL CR7: 27 total passengers. F left with two empty and no upgrade list. MCE had all of six people.
9/5 AA 2265 PHL-JAX 319: 100% full. The gate agents were soliciting volunteers, not sure if they had to take any.
9/7 AA 1973 JAX-CLT 320: 100% full. The gate agents solicited volunteers and it wasn't enough because they had to come on the plane and get two more to volunteer to get off.
9/7 AA 4252 CLT-GSO ERD: 100% full. Again gate agents were taking volunteers but due to 7 no shows they got everyone on.
I haven't flown since February, but I have flights next week... I have to say I'm surprised there have been oversells!
plinth857 is offline  
Old Sep 9, 2020, 10:06 am
  #344  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Choice Hotels
Posts: 762
It just depends on where and when. I have seen multiple oversells on flights to and from OKC during the pandemic. Not surprisingly, Mainline is being added back to OKC.


Originally Posted by plinth857
I haven't flown since February, but I have flights next week... I have to say I'm surprised there have been oversells!
thunderdeacon is offline  
Old Sep 12, 2020, 12:47 pm
  #345  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
DFW ORD on the 789 last week only had a few seats empty in J but that's because many nonrevs were upgraded at the gate; the PE cabin had 5 people
fly747first is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.