Last edit by: dstan
Update Oct 24, 2020 from ExpertFlyer Voice:
In case you missed our post in the main EF thread:
Due to American now having different A and C class inventory for paid fares vs upgrades, we have worked with AA to be able to show you both versions on EF
Due to American now having different A and C class inventory for paid fares vs upgrades, we have worked with AA to be able to show you both versions on EF
- As of now, the default Flight Availability and Award & Upgrade search will show the "upgrade" version of A/C
- We are going to make a change so the Flight Availability search shows the paid version of A/C by default, however for now the workaround to see it is to change the POS to non-USA or to use the Don't Show Interline Connections options which uses a different system and will show the paid inventory A/C classes. When we make the default change we'll post here again, likely sometime in November as it will take a bit of programing.
- Flight Alerts for A or C will always be for the upgrade inventory version as those classes are marked as Award/Upgrade classes internally.
AA changes the confirmed upgrade (C and A ) process [EF now updated]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYLON - AA EXP 1MM, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,234
AA changes the confirmed upgrade (C and A ) process [EF now updated]
Looking at Expertflyer, all domestic 3 class flights show A0 for the entire schedule (other than day of / day before the flight). A class tickets are still for sale but per Expert Flyer Customer Service, revenue A class is now a different fare bucket.
If this is true, the BXP1upgrades have just been massively devalued. Or could this be the writing on the wall that 3 class domestic service is coming to an end?
If this is true, the BXP1upgrades have just been massively devalued. Or could this be the writing on the wall that 3 class domestic service is coming to an end?
#2
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
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Looking at Expertflyer, all domestic 3 class flights show A0 for the entire schedule (other than day of / day before the flight). A class tickets are still for sale but per Expert Flyer Customer Service, revenue A class is now a different fare bucket.
If this is true, the BXP1upgrades have just been massively devalued. Or could this be the writing on the wall that 3 class domestic service is coming to an end?
If this is true, the BXP1upgrades have just been massively devalued. Or could this be the writing on the wall that 3 class domestic service is coming to an end?
-FlyerBeek
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Most likely related to AA updating their systems so that not all A space is created equal. Just a guess.
TPG - American Limits Upgrade Space...
TPG - American Limits Upgrade Space...
#4
AA changes the confirmed upgrade process (less useful C & A Space searching on EF)
From TPG:
https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...upgrade-space/
https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...upgrade-space/
...finding availability might be harder next time you’re ready to redeem an upgrade with AA. That’s because American is making changes to the upgrade process.
...As part of AA’s change to the upgrade process, the Fort Worth-based carrier is adjusting how many seats are available as upgrades, according to a carrier spokesperson. The adjustment will apply to both systemwide and mileage upgrades (and Business Extra ones too).
Before this change, it was quite easy to determine if there was an upgrade available on a given AA flight. Upgrading from coach to biz required seats in the “C” fare class. For a bump from biz to Flagship First, flyers would need to find space in the “A” fare class. (“A” was also used interchangeably with a paid first-class ticket.)
If there was space in either class, then you knew that an upgrade was available. (If there wasn’t, you could always waitlist an upgrade in the hopes that space opened up closer to departure.)
Now, that’s changing. Going forward, even if there are seats in the “A” and “C” classes, upgrades to biz and first won’t necessarily be available. A spokesperson confirmed that the carrier will only offer a subset of seats in these fare classes for upgrades. (American is adding revenue fares to the “C” class.)
You can search for space when making a booking at AA.com or by calling reservations.
AA confirmed that upgrade space will continue to be managed on a leg-by-leg basis. That means that you’ll see the same space on a flight from LAX to JFK regardless of whether you’ve booked it as a single segment or as part of a larger itinerary (like LAX to LHR with a stop in JFK). This is in stark contrast to mileage redemptions. In recent years, AA has been transitioning to offering dynamic award availability based on your end-to-end journey.
...As part of AA’s change to the upgrade process, the Fort Worth-based carrier is adjusting how many seats are available as upgrades, according to a carrier spokesperson. The adjustment will apply to both systemwide and mileage upgrades (and Business Extra ones too).
Before this change, it was quite easy to determine if there was an upgrade available on a given AA flight. Upgrading from coach to biz required seats in the “C” fare class. For a bump from biz to Flagship First, flyers would need to find space in the “A” fare class. (“A” was also used interchangeably with a paid first-class ticket.)
If there was space in either class, then you knew that an upgrade was available. (If there wasn’t, you could always waitlist an upgrade in the hopes that space opened up closer to departure.)
Now, that’s changing. Going forward, even if there are seats in the “A” and “C” classes, upgrades to biz and first won’t necessarily be available. A spokesperson confirmed that the carrier will only offer a subset of seats in these fare classes for upgrades. (American is adding revenue fares to the “C” class.)
You can search for space when making a booking at AA.com or by calling reservations.
AA confirmed that upgrade space will continue to be managed on a leg-by-leg basis. That means that you’ll see the same space on a flight from LAX to JFK regardless of whether you’ve booked it as a single segment or as part of a larger itinerary (like LAX to LHR with a stop in JFK). This is in stark contrast to mileage redemptions. In recent years, AA has been transitioning to offering dynamic award availability based on your end-to-end journey.
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 23, 2020 at 12:33 pm Reason: Fair use requirements / FT Rules editing - can not use full article
#6
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: DFW
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This is unfortunate. And customer unfriendly.
Does one have to have SWU in their account to see the availability? What if one wants to use miles and copay instead?
Does one have to have SWU in their account to see the availability? What if one wants to use miles and copay instead?
#7
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And yet, for example, if you look at JFK-LHR tonight, endless empty seats in business - yet no indication on AA.com that there is any systemwide upgrade space. At all.
As one more familiar w/UA than AA...am I missing something here?
As one more familiar w/UA than AA...am I missing something here?
#8
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
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I don't think the "No More C & A Space searching on EF" is accurate. You can still search for that inventory. If you find it, it just might mean it's not available for upgrades.
#9
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Yeah, I think the only consequence of this is that EF is harder to use for screening upgrade space. The amount of upgrade space always seemed so arbitrary anyways, and extremely limited.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Now, if we must call to confirm, or use the AA site, then why not just begin there and forget EF altogether?
#11
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#13
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#14
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