AA really has given up on SFO-based flyers
Jul 29, 2022, 3:51 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
As an SFO flyer, AA suits most of my needs.
My biggest gripe is with the move to the new Harvey Milk Terminal, you have to traverse the full length of the long terminal for every flight. I much preferred having AA and AS both in terminal 2.
- Most places I can still go nonstop on AA/OW.
- Domestically, I'm either flying to an AA hub (DFW, JFK) or Alaska has nonstops (eg, AUS, SEA). For most AS flights, I buy the AA codeshare, so earning the same LPs. I've flown JetBlue to LAX, but I don't really fly them often. I've noticed AA's lower frequencies on some routes, but it hasn't impacted me too much.
- Internationally, my travel is a bit all over the place (eg, LHR, MAD, BER, EZE, HND, SYD, BKK, BLR), and I usually don't mind the routings. Post-pandemic, my travel has largely been to Europe, which means flying British Airways through/to Heathrow, which is meh. I wish there was better OW partners in Europe (AY and IB are only seasonal and rarely have good connections). Thankfully Qatar now flies to SFO, JAL has flights to NRT and HND, and Qantas is relaunching their SFO-SYD flights in October. Not sure what will happen to CX, but hopefully there's a comeback. A big pain point is getting to MEX, but I usually just end up flying Aeromexico. South America is a pain for every alliance, but connecting through DFW is about as good as IAH on United.
- Upgrades clear very frequently. My upgrades clear ~95% on American and ~100% on Alaska (when traveling without a companion). Also, AA does upgrades on award flights for EP.
- Admirals Club is never crowded.
My biggest gripe is with the move to the new Harvey Milk Terminal, you have to traverse the full length of the long terminal for every flight. I much preferred having AA and AS both in terminal 2.
AA still flies to all hubs. I hear the folks on the frequency of the SFO-ORD o/d route - but ORD was a mostly inconvenient connect point for me esp given winter performance - Im usually flying thru DFW anyways. Would be good to get back to the pre-covid CLT schedule as that has really decreased. JFK is still a super easy, really nice upgrade to the only real premium domestic service in North America these days.
Reality is 95% of the time I can still get where I’m going on one stop like pre-covid; and in fact - I’m getting more non stops thanks to Alaska. Not to mention I actually love the Harvey Milk terminal (i don’t mind the walk + new terminal is gorgeous) and the AA staff in the AC at my home airport continue to be amazing (shout out Eileen/Firas!). And upgrades have only gotten better- hard to believe, but I’m 95%++ upgrades outta SFO on what you think would be tough routes, during peak times (DFW, MIA, CLT, JFK)
Jul 30, 2022, 12:28 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
The T1 walk is my gripe as well! And if you check a bag, you have to another long walk as you pass it overhead now that blocked that entrance that existed for a while at the entrance/exit of the terminal. T1 and T2 are slated to be connected right?
And AA does get me to most points of interest with nonstops out of SFO (JFK, PHL, CTL, and MIA). Lately, I avoid DFW as much as possible but will settle for a connection out of PHX to get me across the country.
And AA does get me to most points of interest with nonstops out of SFO (JFK, PHL, CTL, and MIA). Lately, I avoid DFW as much as possible but will settle for a connection out of PHX to get me across the country.
Jul 30, 2022, 7:45 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Aug 2, 2022, 9:43 pm
#49
Join Date: May 2000
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 1,960
Exiting SFO Terminal 1 is too long a walk….. they need to knock out a floor escalator. SFO is also hostile to Uber/Lyft users, forcing you to the top of the parking ramp. I’m a longtime griper about AA’s abandonment of SFO/SJC/OaK. AA left us on SFO/ORD and Midwest trips. Haven’t been on one in a year or so. They seem to WANT to lose my business. SFO/LAX is now mostly useless. AS and the dual terminal arrangement with stricter lounge rules has made THAT plus a “minus” now. In sum, fewer destinations, smaller planes, lounge access barriers, bad departure times, unnecessarily long walks, inconvenient ride share, little alternate airport possibilities, and add it all to the devalued Aadvantage program, the inadequate and high priced AS international awards, and OneWorld’s crumbling benefits, and you have an airline just as bad as United—— but with far less of the reasons many of us switched to AA.
I have given up on unreciprocated “loyalty”. UA is by far the better choice in SFO for those who don’t give a damn about the FF program, and AA has been steadily wrecking what competitive advantage drew me away from UA and to them. These days, it’s nonstops, times, fares, and quite frankly, reducing flying as much as possible instead of maximum travel. Glad none of my 401k is in airline stocks— they are doomed.
,
I have given up on unreciprocated “loyalty”. UA is by far the better choice in SFO for those who don’t give a damn about the FF program, and AA has been steadily wrecking what competitive advantage drew me away from UA and to them. These days, it’s nonstops, times, fares, and quite frankly, reducing flying as much as possible instead of maximum travel. Glad none of my 401k is in airline stocks— they are doomed.
,
Aug 2, 2022, 9:57 pm
#50
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,974
Aug 2, 2022, 10:45 pm
#51
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
If you select Uber Black, they are still allowed to pick up curbside.
Aug 3, 2022, 12:35 pm
#52
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
Are you really surprised? AA has never cared to compete on the West Coast. Heck, they are even killing a lot of routes from LAX now. The announced SEA internationals are probably never going to happen.
Remember AirCal? Remember Reno Air? Remember SJC-NRT?
At least we have Alaska now for certain routes. AA just can not compete here.
Remember AirCal? Remember Reno Air? Remember SJC-NRT?
At least we have Alaska now for certain routes. AA just can not compete here.
Aug 3, 2022, 2:10 pm
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Aug 3, 2022, 6:15 pm
#54
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: AA, Marriott
Posts: 210
Aug 3, 2022, 6:48 pm
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
The walk really bugs me too compared to the previous easiness of T2. I'm usually walking to the AirTrain, and one thing I noticed recently is T1 doesn't have its own station so you're basically walking all the way to the International terminal. I wonder if that's temporary or permanent.
There's no question it's quicker to walk all the way. By the time you get to the AirTrain stop, you're already at Terminal A, and Terminal G/BART are right on the other side of the international terminal lobby. You're probably wasting a good 10 minutes taking the AirTrain at that point.
Aug 3, 2022, 8:42 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt,Marriott,BA,AS
Posts: 4,428
Was checking, out of curiosity, AA’s sked SFO-ORD. Down to just 2 flights in October, both at god-awful times: 6am and 1145pm. Returns at 830am and 145pm, with nothing later. So much for serving business travelers/commuters wanting to travel between SFO and the upper Midwest.
Aug 4, 2022, 2:05 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
The ~1pm SFO-JFK now eliminated thru October on Saturdays, no leaving no afternoon flights until the redeye (AA276) since the daily AA166 (the ~3pm) was eliminated months ago. Really a shame to see this route down to 3x some some days.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Aug 4, 2022, 2:51 am
#58
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,524
Aug 4, 2022, 5:30 am
#59
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, WOH Globalist
Posts: 1,160
Aug 4, 2022, 5:37 am
#60
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
B6 has a daily flight that matches the cancelled 3pm AA flight, but not the earlier cancelled 1pm flight. Unfortunately, B6 frequencies don't really do much good when you're trying to preserve an already confirmed SWU and have already adjusted your schedule around AA's sparce upgrade inventory.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek