How AA is taking EXP Executive Platinum members for granted
Aug 27, 2022, 1:17 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,033
EXPs need to grow up and realize that monetization of the premium cabins will only intensify. The days of the complimentary upgrade are slowly going away.
And yes with AA (and other US based airlines) getting most of it's profit from retail partners, particularly cc, EXPs have become just another face in the crowd. Want recognition, spend enough to be invited to be a CK.
And yes with AA (and other US based airlines) getting most of it's profit from retail partners, particularly cc, EXPs have become just another face in the crowd. Want recognition, spend enough to be invited to be a CK.
SWU's are the holy grail and now becoming worthless.
Aug 27, 2022, 1:22 pm
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,613
I have been an EXP member for 10+ years. Little did I know how I have been taken for granted and for a ride by AA all these time until a most recent incident. I have requested for an upgrade from main cabin to business class on an upcoming trip to London. AA EXP support desk told me it will take 12,500 miles and $375 for the upgrade, and I will likely not find out whether I will be upgraded until the day of travel which is September 31, 2022. Two days ago, my travel companion, who has no status with AA, was offered an upgrade to business for $315. I called EXP desk and I was told that I would not like the answer - it makes sense for AA to let random people try their business class than to upgrade an already loyal customer who is spending $15000+ per year with AA, AND would be charged MORE for the upgrade.
Aug 27, 2022, 1:30 pm
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Not defending AA at all, but it is way better that UA as far as limiting when it offers TOD upgrades. Also, go check out the UA forum for how many 1K's are disgruntled about their lack of upgrades. And good luck purchasing the expensive Y fares that DL makes you purchase to apply a SWU with them, only to be upgraded to an older, often inferior hard-product of their business class. Each airline has their issues and none are perfect among the big 3 in the US.
Aug 27, 2022, 1:48 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Exactly how I've been operating. Pay for J and F, taking the bonus miles/ loyalty points as they come. Have noticed that when I do book Y, it appears that the AI teases/tests me. Offered upgrade and after I take it after researching fares offered to upfare.
Aug 27, 2022, 2:01 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,033
Aug 27, 2022, 2:14 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
enviroian this is the slow realization I'm heading towards. Flying less myself for work purposes. Most likely 2023 will be my last year of EXP status as this year it's on track to have me qualify unexpectedly.
Aug 27, 2022, 2:26 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Also doing this as I have posted elsewhere. MY SIL has had increasing flying, and they just bought a vacation get away out of the country, and he put all the expenses of making it livable on his AA branded CC. To his surprise since he does not research this like I do, he discovered he was PLT and has had 7/7 AA flights upgraded out of NYC in the past 4 months. Most recently yesterday. Upgrades as Plt no buy in or upfare. I choose not to risk it, and actually prefer UA over AA currently. Especially for TATL.
Aug 27, 2022, 3:04 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,258
EXPs need to grow up and realize that monetization of the premium cabins will only intensify. The days of the complimentary upgrade are slowly going away.
And yes with AA (and other US based airlines) getting most of it's profit from retail partners, particularly cc, EXPs have become just another face in the crowd. Want recognition, spend enough to be invited to be a CK.
And yes with AA (and other US based airlines) getting most of it's profit from retail partners, particularly cc, EXPs have become just another face in the crowd. Want recognition, spend enough to be invited to be a CK.
As much as a select few on here want to pump up CK as the only thing that matters, it's not enough to build a program on. And even then, as CK, you're subject to the same exact issues of TOD as everyone else.
Aug 27, 2022, 3:07 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dallas/Orlando
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 2,716
As someone who often buys last-minute seats in premium cabins, selfishly that works out for me. I realize there’s two sides to the coin, however.
Aug 27, 2022, 5:25 pm
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Aug 27, 2022, 5:30 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,105
I would encourage OP to read the DL forum threads about GUC and RUCs before they assume things will be better (or any different) somewhere else.
Aug 27, 2022, 7:00 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
The biggest reason I still value FF status is priority during irregular operations and priority phone access..
I no longer chase status and do value it much less than when I relied on status for upgrades but would never say its utterly useless.
I fly a wide variety of airlines though ~50% of my flights last year were still on AA as their route network often best fits my particular needs and I prefer AA all else being equal due to status priority in meltdowns.