AA hard sells First upgrades to entire economy cabin
May 5, 2023, 12:37 pm
#91
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,646
When you accept and understand that AA (and also other US domestic airlines) has become credit card mill that happen to prospect for applicants while flying them from Point A to Point B (often not on time) you understand the new "loyalty" scheme. I agree a day of reckoning is coming and maybe soo
Credit card is roughly 10% of their total revenue?
Last edited by carlosdca; May 5, 2023 at 12:49 pm
May 5, 2023, 12:52 pm
#92
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AA EXP; SQ Gold
Posts: 178
There is value to the programme for AA to encourage people to use AA for its travel - it is encouraging peopel to make transactions with it. Someone who is tied to using the airline by virtue of a pretty card is perhaps unlikely to go away just becuase someone else got a better upgrade offer
Loyalty is a one way street - the airline isn't loyal to the customer - think of the customer as a potential cash cow that needs milking
Loyalty is a one way street - the airline isn't loyal to the customer - think of the customer as a potential cash cow that needs milking
May 5, 2023, 3:26 pm
#93
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Mileageplus
Posts: 246
Apologies for this geeky question: Does anyone know if AA is using a particular fare bucket for the upgrade offers? I am curious what the fare calculation looks like on the face of the ticket to see how they've priced it and the inventory they used. Or, perhaps they are using an EMD and processing it similar to purchasing a seat assignment. Sorry, it's the detailed geek in me when it comes to airline ticketing.
May 5, 2023, 6:12 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
Ticket was not reissued or revalidated--upgrade charge was made on a separate document (teletype in Sabre noted it as "Instant Upsell Ancillary EMD").
I ended up cancelling trip and had to request a refund to trip credit for the upgrade. The underlying ticket remained under agency control in Sabre for future exchange.
Last edited by NYC Flyer; May 5, 2023 at 6:20 pm Reason: amplification
May 11, 2023, 9:46 am
#95
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 125
I agree, 2 payment methods on a single transaction would be awkward and probably wouldn’t work with corp TAs. Having said that, it would sure be nice if upfaring was a simple transaction that you could do online. Right now you have to call in, wait on hold, ask the automated system for an agent because it doesn’t recognize the word “upfare,” explain to the agent that you are trying to upfare rather than upgrade, convince the agent that you should only be required to pay the fare difference and not a change fee, wait while they contact the rate desk because your ticket had a corporate discount, and so on.
May 13, 2023, 8:44 am
#96
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 949
Mar 28, 2024, 2:46 pm
#97
Join Date: Mar 2024
Posts: 3
Mar 28, 2024, 2:51 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2024
Posts: 3
Agreed. As an EXP it’s disappointing to see F seats available at 100 hours out and not receive an upgrade. AA waits until they start boarding to give an upgrade at which point there is barely one F seat left. AA should revise their statement on timing. They would rather have an extra $150 over my loyalty speaks volumes.
Mar 28, 2024, 2:57 pm
#99
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
Agreed. As an EXP it’s disappointing to see F seats available at 100 hours out and not receive an upgrade. AA waits until they start boarding to give an upgrade at which point there is barely one F seat left. AA should revise their statement on timing. They would rather have an extra $150 over my loyalty speaks volumes.
Indeed - of course the airline would prefer $150 rather than zero The airline has no loyalty to you, it just wants you to act like a loyal puppy to it
Its relation to you is transactional
Mar 28, 2024, 5:31 pm
#101
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Houston , TX
Programs: Platinum Pro. .Hilton Honors Gold,
Posts: 678
Agreed. As an EXP it’s disappointing to see F seats available at 100 hours out and not receive an upgrade. AA waits until they start boarding to give an upgrade at which point there is barely one F seat left. AA should revise their statement on timing. They would rather have an extra $150 over my loyalty speaks volumes.
Mar 28, 2024, 6:14 pm
#102
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Some relatives (no status) - flew a mid-con last week and were offered upgrades for $100 which they took.
The issue is what is the value of frequent flyer EXP to a twice a year flyer with no status? Apparently less than $100 per flight - if any value at all.
The issue is what is the value of frequent flyer EXP to a twice a year flyer with no status? Apparently less than $100 per flight - if any value at all.
Mar 28, 2024, 6:26 pm
#103
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
The use of free upgrades would seem to me to be something that AA will give should it not sell the seats, as opposed to not collecting money for them
It isn't whether the EP member is worth $100 per flight but whether the airline can sell the seat. Should it go unsold then an EP member will be able to grab it. If wanting certainty of travelling in business class, pay for it
It isn't whether the EP member is worth $100 per flight but whether the airline can sell the seat. Should it go unsold then an EP member will be able to grab it. If wanting certainty of travelling in business class, pay for it
Mar 28, 2024, 7:18 pm
#104
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
The use of free upgrades would seem to me to be something that AA will give should it not sell the seats, as opposed to not collecting money for them
It isn't whether the EP member is worth $100 per flight but whether the airline can sell the seat. Should it go unsold then an EP member will be able to grab it. If wanting certainty of travelling in business class, pay for it
It isn't whether the EP member is worth $100 per flight but whether the airline can sell the seat. Should it go unsold then an EP member will be able to grab it. If wanting certainty of travelling in business class, pay for it
Mar 28, 2024, 7:26 pm
#105
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 540
An EXP could also buy the upgrade for $100 - it’s not like the option isn’t there. It’s not like upgrades are only being offered to relatives without status.
