Is there a way to request reservation agents not pitch the credit card?
Jun 30, 23, 6:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Isle of Man/East Palo Alto
Programs: AA - CK/Airpass
Posts: 974
Is there a way to request reservation agents not pitch the credit card?
First, I want to be clear I harbor no ill will towards the agents. I know they would probably rather not be making these pitches over the phone.
That said, I am not eligible for any of the US AA cards. I will not be approved. There is zero benefit in pitching me. I am tired of having to explain this on every call and frankly it is a waste of time for both sides.
I know that they cannot avoid the on-plane pitches just for my sake (as tacky as I think they are) but surely they could allow us to have an opt-out on the AA account pages for both parties sake.
Maybe Im just making a mountain out of a molehill.
That said, I am not eligible for any of the US AA cards. I will not be approved. There is zero benefit in pitching me. I am tired of having to explain this on every call and frankly it is a waste of time for both sides.
I know that they cannot avoid the on-plane pitches just for my sake (as tacky as I think they are) but surely they could allow us to have an opt-out on the AA account pages for both parties sake.
Maybe Im just making a mountain out of a molehill.
Jun 30, 23, 6:49 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Isle of Man/East Palo Alto
Programs: AA - CK/Airpass
Posts: 974
This has happened to me on my last three reservation calls, all within the last week.
The pitch is something like this:
Will you be paying with an American Airlines card today?
No.
Well did you know they changed the program this year?
Yes
So you know that requalification is based on total spend. Well the AA card enables you to earn additional LPs on money youd be spending anyway - allowing you to retain status more easily than ever before!
I wont be accepted.
Well it cant hurt to try -
I put six figures of medical debt on my credit cards to cover cancer treatments and Crohns surgeries and defaulted. I cannot even qualify for a secured credit card. I promise this isnt for me.
Oh, OK. Sorry, we have to pitch this.
Only encounter this with US based agents and obviously Im on the EXP lines.
The pitch is something like this:
Will you be paying with an American Airlines card today?
No.
Well did you know they changed the program this year?
Yes
So you know that requalification is based on total spend. Well the AA card enables you to earn additional LPs on money youd be spending anyway - allowing you to retain status more easily than ever before!
I wont be accepted.
Well it cant hurt to try -
I put six figures of medical debt on my credit cards to cover cancer treatments and Crohns surgeries and defaulted. I cannot even qualify for a secured credit card. I promise this isnt for me.
Oh, OK. Sorry, we have to pitch this.
Only encounter this with US based agents and obviously Im on the EXP lines.
Jun 30, 23, 8:13 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Isle of Man/East Palo Alto
Programs: AA - CK/Airpass
Posts: 974
Do any of you have the card? If so, given this pitch is done only when paying, they can see whether or not it is an AA card. They obviously wont pitch an existing card holder.
I know Im not imagining this as my fiance (who is Dutch and not eligible for the card) was also given a pitch within the last week.
I know Im not imagining this as my fiance (who is Dutch and not eligible for the card) was also given a pitch within the last week.
Jun 30, 23, 8:25 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 1,950
Do any of you have the card? If so, given this pitch is done only when paying, they can see whether or not it is an AA card. They obviously wont pitch an existing card holder.
I know Im not imagining this as my fiance (who is Dutch and not eligible for the card) was also given a pitch within the last week.
I know Im not imagining this as my fiance (who is Dutch and not eligible for the card) was also given a pitch within the last week.
Jun 30, 23, 9:24 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: US
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 67
I've been on the phone a couple of times in the past few months with AA and never been pitched the card but I already have a Citi and Barclays one so I guess they are able to tell.
Jun 30, 23, 11:02 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,360
It'd make sense to reference if they are a cardholder as it also saves time for a pitch from the rep. I have no idea how many exact agents there are, but detecting if someone has the card already probably reduced total talk time by about 0.5%, it's probably in the ballpark of 5-10 FTEs. On top of that, it's not a good look in the customer's eyes for an airline to directly pitch you something you already have.
