Is AA "Cooked"?
Dec 1, 2025 | 3:22 pm
#121
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I have a hard time buying AA is cooked because of the existence of FA unions given that United FAs also have union representation.
QR is, uh, an interesting comp for AA given history of QR and FAs and the overall attitude in the ME regarding imported labor.
It's probably easier to have caviar in business class and an enhanced soft product when you can pay the workers less (because they are natives of some other country where you can take advantage of wage arbitrage and lopsided labor contracts advantaging the employer), and there isn't really anything going on beyond employer fiat on who works, when the work happens, how the work is performed. That and the whole "it's a state-owned enterprise" factor.
QR is, uh, an interesting comp for AA given history of QR and FAs and the overall attitude in the ME regarding imported labor.
It's probably easier to have caviar in business class and an enhanced soft product when you can pay the workers less (because they are natives of some other country where you can take advantage of wage arbitrage and lopsided labor contracts advantaging the employer), and there isn't really anything going on beyond employer fiat on who works, when the work happens, how the work is performed. That and the whole "it's a state-owned enterprise" factor.
Dec 1, 2025 | 10:13 pm
#122
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Dec 2, 2025 | 12:48 pm
#124
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 125
On my MUC to CLT trip just yesterday, the mid-flight meal before landing was something called a Chicken Stuffing Toasty. Probably the worst meal/snack I've had on any business class flight. Staff did their job but not a single smile or hello from anyone. I was quite perplexed at the whole thing.
Dec 2, 2025 | 2:32 pm
#125
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I have a hard time buying AA is cooked because of the existence of FA unions given that United FAs also have union representation.
QR is, uh, an interesting comp for AA given history of QR and FAs and the overall attitude in the ME regarding imported labor.
It's probably easier to have caviar in business class and an enhanced soft product when you can pay the workers less (because they are natives of some other country where you can take advantage of wage arbitrage and lopsided labor contracts advantaging the employer), and there isn't really anything going on beyond employer fiat on who works, when the work happens, how the work is performed. That and the whole "it's a state-owned enterprise" factor.
QR is, uh, an interesting comp for AA given history of QR and FAs and the overall attitude in the ME regarding imported labor.
It's probably easier to have caviar in business class and an enhanced soft product when you can pay the workers less (because they are natives of some other country where you can take advantage of wage arbitrage and lopsided labor contracts advantaging the employer), and there isn't really anything going on beyond employer fiat on who works, when the work happens, how the work is performed. That and the whole "it's a state-owned enterprise" factor.
Dec 2, 2025 | 2:33 pm
#126
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Dec 2, 2025 | 2:52 pm
#127
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Generally I don't have problems with any of the US domestic carriers.
I might be one of those "uncultivated" people though.
It's not particularly unusual for US/EU carriers to have pretty unspectacular business class/domestic F products on shorthaul, and yes, wages do factor into it (as well as LCC/ULCC pricing pressure in Y cabins, using RJs and so on).
I generally won't pay for shorthaul F without a very attractive price (somewhat rare but does happen) and don't even care much if I am upgraded or not into it (my decisions are usually pricing and timing based for that short a flight). But again this probably speaks to how "uncultivated" I am.
I might be one of those "uncultivated" people though.
I generally won't pay for shorthaul F without a very attractive price (somewhat rare but does happen) and don't even care much if I am upgraded or not into it (my decisions are usually pricing and timing based for that short a flight). But again this probably speaks to how "uncultivated" I am.
Dec 2, 2025 | 4:16 pm
#128
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Generally I don't have problems with any of the US domestic carriers.
I might be one of those "uncultivated" people though.
It's not particularly unusual for US/EU carriers to have pretty unspectacular business class/domestic F products on shorthaul, and yes, wages do factor into it (as well as LCC/ULCC pricing pressure in Y cabins, using RJs and so on).
I generally won't pay for shorthaul F without a very attractive price (somewhat rare but does happen) and don't even care much if I am upgraded or not into it (my decisions are usually pricing and timing based for that short a flight). But again this probably speaks to how "uncultivated" I am.
I might be one of those "uncultivated" people though.
It's not particularly unusual for US/EU carriers to have pretty unspectacular business class/domestic F products on shorthaul, and yes, wages do factor into it (as well as LCC/ULCC pricing pressure in Y cabins, using RJs and so on).
I generally won't pay for shorthaul F without a very attractive price (somewhat rare but does happen) and don't even care much if I am upgraded or not into it (my decisions are usually pricing and timing based for that short a flight). But again this probably speaks to how "uncultivated" I am.
Dec 2, 2025 | 4:28 pm
#129
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Dec 2, 2025 | 4:29 pm
#130
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Dec 2, 2025 | 4:41 pm
#131
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Dec 2, 2025 | 4:43 pm
#132
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Dec 2, 2025 | 8:58 pm
#133
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i am one of the very critical-of-AA posters here, and I do agree with your broader point that AA is largely aimlessly wandering around.
HOWEVER
There are several reasons that AA is not and will never be QR. Wanting AA to improve to a level above now, but not meeting QR does not makes people uncultured or uncultivated.
I prefer simple, well-executed food over attempted frou-frou nonsense. Call me a simpleton, fine - but I'm a paying customer, just like everyone else.
HOWEVER
There are several reasons that AA is not and will never be QR. Wanting AA to improve to a level above now, but not meeting QR does not makes people uncultured or uncultivated.
I prefer simple, well-executed food over attempted frou-frou nonsense. Call me a simpleton, fine - but I'm a paying customer, just like everyone else.
Dec 2, 2025 | 10:00 pm
#134
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Dec 2, 2025 | 10:06 pm
#135
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The whole fumbling away NYC, CHI, LAX deal by just being insular at DFW/CLT/PHX/PHL is… not great. “The schedule is the product” doesn’t work when UA and DL are better at schedules AND can do some other stuff better…