SS255

Prior to US's courtship of AA, Doug (or maybe it was Scott) had stated quite publicly that US would never install E+ because he couldn't see a financial benefit to it. What I'm reading here sounds like posturing. I think that Doug and Scott's mindset is that they'd rather keep charging people (including CP's) money for seats up front with no extra legroom than to adopt the business model which UA, DL & AA have adopted for extra legroom in coach.

The question becomes: Will the surviving AA execs have enough influence to convince Doug and Scott that MCE is an important enough feature to retain (and expand to the US fleet), even if the bean counters "prove" otherwise? I don't have confidence that MCE will survive the merger, but I really hope that I am wrong.

AZ Travels the World

That's easy. No.

Doug Parker has consistently made decisions by the numbers and he's not going to change that approach now. If the bean counters 'prove' that MCE doesn't improve the bottom line, not only will US aircraft not be changed, but AA aircraft will be changed -- to get rid of it.

But I don't predict this outcome, as I don't believe the bean counters will be able to prove such a thing. There's a reason CO management adopted it across the board at the New United -- because it was demonstrated that it makes the company money.

Same reasoning is influencing DL.

Make no mistake, Parker will drive his team to figure out how to make the most money possible from MCE, a la the US 'Choice Seats' that absolutely everyone must pay for to secure in advance, but it's hard for me to imagine a circumstance where they abandon it. 1) It's completely counter to how they're positioning the New American; and 2) UA, DL and the current AA are almost assuredly not wrong about its profitability.

thomwithanh

Ditto... I have a feeling it will be retained and expanded to US metal but it won't be free for elites (except maybe EXP/CP). Lower tiers might get a discount but it won't be like at UA where even Silver can snag E+ at check-in.

I'd really love to see a "true" Premium Economy product with domestic F seats similar to BA, CX and QF - and it's something I'd gladly shell out for. Sadly I don't think any US carrier will ever offer that.

dtremit

Agreed. Parker has changed his mind in the past. That said, I'm not certain keeping MCE at AA is at odds with his previous statement -- US has historically had fairly low yields on its flights as a result of its less commanding market position. That demands packing more people onto planes. A carrier selling more higher-fare seats has more latitude to offer products like Y+ and potentially have the higher average fare offset the slightly lower capacity of the plane.

Good luck snagging a decent E+ seat at check-in as a United silver. I've had trouble finding anything but middle E+ seats to *pay* for a week out, on some routes.

AZ Travels the World

I completely agree with this. In fact, it was a point I meant to make. Parker and Kirby's statements regarding a MCE/E+ product related to US as it exists today (the 'LCC'). The combination with AA changes everything.

You never heard them referring to US like this: "We will be a global carrier and will need to reflect such. Our direct competitors will be Delta and United. To that point, our product will be equal, if not better than that of Delta or United."

I think the decision to adopt MCE across at least the mainline fleet will be easy for him to make if the numbers add up.

Superguy

That and it's hard to be equal or exceed the competition when both have a E+ product and US/AA doesn't. Unless they did something like AA's MRTC back in the day, but I don't see that happening.

burlax

Received the "Your First Class upgrade" email for an AA flight. Does this happen to anyone else?

SFO777

You've been upgraded on an AA flight as a CP but no AA status??

burlax

No, was upgrade ineligible, but I wasn't expecting such an email at all for a non-US flight. Might be a sign that AA and US are working on integrating some systems already.

tom911

Is it a fare class that qualifies for a free upgrade?

burlax

Free upgrades on AA happen only if you're EXP ( UDU on any cash fare ). All other upgrades have to be supported by stickers / miles / SWUs.

tom911

I was thinking about AA YUP fares (coach fares that qualify for an instant upgrade):
AA "instant upgrade" (YUP / KUP) ticket / fare (consolidated)

If the upgrade is not available at time of purchase, and you have this type coach ticket, couldn't it clear somewhere along the way when a seat opens up? I've never booked one of these to know the fine details, having always relied on my EXP upgrades.

burlax

I think those would clear well ahead of the email. Functionally, those are premium fares without benefits premium fares usually have. 'Instantly upgradable fare' is a marketing ploy - same as saying 'high yield debt instruments' instead of 'junk bonds.'

sunnyjl

Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the tip. I may be a FF, but I still have a lot to learn, and so little time to actually do the research. Thanks again.

SoCal

Is there one yet? Looking at AA or US for an international trip in October-November and wondering about ff miles. I have AA and UA ff accounts, and wife has TAM. Thanks.