sbbutler93

Yup...starts next week.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...-23-april.html

heyeaglefn

Yes, old news but still a kick in the junk. Maybe you will get more upgrades through the queue.

AlphaTango

I've never once missed a PHL-LAS u/g as a CP, either direction. I think actually, that this might end up being good news for you. I suspect that, especially on this route, there were a lot of mileage upgraders that will think twice now about dropping $$$ + miles rather than just miles.

BTW, the Centurion lounge at LAS is excellent. It's like being at an international lounge.

JDiver

My crystal ball is a bit muddled, but I believe well see more changes before the FFP merger is in place. AAdvantage and Dividend Miles members have both taken some hits. And some changes that I opine may have implications for all of us include newer additions, such as upgrades on auction at AA. (Yes, it's supposed to be used after statusholders' upgrade requests have been fulfilled, but it doesn't take much imagination to see a specific fare requirement, etc.)

Ouch. My radar shows a stormy horizon.

ACA321

+1

clemsonfn

Small data point and perhaps unrelated to this news, but....

Flying from CLT to LAX on 4/22; usually about 50/50 for my chances of an upgrade. No dice this time, as all FC seats were taken at T4.

Flying back from LAS to CLT on 04/23; usually about 20% for UG chances. I was upgraded at T3 and there are still 5 open seats in FC.

Makes me wonder if some of those seats were open due to the new fee to use miles for UGs.

AZ Travels the World

You are right, I'm afraid.

I'm not typically a write-in kinda guy, but I did on this one and the no-notice change to the award chart -- AGAIN.

But I have absolutely no illusions. These guys simply do not care what customers think -- unless it's in enough numbers to have an impact on their spreadsheets. That's how this business is run.

AlphaTango

The charging of the fee for preferreds is effective 4/23, not for flights from 4/23.
I just upgraded some flights 4/30 and wasn't charged a fee.

I think your upgrade has more more to do with your flying on a business light day in a holiday week.

clemsonfn

Gotcha.

JenniferNAz

I did speak with a supervisor at the Chairman's desk and she said that she would document and pass on my concern. She said they want to hear. Of course, she could just be saying that to get me off the phone, but I figure if nothing is said, nothing will change. At least if people call in/write in, there is a slight chance they might look at this again, at least for Plat and CP or something like that.

I have been trying to get part of a London trip for the fall upgraded before 4/23. While the cabins are wide open, they won't release any seats. There is a good chance it won't be an issue with my status at the time the trip comes up, but I would rather use miles and have it for sure. You would think they might want to have the miles too, vs a free upgrade, but inventory control wouldn't budge on it.

Biggie Fries

I stipulate from the beginning:

1. US owes me nothing.
2. US is a business.
3. The Terms & Conditions allow US to do pretty much whatever they want, whenever they want.

This said, they just added insult to injury, at least from where I am sitting ... or, to be precise, from where I wanted to be sitting.

Looking at a flight to LAS in June. Appears 6 seats in F left for sale. Need two, and with only six available six weeks out ... and since tomorrow an upgrade for two will be $200 plus 20,000 miles, thought I would upgrade now and save the $200. Of course, no upgrades available at the present time.

Not sure if I am masochistic enough to call in in a couple of days to see if seats have been released post-23 April.

Sigh. A brave new world. I guess it is possible, as others have postulated here, that fewer mileage upgrades will increase chances of automatic miles-free upgrade later ... But somehow I don't think that this is what US is gunning for. Will happily eat words later ... if they let me.

heyeaglefn

Last few hours to upgrade without a fee.

ACA321

I've looked at some upcoming flights, mainly up and down the east coast, as well as a few I have in the upcoming months to ORD. Absolutely nothing available for upgrade on ANY of them, despite the F cabin showing empty (F9+) on each flight I currently have booked. What a joke. It would take a lot to convince me they haven't turned off the upgrade with miles tap with anticipation that slews of people would try to take advantage before the copay is implemented. Will be interesting to see if this changes after tomorrow....

lkar

I thought not having a co-pay was a bit of a boondoggle and not surprised when it changed. The problem to me is that you pay for each segment. That's kind of ridiculous.

dtremit

That isn't new -- it changed a few years back.

The per-segment fee is way too high, in my opinion, but I'm not opposed to the method. It has saved me quite a bit -- e.g., upgrade the difficult BOS-PHX with miles for 10k, and take the "chance" on an auto upgrade on PHX-ONT.