In the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen most US airlines hike checked bag fees, in an effort to increase revenue during a very challenging time (due to high oil prices). American has just matched those checked bag fee increases, but is taking it to the next level, and is making basic economy much worse.
Continue reading: American Makes Basic Economy Much Worse, Especially For AAdvantage Elites
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It sucks because much of the time 'basic' just means that they raised normal fares while taking things away from you. So, if you care about status or don't want to board last or be forced to gate-check, etc., simply do not book basic. However, you don't care about status and miles and all these silly games that the rest of us are apparently obsessed with, you likely aren't visiting OMAAT anyway, and you're probably not flying AA either. In that case, please, have fun at Spirit and Frontier if they survive, or enjoy staying home while we all endure this economic downturn and higher fuel costs. Yay...
1990, totally agree with you as I always advise people don’t BUY basic economy. If you wanted first class you should have bought it
Presumably most people interested in status, particularly from PLT and up as that's where the real benefits are, do not buy BE because they do not earn LP. Non elites are not going to be thinking of sitting up in premium and if they want extra legroom they know they're going to need to pay. Or if they do not want a middle seat and/or be able to sit next to a companion.
Would you rather just see an across the board fare increase? Or airlines go bankrupt on cheap fares and the taxpayers, some who do not fly, fund another round of airline bankruptcies. Despite airline travel sites lore airlines do not make money on a $79 fare.
Is this only for AA elites? Or does the new seat policy also apply to other Oneworld Elites as well?
I have Atmos Silver and recently flew on an American Airlines basic economy ticket a few weeks ago (one-way, took Amtrak home).
I qualified for Silver status after I booked the ticket and I could tell the status was working when I was able to book us complimentary seats. I was very surprised to look recently and notice that I had gotten the 500 minimum (not full milage) base, 125 bouns, and 500 status miles for each segment of the trip. I don't know if this is normal or if our flights were (accidently) upgraded to the O fare class (that's what my points activity in Atmos rewards is showing) after I rebooked us the morning of our trip taking advantage of a same day change waiver to avoid bad weather in Chicago, our connecting city (the first segment was originally the Landline bus from South Bend).
Actually this makes good sense. If I get the same benefit for less money, then of course I am going basic. Now, they will have to pay the going rate to get the perks which makes complete busienss sense. This will help boost AA earnings forsure.
Would be crazy if different for other OW elites -- would be a significant incentive to shift to Atmos status rather than AA (like I believe Ben has done already).
And here I am where just not being able to change my ticket in basic is enough to make me buy up
I got my AA Plat from Hyatt, and it has been perfect for all my BE bookings. Now I have to rethink the whole picture.
The only silver lining is that AA's main is usually only $30 extra, compares to AS or DL that charges 45~50
I don't mind this - it felt like I was cheating getting MCE for free on a Basic Economy fare. It was good while it lasted.
Well for us that fly In First or Business Class, this change means nothing for us.
Sorry poor people. Lol
Really? You feel like you’ve been cheating a multi-billion dollar publicly traded company? Eh…please don’t flatter yourself, and kindly put down the AA marketing materials.
This change means everything to you.
You're just too ignorant to realize it.
First they came for Delta
And I did not speak out
Because I was not Tim Dunn
Then they came for the bag fee
And I did not speak out
Because I was not flying without status
Then they came for the seat selection
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a flying economy
Then they came for the basic economy
And I did not speak out
Because I was not poor people
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
You idiot
Give AA another few days to fix that darn algorithm and make it more expensive for everyone.
Does it align with how UA and DL treat their elite members? If so it’s just a catching up, not the end of the world. Hope UA and AA keep its award tickets non-basic unlike DL.
Funny how main cabin was considered the standard, now basic is standard minus 50%. May as well not include travel on the plane and say you have to take a bus.
They say we killed Frontier and Spirit yet the big 3 is now doing their own version of them with basic fares across the board.
This applies to any person purchasing basic economy. That would look so bad if AA still allowed OWE from another program to select MCE on a BE flight…
I didn't hate the old policy around basic economy.
The way I saw it, it was good for business travelers. If work is paying for regular economy, I fly that and get my status/miles that way. Then, when I want to take a personal trip, I can book the basic economy ticket, then use my status benefits to at least make it tolerable.
To me, the underrated way to keep road warriors loyal, is to make sure you take care of them when they're traveling with their families specifically. When I'm traveling by myself, the upgrades are nice, but I don't really care that much (I mean - suite in a hotel when you're there for 2-3 nights and only sleeping in the room, who cares). But, if I'm traveling with my wife and can make the trip better for her, that's really worth something. It's particularly effective with soft product too.
“If you wanted first class you should have bought it”
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
Welcome to OMAAT.
Dude, you fucking think Tokyo is in China. Don’t try to convince anybody here that you fly at all, least of all in business or first.
Go ask your mom what time dinner will be ready so you know when to come up from the basement.
It wouldn't be that crazy for AA...I mean a oneworld sapphire on a domestic basic economy ticket can access their flagship lounges when their own first class passengers without status cant even access the admirals club.
Seems penny wise, pound foolish thinking. A lot of elites earn their status on corporate account but are price sensitive leisure travelers. Ever try flying just to/from Dallas or Charlotte, AA rates are often way higher than United or Delta. Just encouraging their loyal captive audience to go try a competitor airline and likely experience a better product too
These companies are financial engineering alchemy with a bit of airplane flying on the side. Their first priority is to their credit card masters, and definitely not the passengers. We’re just pawns in this game.
Lol yeah basic economy is part of how we killed Frontier and Spirit. The market didn't just disappear overnight
If you take away elite benefits on basic economy fares I suppose two things could happen.
1) elites stop buying basic economy
2) fewer people want to be elite
Which is more likely I wonder.
Basic economy was only a couple years old then. Customer preferences didn't just shift overnight
Marie Antoinette: "Let them eat cake!"
Dave Stafford: "Let them fly Basic Economy!"
lol
No worries AA I will fly someone else
Buh bye
I’m lifetime elite at a few airlines but this makes me a equal opportunity buyer more so
I have to suspect that most Elites have gained that status by flying Main Cabin on corporate business. Must corporate policy is the "Lowest Logical Airfare nonstop within a 2 hour window". I HOPE that most corporate travel policies exclude BE. I would hope.
And I suspect that most of these corporate travelers would not consider BE for their own personal travel, although I could be very wrong here.
Of course AA has higher fares DFW CLT as
They offer nonstops that others don’t. (Hubs) Price out DEN EWR on UA and AA, or ATL DTW on DL and AA, see which is higher.
Yes of course, why provide a benefit to people who earn status flying and spending on your card? Driving away elite customers makes complete business sense.
I just chose two system wide upgrades as my award based on being able to upgrade from basic economy. What good are system wide upgrades now?
Our resident libertarian economist has arrived: Let them fail, George? Personally, I’m not a fan of losing options as a consumer; but, wouldn’t that be the ‘free market’ deciding? *facepalm*
Yeah, but it’s gonna rub CLT the wrong way. Some would say, folks will end up MIA… DOH!
That’s a good point. When traveling with OPM, yeah, unless you’re at mom n’ pop operation, most corporate booking platforms do exclude basic, so those folks relying on status to get Main to MCE or complimentary upgrades should be mostly unaffected by this. Like most things, ‘it depends,’ but I think you’re onto something here.
This just drives people to the discount airlines. They are all about who they are, so their business model doesn’t feel punitive (cheap maybe, but not punitive). American’s policies are meant to screw with you, which gives me no reason to spend money with them over the discount airlines, which then defeats the whole strategy of basic economy itself.
I used to brag to my Delta friends about how much better AA's loyalty program was than Delta's so it was ok if everything else wasn't quite as good. This disastrous change eliminated my last reason for not switching to where all of my friends fly.
I'm an exec plat who always flies BE. There are plenty of us. Half of the perks you get with status are only worth something on a BE ticket because you get those perks with a regular ticket. This along with the move to drop 25k mileage upgrades was the last straw for me. They're not better than Delta - they just had a better program until now
You misunderstood - there's always been club access with the card. I believe Delta makes you buy a full price ticket to access the lounge even if you have a card
Hi, resident exec plat here looking to make a switch after this change. I always fly BE. They get their money on my CC spend.
I do not understand why you created a thread bitching about BE when yesterday you created a thread: "Delta CEO Says Fares May Not Go Down Even If Oil Prices Drop, AND THAT'S FINE" (emphasis mine).
This reduction in BE offerings is a defacto fare increase - just like the concept of BE was as will Basic Business become - You should be fine with these as well.
Consumers need to wake up and draw a line in the sand and reduce their flying.
Yeah, mostly this. AA miles still more valuable, and partner airlines are very good internationally. But AA itself… sigh.
United, Southwest and Delta raised their bag fee by $10, nothing said. American raised it by $5, and it's BIG NEWS!
United, Southwest and Delta raised their bag fee by $10, nothing said. American raised it by $5, and it's BIG NEWS!
Monitor the rush of elites buying basic economy until May 18th. Then watch the drop off of elites discretionary flying. Playing field will be leveled and discount airlines will benefit.
How many top tier elites of the US3 are buying BE fares, besides for short hops (1-2 hr domestic)?
Pls. Raise your hands for Lucky to take count.
I know I don’t. Never booked BE on any international flights or very rarely US domestic > 1.5 hours.
Booked BE once @ UA from LAX-EWR.
I swore never again.
As expected with a basic economy fare, but the real question is how many elite members really do fly basic ecoomy.....It sounds like they changed a lot here when in reality it applies to few I think.
I am a million miler with AA, but they have sunk so low that I now fly Delta, Alaska, or even Condor before I look at AA.