I’ve gotta say, my quest towards Executive Platinum has been rather painless thus far. I flew up to New York on American through Chicago in first class last Friday, which I reviewed here.
Continue reading: My second (revenue) journey on American
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I can't believe you enjoy that Stauffer's Pasta.
It's amazing what people will eat if it is free.
I keep lamenting that all I want is a Wolfgang Puck sandwich or Salad that they serve for $8.99 in most airports but, as an AA flight attendant explained to me, "they only budget $4 for lunch/dinner for first class so Puck is out of our range."
Quite depressing!
Many times I have asked for the Boston Market sandwich they sell for $7 in coach and often the attendant will bring it up for me gratis, which is very kind.
two dozen stickers in his account
Enough for two r/t coast-to-coast upgrades. Hardly "yow!"
When I asked for a glass of milk
I almost always get offered a glass of milk with the cookie
I know that AA charges their employees fairly modest prices for non-revving, even in coach (e.g., about $10 one-way from ATL-DFW, I believe). First (and business) class is an additional charge however, even domestically, so that is probably why the FAs and pilots headed back to coach.
@ Michael -- Hey, it was as good as the Macaroni Grill!
@ foosion -- It was more the fact that he seemed to have no clue he even had them.
@ DiscoPapa -- Interesting, I had no clue. That even applies if they're commuting to work? I was under the impression that most majors have an agreement whereby FAs/pilots can commute on any airline for free, provided there are seats. Guess that would make sense, though.
@ mark -- I hadn't realized it till now, but there were no mints on the return. Frowny face indeed.
@foosian-- plus on AA's transcons (JFK-lax/SFO) you van actually use segment upgrades (unlike UA!).
Not sure about commuting, per say. I would believe that you would non-rev when commuting, as you aren't officially 'deadheading'. Pilots/FAs can fly on any airline in the jump seat for free, and I'm pretty sure back in coach as well. I just know that AA's policy for employees non-revving is that it costs money. Once you hit a certain threshold of years of service (5, 10, 20?), coach becomes free.
I just had same exact dinner on my flight tonight from ORD to PHL..
@Mark: I wasn't offered mint either on my flight today.. makes me wonder if they stopped serving mint after dinner :/
For a while people at United acted like I was from another planet when I asked for milk with my cookies, but they eventually caught on. Aloha was the only airline that got it right from the very beginning.
Talk about acting like your from another planet:
once i over heard someone ask for milk on a Southwest flight. The response was basically, "whats milk?".
In all seriousness, if Southwest could figure out how to get milk in to a can (like they do with the tap water), they probably would have it.
I don't understand what makes hot nuts so special. I don't get why they are considered fancy, why they deserve to get served in something called a "ramekin" instead of just "small bowl", etc. I just don't get the fascination with them.
As an ex-AA'er, the one thing I can comment on about F Class on American. They treat it like its First Class... unlike UA and others, who will fill it up with Elites on every flight! AA is not in the business of devaluing their product.
Its incredibly tacky for uniformed staff to sit in either F or J class.... so yes, send them to Y! If one is off duty and dressed in civilian clothes, then by all means, they should be allowed to enjoy F or J.
In perspective... It is a shame that few readers remember the days when a *Coach Meal* was better, more extensive than this pasta offering. I don't know what the upgrade *really* cost, but that is not worth half (one for seat, one meal) of the $60 that it probably cost. If they want two stamps/coupons for the upgrade, too bad that you cannot offer one for the seat and beverage and then bring you own food (BYOF?). Cookies without cold milk: A felony!
Commuting staff paying a fee for "F" seats? More an more common: More and more common but probably subject to interline agreements that are always under revision. I suspect that some lines give a lot more non-rev seats than their own staff recieves. Route structure... Yes, the costs can mount up!
-C.