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Started By
Message
AA Platinum Offer- Took Them Up On It
Posted on 6/17/16 at 10:52 am
Posted on 6/17/16 at 10:52 am
Ok many of you know I am a Delta homer. I have been vocal about that in the past. However AA offered me platinum status through September (email offer I didn't do a status match) to try them out. I have taken 4 flights and so far it has been miserable.
Took them up on the offer and booked a flight from MSY-CLT-CVG-CLT-MSY this week. After booking I went to use the app to review seats (company travel site doesn't allow for seat selection) and the app wouldn't load the seat map. Strike one. Ultimately used the website and was fine.
Next- the gates at MSY for AA (C) are a damn mess. Maybe it was just summer travel but the place felt cramped, minimal seat outlets, and just a damn zoo. Board through that sea of humanity was nuts.
Arrival in CLT was fine until we had a 40 minute hold on the ground due to CLT being closed for an hour due to weather. Not AA's fault but logistics aren't their strong suit. Once in CLT I liked the atrium and food options were nice. This is a plus. Connection to CVG was delayed due to weather but the app and the board refused to show anywhere near actual departure projections. Failure to communicate here left me sitting around the gate rather than enjoying a meal.
CLT-CVG in FC was uneventful. Snack selections weren't impressive and the FA wasn't very friendly.
CVG-CLT was uneventful and the FA took away pre flight drinks prior to the door even being closed for takeoff.
Things got really fun in CLT (after yet another 20 mins on the Tarmac waiting despite no weather issues). Being new to the AA app I requested an upgrade to FC and was allowed to and obtained a seat in row 1 without any upgrade certs. It told me to check in for the flight I had to buy them. This was a mistake on my part and I tried to unwind it. The gate agent had never seen this issue. When I asked to just be put back in coach I was told that wasn't an option because no more coach seats were empty. He told me I either needed to now pay for the upgrade or find another flight. Seeing that this was my fault I elected to pay for my mistake- note he made no offer to waive this at all despite the app allowing me to put myself in this situation. He then had no clue how to process the payment and asked for me to come back in 15-20 mins. When I came back he said he had found me a middle seat in the last row... Uh no thanks so I asked to pay. This time he was able to get it done. FC was uneventful but I had great service.
Short story... Everywhere I turned I had some issue with technology, communication, service, or AA logistics. I may be forced to try them again during the next few months but at first glance their product O experienced is bottom tier. The gate agent assisting my in CLT was legacy USAir and admitted the product has deteriorated.
So thanks for the offer AA but all it did was solidify my love for Delta.
Took them up on the offer and booked a flight from MSY-CLT-CVG-CLT-MSY this week. After booking I went to use the app to review seats (company travel site doesn't allow for seat selection) and the app wouldn't load the seat map. Strike one. Ultimately used the website and was fine.
Next- the gates at MSY for AA (C) are a damn mess. Maybe it was just summer travel but the place felt cramped, minimal seat outlets, and just a damn zoo. Board through that sea of humanity was nuts.
Arrival in CLT was fine until we had a 40 minute hold on the ground due to CLT being closed for an hour due to weather. Not AA's fault but logistics aren't their strong suit. Once in CLT I liked the atrium and food options were nice. This is a plus. Connection to CVG was delayed due to weather but the app and the board refused to show anywhere near actual departure projections. Failure to communicate here left me sitting around the gate rather than enjoying a meal.
CLT-CVG in FC was uneventful. Snack selections weren't impressive and the FA wasn't very friendly.
CVG-CLT was uneventful and the FA took away pre flight drinks prior to the door even being closed for takeoff.
Things got really fun in CLT (after yet another 20 mins on the Tarmac waiting despite no weather issues). Being new to the AA app I requested an upgrade to FC and was allowed to and obtained a seat in row 1 without any upgrade certs. It told me to check in for the flight I had to buy them. This was a mistake on my part and I tried to unwind it. The gate agent had never seen this issue. When I asked to just be put back in coach I was told that wasn't an option because no more coach seats were empty. He told me I either needed to now pay for the upgrade or find another flight. Seeing that this was my fault I elected to pay for my mistake- note he made no offer to waive this at all despite the app allowing me to put myself in this situation. He then had no clue how to process the payment and asked for me to come back in 15-20 mins. When I came back he said he had found me a middle seat in the last row... Uh no thanks so I asked to pay. This time he was able to get it done. FC was uneventful but I had great service.
Short story... Everywhere I turned I had some issue with technology, communication, service, or AA logistics. I may be forced to try them again during the next few months but at first glance their product O experienced is bottom tier. The gate agent assisting my in CLT was legacy USAir and admitted the product has deteriorated.
So thanks for the offer AA but all it did was solidify my love for Delta.
6
Posted on 6/17/16 at 11:36 am to CaptainJ47
quote:
He told me I either needed to now pay for the upgrade or find another flight.
Not a chance in hell I would agree to this. Unless I'm not understanding something.
Posted on 6/17/16 at 12:49 pm to CaptainJ47
You're right about the AA gates at MSY. There's almost no outlets, the food choices are crappy, and at the end of C (like C15/16) it's very cramped if they've got 4 flights going out at once.
Those CLT-MSY flights require two stickers and if you have none then you're sort of in limbo because if you requested the upgrade you can't check in until you pay for them.
The AA app is terrible and they should feel bad about it in comparison to United's app.
On the whole it sounds like you got an average to poor experience on US Airways... Charlotte has some old US agents that have no idea how to use the AA system still and it's very frustrating. I find when sitting in First the legacy US crews are better, but when traveling in economy the old AA crews are better. If you want to save up stickers, fly through Dallas as those flights have complimentary upgrades
Those CLT-MSY flights require two stickers and if you have none then you're sort of in limbo because if you requested the upgrade you can't check in until you pay for them.
The AA app is terrible and they should feel bad about it in comparison to United's app.
On the whole it sounds like you got an average to poor experience on US Airways... Charlotte has some old US agents that have no idea how to use the AA system still and it's very frustrating. I find when sitting in First the legacy US crews are better, but when traveling in economy the old AA crews are better. If you want to save up stickers, fly through Dallas as those flights have complimentary upgrades
This post was edited on 6/17/16 at 12:50 pm
Posted on 6/17/16 at 1:27 pm to Golfer
Golfer- don't worry I will be calling AA. So I checked in and actually had my boarding pass printed (hate their app) before my "confirmed" upgrade. So technically I was checked in but basically not allowed to board my CLT-MSY flight. It was a total cluster.
It was $80. Not the end of the world but frankly they F'd me by this situation.
It was $80. Not the end of the world but frankly they F'd me by this situation.
Posted on 6/17/16 at 1:42 pm to CaptainJ47
Yeah the app sucks. I don't understand why there is no capability to change flights within the app. The issue you were having with the seats at the beginning happens to me all the time, usually about an hour after I book I can change my seats.
Posted on 6/17/16 at 2:05 pm to CaptainJ47
quote:
due to CLT being closed
Story of my life ..
Posted on 6/17/16 at 4:09 pm to TheIndulger
I fly AA exclusively now (I used to fly Delta). For flights shorter than 500 miles is a complementary upgrade. Flights over 500 miles use a thing called "500 mile upgrades" which are given at each status level, and for every 10,000 miles flown.
Terminal C does suck now, but will improve with the new MSY upgrades.
Terminal C does suck now, but will improve with the new MSY upgrades.
Posted on 6/17/16 at 4:22 pm to TheDeathValley
TheDeathValley- so on Delta I can get upgraded on any flight, especially with Diamond status without the need for certificates. What advantage does AA present in this certificate structure?
Posted on 6/17/16 at 4:27 pm to CaptainJ47
quote:
Delta I can get upgraded on any flight
Slight hijack, this comfort plus and double upgrade to first class process is a load of bullshite.
Posted on 6/17/16 at 4:31 pm to CaptainJ47
quote:
TheDeathValley- so on Delta I can get upgraded on any flight, especially with Diamond status without the need for certificates. What advantage does AA present in this certificate structure?
Their thought process was to allow the lesser tiered elite status members to have an opportunity to be upgraded. If a gold was willing to put up a 500 mile upgrade but a platinum was not, then the gold would get the upgrade.
With that being said, Executive Platinum gets automatic complementary upgrades.
More often than not, if I did not use a 500 mile upgrade for a flight, and I was still elite, I would get bumped.
Posted on 6/17/16 at 8:27 pm to Golfer
Golfer- I know a lot of people pissed at this. I myself am more frustrated that my travel companions can't move to EC+. As a diamond I would think a perk there would be nice.
What is a pain in the arse is me remembering to go check the box to upgrade to EC+ because my company travel site doesn't auto request it.
What is a pain in the arse is me remembering to go check the box to upgrade to EC+ because my company travel site doesn't auto request it.
Posted on 6/17/16 at 11:55 pm to CaptainJ47
I'd be fine with it if they'd just remove middle seats from the EC upgrade pool. I uncheck every EC upgrade on any mainline plane because I'm not getting stuck in a middle seat.
Posted on 6/18/16 at 4:22 am to Golfer
Does AA ever leave out of MSY to DFW on time? Last few times I've come to NOLA on the way back to HNL it seems I am always sitting in that back shitty terminal for a delayed flight which has caused me to miss my 1 stop in DFW and turns me into having to stop again in LAX or something 
I know OP is about status and biz travel, but just figured I'd say AA sucks out of MSY to DFW if that's your route. But I stick with them because I always get mileage awards from HNL to MSY pretty easily and used to be for the cheapest mileage rates until their recent deval. And I hate United so I may look at switching over to Alaska.
I know OP is about status and biz travel, but just figured I'd say AA sucks out of MSY to DFW if that's your route. But I stick with them because I always get mileage awards from HNL to MSY pretty easily and used to be for the cheapest mileage rates until their recent deval. And I hate United so I may look at switching over to Alaska.
This post was edited on 6/18/16 at 4:24 am
Posted on 6/18/16 at 7:02 am to Sho Nuff
quote:
Does AA ever leave out of MSY to DFW on time?
Yes. AA has had some pretty unfortunate luck the last few weeks in regards to the severe weather in DFW. IAH has been having the same trouble.
quote:
And I hate United so I may look at switching over to Alaska.
A buddy of mine works in Seattle, and he lives on Alaska. He says nothing beats it.
Posted on 6/18/16 at 7:47 am to TheDeathValley
For me timing is everything. I can't miss business meetings. I laughed at the guy next to me in first class from CLT-MSY when he said he has to fly in the night before for a meeting because he doesn't trust AA can get him there on schedule. What does that say right there? In 3 years and close to 600 flights, I have missed one meeting (530am BTR-ATL flight cancelled) and been stuck in ATL once (weather delays causing crew timeouts). In 20 flights during that same time on AA probably have have been delayed by 15+ mins and I got stuck in DFW once. Consistency trumps award availability for me.
Posted on 6/18/16 at 7:48 am to CaptainJ47
I will say I am very jealous of AA for serving Tito's. That is a huge plus for them over Delta
Posted on 6/18/16 at 12:11 pm to CaptainJ47
quote:
What does that say right there?
Hey man, I don't have a love affair with AA, I just fly them out of necessity (Laredo, Amarillo, Austin, Abeliene, etc...). Personally, I have only had delays/cancellations with AA due to severe weather in DFW. I guess I am lucky, who knows.
Posted on 6/18/16 at 12:15 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
Does AA ever leave out of MSY to DFW on time?
Every single msy-dfw flight I've been on (probably 20 times or so) has left on time or early. Maybe ive just gotten lucky, its not like flying to lga, jfk, ewr or dca. Try for the 6 or 730am flights and it's usually not an issue.
Posted on 6/18/16 at 3:49 pm to reb13
I think there is a time difference between the flight actually being reserved/ticketed and booked that leads to the lag time. I'm not sure, but I run into the same issue when I book travel from my corporate site and within a few hours it's always good to go.
AA has been good to me over the last 2 years of business travel. I have had one flight cancelled for no apparent reason and they did nothing to assist me. I ended up just renting a car and driving the 5 hours instead of hoping to get on the first flight out in the morning. I've hit Gold one year and Platinum one year. Seem to get upgraded quite frequently when I request it.
AA has been good to me over the last 2 years of business travel. I have had one flight cancelled for no apparent reason and they did nothing to assist me. I ended up just renting a car and driving the 5 hours instead of hoping to get on the first flight out in the morning. I've hit Gold one year and Platinum one year. Seem to get upgraded quite frequently when I request it.
This post was edited on 6/18/16 at 3:56 pm
Posted on 6/18/16 at 5:54 pm to CaptainJ47
I know you alluded to this but the CLT issues I've had since the "merger" I'm writing off to culture clash for the time being. Trying to get in and out of where US Airways pretty much exclusively flew (small airports in the SE US) has forced me to still use them as AA and the experience is now marginally better than it was two or four years ago.
Here's to better days!
Here's to better days!
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