American Airlines pilots are upgraded above elite customers who may otherwise qualify for an upgraded seat. But this puts staff at odds with its best customers.
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American Airlines Pilot Upgrade Change
Labor unions from all major airlines have renegotiated deals with highly coveted pilots. The deals were richer than rich with each airline creating a better deal than the last. First Delta, then American, then United, then American again to match the United deal though prior to that point, the American deal was touted as “historic” by union bosses just weeks before.
Aside from pay increases, American Airlines pilots earned the privilege of securing upgrades ahead of elite passengers. This has taken a little while to come into play as the effect of the deal was not immediate, and customers began to notice more of what was taking place. Now we are starting to see how employee pilots and elite customers are responding to the current arrangement.
Airline Employees Are Loving It
Pilots, and possibly other labor groups are loving the fact that elite customers are not granted that bigger seat and the occasionally warm nuts from the front of the plane while pilots are. Here’s a post from a cabin crew forum on Facebook:
I think both sides are a little dramatic on this point. The passenger that boards and isn’t happy about missing an upgrade when they super-duper-triple-qualified for the upgrade (one stated they had already qualified for Executive Platinum status for 2025 just 40 days into the new year.) Then, of course, from the crew side, the only other option for the pilot was to fly fatigued as though they haven’t been flying in the back for the last 100 years of commercial aviation.
Matthew commented earlier this week that the upgrades weren’t “stolen” from passengers, though we differ on some of our perspective on the matter.
Is This The Right Move Long Term?
I’ve stated for some time that while the position is very important, skilled, and leads to a difficult life for employees – pilots in some of the latest round of contracts are overpaid at the very top of the earnings structure. I remarked that I don’t believe a contract structured based on peak travel is going to be sustainable over the long term and already United and American are posting losses despite full planes and high airfare.
We also saw a very sharp response from the traveling public and from elite flyers at Delta following the announced demolition of any remaining value in its SkyMiles program. And even after the top airline in the US rescinded some of those plans, the damage had already been done. Many members of the program bolted as confirmed by Delta’s aggressive status match offer valid for two years if elites would only come back.
Should airline pilots – even when not flying on official duties – really be upgraded over paying customers? The reality is that these two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. On long haul flights, passengers accept that alternate pilots need to rest and these seats are lie flat, close to the cockpit and receive separate attention from the rest of the cabin. We ALL want rested pilots.
However, on a two-hour flight from Philadelphia to Orlando, I’m not sure that the pilot is more rested in 1A than in 8C. It seems like less of a safety concern and more like a perk. And there are tons of perks that offset the difficult, expensive, and arduous task of safely transporting thousands of people everyday at hundreds of miles per hour miles in the sky.
A restaurant manager should be able to eat whatever they want off the menu. They’ve earned it. However, what message does it send when the manager (presumably in identifiable clothing with his name badge on) sits down at a table when others are waiting to get in and comfortably enjoys his meal while paying customers wait. Still worse, if those paying customers waiting are instead the most valuable and loyal customers the restaurant has.
The pitch to frequent flyers is, “spend an ungodly amount of money and we will give you priority access, upgrades, and more” except that’s not what happens. The same flyers that are actually moving the needle for the airline despite elite requirements that have grown from just flying to spending $10,000/year on airfare to more than $20,000/year now have even fewer perks. It’s disingenuous to ultra frequent flyers in the least.
Conclusion
Pilots should be rested and comfortable, but I’m not sure that goes ahead of paying clients. I’m not convinced that a pilot on a short flight should sit in first class, while the road warrior elite is in the back of the bus. The right solution to this problem would likely involve important details and nuance, like a pilot coming off a long line or ahead of a significant long haul flight. However, anyone inside the travel industry will attest that even in this modern era the technological challenges to place conditions for which an elite is upgraded over a pilot would require an act of God. I stand by my prior assertion that the pilots have an unsustainable deal that will not last and at least in some cases it penalizes the airline’s best customers to achieve it.
What do you think?
Whatever you get paid is way too much. What kind of people sit at their keyboard writing garbage about how those with 300 lives on their hands are over paid? Take a hike.
Just curious what airline do you work for?
Let me guess, you’re one of those old, flabby, out of shape pilots that can’t sit your fat ass in the back because you’ll be too “fatigued”?
Old, flabby fatigued pilot here!
Pilots fly for work just like everyone else. Why do you need the free upgrade ?
*We do not get to choose our hotels like you do
*We do not collect points and miles for any of our stays
*Hotels give us the worst rooms available. We are usually in the 2 double bed room with. a view of the roof
*We shuffle into hotel vans or some sort of shuttle in most places … no Uber or taxi or rental car
I love my job and I am thankful for it but It is not a glamorous travel life. When I have to deadhead ( and its rare but it happens) I am usually sitting on a plane for 2-4 hours before operating and it does reduce stress and fatigue. Fatigue calls are expensive for airlines and passengers. Pilots always appreciate loyal customers…without them airlines would not exist.. but it is hard to say one is entitled over the other. You may not know it but ALL cargo companies deadhead pilots in business class…they don’t have to go in uniform..since they get to deadhead and go straight to the hotel. When I am deadheading, its to operate.
As for my physical structure.. I run track and swim when I am not flying! Not bad for an old flab!
Thanks RT. I promise not all of us frequent flyers feel this way. It’s mainly just the over entitled children who spent 30 years to become middle managers and are largely useless. I would always prefer you be comfortable coming to fly my plane for 2-4 hours than end up like the buffalo incident.
+1
If it was a fatigue issue then AA should put pilots in confirmed first class. Are pilots on SW more fatigued?
The problem is that AA is pitting frequent flyers against pilots – fighting over a diminishing perk.
AA doesn’t want to give DHing pilots confirmed first because they still want to try and sell the seat. To not affect revenue but still give a perk to pilots, they decided to take a perk from frequent fliers and give to the pilots.
If pilots can be more comfortable – that’s awesome! But that doesn’t change the fact that this is a reduction in frequent flier benefits.
Regarding cargo carriers always DHing in first class – that’s incorrect. For domestic trips the majority of cargo carriers DH in coach; for International they get to fly more comfortable (or deviate to fly in eco and get the fare diff.)
I’m kinda sick of the whining over this. Sure, maybe it’s a little much for a pilot to be given an upgrade on a short flight, but it’s a short flight, so who actually cares? If you want a better seat, pay for it. I’m a lowly Plat pro (missed exp by 20k points) and I really don’t care if I get upgraded or not. It’s a perk. So yes, I spend some ungodly amounts of money, but you didn’t “earn” anything. Honestly, if they would fix the broken boarding and letting military (no offense) to board in group 1, I’d be happy. That’s more of an annoyance to me.
Further to your comment “if you want a better seat, pay for it'” I agree and through a convoluted train of thought began to wonder who is more valuable to a carrier, the passenger who takes 4 or 5 $5,000.0 flights or the passenger who takes 24 or 25 $1,000.00 flights. The two may reach the same leval of eliteness, but the later makes a lot more work for the airline. I wonder if there should be elite levels within elite levels. I’m not making a judgement (well maybe I am) but would like to think that this could be a topic of conversation.
I prefer the Alaska model where you can use your elite status to purchase a confirmed upgraded seat at a discounted rate.
I get the mentality of if you want a better seat then pay for it, but then at the same time that completely wastes the upgrade value from your elite status.
It would be easier on everyone if they did just do discounts instead of people relying on “free upgrades”. The greater the status the deeper the discount, plus points to use for free travel or upgrades.
@Brandon … Agree with your rational conclusion about pilots flying FC before elite upgrades ; pilots are more important than upgrade passengers . However , I disagree with your annoyance with military boarding first , because no harm to anyone . [ Full disclosure : I have been assigned upgrades due to my disabilities , but if I am not offered one I just shrug it off .]
I disagree there is no harm. When half the plane is boarded before someone who frequently patronizes the airline, I do have a mild issue. If you fly to a military hub you will see what I mean. I have nothing against these guys/girls personally. I have no issue with them being in boarding group 4/5 (gold/premium econ), but boarding before everyone else I have run into carryon issues before due to a lack of space. Thats my main complaint.
@Brandon … rational answer … But I had an event in SFO when a gate agent told myself (in uniform) and a burned-Navy guy (in uniform) , to wait until the other passengers boarded . I told the burned-Navy guy to follow me , we are getting on along with the rest of them , and we did so . Gate agent tried to put us last , when we were equally good as the rest of the pax . I do have some sympathy with your carry-on issue , if you bring only one bag . Military also ought to be restricted to only one bag .
Oh, Brandon. So little logic, so much wrong in your post.
I’ll lead and close with the most obvious point: you say “stop your whining” to those of us who spend WAY WAY more money than you do on flights, credit cards, etc. You have zero standing in this fight, Mr. Plat Pro. And you are 100% wrong that we “didn’t earn anything.” We sure as hell did! That’s the point of the frequent flyer program — flights and revenue are tied to elite benefits. If you are telling me that I didn’t “earn” an upgrade after $38K of revenue flights and $150K on the credit cards, what planet do you live on. Finally, you state that you “really don’t care if you get upgraded or not.” Fine, stay in the back and keep your opinions to yourself.
THANK YOU! These,”journalists” that hawk credit cards and tell us all the awesome “benefits” and list the lowest amounts and hardest to get/find/book/confirm things and then tell us to go scratch and pay more than the market rate for something IF we want it. Not using this site’s links ever again.
Great, you spent a whole 12k more than I? You want a cookie, entitled child. Just like the “elite” hierarchy, you are lower than a pilot. So move on to cattle class and stfu.
AA sucks for agreeing to this during negotiations. Full stop. I agree on a long haul/trans con flight if they are deadheading. But beyond that, it IS “taking” from the “most valued” customers. I have changed my spending habits with AA after this incident. And I was infact the person who snapped the picture in question above. Bash me all you want, I read this blog and others and “do what they say” and get CC’s use offers off of their links to support them. Kinda disappointed with alot of the terminology used to describe my tweet/comments as well. Makes me sound like an entitled brat, when all I was doing is pointing out something that’s now happening more often and said that I was disappointed and now changing my behavior regarding AA due to this incident. There was also A LOT of context and other details left out of all articles written about this on this site and others. Whatever, I can take a hazing every now and then.
the problem would disappear if AA would issue upgrades earlier rather than holding them till time of departure ….
It sounds like a fallacy to argue pilots shouldn’t receive a contract negotiated seat when non revenue pax receive free upgrades in business class despite elite frequent flyer members seating in economy and not eligible to wait list for empty seats.
I can’t wait to AI takes over flying planes.
Pilots: you’re just fat bus drivers. Zero skills. Pushing buttons.
Zero skills? Hahaha, wow. I can’t believe someone would actually say this, unless it’s parody.
@Brandon … +1 .
@Brandon +2
The airlines should be banned from issuing frequent flyer miles and elite status because it is anti-competitive. These programs started right after deregulation. Why? To reduce competition.
Everybody or their employer should just pay for every seat. Most of the elites get that status because their employer is buying the tickets anyway.
All the credit card points just cause point inflation and have nothing to do with flying. That was a big mistake too.
@Plane Man … good points . Also , chasing credit card competition creates credit card addicts … like chasing jackpots on slot machines .
What a dumb correlation
Short term gains for unions/pilots without recognizing the people who are providing the compensation for the contracts. Eventually the unions will lead to the failure of additional airlines and pilots and customers will all suffer, The unions are very short sighted, and it’s a shame pilots don’t recognize the source of revenue.
I thought for years that the airline industry is the only industry where the employees hate their customers. I wouldn’t put up with that crap in my business. Customers first employees second me third. The airline industry has turned out on its head. Management first employees second customers third. No wonder people hate Airlines somebody as much as politicians.
These people don’t get the fact that some airlines pay for first class tickets on OTHER AIRLINES for their deadheading or commuting pilots. How is this person any different from a business traveler who’s company paid for their ticket? Mind your own business, let the pilots get the rest/ comfort they deserve, that might be leg 1 of 5 for them that day! I’m sick and tired of the laptop class talking about ‘perks’ that other people have, are you kidding me? When you get paid six figures to sit in your house, I don’t want to hear it.
pilots will be replaced by computers (as have taxi drivers in my community). this is just another reason technology is a reasonable replacement for ‘expensive’ labor ….
Buy a corporate jet and stop your complaining. Never clear security again. Never have YOUR seat taken away. And while you’re at it underpay your pilots. It will all work out wonderfully.
Ya’ll are mad at the wrong people. The problem isn’t the pilots. The problem is the airline would rather sell an F seat for $200 than have it available for upgrades.
15 years ago upgrades were part of the value of being a frequent flyer. Now they aren’t, and I long ago stopped factoring in upgrades to the value proposition, and you should too.
If the frequent flier perks aren’t worth it, vote with your wallet, and just buy F on the airline that works best for your itinerary.
Bonus for the airline: The pilots don’t consume alcohol. Just don’t let them have the fish!
“Bonus for the airline: The pilots don’t consume alcohol. Just don’t let them have the fish!”
I’m pretty sure they’re all having the lasagna.
Those offended and taking their business elsewhere, please go. United does same so get yo loving Delta hubs.
The restaurant analogy is just wrong in this article. People waiting to sit on a restaurant to eat isn’t an aircraft delivering 200 people to their destination. Do you go in a restaurant and order a hamburger and then ask for filet as a free upgrade cause you’re a regular customer and feel they should give to you for free? Just as dumb.
The days of upgrade entitlement are gone. Things change as is this industry. If you want business or first, pay for it. Stop flying, no one cares. Flights going out full everyday. The passengers sitting up front either paid to be there or did get an upgrade which is NEVER a guarantee. You’re not entitled. It’s a business. They’re taking care of their most valuable assets that without pilots no one is going anywhere and there is no airline. It’s about time all businesses did same for their employees.
If people are belly-aching about pilots sitting in FC, the pay-up! Your complementary UG should be at a lower priority.
Talk about the government elites – senators, and congress members. The do not buy there tickets to/from Washington-WE DO! Take away their comped status, and the award miles they receive.
A pilot sitting in a FC seat, or some 30 year congressional member?
I think everybody is missing the root cause. It isn’t who gets to sit in an upgraded seat. It is that the airlines have gone way too far shrinking seating in economy class. I’m a thin athletic guy and still physically squeezed into the seating area with my adjacent passengers. It’s beyond ridiculous. Airlines literally treat their customers like cattle and have the nerve to clutch pearls when you see people pushed past the tipping point.
I will actually agree with this. Unfortunately, until people stop flying in those cramped seats, it’s a problem we will have for the foreseeable future. I can’t tell you how many times I have been crammed with a guy north of 350 and miserable for the whole flight. The problem is people want to pay spirit prices with netjet amenities. (Obviously an exaggeration, but you see what I mean.)
What about the other airline employees trying to fly non rev for vacation leave, will be pushed out of F/C unless the plane is empty or luckily has no deadheading pilots… Whats next… Flight attendants deadheading F/C too? I guarantee Crandall would of never caved into that demand. And yes, it didn’t hurt them 50 years ago, why is it now? Well, at least some good news, AA is doing away with F/C anyway for continental US flights so this will be a moot point article…
I see a lot of misunderstanding here:
The pilots didn’t “steal” your upgrade. Their employer bought them an available first class seat at the time they booked the pilot’s deadhead (company business) travel. That means that YOU also could have purchased that F seat, if you wanted to, but waited for the ‘possibility’ of the perk.
Matthew has it right:
“ Pilots don’t “steal” anything. They are entitled to first class seat and if first class is full, are entitled, per contract, to take priority over all other flyers on the upgrade waitlist. Put another way, they sit on top of the waitlist because they are not upgrading at all…they are waitlisted for first class, which is different than trying to upgrade to first class.”.
If you REALLY want that FC seat, then BUY it.