Two recent flights on American Airlines demonstrated that even AAdvantage Gold status would have been advantageous, though upgrading to first class makes far less sense when economy class is also empty.
The Surprising Value Of AAdvantage Gold Status – My Upgrade Dilemma On American Airlines
I had to travel from Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) at the last minute and even though both Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines fly the route, the cash fares on United Airlines and American Airlines were about $450 one-way. When I have to buy a last-minute ticket like that, I tend to redeem miles and decided to go with American Airlines for this trip because it had a 6:00 am flight to LAX and the first United flight was not until 7:00 am.
The cost was 14.5K AA miles for economy class or 28K miles for first class (I could have also used 12.5K AA miles for economy or 25K for first class, but I find Alaska miles too valuable for such uses). What I noticed was that on the entire plane, there was only a small handful of seats assigned… and this was just a couple days before the flight!
While seats assigned do not necessarily translate to seats sold, it is generally a good indication. I do like flying up front if for no other reason than I can drink water from a real glass, not a plastic cup, but I could not justify the extra 13.5K miles just for that.
I figured I’d have breakfast in the Admirals Club before the flight and could have a row to myself, or at least an open middle seat, in economy.
That plan not only worked out, but it worked out splendidly. I enjoyed a great kale salad with fruit and then spent the four-hour flight working…I had an entire row to myself…as did everyone else! No idea why a Sunday morning flight to LA was so empty (the United flight was full), but I certainly was not complaining!
Interestingly, first class went out with four open seats, so even after all the employee standbys were upgraded, there were still open seats in the 16-seat first class cabin of the 737 MAX 8.
I got to LAX and took a shower in the Admirals Club, then enjoyed a heartier breakfast with eggs and more fruit.
It worked out great.
Then It Happened Again…
A few days later I flew to Pittsburgh via New York. My JFK-PIT flight departed with only 5/12 seats occupied in first class. This time, I had purchased a first class ticket so I was seated up front, but once again it would have been easy upgrade for any AAdvantage flyer with elite status.
Even Gold Status Would Have Been Handy!
I found this all so timely as, I just did a story earlier this month on whether to redeem an AAdvantage Elite Choice award for two systemwide upgrades or for two Gold status nominations. Not that I would have been granted AAdvantage Gold status, but say I had…I would have been upgraded even as a lowly Gold on two of my last three flights.
That’s such a different experience than on United Airlines, where even as a Premier 1K my upgrade odds were so poor I have had to live by the “if you want first class, buy first class” mantra.
> Read More: Systemwide Upgrades Or Gifted Gold Status? A Tricky American Airlines Loyalty Point Decision
Ultimately, these may have been aberrations, but maybe–at least when it comes to upgrades–the grass is greener on the other side (at American Airlines)? The thought of a Premier Silver (the equivalent of Gold on AA) being upgraded on a hub-to-hub mid-con flight on United Airlines is absolutely unheard of. The United flight was sold out in first class…
By the way, I thought about using 5,000 Hyatt points to buy an AAdvantage Gold “day pass,” but those must be purchased at least seven days in advance of travel, so I was too late…
CONCLUSION
Two of my last three AA flights have gone out with open seats in first class (all three actually, though LAX-JFK was due to a broken seat), meaning all elites were upgraded. Even with the entry-level Gold status, I would ahve been ugpraded. On the other hand, would it really have been an upgrade when I had an entire row to myself in the back of the plane and could stretch out in a “lie flat” seat? That’s always the upgrade dilemma on a lightly-filled flight.
Do you have an AA Executive Card? If so, not sure how many LP you are currently sitting on, but it’s just so easy to make a couple of hotel stays with AA Hotels and pick up Gold status, or run a couple of purchases through AA eshopping. If you pick the 1k LP option at 15k LP, it’s only 39k LP total. Or check what your buy-up offer is for Gold – as I’m sure you know, they just released them.
Peter gets it. At the very least, snag some MCE!
Who is the lout in the picture with their feet draped across multiple seats? I’m surprised that you didn’t point out the classless travel mate that was on your plane.
😀
I find that lately, especially hub to hub, UA flights are just packed full and are the most expensive. I have been switching more of my travels to AA lately due to cost and not so packed cabins. UA still is more convenient but it comes at a price/comfort point (even as Platinum I almost get 0 upgrades anymore).
I’m glad to see you write about this. I think those two flights were outliers, but it’s no secret that upgrades clear all the time for me at AA. Last night I was on LGA-ATL, and while I didn’t clear, I was literally the only person on the upgrade list. I also looked at the manifest on the FA’s phone, and only one seat was occupied by a EP/CK. It was weird being the only passenger boarding in groups 1-4.
If you’re going to be a free agent, you may as well try to snag Gold (or even Plat) because it really isn’t that hard.
How do you access Flagship on a coach ticket? Lifetime EP?
That was just the Admirals Club in both ORD and LAX.
(However, if you buy the status match from RJ, you can access Flagship Lounges even when flying domestic coach on AA)
My issue is that the flights where I’m most likely to clear the upgrade list are also the flights where the buy up is very cheap, so I tend to just purchase first. I’m definitely questioning my loyalty, although I maintain at least Plat Pro for OneWorld Emerald.
My question is: if the ORD-LAX flight was that empty, why in the world was it priced at $450?
I get that your were booking last minute, but I’ve been running into something similar from California the last few months: tickets to the Midwest/east coast priced around $400 each way even months in advance, and then when I get on board everybody has at least an empty middle next to them.
At this point I’m burning through all of my AA miles on domestic economy flights!
I understand they don’t want to incentivize people to wait until the last minute to buy, but it seemed absurd to charge so much when the plane was so empty.
Plus, I forgot to mention the upgrade “offer” was 21K miles or $389…like why would I pay more (21 + 14.5) for the upgrade than an outright business class ticket.
Sorry, but $389 was too much. Half that? Done…
I would love to use 5000 Hyatt points for a one-day AA gold status pass. I got a trip on the airline to Cancun and I would love to not have to pay for a slightly better seat or my checked bag but alas, I only have Discoverist status with Hyatt and you need Explorist or better to do this. If only they did status matches like other hotel chains sometimes do.
Was that you wearing shoes while putting your feet up? Hope not. You seem to be a decent guy.
If you look closely, my feet aren’t touching the seat.
People who put their shoes and feet on any public seats are gross. I will call you out everytime. Act right
I agree – but my feet are not on the seat. Look closely. My left foot is hanging off the seat and my right foot is resting above it. Neither are touching the seat. Thank you very much.
You really are surprised that a 6AM flight in deep January low travel season from ORD to LAX wasnt full? There’s literally zero feed on that flight on the ORD side, and it’s generally a very low travel season in general. Was it two days ago Sunday? If so, that’s Sunday of a 3 day weekend, in January, so even emptier. If the weekend below, empty as well. United has some arrivals that could feed a 7AM flight, whereas AA has zero that can feed a 6AM flight. Perhaps in the summer during peak demand time that flight could have been fuller. But not in the deepest/ lowest demand time of year. I’m kind of surprised that you’re surprised, to be honest.
Yes, I am surprised. The 7am AA flight was just as empty…meanwhile the United flight at 7am was full. I don’t fly AA all that often and my UA flights are always full…has been so rare since I’ve been on a UA flight that is not almost full.
Why not just shower and eat at home rather than stop at the lounge?
It’s that special scent of American Airlines Admirals Club’s ‘Radio Bombay’ hand-soap, isn’t it?
LMAO.
I was going directly to church.