And it's Platinum, Platinum, Platinum!!

[notzac]

For those of you have haven't flown domestically in the US, there's a very good reason that the airlines don't manage to sell all the seats in the First cabin (and then subsequently hand them out like candy to their top tier FF'ers): it's a rubbish product. The only one I've flown on that wasn't terrible was VX, and they don't give out free upgrades.

AA aren't too bad up front - especially if you get a widebody or an international config 757 - but in general, IMHO, the hard product and onboard F&B is just awful. The only real exception to this are the premium routes (LAX-JFK, SFO-JFK etc) where AA/UA/DL put on their best planes and regularly fill the seats with paying pax.

--

I don't want to see VA handing out freebie upgrades to all and sundry, because frankly I want it to be a properly decent product for when I'm paying or using one of my 4 upgrades per year.

 

[dfcatch]

For those of you have haven't flown domestically in the US, there's a very good reason that the airlines don't manage to sell all the seats in the First cabin (and then subsequently hand them out like candy to their top tier FF'ers): it's a rubbish product. The only one I've flown on that wasn't terrible was VX, and they don't give out free upgrades.

AA aren't too bad up front - especially if you get a widebody or an international config 757 - but in general, IMHO, the hard product and onboard F&B is just awful. The only real exception to this are the premium routes (LAX-JFK, SFO-JFK etc) where AA/UA/DL put on their best planes and regularly fill the seats with paying pax.

--

I don't want to see VA handing out freebie upgrades to all and sundry, because frankly I want it to be a properly decent product for when I'm paying or using one of my 4 upgrades per year.

Just as an aside - my experience on AA has been generally very positive in the front cabin. For example - 2 out of my last 6 AA flights have resulted in compliment emails due to exceptional service by the Premium FAs.

That said - their main cabin offering makes JQ look good.

 

[droche2004]

Hi droche2004, no I didn't see your reply, but I do have fairly broad shoulders . Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts here on AFF and the mods are generally pretty accomodating but I think a few of us just saw your post as being an expectation of service above and beyond "normal" travel benefits with some grumbling when it wasn't received, over simple pleasure when you do receive it. As for the priority boarding, it'd be nice to see consistancy, so I agree with you there, but special needs people (especially mobility constrained people that'd have difficulties negotiating the narrow confines of a flying tin can at the best of times) should most definitely (IMHO) be given a bit of time first to get to their seats before the feedlot gates are opened.

For me, the boarding first call is not so important as I prefer to wait to last to get on (preferably in the Lounge), but the priority boarding lane is a great idea. I do like bypassing the queue!

The comment about egos, I retract. It was made as a joke with plenty of emoticons after it to indicate that, but it was uncalled for so I do humbly apologise if offence was taken. None was intentionally inferred.

all good mate, thanks for the above and lets just move on because your appology shows what type of person you are. All on the same team. Not many companies are able to get this type of feedback about how there customers feel and sometimes its either misinterpreted or misunderstood..

Cheers happy flying and after the footy i may just watch Up In The Air. All about the upgrade with my mate george.
Cheers Danny

 

[Bangkok]

Hello everyone, this is my first post, I have been lurking for a while.

The day they announced Platinum I had 1980 SC points.

I go on VAustralia Sydney to Los Angeles and return a week or so later, this trip I do about 5-7 times per year, business class. Plus about 5-10 domestic flights mostly in economy. I also did two trips Sydney-London and return with V Australia and Etihad, business class.

 

[serfty]

For those of you have haven't flown domestically in the US, there's a very good reason that the airlines don't manage to sell all the seats in the First cabin (and then subsequently hand them out like candy to their top tier FF'ers): it's a rubbish product. The only one I've flown on that wasn't terrible was VX, and they don't give out free upgrades. ...

While I would not say it's necessarily a rubbish product - it certainly does not meet one's expectations when thinking about "First Class".

What you have here is a "Chicken or Egg - Which Came First?" type of situation.

I believe that the reason First Class is not as good as you'd expect is due to the upgrades. Before "space available" upgrades came into being, if you wanted to travel first class you paid $$$ for it.

With "space available" upgrades many paid economy fares and received First Class service - in the end something has to give - it appears the bean counters had the final say. That's "First class" service these days in the USA.

So IMHO, the roots are more in "it's substandard because few paid for it" rather than "few pay for it because it's substandard".

 

[notzac]

It doesn't meet my expectations of business class, either - particularly in terms of seats that are in desperate need of a good spruce up and appalling food and bev offerings. To their credit, the AA domestic First crew are almost always excellent.

 

[Jane-Doe]

New status online today.

Applied online last Friday using status match to Marco Polo Diamond.

Now I have to read the other posts about benefits...

 

[SPG]

Long time watcher 1st time user, I am sure many of us would recognise each other! 4275 SC

 

[Daggs01]

I love my platinum status!

My journey is as follows:
Current Status Credit Balance: 1,960 (since 10th Oct 2011)
Platinum Status Achieved: 30th April 2012
Status Credits earned since: 960
Review Date: 30th April 2013
Sectors: 52 (mostly Y, some J)