Devaluation of AA Awards

[ejd711]

So I got the email from AA and clicked through to the new mileage chart (and assumed as Australia wasn't mentioned that it wasn't changing, for now)...

BUT didn't have a clue about the loss of the OWE tickets or American gateway cities until randomly reading this thread.

Guess I should have a think about using those points left on another F ticket to Europe before another devaluation!

 

[drron]

The devaluation is increasing.
Even at 330 days I can't get 1 F milesAAver award NRT-USA.Only offered anytime awards at 170,000 miles instead of the 62500 milesAAver price.To rub it in a 14% increase in taxes.:shock:
from$US4.90 to $US5.60.

No milesAAver awards from South America but I did like the "cabin requested is unavailable on 1 or more flights"

948


6:45 AM
GYE

12:10 PM
MIA

View Available Seats	Meal: Breakfast
Aircraft: 738	Booking Code: J
	Cabin: Business

American Airlines

1222

1:56 PM
MIA

4:06 PM
DFW

View Available Seats	Meal: Lunch
Aircraft: 763	Booking Code: F
Total travel time: 9hr 21min	Cabin: First

American Airlines

Flight Details

• Requested cabin is not available on one or more flights

Pretty awful when you request J and you have to fly F.

Funnily at about the 330 day mark I can still see milesAAver awards in F Australia-LHR.But on BA.Still 80000 miles.

 

[anat0l]

The devaluation is increasing.
Even at 330 days I can't get 1 F milesAAver award NRT-USA.Only offered anytime awards at 170,000 miles instead of the 62500 milesAAver price.To rub it in a 14% increase in taxes.:shock:
from$US4.90 to $US5.60.

Some people had commented (including a blogger) that AA F saver availability had pretty much been sapped almost unilaterally across the board, both close to and far out of travel dates. Pretty nuts.

I guess AA are either trying to defend a product fervently, or they are more optimistic that people will use instrument upgrades.

 

[serfty]

Of course, there is some suggestion with the transition from 3 to 2 class 772 and the replacement of them on some routes with 77W that they are holding back until better certainty of product can be had.

 

[anat0l]

Of course, there is some suggestion with the transition from 3 to 2 class 772 and the replacement of them on some routes with 77W that they are holding back until better certainty of product can be had.

That's another possibility, though it scarcely explains why availability close to departure date is still starkers.

At least, that was supposed to be the observation before the major drop in availability (apparent).

Either way, if you want an AA intercontinental F seat, looks like you'll either have to be lucky or pony up more mileage.

 

[drron]

Of course, there is some suggestion with the transition from 3 to 2 class 772 and the replacement of them on some routes with 77W that they are holding back until better certainty of product can be had.

Firstly there are no F sAAver awards from NRT to any of their US destinations for 2015.I have been watching every day and am yet to see one be available at the 330 day mark yet can see them on all LHR flights though 3 days seems to be as long as they last.One fellow on FT reports not having seen them at the 330 day mark to/from NRT for all of 2015.
The 77W is used on the LHR flights.NRT in June was still a 772.If it was a 77W then there are more J seats.I am still to see a J sAAver award to/from NRT for 2015.
SAAver in f is 62500 miles.Anytime awards are a minimum of 170000 miles and on some days 255000 miles.Not worth it.

 

[Kangol]

Firstly there are no F sAAver awards from NRT to any of their US destinations for 2015.I have been watching every day and am yet to see one be available at the 330 day mark yet can see them on all LHR flights though 3 days seems to be as long as they last.One fellow on FT reports not having seen them at the 330 day mark to/from NRT for all of 2015.
The 77W is used on the LHR flights.NRT in June was still a 772.If it was a 77W then there are more J seats.I am still to see a J sAAver award to/from NRT for 2015.
SAAver in f is 62500 miles.Anytime awards are a minimum of 170000 miles and on some days 255000 miles.Not worth it.

Have you looked at JL availability?

 

[drron]

Have you looked at JL availability?

Not yet.But this is about AA availability.Today checked this year.F sAAver awards are available for the next week but not beyond.So it looks like Aadvantage for premium awards is only going to be for those who book at the last minute.
Their sAAver premium cabin awards available at 330 days now appear to be for partner airlines.Y sAAvers are available throughout the year.
Interestingly there are scattered F sAAver awards on QF1 or 9 throughout the year.

 

[drron]

So today I booked 2 JL F sAAver awards NRT-ORD.
Although only plat when I ring the US I always get put through to the EXP desk.The agent was totally unaware of the lack of sAAver awards in premium cabins.Originally wanted to know why I wasn't flying AA this time.
In some ways I hope JL gets added to the online availability but then think if that happened they would probably disappear quickly.

 

[Nizar]

Hi drron,

Any particular reason why you prefer AA on this route is it because of more frequency or a better suited schedule ?

I would have thought JL > AA in just about every aspect seats food service etc just from I've heard I've never flown either airline just interested as it seems given the same price you would have gone for AA.

Cheers

 

[drron]

Because international AA F is totally different to the domestic airline.
Their F seat is the most comfortable for me to sleep.Very functional if I want to work-ie sorting my photos.
Service has always been good.We have been fortunate to have had the same purser for 5 of our flights.So on the last flight when the meal service was on and he was serving mrsdrron and another serving me when she asked about which wine I would like he said-he likes the Pinot noir,just give him the bottle.That would never happen on JL.

But of course I have Scottish and jewish ancestors and the taxes on the AA award are~$US2.50 and on JL $US40.:shock:

 

[ejd711]

drron - I love it! You actually got the bottle?!?!?

 

[drron]

drron - I love it! You actually got the bottle?!?!?

Yes.Twice now.Both times on AA176 NRT-DFW.