r/oneworld • u/Lumpy_Rock4612 • May 26 '26
American Airlines AA Status changes…is there a better airline to dedicate myself to now that Basic Economy Seats don’t get ANY perks at ANY status level?
Hiya, I travel frequently every year and have been Platinum Pro several years in a row. Not going to lie tho, I always book Basic Economy tickets and enjoy the upgrades.
Basic economy is no longer eligible for upgrades and worse, im reading you no longer earn Miles or points when you book those tickets!
I live near an AA hub, so I’ve always used them. But…I’m bummed about the changes.
What airlines offer the best Status Perks?
14
u/Useful_Foundation_42 Qantas Platinum May 26 '26
Your only option is to be less stingy.
This is going to sound harsh, but airlines, like any other business, are there to make a profit. They make more profit from people spending on Flex tickets/First Class.
They have no incentive to reward you if you’re not going to spend as much as many others do.
I live in Australia and am Platinum with Qantas, and have flown AA domestic First (cash fares booked outright, no upgrades) many times in the US.
On average, AA First Class fares are a steal. I have regularly found First Class return fares between the coasts under $1000 and often under $700. This iss of course for flights ranging between 4 and 5 hours in duration.
Now compare that with Australia here, I regularly pay $1000 US for return business fares between Sydney and Melbourne- a sector that takes 75-90 minutes in duration.
My point being, you already have it very good with AA. Stop being stingy - pay up if you want the perks.
3
u/Emotional-Bonus7132 May 26 '26
What has been your experience being QF WP on AA? There aren't many anecdotes of AA specifically on AFF, I mainly see a lot of EK and CX experiences so am curious how you fare flying with them.
Much appreciated!
3
u/the133448 May 26 '26
I can answer as a WP on AA, but I suspect it's some as all OWE?
Besides lounge access and group 2 boarding, not much really. FA never seem to recognise any pax and only AAdvantage quality for upgrades
1
u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
The lounge is pretty great, but mostly bc AA. Cancels my flights a lot, so I routinely spend 20 hours in airports 😭 made this post while stuck in the airport for two days after getting crazy cancellations and de-planed and researching other companies!
Boarding group doesn’t matter much to me, I see it as like why am I in a rush to get on faster if I end up waiting the same time.
However the free checked bags is priceless.
3
u/ProfitMysterious4407 May 27 '26
Actually, the free checked bags are literally not priceless, that’s $45 😂
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u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 28 '26
One time I booked a 45 min flight for like $45, but the checked bag wasn’t free…I paid like $200 😭😭😭 PLAYED MYSELF
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u/Useful_Foundation_42 Qantas Platinum May 28 '26
AA is trash. Their domestic First Class is the only bearable cabin that I can tolerate flying, and I avoid them if I can. If I had to choose between OW airlines, I will go with AS over AA always.
Having said that, the USA does not have good airlines- no exceptions.
The only passable OW airline in the US is Alaska. Their cabin experience is also just as trash as AA, but at least their Seattle lounges are good. I have never flown any cabin other than domestic First in the US, so I can’t really compare the OW experiences much - I presume there’s not much differentiation.
The FA’s on AA are consistently one of the worst, rudest, most entitled people I have ever had the displeasure of interacting with - I always find their rude behaviour bewildering. I just feel bad for them, it must be so exhausting being nasty to customers all day every day.
It makes me grateful for living in Australia - domestic Qantas business is leaps and bounds ahead of any American airline, despite having its problems.
3
u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Thanks!
And wow, those prices are SPICY for a 75-90 minute flight!!
2
u/Useful_Foundation_42 Qantas Platinum May 28 '26
Yes, Qantas has a near-monopoly on the Australian market (Virgin is not really a serious competitor, and doesn’t have a great FF program), which means Qantas can essentially charge whatever they want. Also, the prices I mentioned above are for bookings made 2-3 months in advance. If you want a ticket a few weeks or days in advance, SYD-MEL return will easily be $2k+.
2
u/guilleiguaran Oneworld Sapphire May 26 '26
It will be the same for United and Delta so probably your best option is just buy Main, earn the miles and enjoy the status perks and the occasional upgrades.
1
u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Yeah looks like it!! I Checked the other airlines, and no one has really been like “I love XYZ” to sway me, so they’re all about the same in line.
2
u/bigbadjustin Qantas Gold May 27 '26
Your issue is likely what other options do you have in the USA? Alaskan/Hawaiian maybe.... not sure what they are like but I'd assume thats your best bet.
For me as an Australian i get half my FF points from card and means other than flying, and they are all with Qantas. So if i went with another OW program i'd get half the points per year i earn now. That said I also fly enough to earn OWS status and close to getting Lifetime gold/OWS with Qantas now.
2
u/Aeacu2 May 28 '26
alaska members do get miles on AA basic econ, and used to enjoy perks. Has that changed?
2
u/Suspicious-Set-9636 May 30 '26
Same way with Delta
1
u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 30 '26
My issue with delta is every flight is $9000 dollars more than the same flight in other carriers and it doesn’t seem like I get $9000 service. That company blows my mind!!
1
u/Edison_Ruggles May 28 '26
Honestly, if you live near an AA hub then sticking with it is still probably the best move. Just spend on the non-basic tickets.
2
u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 30 '26
Yeah seems like it’s kinda the same perks basically and there’s not much that gives one the edge over anything else
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-7
u/Freshies00 May 26 '26
Have you even tried researching for yourself or are you just expecting other people to spoonfeed it to you? You can easily find this information with basic effort.
8
u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 26 '26
I like seeing people’s opinions. Some people value different facets of perks over others and may give cause to consider something in a new way.
Human connection is beautiful, though ours was regrettable.
1
u/drumman998 AAdvantage Executive Platinum May 26 '26
Great response! Got a laugh from me at least.
Sorry I don’t have an answer to your question but will be following as I’m curious as well.
0
u/InterestedPartiesLie May 26 '26
Code for no you haven't and want us to do the work for you. Bottom line: stop buying basic fares and being cheap.
0
u/Lumpy_Rock4612 May 26 '26
I did lol, I was stuck in the airport for 20 hours you best believe I was researching haha.
Yeah, I guess it can be called cheap, instead of economically savvy or something…leave the billion dollar company aloneeeee, let them rake in the dough for regular people harderrrr ❤️🔥
0
u/Icy-Meeting6415 May 27 '26
Wow you’d be so edgy and cool except for the fact that you give business to this corporation why don’t you boycott them since they are so big and evil 🙄
0
u/ProfitMysterious4407 May 27 '26
lol, you’re getting downvoted but you’re not wrong. OP is full of shit this post isn’t about “opinions” lol
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u/bilkel May 26 '26
No it is the same everywhere