Andy

Right you are. I’ll keep flying when we can only get coach. Gary Leff does and says he’s lovin’ it!

Right again on those pharmaceuticals. I’m from Colorado so we’ll just bring our own lunch.

First, I used to be fine with flying wherever in coach. Just give me a ticket.
Then I learned a few tricks of the trade and was fine with 6 hours of torture.
After the major devaluations, I realized I was OK with 8 hours and decided to push for 10.
My last summer flight to Rio proved that I didn’t know myself. A 10-hour flight in misery was too long.
So, it’s back to 8. Flying to Barcelona in Y in a couple of months, so will see if the 8-hour threshold stands, or it’s back to 6.
But the point is, I will keep flying even if they remove the premium class from the sky. By that time, someone will have come up with low side-effect pharmaceuticals that can help people cope. Perhaps the airlines.

And what the hell, George, you’re right, I do like to argue. 🙂

I flew Iberia business class from ORD to MAD this summer. You’ll like the product.

You are correct about coach and you are further correct I am not talking about coach. My point is that with the majority of the major programs having devalued at this point it pushes more people to AA. I would prefer an equilibrium even at a higher award level than lots of people gravitating to the program with the cheaper awards.

How about those parasitic to getting Emirates First Class Awards Using Alaska Miles?
How am I now supposed to go to Maldives now?

Just a few responses, sorry I can not get to all!

@ Erik: I agree!

Yeah, time will tell as always. I say Aer Lingus becomes part of BA in 2015 and fuel surcharges are added in 2016. Pure guessing here!

@ Scott: Pretty good argument you make and I agree with parts of it only. But man…I am so tired right now to expand on it! I think a lot has to do with the airlines making lots of money which is really, well, weird to see! And they will make lots more with the gas prices so lower. So, we are seeing aggresssive devaluation and restrictive moves all over the place. Which they will likely continue. MS, yeah, no worries about min spend. But many avenues have been cut. Just too many bloggers blogging about MS endlessly to create traffic (and some to sell plastic) which hurts the ones who are really good and who work at this “:craft”. I don’t like the word craft..neither I ever liked the word “hack/hacking”.

@ Andy: Let’s face it, you just like to argue 🙂

@ Nick & Charlie: Thanks for that, I learned something. I fear one day I may get to that spot and need to whore myself out to “make the cut”. So I stick with my difficult and low paying CC.com banner. I still shake my head how PM&M maintains them! Anyways, this is just the most ridiculous and unfair practice I have seen. Basically, in order to keep them, you must become a, well, Titan…#sucks!

@ Brenton: Thanks for laying out your pretty good argument. I think…again….it comes back to the different goals for people in unique situations. I have enough Avios & stick with short distance coach awards.

@ BOP: Thanks again. Have fun in Singapore!

I hate to argue with people (well, you know me 🙂 ), but I don’t see award seats disappear. If anything, there is more availability than ever on international routes across every program. I see award seats to the most sought out destinations even in the peak of high season. Now, for the folks who’d rather stay home than (god forbid) fly in coach, that might be a different story, although there are still amazing bargains to have, e.g. on Delta.

Having said that, I guarantee that AA will grant your wish within a few months. Matter of fact, I’m bracing for it.

You don’t know that, I don’t know that, nobody knows that. Iberia isn’t loaded with YQ despite being in the same family. Let’s see the glass half-full for now. 🙂