New benefit on AA cards

[longtimelurker]

Well, sort of new!    Next month AA begins, on certain routes, "Basic Economy" which has several restrictions, two of which are:

1) No access to overhead bins

2) If a bag has to be checked at the gate, there is a $25 fee

You are also in the last boarding group (presumably to help staff check that you aren't trying to use the bins!)

With both the Citi and Barclays card, you don't have these restrictions, and you can board in group 1.

So, slight advantage if Basic Economy is much cheaper, and the other restrictions (no standby, no changes or refunds, seat assignment free only at checkin etc) are acceptable

[Random_idiot]

Anyone else find this degrading? lol.. There better be a big diff between Economy and Basic for me to go through all of that..

[Anonymous]

As a cardholder of the old Barclays card which gives me 10K miles a year, this will actually work out great for me. Cheaper fares (hopefully), same ability to carry on bags, and less people fighting for overhead space. Another reason not to give up my Barclays card any time soon.

I just need to either avoid these fares on other airlines or start packing light enough to fit everything under my seat...

[fltireguy]

And yet another reason for me NOT to fly on AA (I usually use SW, for many different resons, including cost and free baggage)

[wasCB14]

Just when I thought the boarding process couldn't get longer or more complicated...

Since it's being offered, though, I'd probably book those seats. I usually check a large bag and don't need overhead bins.

The incentives seem reasonable, though. As a bag-checker, I'm not a fan of delays from the gate-checked baggage of others.

* I think I'd very much like SW, but they don't serve my regular routes.

[fltireguy]

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@Anonymous wrote:
As a cardholder of the old Barclays card which gives me 10K miles a year, this will actually work out great for me. Cheaper fares (hopefully), same ability to carry on bags, and less people fighting for overhead space. Another reason not to give up my Barclays card any time soon.

I just need to either avoid these fares on other airlines or start packing light enough to fit everything under my seat...

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I doubt the fares will go down. The old economy fare will become the new super economy type fare, therefore making you pay extra for the same as you would have had before

[Random_idiot]

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@fltireguy wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
As a cardholder of the old Barclays card which gives me 10K miles a year, this will actually work out great for me. Cheaper fares (hopefully), same ability to carry on bags, and less people fighting for overhead space. Another reason not to give up my Barclays card any time soon.

I just need to either avoid these fares on other airlines or start packing light enough to fit everything under my seat...

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I doubt the fares will go down. The old economy fare will become the new super economy type fare, therefore making you pay extra for the same as you would have had before

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Hopefully noone flies so the other airlines don't follow.

[Anonymous]

I have the Citi AA card, do I have to actually pay with the card to get group 1, or just have it on me?   I'm pretty sure I have to pay with the card, just curious.

[longtimelurker]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have the Citi AA card, do I have to actually pay with the card to get group 1, or just have it on me?   I'm pretty sure I have to pay with the card, just curious.

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In the past, you got group 1 without paying with the card (or having it on you), providing your AA number was on the booking (the benefits are linked to this).   But who knows if they change things with this.

[sillykitty1]

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@Random_idiot wrote:

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@fltireguy wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
As a cardholder of the old Barclays card which gives me 10K miles a year, this will actually work out great for me. Cheaper fares (hopefully), same ability to carry on bags, and less people fighting for overhead space. Another reason not to give up my Barclays card any time soon.

I just need to either avoid these fares on other airlines or start packing light enough to fit everything under my seat...

---

I doubt the fares will go down. The old economy fare will become the new super economy type fare, therefore making you pay extra for the same as you would have had before

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Hopefully noone flies so the other airlines don't follow.

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Delta already has Basic Economy

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/onboard-experience/basic-economy.html

Not as restrictive as AA's version.  Can still use overheadbins, but good luck if you're the last one boarding.