Significant, largely positive changes not announced publicly, now available to all...
American has made several major announcements over the last few months in regard to its merger with US Airways. Among them were the Fare Class Realignment and the combination of the two loyalty programs in 2015.
However, there are several other changes that American kept mum about, among them:
- New, significantly reduced First Class fares to Hawaii
- Eliminated the Purchase Window Requirement (PWR) for domestic travel
- Very low Business Class EasyUp fares to Europe are lasting much longer
[aside headline="Best Seats to Hawaii" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
See FCF’s June issue for little-known routes that offer the better American seat to Hawaii. Hint: Ones with an international Business Class seat.
Now Book In Advance
Combine the new Hawaii fare development with the Purchase Window Requirement (PWR)—see Quite Change #2 and now you have American and United being the only major airlines that do not have a Booking Window Requirement, so now you can book these fares for travel this spring or summer, if a bit higher for those seasons.
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Quiet Change #1: New, Significantly Reduced First Class Fares to Hawaii
American has lowered many of its Hawaii fares by up 56% for First Class travel—in a move to match Delta’s and United’s heavily discounted premium fares to the islands.
For the last two years, Delta has been offering some of the lowest First Class fares to Hawaii—$1,100 to $1,300 round-trip from many West Coast cities—just $50 to $60 more per flight-hour to upgrade from economy— including Los Angeles and San Francisco. In May, United started matching Delta’s fares (down 57%+ from $2,800+), leaving American’s First Class fares stranded at $2,800+. (The only other airlines that came close to Delta and United’s fares were from regional carriers, Alaska, and Hawaiian.)
On Sept. 10 a Los Angeles-Maui ticket cost $2,879 (booking code P) for mid-week travel in February. On Sept. 11 that same ticket decreased to $1,261 (just $54 more per flight hour than economy class), a drop of $1,618 (56%), and now booked in A class.
Quiet Change #2: Purchase Window Requirement (PWR) Extended
The PWR is the validity period of a given fare. Don’t confuse it with the advance-purchase requirement, which is how far in advance a given fare must be purchased. (See FCF’s April issue for an in-depth examination.)
Back in April AA had a 90-day PWR on domestic First Class fares, meaning that you had to depart within 90-days of purchasing the ticket or on day 91 your fare could increase by up to 68%.
AA has abolished the PWR, which is great for leisure and conference-bound travelers who plan domestic flights far in advance. Now, the ticket price is the same if you’re traveling 90, 91, or 191 days from the date of booking. (Now Delta is the only domestic carrier with a PWR of 180 days.) For example, back in April, the lowest First Class Dallas-New York fare for travel within 90 days was $802; departing one day later would have set you back $2,042.
Quiet Change #3: EasyUp Fares to Europe Now on the Market Longer
In the past few months when American and other oneworld airlines (British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, and US Airways) offered EasyUp fares to Europe (in the $1,500 to $2,200 range), they were often gone within a few hours—not sold out, but withdrawn. Recently, we have seen oneworld EasyUp fares last two or more days at a time (see FCF’s Nov. 6 Upgrade Alert). Often these fares, which have a built-in upgrade to Business, cost about the same as coach— meaning a free upgrade.
Are you seeing any other quiet changes to the premium travel landscape that your fellow travelers might want to know about? Let’s talk: mr.upgrade@firstclassflyer.com