Platinum On American, and Why Status is Good
Dean asked me, before he left for Boston, what good status is on an airline. After the current trip to the US (which finished last week as I arrived home from the aforesaid Boston), I’ve had a chance to reflect on that question. And of course this is magnified as at the start of October I fast tracked myself to American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum (OneWorld Sapphire).
While I didn’t score any upgrades on this trip (the routes out of Dallas, and cross country red-eyes are just waaaay too popular), the higher status had three clear impacts. The first was while booking the tickets, which involved a fair bit of too ing and fro int (a UK AA.com member paying with a US credit card). I never once hit telephone hell, which I’ve had before, because there is a dedicated line for Platinum users, which answers in a few rings, and the first person I speak to seems to always take ownership of any problem and run with it.
Second up is lounge access. Instead of the plastic bucket seats and McDonalds that abound in airports (especially UK departure terminals and BAA airports), I have access to the Executive Lounges. Quiet areas, away from (ahem) the riff-raff with infinite free tea, coffee, cakes, snakes, newspapers and comfy chairs. And internet access. And showers. It’s like traveling in an airship without the traveling. Definitely reduces the stress before boarding.
Finally, it puts you very close to the top of the list if you need to go on stand-by. I had a five hour layover at Los Angeles this trip, waiting for my San Francisco flight. While I was ready to wait (points above at lounge and internet) I strolled to the gate and asked to go on standby for the flight leaving 40 minutes into the wait. Lo and behold, I get called up. A glance at the list, 25 names on it, I’m second. And I know I was really late to the list, so it wasn’t a time thing.
So there you go, three reasons why status is nice. It’s just such a shame that because of the way the airline industry is, only the well traveled passengers (i.e. we know you earn us money) are allowed these, and the fly occasionally people get lumped further down the list
November 5, 2007; Conferences, Daily Links;
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Congratulations. It speaks well for the airline and the places you’ve been, I think, because over the years, in and out of “status”, I’ve found the lounges increasingly crowded and the lounge perks increasingly limited, to the point where I can’t even miss it anymore. And then when United started literally inviting some folks to board on a red carpet and others to use the standard gate flooring, well, what genius thought that was a good idea?
So enjoy the snakes while you can…. (best Freudian slipo typo ever!)
-L.