American Airlines was named 2017 Airline of the Year by Air Transport World and to celebrate this achievement the airline is planning on rewarding all their employees with two free roundtrip tickets anywhere they fly.
When you work for an airline, you receive free space available standby flights, but these tickets will be confirmed, so it’s definitely a nice benefit if you work at American!
CEO Doug Parker wrote the following to his 120,000 employees:
Today Air Transport World (ATW) – the leading magazine for global airlines and the air transport community – announced its selection of American Airlines as its 2017 Airline of the Year. American has won this prestigious award twice before, most recently almost 30 years ago in 1988. Congratulations!
This recognition is a testament to the mission shared by 120,000 team members of our mainline and wholly owned regional airlines. The ATW editorial board described the American integration as “practically flawless, despite it being the largest, most complex airline merger in history.” And while it is satisfying to receive accolades for our integration work, it is even more energizing to receive recognition for the work being done for our future. ATW cited our operational and customer service improvements, as well as the more than $3 billion in new customer products and services, including greater onboard connectivity, new entertainment and dining choices, upgraded lounges and new destinations. Lastly, they note that all of this is being accomplished while delivering profitable returns to our shareholders.
American is setting a new standard for service, and that’s thanks to the work all of you do. It is a noble calling to play a role in transporting the people who entrust their travel needs to us, and it is gratifying to be recognized when we do that well.
To celebrate this prestigious recognition by ATW and your unique part in it, American employees – including team members at Envoy, Piedmont and PSA – will receive two positive space, round-trip Main Cabin tickets anywhere we fly. These tickets will be upgradable to First Class on a space available basis, and will be available for use beginning this summer through December 2018.
Any American Airlines employees reading this? Let us know where you’re headed with your two free confirmed tickets!
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We were notified yesterday and wondered what fare bucket these would fall into. I’m guessing that award seats will need to be available, but it’s hard to say what they have in mind, we don’t know yet. Everybody and their brother would opt for AKL, SYD, HKG, etc. the premium routes on 773ER or 787. With so many giveaway tickets I just don’t think those routes can support the demand if they’re not restricted in some way. We’re also not sure how it will be structured, whether two one ways or one roundtrip.
American Airlines frequently does not have seats available to be used for mileage or upgrade awards, and now it is giving “space available” seats to employees as a bonus. I fear that employees will find ways to not give those seats to frequent flyers trying to use upgrades or mileage awards, in order to give them to fellow employees.
Airline of the Year? What a joke!