Received my notification yesterday via mail. Yes, FC was a very nice perk for the companion certificate's use. Over the years on nearly every flight AS "sold" each flying passenger on the credit card and yes, lots of folk saw the advantage to use their certificate for first class travel. But with the constant 'selling' of the credit card and hence the 2/1, I did notice over time that it was harder and harder to book FC unless you did it many many months out....so, I guess to keep their full paying passengers and their frequent flyer passengers happy, it had to come. To quote AS, "the change was necessitated by ongoing cost pressures and growing demand for limited space in first class, which made the costs of continuing to offer the companion fare for first class bookings unsupportable." I guess in future, check in early and ask for an upgrade to FC if all seats not sold out, but don't hold your breathe!!
All good things that are found/shared extensively on chat boards bring what was a good thing to an end. It is happening in the cruise industry too. Whether it be an airline or another travel company (hotel, cruise, etc) each of them have someone reading all the chat boards and more often than not, the loopholes/quirks or adaptations get slowly whittled away.
AS did offer a further $25 (now $50) initiation discount on their board room pass though! and still no black out dates to coach use of the 2/1- YET.
