Jim and Nancy, I will take your word about AA management. You have been and are close to the situation. But it does not make any sense to me. But then, nothing AA management has recently done in the area of employee relations has made sense.
As a former TWA pax who was a lifetime Ambassador Club member, I look forward to flying with TWA crew again!
I agree, I've never understood it either. It seems to be another example of, "we've always done it this way".