rustykettel

Other options if AS doesn't extend the match:
Check you reservations for the rest of the year and see if there are decent upfare opportunities. I've seen P pricing at about $100 over my coach fare per leg sometimes, which is 75% more miles for the same flying.

And of course, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...lp-needed.html

Orlando Vic

I am currently Gold (Lifetime Gold) with American and am thinking about applying for a status match with AS. What I am really interested in is the possibility of seat upgrades with AS, rather than any of the other perks that I already get from American. I also want the miles credited to my AAdvantage account. My question is would I prejudice my chances of a possible seat upgrade by not giving any FF number (AS or AA) at the time tickets are purchased? (I would apply for retroactive AA credit after my flight.)

flymonthly

You would kill any chance for an upgrade (other than paid). Your FF# in the reservation is the way AS (or any other airline) identifies you as being eligible for upgrades or other elite perks.

wanderlust4life

Exactly what flymonthly said, and even if you use an AS elite number to get a seat upgrade and then remove your number right before the flight, the system will take away your upgrade. Its like AA with complimentary upgrades, you need to have your AA number in your reservation in order to secure that X upgrade seat.

I personally find what you are trying to pull off as a bit disappointing. The whole point of complimentary upgrades is to reward flyers for their loyalty. It isnt meant to give someone an upgrade for being an AS elite who in turn has always planned to credit flight back to a different airline. The very least you could do for getting a a free upgrade is to credit the flight to AS. And hey if no seat upgrade goes through, then by all means, add some miles to your AA account. It most likely won't be much though given the new mileage earning rates unless you bought a higher fare ticket.

Orlando Vic

Thanks to both of you. That's what I suspected.

jediwho

How many days does it get for the status match request to process? Also, do you get 4 SWUs once you are matched to 75K? I just submitted mine.

wanderlust4life

As early as two days but around 10 days on average. The majority of match requests submitted after October 1st have probably been processed so there may not be a backlog anymore. Keep checking your online account nightly and once you see the updated status, you'll see the upgrade codes on the webpage on the left. An email confirming your status will arrive a few days later. This is so that enough time is allowed for all the systems to update and reflect your new status. Once you get the email, its safe to say that you can enjoy all published benefits with no issue.

jediwho

Thanks! Do they communicate at all during this time period with you if they want a missing document or something?

wanderlust4life

Not usually. That's why after you email them, they immediately send an auto email saying that if you didn't include the right documents, you need to send another email. If it takes longer than two weeks which I highly doubt, then send another email with the attachments. I don't think you'll have any problems.

jediwho

Definitely looking forward to it. The way AA has been treating its frequent flyers lately (devaluation of the entire program) and now creating a fifth tier with concierge key, EP does not hold much value anymore.

Also, AS would allow optimizing credit card spending as most of my this year's spending went on Citi AA Exec card earning 1 AA mile per dollar spend on most purchases to get thos EQMs.

Finkface

The only way to get EQMs on AS is by flying. Credit card spend and other earning methods earn RDM but not EQM. The only way to earn EQM is with your BIS. AS Mileage Plan is not (yet!) revenue based so there is no minimum spend requirement for status. Is that what you meant by optimizing spend?

jediwho

What I meant by optimizing CC spending is that instead of spending 80K on a credit card that earns 1 AA miles (equal to ~1.7 cents), I can now pretty easily get 1.75 MR/UR, equal to at least 2 cents each (with 2 cent redemption if you have Business Platinum). So, right there, I have 1.8 cent benefit or close to $1,400. Plus the advantage of these transferable points is I could use UR with Hyatt.

Finkface

Ah, in that case, then yes, you can put your spend wherever you like. But your original question had to do with whether AS would allow it.

So sure, you can use whatever card gets you the best return but AS has nothing to do with it. They don't 'allow' anything or even really care, what card you use. I guess I'm still not sure what you mean by 'would they allow' you to optimize credit card spend.

jediwho

I get you question. What I meant "AS would allow", I meant switching to AS would help me optimize. Currently, I have to either spend 80K on AA credit cards or do a lot of mileage runs. With AS, because I can pretty easily do around 60K of flying and won't need to rely on credit card spending for EQMs, I can optimize my spending to get the best rewards.

Finkface

I get it now. It was my poor reading comprehension. Duh!
I thought you were asking if AS would allow it. But you were just saying it would allow you to optimize. Yes, totally makes sense to me now. And yes, you are absolutely right.