AA goes after UA elites and status matching up to EXP
Apr 26, 2012, 3:39 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,593
AA goes after UA elites and status matching up to EXP
Here come the <redacted>. Probably a smart business move by AA considering the disarray over at CON-U-ALL, but not sure I want to see a glut of new EXPs. From the UA forum... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...tus-match.html
Last edited by JDiver; Jun 6, 2012 at 12:18 pm Reason: redacted loaded term
Apr 26, 2012, 3:44 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Boston; DC
Programs: AA EXP/2mm; UA 1k;
Posts: 673
Yes, if they all get SWUs, along with the free comps of AA members, seems it may get pretty hard to use the SWUs...
Apr 26, 2012, 3:44 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
Holy moly... they match GS to CK. Nuts.
Apr 26, 2012, 3:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
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Let the doomsaying commence!
Apr 26, 2012, 3:51 pm
#5
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I guess someone listened to me at the Executive Office 
This will inevitably increase some upgrade competition, particularly out of LAX, but I'm willing to sit in coach and welcome my fellow UA 1Ks with open arms to drive COdbaUA out of business ^
This will inevitably increase some upgrade competition, particularly out of LAX, but I'm willing to sit in coach and welcome my fellow UA 1Ks with open arms to drive COdbaUA out of business ^
Apr 26, 2012, 3:56 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.6MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 837
As a UA GS and an AA/CK, I am doing my best over on that board to encourage people to make the switch. I have experienced both programs and airlines firsthand over the past several years, and I can safely say that American is the superior choice.
Before the March 3rd cut over to the SHARES system, I felt that the GS program at UA was superior to the CK program at AA. However, post March 3rd, it isn't even close. AA's CK wins by a mile.
Before the March 3rd cut over to the SHARES system, I felt that the GS program at UA was superior to the CK program at AA. However, post March 3rd, it isn't even close. AA's CK wins by a mile.
Apr 26, 2012, 4:12 pm
#7
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Cheers.
Apr 26, 2012, 4:16 pm
#8
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
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This actually seems to make the most sense to me. If I were a business, I'd definitely target the "whales" who can bring me the most revenue. (1 GS = 100 airline-agnostic, vacation-once-a-year fliers)
I'm sure activity like this has been happening as one-offs behind the scenes for years. Airlines have always courted company and industry contracts to lock-down revenue. Again, just like promos or other past "matching" events, I highly doubt that any of this will significantly impact my upgrade percentage.
I'm sure activity like this has been happening as one-offs behind the scenes for years. Airlines have always courted company and industry contracts to lock-down revenue. Again, just like promos or other past "matching" events, I highly doubt that any of this will significantly impact my upgrade percentage.
Apr 26, 2012, 4:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: DL PM | Marriott Gold | Alaska Gold
Posts: 758
AA is going after everyone's elites - although maybe not for free. They offered to status match me and put me on a challenge if I moved from DL. Highly considering it. Helps that I am a big fan of OW.
Apr 26, 2012, 4:29 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
Would it be wrong to create a second AA account and try to apply the match to it? I wonder if there are any benefits beyond extra SWUs to having two EXP accounts?
Apr 26, 2012, 4:33 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
This actually seems to make the most sense to me. If I were a business, I'd definitely target the "whales" who can bring me the most revenue. (1 GS = 100 airline-agnostic, vacation-once-a-year fliers)
I'm sure activity like this has been happening as one-offs behind the scenes for years. Airlines have always courted company and industry contracts to lock-down revenue. Again, just like promos or other past "matching" events, I highly doubt that any of this will significantly impact my upgrade percentage.
I'm sure activity like this has been happening as one-offs behind the scenes for years. Airlines have always courted company and industry contracts to lock-down revenue. Again, just like promos or other past "matching" events, I highly doubt that any of this will significantly impact my upgrade percentage.
Apr 26, 2012, 5:06 pm
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
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I hope AA picks up ALOT of UA defectors. YES_ there will be increased competition for upgrades in some markets, BUT, AA will be less likely to change their FF program significantly, knowing they will lose these new UA elites as well as their own.
In addition, AA has a better argument against US takeover, because the creditors committee will see that the FFs are not guaranteed income and will be apprehensive about moving to an airline that the FFs will flee from, thereby reducing the creditors ability to be repaid.
In addition, AA has a better argument against US takeover, because the creditors committee will see that the FFs are not guaranteed income and will be apprehensive about moving to an airline that the FFs will flee from, thereby reducing the creditors ability to be repaid.
Apr 26, 2012, 5:07 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2009
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That is has. Two years ago, when the firm I worked at (a very large consulting firm) dropped UA as a preferred carrier, all other available carriers (AA, CO and DL) matched UA status for employees through an internal process. And AA did indeed match 1K to EXP and GS to CK, no questions asked.
Apr 26, 2012, 5:13 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
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Posts: 6,638
BTW, if anyone noticed, AA added a 7th SFO-ORD flight. This has been 6x ever since I can remember--- I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence
The new COdbaUA is horrible.
The new COdbaUA is horrible.
Apr 26, 2012, 5:14 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
Off to create a fake UA GS screenshot... 