Programs: BA Gold, AA ExPlat, UA 1K, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,241
While I was definitely in favour of matching UA 1K and GS (presumably, you know, the high value customers), I don't see how matching a bunch of Diamond Medallions that earn less than the $12.5K annual revenue threshold is going to help AA.
And they are going to further wreck EXP upgrade percentages. Not to mention PLT and GLD.
While I was definitely in favour of matching UA 1K and GS (presumably, you know, the high value customers), I don't see how matching a bunch of Diamond Medallions that earn less than the $12.5K annual revenue threshold is going to help AA.
And they are going to further wreck EXP upgrade percentages. Not to mention PLT and GLD.
If Delta succeeds in this, I suspect the other carriers will roll it out, too.
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, HH Gold, DL/UA/CO/AS Elite
Posts: 14,349
Quote:
Originally Posted by DWFI
While I was definitely in favour of matching UA 1K and GS (presumably, you know, the high value customers), I don't see how matching a bunch of Diamond Medallions that earn less than the $12.5K annual revenue threshold is going to help AA.
And they are going to further wreck EXP upgrade percentages. Not to mention PLT and GLD.
There are a lot of AA EXPs that spend less than $12.5K
There are a lot of AA EXPs that spend less than $12.5K
True, I'm one of them. But I think the point being made is that bringing in more of my type of EXP probably isn't going to be that beneficial to AA while it probably will make some existing EXP benefits harder to get (upgrades spring to mind )
Programs: BA Gold, AA ExPlat, UA 1K, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,241
Quote:
Originally Posted by MauiTigerShark
True, I'm one of them. But I think the point being made is that bringing in more of my type of EXP probably isn't going to be that beneficial to AA while it probably will make some existing EXP benefits harder to get (upgrades spring to mind )
Exactly. I book a ton of last minute H fares leaving SFO and going via DFW or just nonstop to JFK, and in the past 6 months my upgrade rate has been cut in half. In half.
More $5K EXPs doesn't help AA.
Full disclosure: I'd estimate my annual AA spend to be about $15K.
I have the same opinion with selling F. If AA can sell every F seat in a 738 at a reasonable price, go ahead. If they are selling upgrades for $40 per 500 miles to every person at the kiosk, I am extremely furious. Why, then, am I giving my domestic business exclusively to AA??
On the brightside, indication AA doesn't have any plans to add a dollar requirement. I personally think Delta will fail with this. It's not just about the requirement itself, its about perception.
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Delta Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 952
Quote:
Originally Posted by MAH4546
On the brightside, indication AA doesn't have any plans to add a dollar requirement. I personally think Delta will fail with this. It's not just about the requirement itself, its about perception.
I agree with this! That said, I'm becoming concerned about the increased amount of EXPs on AA. In fact, I missed my first upgrade of the year on Friday from DFW-LGA and keep in mind I was a connecting passenger. Since we're only in January and I already missed an upgrade I hope this does not become a trend!
On the brightside, indication AA doesn't have any plans to add a dollar requirement. I personally think Delta will fail with this. It's not just about the requirement itself, its about perception.
OTH, if DL does not experience a huge backlash I'd bet money that UA followed by AA (maybe the reverse order if Parker is running the show) will also implement a dollar spend over miles. Remember most people hitting status, particularly from the mid level and up, are doing it on a company dime. And often its the company directing the flying and spending. Therefore, if your employer is cheap and forces you to take book ahead like a leisure traveler you are not going to be able to change your yearly spend. And contrary to what many FTs would like to think, the vast majority of FF do not have the time and/or money to do weekend and vacation time MRs.
I took a quick look at the change in DL.
It's not a surprise as DL flyers found some public evidences that DL was working on this same as AA's MM change.
(DL hired IT programmers to implement revenue based status.)
Quote:
Silver Medallion – you will need 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs and $2,500 MQDs
Gold Medallion – you will need 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs and $5,000 MQDs
Platinum Medallion – you will need 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs and $7,500 MQDs
Diamond Medallion – you will need 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs and $12,500 MQDs
If you have a U.S. Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express you will have the new MQDs requirement waived each year you make $25,000 in eligible purchases using your card.
I think it is not so bad for most of PM and/or DM as they likely already have DL Amex and have used it as a primary card to get MQM from CC spending.
$25K threshold seems not so difficult to achieve I think.
I personally think Delta will fail with this. It's not just about the requirement itself, its about perception.
The 'perception' (or reality) is already there amongst FTers that Skymiles is a really bad program due to award redemption availability (for the past few years), high fares required for international upgrades (in place for more than a decade now), etc., and it has hardly hit their bottom line... The airline is expected to report $1.6 billion income excluding special items for 2012 next week, even higher than the $1.2 billion for the previous year....
On top of that, a lot of the reaction (on the Delta forum) has actually been less 'hostile' than some other changes that had been implemented recently (e.g., 72 hour award cancellation policy, etc.)...
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