While sitting on an MD80 this evening delayed 5 hours into ORD, I began to think about the absolute number of EXP, PLT or GLD Elites in the AAdvantage program. I thought this would be a great forum to see if anyone knows, or can make an educated guess. From a selfish view, I always wonder how many flyers "outrank" my PLT status.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bosman
While sitting on an MD80 this evening delayed 5 hours into ORD, I began to think about the absolute number of EXP, PLT or GLD Elites in the AAdvantage program. I thought this would be a great forum to see if anyone knows, or can make an educated guess. From a selfish view, I always wonder how many flyers "outrank" my PLT status.
This has been asked, debated, argued about many times on this forum. I really don't think anybody knows the real number, but I'm sure there were some educated guesses that were close.
I'm sure that once again, we'll see some numbers posted here. Some will be pure guesses, some will know somebody that knows somebody that knows, and some will swear by their numbers, but in reality, I don't think anybody knows the actual number.
Well, I add that because AA is allowing EXP upgrades on any fare class this year, I will assume the number is down by at least 25% for EXP. However, that doesn't mean PLT and GLD have also decreased. I believe those are extremely higher in number than last year. I see many PLTs in my elite line!
I have wondered about the number myself. Is it in the order of ten thousand or much for EXP's?
Several years ago, the number of EXPs was estimated by many to be in the range of 60k; that included the "comped" VBC EXPs (which are no more). Recent estimates place the total at more like 20k or 30k EXPs (still WAG, however).
Location: Long Island, NY, AA EXP, Charter AAdv Member
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Early this year there was a thread on this subject and one of the posters conveyed the story he had with some agent at AA who said in the context of their conversation that there were like 60k EXP's. This conversation took place in late 2003, IIRC. Other than that nugget, I would do a 5x multipler for PLTs and a 10x multiplier of EXPs for GLDs. But its just a wild-a** guess.
My guess, whatever it was in 2003 probably stayed about the same in 2004.
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7 Million Miles and counting ........
Several years ago, the number of EXPs was estimated by many to be in the range of 60k; that included the "comped" VBC EXPs (which are no more). Recent estimates place the total at more like 20k or 30k EXPs (still WAG, however).
I got a number very close to this, in person from someone at AA who was in a position to know and had no reason to "spin" the numbers, in early 2001. The OBCs were continued into the 2002-3 program year, along with everyone else after 9/11, but were dropped on March 1, 2003. Given some additional dropoff from last year to this (myself included, sad to say) I think a figure of 20,000 EXPs is close.
I got a number very close to this, in person from someone at AA who was in a position to know and had no reason to "spin" the numbers, in early 2001. The OBCs were continued into the 2002-3 program year, along with everyone else after 9/11, but were dropped on March 1, 2003. Given some additional dropoff from last year to this (myself included, sad to say) I think a figure of 20,000 EXPs is close.
yes, 20-25, no more.
ignoring the comped OBC's, we had:
01. concrete evidence of roughly 20,000 EXP's "on track" to make it by flying in 2001 during the Top 20 promo. throw in a few thousand points-only qualifiers in '01, and you're at maybe 25-30k.
02. for '02, there was the carryover, plus a few new qualifiers, so 30-35K tops.
03. March '03 was the Great Purge, losing many many folks due to decreased flying in '02 [and the final farewell of OBC]. Surely no more than 25,000 EXP's remained.
04. A flat year for travel in '03, and a downish year for biz travel, likely produced no net new EXP's-- in fact a further slight dropoff seems the most likely outcome.
05. Increased travel in '04 and relaxed points qualification should produce some net new EXP's...
OBC - "Our Best Customers" Think VIPs in big companies and people who could influence travel on AA
they didn't screen so carefully, however, since it was said eligibility was based on just having bought a full J or F international ticket in '00. end result not so much new biz for AA, and a lot of not-so-frequent fliers clogging up the EXP desk...
01. concrete evidence of roughly 20,000 EXP's "on track" to make it by flying in 2001 during the Top 20 promo. throw in a few thousand points-only qualifiers in '01, and you're at maybe 25-30k.
I was one of the top 20,000 who received 20,000 miles in 2001, and I did not qualify for EXP. I think I finished the year at 80,000. Sadly I have had no problems qualifying for EXP since.
I was one of the top 20,000 who received 20,000 miles in 2001, and I did not qualify for EXP. I think I finished the year at 80,000..
exactly what makes the number a nice estimator. some of the "on track" 20,000 people didn't make it to 100K, and likewise some people outside the top 20,000 that summer did.
exactly what makes the number a nice estimator. some of the "on track" 20,000 people didn't make it to 100K, and likewise some people outside the top 20,000 that summer did.
