And yet, that person who has lifetime PLT (who may have gotten lifetime PLT by never having flown a single mile on AA) can fly but once per year, and still have higher priority over a Gold who flies 45,000 miles per year.
I really don't think your argument is reasonable or realistic. (And before someone else points it out, the only way that someone gets PLT through $50,000 per year in credit card spending is to do that every year for 40 years to get to lifetime PLT. Credit card spending does not count towards annual status -- only lifetime.)
Mike
This is odd. The message I have quoted back here is different from the one just e-mailed to me. I am not sure why as your message does not show as "edited."
As a matter of courtesy, I will answer only what is publicly posted not what the FT e-mail says you posted.
I respectfully disagree with you. "Reasonable" is a matter of opinion as is "realistic."
AA sells what AA feels is in their best interests. We have already seen them sell elite status with the program they instituted last summer.
What I want is no different than what you (or anyone else wants)--the best deal I can get for myself.
Someday, AA may well say that if you have a two, (or three, four, five or six, whatever) million mile lifetime earning, you get EXP status. Or for $49.95 , they'll sell it to you.
Then what? To all those people who complain that there are PLTs for Life who fly very little, why should you care? What are the odds that one of these folks will be on a flight with you competing for an upgrade? Very little.
I predict (and this may well prove to be worthless), that AA will eventually make such a change. And I am sorry if those people who earn EXP the very hard way through segments get upset, but again, AA can sell what it wants to sell. Are you upset when you can't get into F or C because other pax paid for it?
I am reminded of an incident some years ago when GLD was the only elite status available and I was flying DFW-LGA with my girlfriend. When we boarded, someone was sitting in my seat and when I politely asked him to move, he proclaimed, "I'm Gold. You move." I replied that I was holding two FULL FARE FIRST CLASS tickets so he should get his upgraded ... out of my seat.
Whatever status anyone has entitles him or her to exactly what AA says. That I may want it changed to become one thing and you another, well, hey, that's what makes a horse race.
This is odd. The message I have quoted back here is different from the one just e-mailed to me. I am not sure why as your message does not show as "edited."
Then I guess that little thing about my message showing as being last edited at 11:04 pm really doesn't mean anything.
I really don't think that the bulk of people here care that lifetime PLT exists, to the extent that the mere existence of them somehow dilutes the pool for those people who actually do fly. (The math really doesn't bear out that there is a real impact, in my opinion, given the number of seats and flights in a given day.)
I'll stand by what I've said -- expecting that someone with lifetime GLD or PLT status should be treated as more valuable than an EXP is unrealistic and unreasonable, and frankly, it makes little business sense for AA. And I can guarantee that the odds of AA making changes to allow for lifetime EXPs is next to nil. If anything, AA is eventually going to make the lifetime programs more restrictive, in that they'll get to a point where only flight miles are counted. (And that, in my opinion, isn't an if. It's a when.)
There is a very vocal group on this forum who believe that someone who earns a lifetime total of 100,000 miles in one year, and is therefore EXP, should always trump a 2,000,000 mile+ Lifetime PLT.
I am sorry, but I do not agree with this view.
Yes, Landing Gear, there ARE a few kindred souls on FT who actually agree with you. I have been lifetime Plat for many, many years and have 4m miles. For me to make EXP would require a divorce. I think, at some point, AA should recognize those of us long-termers who are incredibly loyal to AA but just can't make the mileage runs or the 100,000 mile benchmark a year.
Yes, Landing Gear, there ARE a few kindred souls on FT who actually agree with you. I have been lifetime Plat for many, many years and have 4m miles. For me to make EXP would require a divorce. I think, at some point, AA should recognize those of us long-termers who are incredibly loyal to AA but just can't make the mileage runs or the 100,000 mile benchmark a year.
Then I guess that little thing about my message showing as being last edited at 11:04 pm really doesn't mean anything.
I received an e-mail time stamped 2:00 A.M. E.S.T. which contained a quote of your original message. I looked at the message posted AT THAT TIME which was DIFFERENT and DID NOT contain the word "edited." Why this happened, I don't know. Otherwise, I would see no point in commenting. People make comments all the time which they later decide to change. That's what happened. Please don't even hint that I am making this up.
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I really don't think that the bulk of people here care that lifetime PLT exists, to the extent that the mere existence of them somehow dilutes the pool for those people who actually do fly.
I'm happy for small things.
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I'll stand by what I've said -- expecting that someone with lifetime GLD or PLT status should be treated as more valuable than an EXP is unrealistic and unreasonable. . .
That's your opinion. Some businesses value the concept called longevity. I was in a restaurant recently where they were celebrating their 30th anniversary. I've been going there since they opened (although I was just a student then). You can order anything you want, but they will still recognize that certain people like me--through our loyalty--have kept them going for three decades. It is a business judgment whether or not to do this.
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. . .and frankly, it makes little business sense for AA.
Again, in your opinion. I don't know what the basis of this opinion is, but I do know that that there are lots of MBAs who have bankrupted several airlines.
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And I can guarantee that the odds of AA making changes to allow for lifetime EXPs is next to nil.
Unless you are Arpey, how will you make this guarantee? This intrigues me. What did you have in mind? Posting a $1,000,000 surety bond? Having Lloyd's of London insure against this contingency? Do I get paid if your "guarantee" fails? By "guarantee" you mean, to be quite realistic, that you bet.
There are many viewpoints on many subjects. There is no reason to be beligerent towards a different view.
Yes, Landing Gear, there ARE a few kindred souls on FT who actually agree with you. I have been lifetime Plat for many, many years and have 4m miles. For me to make EXP would require a divorce. I think, at some point, AA should recognize those of us long-termers who are incredibly loyal to AA but just can't make the mileage runs or the 100,000 mile benchmark a year.
Thank you, kind FTer.
Please read and comment on my message just posted.
I received an e-mail time stamped 2:00 A.M. E.S.T. which contained a quote of your original message. I looked at the message posted AT THAT TIME which was DIFFERENT and DID NOT contain the word "edited." Why this happened, I don't know. Otherwise, I would see no point in commenting. People make comments all the time which they later decide to change. That's what happened. Please don't even hint that I am making this up.
I never said that you were making it up.
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There are many viewpoints on many subjects. There is no reason to be beligerent towards a different view.
With all due respect, sir, if you think that my reaction to your opinion has been "belligerent," then you really need to find a thicker skin. Unless, of course, you believe that everyone who disagrees with your opinion is automatically hostile.
With all due respect, sir, if you think that my reaction to your opinion has been "belligerent," then you really need to find a thicker skin. Unless, of course, you believe that everyone who disagrees with your opinion is automatically hostile.
, they'll sell it to you.
