After lurking on FT for 9 years (I think), I've finally decided to join the fray. Hope I can lend a hand now and then and pay back the years of great advice, deals, and so on that I've picked up from the experts here.
Now my question:
I've been EXP for two years (and just recently got 1mm lifetime miles, too!) and decided I can't live without it. Looking at my itineraries for the remainder of the year, I believe I'm going to end up with 99,553 EQMs (only about 80k EQPs).
How strict has AA traditionally been about the 100k mile threshold? With AADER this year, what are the odds they'd give me EXP coming 500 EQMs short?
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, Asiana Club Silver, KE Morning Calm, HH Blue, Hyatt Gold, SPG Gold, Amtrak Select
Posts: 1,561
I am (will become "was" this weekend) in the same situation as you. I have 99,455 EQMs right now and wondered if it was worthwhile to do a quick LAX-SFO turnaround to achieve EXP. I decided it was worth it so I'll by flying to the Bay area this weekend to get my first EXP ever.
No matter how close you are, it's probably better to stay safe and book a quick trip. Since you're in SJC, I'm sure you can find a nice and cheap fare down to SoCal which will get you over the 100k threshold.
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Although AA has given it away before for people that close with times being tough you never know...
It's also been suggested (here, and in no way officially) that, with AADER making it much easier to attain status this year, they may be less willing to make any exceptions.
After lurking on FT for 9 years (I think), I've finally decided to join the fray. Hope I can lend a hand now and then and pay back the years of great advice, deals, and so on that I've picked up from the experts here.
Now my question:
I've been EXP for two years (and just recently got 1mm lifetime miles, too!) and decided I can't live without it. Looking at my itineraries for the remainder of the year, I believe I'm going to end up with 99,553 EQMs (only about 80k EQPs).
How strict has AA traditionally been about the 100k mile threshold? With AADER this year, what are the odds they'd give me EXP coming 500 EQMs short?
Despite the previous responses in this thread, I am going to disagree and say you are going to be fine.
Despite the previous responses in this thread, I am going to disagree and say you are going to be fine.
Different people have different ways of satisfying their needs/desires in life. I suspect that those who handle their own needs would fly. Those who rely on the kindness of total strangers to satisfy their needs wouldn't.
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Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then they beat you with experience.
This is a question that is so oft repeated. My answer? FLY IT! Fly one 500 mile flight! You will probably get it anyway, but if the chance is even 1 in aq hundred that you might not, it just isn't worth it!
Programs: AA EXP, MR PLAT PREMIER, NWA SLVR, US PLAT
Posts: 1,290
Wow, they are starting early this year. According to legend, I think that means we are going to have a late spring. Isn't that the way the superstition goes?
I can't see how you could justify even a 1% chance of not renewing when you are that close. Assuming you are addicted to F, think of it this way.
Say you fly greater than 100k next year and get EXP again...like you did last year. That first 100k will be as a plat. That means that you will need AT LEAST 200 stickers to upgrade (assumes you upgrade 100% of the time, but also assumes that you don't have any flights that work out to less than the "face value" of the stickers, such as a 1,641mi flight requiring 4 stickers. Considering you obviously won't upgrade 100% of the time, even if you try, I would consider 200 to still be a conservative number of stickers for 100k BIS miles).
So are you willing to risk almost $10,000 hoping that AA will comp you less than 500 BIS miles? Or is it better to spend 3hrs one weekend afternoon doing a quick r/t and be sure?
One other factor to consider, and I'm surprised nobody has pointed this out yet, is that are also assuming you will fly 100% of the flights you have booked. You could always need to cancel a trip. Maybe you will oversleep, miss a flight and have to take a non stop instead of your original connection (that would make it a stretch, IME, to get original routing credit). Even more likely you could get rerouted or interlined due to weather and, as a fluke, be denied original routing credit -- not likely but certainly possible.
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Last edited by DillMan; Nov 10, 08 at 5:45 pm.
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