Originally Posted by bdemaria;9128629
#2 - As has been stated in a previous thread by a [B
very[/b] knowledgeable poster, the processing of million mile status has historically been put on the "back burner" so to speak during January and February and picks up in mid March.
That is not the case this year, a change. MM status evaluation will probably not be suspened during this period.
Programs: AA Ex Plt, 1.6MM, BMI Diamond, HH Diamond, SPG Plt
Posts: 5,689
Quote:
Originally Posted by Island
That is not the case this year, a change. MM status evaluation will probably not be suspened during this period.
Island - thanks for the clarification.
To the OP: you do realize that PLT domestic upgrades are not automatic at 72 hours, but rather will be considered starting at 72 hours? You'll still be behind all the EXPs. As a PLT, my upgrade % was pretty high. However, depending on the routes (and esp. if you are trying to upgrade two people), you may well still find yourself in coach.
Yah, I took that into consideration. Based upon my routes and what I've read is a fairly good chance of succeeding, I am assuming that 75% of my and the wife's seats will be successfully upgraded and the other 25% will fail. If we wind up with 50%, still worth it. 25%, probably not.
Quote:
To the OP: you do realize that PLT domestic upgrades are not automatic at 72 hours, but rather will be considered starting at 72 hours? You'll still be behind all the EXPs. As a PLT, my upgrade % was pretty high. However, depending on the routes (and esp. if you are trying to upgrade two people), you may well still find yourself in coach.
Be sure to let us all know how this all turns out. I know I'm curious. Are the miles going to post in time? Will you and your wife receive the upgrades wanted for the most crucial segments of your trip? What will you do with your newfound lifetime PLAT status? The questions never end...
Really, I am curious. Perhaps, though, it's time you cash in some of those miles. I am assuming you have not used the 928,000 miles you have earned in the past year. Blowing a few of those on business/first seats might not be the worst way to assure yourself the best couch, especially now that you don't have to worry about your EQMs each year like many of us.
Programs: Starwood Platinum, AA 2 mm EXP, Citibank Platinum...
Posts: 678
Agreed
Quote:
Originally Posted by newyorkgeorge
This is one weird post.
And while I hate to be a wet blanket - and knowing so much of ones' upgrade success is route-dependent - as an EXP over the past three or four years, I've seen my percentage of upgraded flights dwindle month by month so that now, when I do get an upgrade it's at the gate. And that only happens about half the time when, say, a year or two ago, it happened about 90-95% of the time.
I understand that being in Boston I'm competing with a lot of other EXP's and passengers in paid Yup or F fares on domestic flights. But it happens on other routes - nowadays - with almost as much frequency. Meaning if I'm on the same flight as you, you have less chance than me to score a big seat.
It's not just business travel, either. Were this two or three years ago, I'm confident the flight I'm on tomorrow (to Miami) would have been upgraded already. I have zero expectation that we will be, though, for the simple reason that - as is so often the case - F is already full. It's not worth whining about - it's a triple seven and we're in the Business-Class-sold-as-coach-to-elites section and, well, I'll just have to pay for my vodka-tonic. Damn.
It would be interesting to hear how you make out, Mooper, upgrade-wise. As others have suggested, let us know sometime in the next few months if AA is meeting your expectations. I might be wrong, but I think you've set those expectations a little high.
bts09 - I will definitely check back in with updates. The 40K purchased posted in less than 12 hours. Waiting on the SPG, but my guess is that will show up after midnight. I'm definitely spoiled by this event - not having to worry about EQMs - but as I said, it will actually work out the way AA wants because I rarely flew them before and now I'll be buying/flying a lot, albeit hoping for upgrades much of the time. Indeed, I have over 1.8MIL unused AA miles, the few I used having been for employee trips. I will, however, be taking a couple of F-class trips somewhere warm before summer arrives, I assure you
mclejc - That is something I didn't realize at all - thank you! I assumed that the system would see I am Plat automatically and attempt my upgrades when the 72 hour window hits. I will call to tell them to update my reservations to reflect my new status (hopefully in a few days).
bostom - Hey, no apologies, you are just a realist. I do think, however, that maybe your experience isn't quite the norm if you are mainly flying business-competitive routes. Or maybe it is the norm, but won't match my expected usage pattern. I will be using AA a lot out of DEN and ORD, from there, often to WAS or MIA. Not exactly "off the path", but also not likely as crowded with EXPs as strict east-coast business corridor routes either. Even if I wind up with an overall success rate of 50%, in advance or at the gate, I'd be thrilled (esp considering the means of acquiring my status). Your further thoughts appreciated.
I am sorry if this was mentioned earlier in the post, a weird one as mentioned above, but as a PLAT you need to use your 500-mile stickers for upgrade. They accrue by how much you fly. So if you don't fly much then you have less stickers to upgrade. Of course you can shell out $'s and buy them too.
And of course EXP's can always play spoilsport to your upgrade plans
bts09 - I will definitely check back in with updates. The 40K purchased posted in less than 12 hours. Waiting on the SPG, but my guess is that will show up after midnight. I'm definitely spoiled by this event - not having to worry about EQMs - but as I said, it will actually work out the way AA wants because I rarely flew them before and now I'll be buying/flying a lot, albeit hoping for upgrades much of the time. Indeed, I have over 1.8MIL unused AA miles, the few I used having been for employee trips. I will, however, be taking a couple of F-class trips somewhere warm before summer arrives, I assure you
mclejc - That is something I didn't realize at all - thank you! I assumed that the system would see I am Plat automatically and attempt my upgrades when the 72 hour window hits. I will call to tell them to update my reservations to reflect my new status (hopefully in a few days).
bostom - Hey, no apologies, you are just a realist. I do think, however, that maybe your experience isn't quite the norm if you are mainly flying business-competitive routes. Or maybe it is the norm, but won't match my expected usage pattern. I will be using AA a lot out of DEN and ORD, from there, often to WAS or MIA. Not exactly "off the path", but also not likely as crowded with EXPs as strict east-coast business corridor routes either. Even if I wind up with an overall success rate of 50%, in advance or at the gate, I'd be thrilled (esp considering the means of acquiring my status). Your further thoughts appreciated.
Keep in mind that you gain almost nothing by actually paying AA for tickets given your situation, if you've described it accurately.
IF you will not fly enough to make EXP this year, and IF you earn miles through spending at a lightning rate (like a million a year!) then it's very hard to see a good reason to pay for AA tickets again.
Just get F/J awards for most flights you take. You won't forgo status (you have it) and you won't run out of miles.
OR - if you do see tickets that are very cheap you should upgrade with miles, not stickers. Most people think that's crazy, but you're not most people if you have that many miles. Stickers tend to cost money as you burn faster than you earn.
Granted, you could direct your spending elsewhere (like SPG for 5 star hotels) now, which maybe is your plan. But in your slightly unique situation I'd re-evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of spending miles dramatically and probably find myself only buying tickets on an employers dime.
Programs: AA Ex Plt, 1.6MM, BMI Diamond, HH Diamond, SPG Plt
Posts: 5,689
Quote:
Originally Posted by msrinivas
I am sorry if this was mentioned earlier in the post, a weird one as mentioned above, but as a PLAT you need to use your 500-mile stickers for upgrade. They accrue by how much you fly. So if you don't fly much then you have less stickers to upgrade. Of course you can shell out $'s and buy them too.
Good point to mention. As an alternative -given what we assume to the OPs high mileage balance, s/he could also redeem miles for upgrades.
Thanks, guys. Yeah, I will be moving my business-spend-earned miles over to SPG and cards with transient bonuses instead, ceasing the accumulation of surplus. I will be redeeming a lot of the current surplus for both F tickets for myself as well as employees, when appropriate. I plan to buy seats in addition to this burn, usually when the fare is low and I think my odds of an upgrade is high. Therefore, I will earn a fair number of additional stickers through the year, albeit not enough to cover all my upgrades. For that shortfall, I will either buy stickers or use miles to upgrade, as suggested.
SPG-generated miles posted a couple days after the AA-purchased ones, putting me over the mark. The Platinum status showed up today in my account. Therefore, the turnaround time was roughly one week. Maybe "the sweep" occurs on Sunday nights?
I had some last-minute business that popped up last week and I ended up hopping on five flights (three of which were AA), still while in Gold status. 2 of 3 were upgraded anyway Heading off with the wife this weekend, Platinum status in hand, as hoped for. Will report on the success rate later.
mooper, how many days did it take for your SPG generated miles to post to your AA account? I've been waiting since last Sunday and they haven't appeared yet. I know it's only been 8 days, and I'm not really in a rush, but it seems like I've heard others claim they post faster than that.
SPG-generated miles posted a couple days after the AA-purchased ones, putting me over the mark. The Platinum status showed up today in my account. Therefore, the turnaround time was roughly one week. Maybe "the sweep" occurs on Sunday nights?
I had some last-minute business that popped up last week and I ended up hopping on five flights (three of which were AA), still while in Gold status. 2 of 3 were upgraded anyway Heading off with the wife this weekend, Platinum status in hand, as hoped for. Will report on the success rate later.
Thanks for all the help!
Did you call and have your new status applied to the existing flights? If you don't, you'll show up as GLD in AA's system.
Need 25000 AA Miles
