Rather than repeat the dual refrains about the reappearance of this annual thread or the exhortation to fly rather than run the risk of loss of EXP, I have another observation. When I see yet another post about being X miles or points short and wanting a break, I wonder if the poster has taken into account the true potential cost in dollars of the loss of EXP benefits. Assume that $500 of flying will get sufficient points / miles to reach or requalify for EXP. The hesitator should consider how much she will need to spend to buy the stickers to upgrade as a Plat next year. Sure Y and B fares are freebies and there are credits of stickers based on flying, but as a Plat I never earned enough stickers to put me in first all of the times the upgrade cleared; I had to buy stickers. I believe that if $500 is what separates an EXP from requalification, the flyer will spend more than that amount the next year in order to purchase upgrade stickers when needed to upgrade as a Plat. "Just missing" does have a real cost, unless your employer is purchasing the stickers for you. (Loss of VIPOW's is also a real cost, unless you do not fly outside North America on AA.)
OTOH, if upgrades (and VIPOW's), and the EXP line don't mean much to you, then why are you worried about requalifying anyway ;-)
Programs: aa exp 1MM, alaska air, united, hhonors gold, spg gold
Posts: 684
Quote:
Originally Posted by MIA-SAT
....I wonder if the poster has taken into account the true potential cost in dollars of the loss of EXP benefits.....
Quite true. I came close in 2003, 93,910 EQM, last flight on the 31st, but at the time didn't think it was that great a deal. The next Spring (2004) they changed the program to give unlimted domestic upgrades for EXP.
I realized then that with a bit more planning I'd have been able to use a different carrier on one flight, plus make one more trip, and been able to qualify.
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K MM, Hilton Diamond, Costco General Member
Posts: 19,335
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hagbard Viking
Try calling AA and explain that you do not have time to collect more than 98,000 EQM this year because you are busy flying to requalify for UA 1K. Who knows, they may take pity on a "loyal" customer and give you EXP...
If you had 98000 on UA and faxed them your AA account during a promo a few months ago, they would have given you the 2000 EQMs.
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"And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row"
Programs: AA ExPlat 3MM, AA Life Plat, Lufthansa FT, Delta Basic
Posts: 721
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hagbard Viking
Try calling AA and explain that you do not have time to collect more than 98,000 EQM this year because you are busy flying to requalify for UA 1K. Who knows, they may take pity on a "loyal" customer and give you EXP...
That's silly IMHO, they may or may not bend the rule a little but certainly not if you tell them that you are so busy requalifying on a competitor that you cannot fly 2KM with AA... Be logical !
Location: MSP (and will only fly NWA in re-routes if I HAVE to)
Programs: AA EXP (4.5MM), hotel programs as needed
Posts: 5,802
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cofyknsult
That's silly IMHO, they may or may not bend the rule a little but certainly not if you tell them that you are so busy requalifying on a competitor that you cannot fly 2KM with AA... Be logical !
Lighten up .. I assumed it was a joke!
How many times do you know people here on FT to be totally logical!
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I give up on snappy sigs .. then again, I don't steal sodas from the galley....
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K MM, Hilton Diamond, Costco General Member
Posts: 19,335
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cofyknsult
That's silly IMHO, they may or may not bend the rule a little but certainly not if you tell them that you are so busy requalifying on a competitor that you cannot fly 2KM with AA... Be logical !
I think they were making a joke.
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"And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row"
If I were AA .. I would make an exception for people who were 'close' to EXP .. and NO STATUS ON ANY OTHER AIRLINE. I would NOT make an exception for people who were high tiers on various/numerous airlines.
Exactly how would one airline know your status on another airline?
Or is this an attempt at a joke? If so, it failed.
Programs: AA EXP 1.8MM, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Traveler's Aid JFK Volunteer
Posts: 5,520
Quote:
Originally Posted by GRR_Flier
Just a do a quick RT between ORD-DEL-ORD, would fetch you around $15K EQP.
GRR_Flier
Remember that you need a visa for travel to India--$100 or so?
Also, a same-day RT is a bit tight in terms of connection time (somewhere around 3 hours). DEL airport is extraordinarily congested--people cut in lines, general mayhem, etc. I'd be hesitant to do a same-day turn.
