Programs: AAdvantage Superstaaa. My views are my own.
Posts: 227
Quote:
Originally Posted by Landing Gear
The "stick out your tongue" symbol does not do much to earn respect for airline employees.
And the snide comment about a well known "silliness" symbol while responding to an obviously lighthearted comment does nothing to improve the perception that your a bit of a ... How's that, shall I smile? Or shall I grin? Or how should you like me to impart how I am intrepreting your comment?
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"Please read the rules before inquiring"
Programs: AA EXP, Starwood Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by trinity_in_texas
This is exactly the situation that someone who is not loyal at all finds themselves in when a loyalty program dumps the baggage.
No one took your miles away. You threw them out because you forgot this was a "frequent flyer program". Now days, flying isn't even required. And nothing about your participation was frequent, was it?
How is it possible that you were "unaware" that your miles were expiring? Not only is your expiration date on every summary that you are emailed, it's on your account at AA.com, it's retrievable via phone and AA sent out three mass mailings this year with regard to the new expiration policy. Not to mention the bogus mailings Miles for Mags sends out. You state here that you earned those miles over three years ago, which means that under the old policy your miles were due to be expired anyway.
There are over 500 partners of AA that do not require any travel at all to keep miles and to add to them. There are small things you can do to keep miles active (ie. Miles for Kids, Make A Wish). You can earn through shopping, dining, flying, hotels, etc..shoot, you could have posted your HH stays in both Hilton and AA, double dipping there too. There was much discussion on websites, news and around the coffee pot about AA's new policy. I would bet you didn't keep your email or mailing address up to date either?
AAdvantage is a frequency program. A loyalty program. An incentive for you to use the airline. By your very admission, you never intended to use the airline, you are going to move your miles to HH for a mere $25.00 on redeemaamiles.points.com.
Although you plead ignorance, your lack of attention makes many customer service agents job frustrating and subsequently they spend a lot of time arguing with people who "didn't know" when they should be spending time on the true loyal members, elite's and those who truly want to be part of the program and work hard for the miles they have. This program, as so many infrequent user's find out, requires management on your part and if you don't, well, this is what you get.
Call AAdvantage Customer Service. I confidently bet you dollars to donut's they will give you an option to get your expired miles back without you having to pay a reinstatement fee, as long as you do it quickly.
Call me mean, call me intolerant..whatever. But it's your responsibility to treat your AA account as an asset. You didn't and you lost it, rightly so.
I'm proud of the AAdvantage program. It was the first of it's kind and I still believe it's the best one out there. I take pride in being part of it and it frustrates me that so many members have no idea..no idea..what the program is about.
I am always amazed at what kind of nasty responses can be inspired by a simple question. The OP was up front about her situation. She had miles, failed to take appropriate action, and lost them. Is there anything she can do, thanks for the advice.
So along with some good advice, she gets referred to as "dumped baggage", berated for not being a frequent flyer, accused of disloyalty, and generally condescended to.
Believe it or not, there are people out there who are busy living their lives, and may not have spent countless hours learning every nuance of of several different frequent flyer programs. These are exactly the people customer service reps are hired to help. Be thankful she chose to do a little research before taking a CSR's valuable time. Hopefully she gets treated a little better on the phone.
Programs: AA EXP, NW Plat, UA 1K, CO Plat, LH/BD/OZ*G, Hyatt Dia, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Sixt Dia, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,535
Quote:
Originally Posted by trinity_in_texas
Ah, well, guess you'll be Gold next year and then down to regular AAdvantage. But enjoy the upgrades, 100% flight bonus' and expanded seat and award availibility while you have it. if you had issues with your flights, be happy to send you to CR and they'll make up for it. But honestly, does not your positive experiences outweigh?
And correct me if I'm wrong, but how does your AC tie into status, per se? It's paid, right? I admit I don't know much about the AC.
Only you have the power to prevent forest fires..wait, wrong quote. hmm
And you are wrong. As I said I'm 3k away from PLT and will fly to FRA tomorrow so I should be safe.
Enjoy the upgrades? I will if the cabin is clean - which would be an exception
100% Bonus - Yes thats why I requalify
Expandant award availability - Since when ? I redeem only on CX/QF/BA/JL anyways
I dont contact CR anymore except in cases I had extra expenses. Many of them are dumb as bread and cant even read my questions. I FedEx'ed 4 responses of CR agents to the CEOs office last week because it was so ridiculous. Dont expect to hear from it but anyways...
Admirals Club ties into my status as follows: I paid until August and I am only 3k away from PLT. It would make zero sense to let PLT lapse and throw the membership away. I can't afford to throw money out of the window. So until August I will do a few remaining flights on AA until I reach the next level for a QF award... Since I move away from DFW I'm also not that dependent from AA's schedule anymore.
__________________ Please read and support the Talk Board Election process 2009 ! My flights by BA97
Admirals Club ties into my status as follows: I paid until August and I am only 3k away from PLT. It would make zero sense to let PLT lapse and throw the membership away. I can't afford to throw money out of the window.
I don't get it. Why would you have to throw your AC membership away if you lost your PLT status? I can understand trinity_in_texas's confusion.
These are exactly the people customer service reps are hired to help. Be thankful she chose to do a little research before taking a CSR's valuable time. Hopefully she gets treated a little better on the phone.
__________________ American SPG & Priority Club Platinum
Hyatt/Hilton Diamond Omni Select Gold
IHG Royal Ambassador
To be somewhat charitable, AA did recently retroactively (emphasis by normcpa) change the miles expiration from 36 months to 18 months. Even though it doesn't really affect me (and I guess benefits me to some extent by getting rid of miles which could theoretically be competing for award space), I still think it's reprehensible to do this retroactive change (even though all the other airlines are doing it too doesn't mean it's the right thing to do).
The change was prospective only, not impacting miles acculmulated before the announcement of the new 18-month rule.
I don't get it. Why would you have to throw your AC membership away if you lost your PLT status? I can understand trinity_in_texas's confusion.
If it makes any difference, I'm confused by that statement, too. Unless he's implying it would be a waste because he'll no longer be flying AA, it makes no sense. IMO an AC membership could even be considered more important to someone who slipped to GLD than to someone who retained PLT status.
__________________ "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." Plato
Programs: AA EXP, NW Plat, UA 1K, CO Plat, LH/BD/OZ*G, Hyatt Dia, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Sixt Dia, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,535
Quote:
Originally Posted by vasantn
I don't get it. Why would you have to throw your AC membership away if you lost your PLT status? I can understand trinity_in_texas's confusion.
Very easy. With the PLT status the AAngels have at least a little bit to work with in case of irreg.-ops !
Also it is connected - if I wouldnt fly AA anymore I couldnt use the AC membership since most airports dont have the same concourse or no AC at all like IAH for Continental.
__________________ Please read and support the Talk Board Election process 2009 ! My flights by BA97
Very easy. With the PLT status the AAngels have at least a little bit to work with in case of irreg.-ops !
Also it is connected - if I wouldnt fly AA anymore I couldnt use the AC membership since most airports dont have the same concourse or no AC at all like IAH for Continental.
I still don't understand the reasoning, but I'm glad it works for you.
Effective December 15, 2007, mileage balances will expire from AAdvantage accounts that have not had miles either earned or redeemed within the previous eighteen (18) month period. If the last activity in your AAdvantage account was prior to June 15, 2006, all miles subject to expiration will expire on December 15, 2007.
The chart below outlines how your last activity date determines your mileage expiration date:
Last Activity Date Mileage Expiration Date
Jan 1, 2000 - May 31, 2004 Expired
Jun 1, 2004 - Jun 15, 2006 Expiring Dec 15, 2007*
Jun 16, 2006 and Beyond Expiring 18 Months Later*
* Under new 18-month Mileage Retention Policy
Keep in mind, the first time miles will expire under this new policy is December 15, 2007.
It's easy to keep your account active and retain your miles indefinitely! Just earn or redeem miles at least once every 18 months, and your account will remain active and miles will be retained.
__________________ "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." Plato
How's that, shall I smile? Or shall I grin? Or how should you like me to impart how I am intrepreting your comment?
