AA Gift Cards - Save 10% @ Costco [only remaining supply left - phasing out]
#1336
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: AA EXP "Life is good! Really good.""
Posts: 4,923
You've got good Costco housekeeping. Our Costco doesn't have them in envelopes, so they have to count the envelopes out separately and you get to insert the cards. I like to keep partially used cards in the envelope with the residual value written on the outside.
#1337
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
Anyone find any left near New York?
#1338
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: LAX, SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt DM, SPG GLD, Hertz 5*, AMEX PLT, GE
Posts: 340
LA area
Costcos in burbank and los feliz are now out. Huntington Beach and Irvine Tustin still have a few dozen between them. Person who sold me mine commented on how many large purchases have been made in the last few days and how she has to write out each number before they are picked up. Guess thats a new procedure. Also, computer showed the item as pending deletion. Looks like the end has arrived.
Last edited by FlyingTrojan; Jul 9, 2012 at 1:42 pm
#1339
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
The ending of the program might be a good thing. Sometimes I felt that AA is more expensive than the other airlines because the gift cards cause all the cheap fare buckets to sell out quickly. It will return things to normal.
#1340
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: AA GLD 1MM DL PLT
Posts: 351
Also, why would a constant 10% discount change people's buying patterns noticeably? I know I didn't book any extra flights just because of the gift cards.
edit: Oh, and of course, I blame the bankruptcy.
#1341
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
#1343
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
What is indiputable is that AA has been very successful at raising fares this year, as its first half unit revenue (passenger revenue per available seat mile) has increased nearly 10% over the first six months of 2011. Tickets are much more expensive this year, but I don't think it's because AA has sold gift cards at Costco.
If AA was able to raise its unit revenue by such a substantial percentage despite selling gift cards at a discount of upwards of 20% (assuming that Costco paid about 80% of the face value), then AA's performance in the first half of 2012 has been spectacular.
My WAG is that Costco sold fewer than one million of these gift cards since they were introduced in early 2011. That would mean that gift card revenue to AA was perhaps $240 million, or less than FOUR DAYS worth of revenue.
#1344
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
What is indiputable is that AA has been very successful at raising fares this year, as its first half unit revenue (passenger revenue per available seat mile) has increased nearly 10% over the first six months of 2011. Tickets are much more expensive this year, but I don't think it's because AA has sold gift cards at Costco.
I'm just surmising that this is what is happening, but I do know that the lowe fares are still there. Just seems not as many of 'em.
Cheers.
#1345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,185
I bet some of the hundreds of other runners who flew alongside me had similar thoughts.
Of course, it's debatable how much effect we had on AA's overall situation/thinking/planning. Probably not too much.
#1347
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: AA GLD 1MM DL PLT
Posts: 351
I certainly did. In fact, the GCs plus the usability of codes (plus TEQM!) pushed me over the edge to make a lunatic run for EXP in January, having not flown a revenue AA flight in probably 10 years.
I bet some of the hundreds of other runners who flew alongside me had similar thoughts.
Of course, it's debatable how much effect we had on AA's overall situation/thinking/planning. Probably not too much.
I bet some of the hundreds of other runners who flew alongside me had similar thoughts.
Of course, it's debatable how much effect we had on AA's overall situation/thinking/planning. Probably not too much.
#1348
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ORD, LAS
Programs: AA-EXP, BAEC Silver, Hyatt-Globalist, Hilton-gold, SPG-gold
Posts: 855
Gift cards are still available at the clybourn/diversey Costco in Chicago. They have maybe 75 or so left.
#1349
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXC PLT, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt PLT, National Car Executive
Posts: 200
Costco in Maui has 140+