Jul 22, 2015, 9:19 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Please see What are EXP / EP / Executive Platinum benefits? Are they worth it? for the current thread.
Archive: Is EXP / Executive Platinum worth it? What are the benefits? (consolidated)
Dec 16, 2007, 8:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 34
Archive: Is EXP / Executive Platinum worth it? What are the benefits? (consolidated)
I am Plat and close to hitting Exec Plat (via segments) but would need to take 3 RT from DAL-AUS (about $300 total) the last week of the year to hit Exec Plat.
My question is..... is it really worth it? What do you really get as Exec. Plat over Platinum?
My question is..... is it really worth it? What do you really get as Exec. Plat over Platinum?
Dec 16, 2007, 8:50 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,383
Dec 16, 2007, 8:56 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
Is most of your flying domestic or int'l? If int'l then indeed worth it.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:01 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 34
All domestic. May take 1-2 trips to Cabo or Playa, but just about all is domestic.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:03 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 34
Dec 16, 2007, 9:07 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,383
Not to mention that EXPs don't need to pay for stickers.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:11 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA Plat, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,774
Much, much better, in my experience. Like the difference between getting the upgrade 80% of the time (with no stickers required) and ~30% of the time as Plat (using stickers). The only flights that are hard to upgrade as EXP are some transcons (BOS to anywhere west) and some flights from DFW to NY. Otherwise, in my experience at least, the upgrade almost always comes through.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:12 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Dec 16, 2007, 9:16 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: stl
Programs: AA LT Plat/8.1mm now with 1350 miles left in my account and proud of it.. SPG LT Titanium.
Posts: 3,079
the benefits that i like are: 8 evips, expanded award availability ( which i have experienced and appreciated a number of times), free domestic upgrades (knock on wood i rarely fly coach anymore and in your case with all those segments this would be a big benefit) and most importantly to me the ability to deal with the exp desk when you have a problem or need something done. i can't imagine that someone wouldn't want these benefits for $300 (or think they were worth it). my advice to you is to try it this year so you can decide and my guess is you will make sure you qualify for next year.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:36 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: AA EXP, PC PLT, HH Gold
Posts: 320
That’s just the monetary justification, there are other reasons to do it as well as this thread has pointed you towards.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:56 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Westford MA - AA PLT, 1.5MM, Lifetime AC, AAdvantage since 1981
Posts: 360
Please don't slam me for saying this, because I know selling eVIPs is not allowed, but . . .
The OP said it would cost him $300 to earn the EXP. But as an EXP he will get 8 eVIPs that regularly sell on eBay for at least $300 each. So from that point of view alone, it is a great investment.
But as others have pointed out, there are plenty of other reasons. The EXP desk. Guaranteed purchase on sold-out flights. Free sticker upgrades.
Do it.
The OP said it would cost him $300 to earn the EXP. But as an EXP he will get 8 eVIPs that regularly sell on eBay for at least $300 each. So from that point of view alone, it is a great investment.
But as others have pointed out, there are plenty of other reasons. The EXP desk. Guaranteed purchase on sold-out flights. Free sticker upgrades.
Do it.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:59 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP-1MM, SPG Gld, HH Silver, Skymiles, Marriott Silver, Hyatt GP Plat , CO Peon, Hertz 5 Star
Posts: 1,371
It is worth it to me as I do a bit of international travel. Also I just missed my first upgrade of the year on Friday DFW-BOS. However that was most likely caused by the bad weather on Thursday which resulted in a lot of rebookings. I guess a good way to look at it is take however many segements you flew last year on mainline routes and assume you would get upgraded and calculate the cost of stickers to upgrade all those segments minus the free stickers you get every 10,000 miles. If it's more than $300 than it is probably worth it to do your DFW-AUS flights.
Dec 16, 2007, 9:59 am
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,137
) I'm going to enjoy my EVIP'ed Europe flights. The EXP phone line is better than I expected. I like not having to pay when booking on the phone. And during irregular ops, like last week's East Coast storms, EXP is the difference between the next flight and the next day's flight, IME.
Dec 16, 2007, 10:08 am
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NY Metro Area
Programs: AA 2MM Yay!, UA MM, Costco General Member
Posts: 49,035
Oh, this is such a no brainer. There is a big difference.
1) free domestic upgrades
2) eVIPs
3) EXP agents
4) general higher priority on everything
As well as AA treats Plats, they treat EXPs noticeably better in my experience.
1) free domestic upgrades
2) eVIPs
3) EXP agents
4) general higher priority on everything
As well as AA treats Plats, they treat EXPs noticeably better in my experience.
Dec 16, 2007, 10:49 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), Marriott Tit
Posts: 1,035