Dec 9, 2013, 1:06 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA / US Reciprocal Elite Benefits [Master Thread]
Please contribute summary information and links to key posts here in this wikipost!
Soon after migration of US accounts to AA, SWUs will be usable on US by US flights. (JonNYC)
AA Press Release: US Airways to Join oneworld on March 31, 2014
As of Dec 15, signs appeared at some airports inviting elites of either airline to use the First Class ticket counter check in lines. See posts 82 & 83.
Update to aa.com as of January 7th detailing reciprocity of elite status benefits. Answers to many of the FAQs on this forum can be found here.
Elite/Preferred Seating, not Upgrades
For the purpose of seating on US, all AA elites are eligible for US Preferred Seating equally (no difference between the status levels).
US Preferred Seating is typically the front of coach and the exit rows. There is no MCE product so only some exit rows and bulkhead will have more space (depending on the aircraft). There are seats called ChoiceSeats that are not free for any US or AA elites. Pick a Preferred Seat for free.
For the purpose of seating on AA, US Silver will have the same as AA Gold. All other higher US Preferred will have full access to all AA reserved seating. including Main Cabin Extra.
AA Preferred Seating is in two parts, Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats.
Starting 3/18/14, US Silver/AA Gold only have free access within 24 hours of departure (based on availability). Preferred Seating does not have additional leg room as compared to MCE, but might be better than a normal seat depending on the aircraft. The only special seats for sale for any elite will be MCE for US Silver/AA Gold ahead of the 24 hours free access (50% off the normal price).
Upgrades
Please see: AA and US cross program and merged FFP upgrade questions (merged threads)
Starting 6/11/14, AA and US elite customers have the opportunity for reciprocal upgrades.
For AA elite members on US Airways-marketed (US flight number)/US operated flight:
-At 24 hours check-in, if a seat is available on a first-come, first-served basis, a complementary upgrade would be available for any AA elite. One non-status companion is also included in the benefit. If it is a mixed itinerary, you will likely need to ask a US agent to be considered if an AA flight was first.
For AA elite members on US Airways-marketed (US flight number)/AA operated flight:
-At 24 hour check-in, if a seat is available on a first-come, first-served basis, a sort of like 500 miles unit upgrade option will be available for AA Plat/Gold at $30 per unit. AA EXP will have a complementary option.
For both programs, it is very likely that elites who were eligible for normal upgrades on the flights before the 24-hours new program will have priority. Also, status in program does not indicate priority, it is first-come, first-served.
There are some other exceptions for AA elite members which you can find here.
For US elite members on AA marketed (AA flight number)/AA operated flight:
-At 24 hour check-in, if a seat is available on a first-come, first-served basis, a sort of like 500 miles unit upgrade option will be available for US Plat/Gold/Silver at $30 per unit. US CP will have a complementary option.
Non-US elite companions are not free nor discounted and may have a different priced option (LFBU).
For US elite members on AA marketed (AA flight number)/US operated flight:
Still no upgrade option.
There are some other exceptions for US elite members which you can find here.
Other features, such as (new AA) SWU use, etc. will come about when both AA and USDM FFPs are fully merged into the new AAdvantage FFP "some time during the second quarter".
AA / US Reciprocal Elite Benefits [Master Thread]
Jan 6, 2014, 6:06 am
#196
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Bonvoy Amb LTT, HHonors Diamond, AA ExPlat, United Silver
Posts: 645
Announcement Today ?
Since tomorrow is the date of the first step in the merger with reciprocal benefits starting, I would hope there is some sort of official announcement today of what to expect.
Jan 6, 2014, 6:46 am
#197
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 462
Not seeing anything update on FAQ or anywhere else. Hopefully January 7th date hasn't changed. Been waiting to book about 10,000 miles worth of flights for February.
Jan 6, 2014, 7:33 am
#198
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
That's what I'm hoping as well, but it won't be the end of the world if I have to keep two balances until November or December and then have them combine the EQM/EQS. I don't really need any other perks for this trip as I'm just taking a 1-suiter garment cover and a small duffel, and my longer flights are only half-full. Double RDM would be nice, but I'm not expecting that on US flights until the codesharing kicks in.
Jan 6, 2014, 9:27 am
#199
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
Not so much the RDMs merging, but if you have 39k EQM on AA and 14k EQM on US, I would certainly hope that would count for requalifying for the 50k tier, even if you have to call in and ask for a manual adjustment.
Jan 6, 2014, 10:38 am
#200
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: RDU
Programs: AA PLT, Club Carlson GLD, IHG Spire, Lifemiles GLD, Hilton Gold
Posts: 338
I'm curious about that as well. If that is the case, then it looks like through March 31, you could be flying UA metal and crediting to US, and have those miles flown on UA metal from Jan 1 to March 31 count towards AAdvantage status. Right?
Jan 6, 2014, 11:01 am
#201
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
Bottom line, you can still earn status miles on *A carriers and credit to US DM until March 30th. After March 31st, only OW carriers will be able to earn you status miles on both US and AA. AA counts AS miles as well. US has announced that they will retain relationships with many *A carriers but I suspect those would be RDM miles only and won't count towards status. I think a lot of people are wondering, so thus, the anticipation built up for this announcement.
Jan 6, 2014, 12:09 pm
#202
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PHX these days
Programs: US Chairman, M&M FTL
Posts: 222
I'm scratching my head because aa.com let me pick MCE at no charge but does not show a FF number of any kind on my record (at least on the aa.com site) for the AA segment. Hopefully I'll be able to add that after 1/7 to get credit for that segment and miles. I do not have an AA FF account.
Jan 6, 2014, 1:42 pm
#203
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
Jan 6, 2014, 1:54 pm
#204
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
I understood Jan 7 to be a date for announcement of future benefits, not the effective date for benefits. Maybe I haven't followed the timeline properly.
Jan 6, 2014, 2:15 pm
#206
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
Jan 6, 2014, 3:36 pm
#207
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: IHG Platinum, Hertz Gold, National Emerald
Posts: 705
Was told in our briefing today that starting tomorrow we will be able to accept AA freq flyer #s and vice-versa, that the AA elites with be able to board with the US elites (still no comp upgrades for AA elites though), and the other interesting item is family boarding will cease tomorrow - families are to board with their assigned zone. We will have new boarding announcements posted in our systems tomorrow.
Jan 6, 2014, 4:02 pm
#208
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
Was told in our briefing today that starting tomorrow we will be able to accept AA freq flyer #s and vice-versa, that the AA elites with be able to board with the US elites (still no comp upgrades for AA elites though), and the other interesting item is family boarding will cease tomorrow - families are to board with their assigned zone. We will have new boarding announcements posted in our systems tomorrow.
Jan 6, 2014, 4:11 pm
#209
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
Jan 6, 2014, 4:19 pm
#210
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA Concierge Key, AA Lifetime Plat, SPG Ambassador, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, United Plat
Posts: 233
Just went on gogo and it appears that there is now reciprocity on the monthly passes. What used to be labelled "AA Monthly Pass" is now "AA/US Monthly Pass."
I presume this means if you already have a monthly pass with one or the other it will also work, but haven't been able to test it yet.
I presume this means if you already have a monthly pass with one or the other it will also work, but haven't been able to test it yet.