American Express Membership Rewards - Amex Centurion and AA/TWA Status

Currently Amex Centurion card members (US) get TWA Elite 1 Mid-Tier status. Will this roll over to American and thus become Platinum status (either just this year's "status-roll-over" or permanently).

thanks for any info.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Will this roll over to American and thus become Platinum status</font>

It already has.

Wait a minute. Yes I think that TWA FF members can get some benefits of AA. But that does not mean they become AA members. I certainly never heard anything about that. And I've heard nothing official for next year. The only thing I've heard is that the AA/TWA merger becomes official on January 1st. We'll see if that makes AA part of the Centurion program.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Wait a minute. Yes I think that TWA FF members can get some benefits of AA. But that does not mean they become AA members.</font>

All I know is, an AA Plat card magically appeared in my mailbox one day, and the accompanying letter referenced my TW status.

How long ago was "one day"? I am curious how this will end, but I see no short-term action (temporary AA elite, etc.).

Were you already an AA member when you got the upgrade? I'm currently enrolled with AA but have nothing higher than standard status.

Eddie Whitman

I'm not sure why this is so difficult. I automatically received comped AA Plat. status based solely on my pre-existing Centurion-based TW status. End of story.

I think all Cewitman was asking is, will your "magical" AA plat status be renewed anually even if you never fly them (like Centurions enjoy on CO, US and DL).

Interesting question.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">will your "magical" AA plat status be renewed anually</font>

No way. But I half expect to only be downgraded to Gold next year.

My questions (arranged in a new, easy to read elementary format for your viewing pleasure) are:

In your post, UpgradeMe, you indicated receipt of an AA Plat card "one day".

Question 1: Was this day yesterday? Was it two weeks ago? Was it three months ago?

I would like to know because I have not been upgraded on AA. If you were upgraded several months ago, then I plan to follow up immediately. If you answer "yesterday" then I'll wait before bothering customer service droids.

Answer: Insert numeric value here. Please indicate days, weeks, or months.

Question 2: Were you a member of American Airlines' AAdvantage frequent flyer program prior to receipt of the AA platinum card referenced above?

Answer: Yes/No

I am currently a C card member, but am not elite on AA. I am a member of American's AAdvantage program, but have received nothing indicating pending elite status. I am simply curious whether I should initiate the complaint procedure now, or wait a few more weeks/months.


Eddie Whitman

AA matched all existing TWA Aviators accounts with existing AA accounts in May, and automatically sent AA members elite cards that matched their TW status, good until 2/02. If your accounts did not have the exact same names and addresses, or you did not have both AA and TW accounts, no match occurred, and you will need to contact them so they can manually do this - but I believe I saw some other posts where they are not quite ready to do the manual combinations.

What BeantownFlyer said.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UpgradeMe:
No way. But I half expect to only be downgraded to Gold next year. </font>

Gold (bottom) tier status and $4 will get ya a free headset rental http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thank you, Mr. Beantown. I guess I'll wait a little while before calling.

Another excellent tidbit learned on Flyer Talk!

Eddie Whitman

AA now has an active link on their home page http://www.aa.com to match AA and TW accounts.

Well I was already an AA Plat member (earned) and TWA Elite One (Centurion comp) so I guess that's why I never heard anything.

But has any Centurion member heard anything from Amex about this?

Stimpy,

American Express is out of the TWA program.

Centurion members have Elite 1 status through the end of the period. This status will be honored by American at the Plat level. I am already EXP and then Plat for life so the impact to me is simply the loss of TWA from a reward standpoint. If you do not qualify thru flying you will be bumped down to Gold the following year and so on.

I tried AA's online account matching. No luck, it tells me to call TWA.

TWA says I can't be upgraded with AA because I have no TWA activity since 1999 and I have no TWA miles.

For those Centurion members who have been upgraded, have you actually flown on TWA since 1999? Did you have TWA miles or a zero balance?

Eddie Whitman

I have not followed the TWA/AA merger . . .

Can one still get TWA miles for TWA flights or do they go straight to AA? I could take one TWA flight in order to get this AA status.


Eddie Whitman

I didn't hear anything, so I contacted them. They said they would match if I would send a copy of my TWA Elite card, which I did. I'm thinking the Aviators data base may not have been totally accurate. In addition, several people I know who obtained Centurion cards after the end of April never got TWA status. Even though there is a 6 month lead before the TW program can officially change, AA obviously shut that avenue down as soon as they could. I am told the basis for the current relationship between Amex and AA goes back to Amex refusing to do a co-branded card wih them some years ago. Apparently the memory lingers on. Don't expect to extend that AA Platinum if you do not fly the miles.

I have no miles on TWA and have not received my AA Plat card, so I called AA and conferenced in TWA and they both stated that since I have no miles since 1999, I will not automatically receive the AA Plat card, and that “headquarters” at TWA will be processing these transfers when the systems combine in November. My TWA Elite 1 membership runs out on 8/01, so it will be interesting to see what happens. They also stated that there is nothing I can do until November. Anyone heard anything different?

Still curious . . . Does one earn TWA miles for TWA flights taken today?


Eddie Whitman

Yes, you still earn TWA miles. But on 11/30/01 they will roll over to AA.

I'll fly a segment on TWA, then once the flight posts, get that AA Plat status.

Any flaws/stuff I neglected to account for in this thinking?


Eddie Whitman