chinatraderjmr

I find it hard to believe AA won't move to the same earning structure as DL & UA....its just a matter of time. Either they are very smart and putting it off a year just to see if they can grab up more customers angry at UA or DL, or more likely, they just have to much on their plate right now with the merger and as soon as they clear up the more important stuff, AA customers will get the exact same email those of us at UA and DL already have received. AA "might" be the best of the 3 but they just aint THAT generous

tom911

I'm just not ready to make that jump yet. Recall when UA raised the minimum fare on systemwides to H, and then dropped them to W, about a dozen years back now, many UA flyers forecast AA would match and I'm still waiting for that. Same with Premier Qualifying Dollars announced by UA about a year back. No AA match there. Think of other UA products like Ted, Shuttle by United, Avolar....no AA matches there, either. AA has a history of not following UA all the time. I'm holding out hope they don't match this time, either, and there is some precedent in them not matching.

I asked a high-revenue UA flyer this week if the prospect of 75,000 miles per ticket on a UA flight would stop him from leaving and he told me that wasn't even a consideration in light of all the issues he had with that carrier. He wasn't making the move to AA for the miles, as AA doesn't offer up to 75K per trip. I'd love to see AA's numbers as to how many flyers they are bringing in from competitors, let alone new corporate contracts (have seen a few posts from those based at SFO or working in Silicon Valley that have had contracts changed from UA to AA).

AA has the luxury to sit back and see how UA does come March 15. We'll all be watching.

vxmike

Except $10K isn't even close to MR territory in terms of cost. Just about any frequent leisure traveler can hit a top tier for $10K. At that cost I would label your flights by a completely different name. Nothing wrong with that of course

x1achilles

Deader than Blue Chip Stamps. (In the U.S. they were popular in the 60s, given at supermarkets. Then you could buy items at their shops with filled up stamp books)
My mother used to collect those like I used to collect miles.

djp98374

My two cents....

1. I think it would be wise for AA to stick with the miles as a way to differentiate itself. Sure they think they will attract some mileage junkies.

2. I think it could change who the status FFers are. More short haul flyers will gain status who before didnt because they pay a higher fare. Once you get status it appears it will be easier to maintain it While those long haul flyers who fly VC or XO on lower fares may lose out.

3. This will definitely hurt people like myself who may travel 2-3 times for work a year + 3-4 times leisure travel each year and get low status without having to spending requirement. Thus it will force customers to go the credit card route to maintain status. If I do 5 XC flights a year earning 5K per I could earn 25K miles--> status.

4. The big concern is how will this effect people who already have miles in their account and want to redeem them? will it be changed to points instead where 1 mile= 1 point or will their current miles get develaued?

Bonaventure

It's extremely difficult for non us-based fliers to get much below that hurdle . Especially after recent devaluations, at least in AC, and also if one likes to fly J

Dr. HFH

Assuming that you plan a few months in advance, AA fares from BKK to BOS, JFK, etc., are running around $1,500 RT. Five of them will be less than $8,000 and get you EXP.

China Clipper

It's worked out well for me, since I pay out of pocket for my flights, and I'm 6'-4" 240#. I really don't have the option of flying coach. Domestic F seats are about the same size as Y was a generation ago, and on some I can barely wedge myself in as it is.