Go for 150K or a second program
Apr 23, 2017, 5:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Go for 150K or a second program
So ... I have travel booked that by mid May will have requalified me for EXP with 110k or so.
I'll certainly be able to get to 150k but wondering what that will get me or whether I would be better off trying to get MVP Gold or some other program with more usable miles.
I'll certainly be able to get to 150k but wondering what that will get me or whether I would be better off trying to get MVP Gold or some other program with more usable miles.
Apr 23, 2017, 5:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: BNA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 766
It's simply two SWUs plus miles earned on AA. Both are harder to use these days, but if you can then the experience as a EXP is even better - for example, having access to lounges when traveling internationally is a great perk.
Apr 23, 2017, 5:26 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Last year, I found a couple of sub 2k international J fares on AA that I used. If I found another one of those and used by AS FF number for it rather than my AA EXP number, what lounge access would I get?
Apr 23, 2017, 10:24 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
To answer your question, I see very little upside to getting to 150K EQM on AA. Having status on another carrier to make it easier to have an alternative when AA isn't competitive would be the way I'd go.
Apr 23, 2017, 10:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,262
If you're on the East Coast, and want often decent redemption options for Europe and simple domestic routes, Delta can be quite acceptable. Other regions and their partner redemptions, not so much, it seems.
Apr 24, 2017, 12:21 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Of course, while earning status on another program, you are not using the status you have earned on AA. It depends on your flying habits as to whether or not getting status on another carrier is worth it, as opposed to not using the benefits you already have on AA
Apr 24, 2017, 12:30 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,644
Agreed.
why not take it on a case by case basis?
Why fly DL or US as a nobody when you can fly AA as EXP and enjoy the perks
Of course I am assuming OP flies mostly economy. Since it is when one flies economy when the EXP perks are more evident.
If mostly flying paid J, then maybe I would be seeking to try other J products
Apr 24, 2017, 5:58 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
OP may be able to match status to another program, so then the flying would be to maintain some level of status rather than to achieve it in the first place.
Apr 24, 2017, 7:32 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
Prior to the current devaluation, the extra SWUs were a slam dunk. Now my recommendation is to status match. Not saying SWUs are worthless but they are worth less than they used to be. If your travel patterns are such that you can status match and earn top status on another airline, you greatly increase you flexibility for the following year.
Apr 24, 2017, 8:27 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,973
Apr 24, 2017, 1:28 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: OGG
Programs: AA Plat, A List Pref, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 356
as a public service to the rest of us who are unhappy with the current value of the miles please status match to another program and take your business elsewhere. Until AA feels the sting from their current aadvantage strategy nothing will change. I'm not EXP though...so I might feel differently if I was the one getting a free seat up front. Nevertheless, if AA doesn't feel any pain from the reduced value (to the customer) of their "loyalty" program they would be crazy to make any customer positive changes.
Apr 24, 2017, 1:50 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,530
Depends on when/where you're looking at if Delta has any 'saver' awards. Definitely not in FC to say, Hawaii (I've found a few on AA, but was needing two seats and didn't want to fly two separate routes).