teeceedee

I'm new to the flying world (only one year), so I don't know the glory days that people here refer to.

I do see traits representing an oligopoly, though, and that's a problem IMO. Hopefully the market will respond.

Me personally, I reached 12k PQD at ~80k PQM. I don't believe for a second that this change is good for me, though.

gobluetwo

But how much of that is a function of a truly different philosophy/strategy around their program, and how much of that is just driven by the timing of the US integration? It seems more than reasonable that AA is actively modeling different FF program options, including what DL/UA are doing, but just are not able to enact something appreciably different until they stabilize the merger with US.

Hartmann

I doubt that's because they don't want to do it. They'll complete at least some of the IT integration and then start a move in the same direction.

eponymous_coward

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

They already are seeing pushback from elites from bringing US service levels in domestic F up, AA's down, and the difficult stuff (systems integration and operations) is still ahead of them (they need to avoid a UA-style ongoing trainwreck that sends elites heading for the exits). Blowing up the current program for revenue-based qualification would be the cherry on top of a manure sundae if they botch the operational merger. AA is going to wait until the dust settles from the merger (and from DL/UA's implementations) before doing anything. Pretty smart of them, I think.

cova

I would tend to agree, but it is going to take AA at least 3 years to get their IT integrated at the rate they are going (maybe more). But they have the time to compare and see how their profits compare against DL and UA.

DL is likely a better benchmark to compare against - since AA is headed in the direction of offering a more premium cabin than UA and DL is investing in making improvements.

entropy

Status has become quite meaningless for the crowd they say they want to attract. The people paying high dollar either have no option, or are paying for business class.

For people who don't care what they pay, United is failing to address what they want: reliability and speed. I want to get to the airport as late as possible, not wait in lines, and not have controllable delays. In the event that things go to pot, I want them to get me where I'm going without a song and dance and/or waiting an hour for the agent to figure out how to get the system to re-issue a ticket. A quality onboard and lounge product that reflects the atmosphere and spend that they seek to cultivate would require some thought and investment.

United is failing miserably on these items, while their major competitors are doing better.
Look at the DL lounge product in JFK vs. CO @ EWR, or their (Both new) Seattle facilities. Sure, maybe bocastephen wouldn't like the non-shrinkwrapped soup, salads, cookies, vegetables, but most people who don't want to eat uber processed junk foods do. f

3Cforme

AA claims it will have a Single Operating Certificate and a single reservation system in place before year end 2015. If so, watch what it announces a year from now for 2016 elite program features.

IMHO, AA doesn't really need to model how this plays out. UA copied DL, and it worked out well enough for DL (and today UA) in year 1 to raise the spend requirements.

exerda

I don't know; AA may continue to want to present themselves as an alternative to the DL/UA of the US market. I don't think we can just assume that because UA and DL have done something that AA is inevitably going to follow. They'll do so if they judge it in their interests--but as I said, they may weigh being an alternative as more valuable.

PV_Premier

exceptionally well said.

Boghopper

This is sleazy, announcing it (assuming they even bother) at the end of the year when many of us have already booked travel. If I had known this a couple of months ago I would have been on my way to AA. But perhaps they know that would be the reaction . . . UA just keeps sinking lower and lower.

I'll be they looked at the numbers and decided too many 1Ks were requalifying, and also their heroes DL already did it so why now?

drowelf

Thats most likely because they are still working out how to merge the two FF programs. UA did not add the PQD until they got a single FF program in place, but it sure followed pretty quick.

I would not be surprised to see AA add $$ for 2016 qualification.

steveman518

There's really no way to spin this off as a positive, so I don't think UA Insider would even try to notify us/sell us on this (unlike how they tried to spin all the LAX changes as positive), unlike the AC reps that openly admitted that the change in their elite qualification was not something that wouldn't cause people to be unhappy

uber1K_Flyer

First, has UAInsider given us the first announcement of any change lately - it seems we've figured it out well before him. My bet is its not his fault but says a lot about the opinion of management about people who tend to fly with them.

While I agree that the $12K isn't such a terrible thing (I'm around $18K for the year - although I moved every penny of international to direct payment to foreign carriers for international flights after $10k). The bigger issue - there are more restrictions and challenges for us but not a single enhancement or perk we can count on. In fact, I'd say that the kettles sitting in economy have been enjoying more enhancements that those of us who pay either in cash or in upgrade (points, certificates, etc) to sit at the pointy end of the plane.

travel.flier

you're still flying UA, so it seems that UA made the correct choice.

UA Insider

Hi everyone,

Today MileagePlus updated the Premier qualification requirements for 2016.

Effective January 1, 2015, we are adjusting the PQD requirement for Premier status qualification for all Premier levels:
This change affects 2016 Premier status qualification which is based on 2015 flight activity. You can find more information about the updated requirements and PQD waivers by visiting this link.

We will communicate this information to members shortly.

-UA Insider