heyeaglefn

The 3 or 4 tier system is a big question mark that I am surprised hasn't been clarified at this point. If I had to guess, I am saying they will go with 3 tiers.

outwrdbound

Would a 3 tier system really work for the new AA? The "top tier" would be huge. Imagine if DL or UA only had 3 tiers. If miles flown is the tiebreak, then upgrades may not be impacted as much, but airport standby lists, IROPS handling, the "top tier" phone desk, etc....would be a real mess, IMO. I really hope to see 4 tiers in the new AAdvantage program. It seems to work well at DL and UA and the new AA elite base would be of similar size.

heyeaglefn

I am not following why would the top tier be bigger if they went to 3 tiers? The top tier is going to be 100K+ no matter what.

It is the middle tier that would be bigger under the 3 tier system.

outwrdbound

They actually both would, this assumes the qualification thresholds remain the same as they are now for AA. From what I recall, DL (and maybe UA?) set the 4th tier's qualification threshold higher than what is was under 3 tiers due, at least in part, to having such a large top tier. This is why you get a 140 segment, or 125k MQM Diamond Medallion threshold. Previously, Platinum Medallion was the highest tier and qualification began at 75k MQMs or 100 segments, as I recall. The same was true for UA, the 4th tier qualification minimums were raised.

So, for AA, if they stay with 3 tiers, I would assume the qualification threshold for EXP would remain the threshold for the new highest tier. the EXP threshold is 100k miles or 100 segments. If AAdvantage moves to 4 tiers, the qualification for "top tier" status would be raised, at least this is my guess. I would think they would put it somewhere around 120-140 segments. Mileage could be 100k (current EXP) to 125k (Delta's DM threshold).

All in all, I kinda think we would see something like 30 segments or 25k for bottom tier, 60 segments or 50k for low mid tier, 90 segments or 75k for upper mid tier, and 120 segments or 100k for highest tier.

In short, both the middle and upper tier would be large under a 3 tier system since you would have folks that would be in the upper-middle tier (in a 4 tier system) in the highest tier, and a combined middle tier.

gruss

In other words, the exact tiers and thresholds that US currently uses?

outwrdbound

Perhaps, only because it is the same thing that UA uses, and similar to what DL has (except for top tier). Of course, that may not be the case at the end of the day, but then again, since nothing has been announced (which surprises me a bit) this is all just speculation.

Though I do think the tier names will be different than what US has now. I doubt AA will tell LT Golds they are now silver.

heyeaglefn

Well it is obvious there are going to be a ton of elites. You are combining two programs, so you are going to have more elites at each level. They can make either the three tier or four tier system work in my opinion.

outwrdbound

Yes, that is something I do not miss from my days on DL. I can recall some Monday AM flights TPA-ATL and Thursday nights ATL-TPA, seemed as though 50% or more of the plane was SkyPriority.

aztimm

The place for speculation on elite status is in the AA Consolidated forum. We have the following thread for such discussion.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...er-thread.html

Please keep the discussion in the US forum to everyday US issues/questions.

This thread (a sticky in the AA Consolidated forum) is an excellent guidepost if you are unsure where to post. Or you can certainly ask one of the mods.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...nes-forum.html


aztimm

Zoomer602

in 2012 I bought up to Chairman from Silver. I think it was $2500 because I determined to get "loyal" with USAIR and fly mostly them. (I had, for example, a companion pass level from Southwest by using their credit card but let that expire).

in 2013 I actually flew 100K on USAIR and qualified for CP on my own (so buy up worked for both them and myself). Used so many of the perks and it felt great. Even bumped a few people a couple of times on sold out flights for example and they got full coach fares from me on those flights.

In 2014 It looks like I will be a little short of CP and was planning/hoping to use Buy Up to keep my CP. Have enjoyed the status the last 2 years and was prepared to spend the $2500 again. With this removed and the 10K preferred miles for spending 25,000 on their credit cards also gone , I think I will need to "rethink" loyalty. Sigh - but I guess the "check back later" means its worth waiting till year end to decide. But if its like AA and there is no way to get exec platinum then I will probably try less to consolidate my flying with them....stinks!

Do you think any of the marketing people read forums like this and our thoughts mean something - or is it just analytics done with some algorithms?

dml105

I'll tell you what a college administrator once told me about a chat board discussing that college:

If thousands of people were talking in a publicly, archived medium, and talking about you, wouldn't it pay to tune in and listen to what they are saying? Yes, they look at these board.

TomBrady

I hope they dotn do away with the 5000k miles for doing the club memebrship

heyeaglefn

I think they already have.

pkr529

I called the CP desk to ask about some upcoming trips. I also asked the agent what she has heard about the new program. She said she heard they would be unveiling it in February but really did not know any details. I am sure that does not bode well for elites. Why wait so long?

There is one beneficial thing I saw on the US Airways website (go to About Dividend Miles and then to How to Qualify for Preferred Status), it states "[w]hen you fly one million miles with US, we'll upgrade you to Silver Preferred for as long as you remain an active Dividend Miles member." Looks like this is in line with American.

WiscAZ

February is when the current status levels expire so it may be that they roll it out hoping to get some people to take advantage of this new program then.