Programs: US GP, MR Platinum, PC Platinum, HHonors Gold, Avis First, Enterprise Plat
Posts: 102
Losing Status-Best Strategy
I am currently gold with US/ Based out of BOS. I only flew 22 segments last year and will drop down to dirt with US for this year. I am going to be flying alot more this year (maybe 60-70 segments) and wont have status to start the year. Should I switch airlines and try to get a status match or something? buy up? (i think $750 for silver) which i probably wouldn't do for that price. Any other thoughts? Do you think i'd have any success calling the preferred desk and begging? Sad to say, but i've grown accustomed to flying with status and the thought of not having it is giving me chills!
US has been known to give soft landings but I'm not sure anyone has figured out why some are chosen and some not. As I recall, calling your preferred desk is generally unsuccessful so apparently those agents don't have the authority to grant soft landings (but it doesn't cost anything to try). Generally those who do get a soft landing find out when they get their new DM card and are pleasantly surprised.
Programs: US Dougie's Preferred, UA Gate Louse, HH Gold, National Emerald Club, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 12,643
Those are pretty much your two choices: buy up or status match. You'll pretty much have to choose between AA and DL though as UA generally won't match another *A carrier's FF.
Do either of those airlines' networks meet your needs and travel patterns?
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US Upgades as a CP: Total 3/4, Short Haul 2/2, Midcon 0/0, TCON 1/2
Generally those who do get a soft landing find out when they get their new DM card and are pleasantly surprised.
Jim
In another thread people have been discussing how, when they go to print out their DM card, status has already been adjusted (extended/bumped) till 2014. Have you tried this yet?
If you didn't have any luck with that.... and continuing on from what Superguy advised - if AA works for you - would it be worth doing the Gold/Platinum challenge - and possibly merging back to US??
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,207
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloudwanderer
In another thread people have been discussing how, when they go to print out their DM card, status has already been adjusted (extended/bumped) till 2014. Have you tried this yet?
- I'd check this first.
How long have you had status for? From what I've read in other threads about soft landings it seems like most of the examples are from travelers who have been Preferred for several years and then had a sudden change of circumstances (i.e. not traveling for work as much) - usually they were also Chairman's or Platinum. If they do drop you to Kettle and you flew 22 segments last year it would cost $579 to buy back up to SP.
AS is the last carrier to still give outright status matches, and the benefits are reciprocal on AA (bag waivers, priority boarding/ security) and DL (also upgrades). GP should map to MVP Gold.
The AA option also might not be a bad idea if their network works for your needs. If you're in the position to get their credit card, I believe it gives you a free checked bag and quasi-priority boarding - at least you'd have those benefits until you meet the challenge requirement for GLD or PLT.
Programs: US GP, MR Platinum, PC Platinum, HHonors Gold, Avis First, Enterprise Plat
Posts: 102
Quote:
Originally Posted by thomwithanh
- I'd check this first.
How long have you had status for? From what I've read in other threads about soft landings it seems like most of the examples are from travelers who have been Preferred for several years and then had a sudden change of circumstances (i.e. not traveling for work as much) - usually they were also Chairman's or Platinum. If they do drop you to Kettle and you flew 22 segments last year it would cost $579 to buy back up to SP.
AS is the last carrier to still give outright status matches, and the benefits are reciprocal on AA (bag waivers, priority boarding/ security) and DL (also upgrades). GP should map to MVP Gold.
The AA option also might not be a bad idea if their network works for your needs. If you're in the position to get their credit card, I believe it gives you a free checked bag and quasi-priority boarding - at least you'd have those benefits until you meet the challenge requirement for GLD or PLT.
I checked my membership card and its showing Feb-13 as expected
Any of the legacy carriers would work for me. I travel 100% domestic mainly eastern half of the country. The hold-up i have with AA is the lack of domestic upgrades. With my mid-tier status on US i still have a decent upgrade percentage so I have come to value that pretty highly. Even with DL i dont think i fly enough to have any type of success with upgrades.
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,207
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu71584
I checked my membership card and its showing Feb-13 as expected
Any of the legacy carriers would work for me. I travel 100% domestic mainly eastern half of the country. The hold-up i have with AA is the lack of domestic upgrades. With my mid-tier status on US i still have a decent upgrade percentage so I have come to value that pretty highly. Even with DL i dont think i fly enough to have any type of success with upgrades.
With DL, like US, upgrade success depends a lot on the route.... transcons or anything that touches ATL, forget it - even Diamonds miss those. Rumblings in the SkyPesos forum seem to point to GM's having sucess on midcons and shorter. Biggest downgrade with DL is the redeemable miles themselves are practically worthless - very difficult to redeem except at the "high" tier.
AA still uses stickers, but the tradeoff is that GLD's and PLT's who do choose to use them are very often successful, save for the Flagship JFK-LAX service. AA is also introducing it's version of Economy Plus - Main Cabin ExtrAA over the coming year and you'd get that for free as an elite.
Programs: US GP, MR Platinum, PC Platinum, HHonors Gold, Avis First, Enterprise Plat
Posts: 102
Hmm i guess i have some stuff to think about. I dont start flying heavily for a few more weeks so i have some time to figure it out... I need to research what each is like out of BOS. I cant really get direct flights with any of them so it doesnt matter on that end, but i hate ATL with a passion. DTW isnt great either so theres that against DL.
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,207
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu71584
Hmm i guess i have some stuff to think about. I dont start flying heavily for a few more weeks so i have some time to figure it out... I need to research what each is like out of BOS. I cant really get direct flights with any of them so it doesnt matter on that end, but i hate ATL with a passion. DTW isnt great either so theres that against DL.
If you're in BOS have you looked at B6? They're not bad even if you don't have status.
Programs: US GP, MR Platinum, PC Platinum, HHonors Gold, Avis First, Enterprise Plat
Posts: 102
I like B6's in-flight service but i fly mostly into smaller airports that they dont service. For example i'm coming up on a project in Dayton, OH and just finished one recently in Charleston, WV.
Maybe I'm missing something, but why not Trial Elite? For $215 for silver or $430 for gold, you get instant status. To keep it you have to fly 10 segments/7500 miles in 90 days for silver or 20/15000 for gold. If you can fly the qualifying segments, it's cheaper than buying, and also the segments count for your 2013 requalification. I bought gold a month ago, I will get in my 20 segments in 90 days, and I'll fly over 60 this year so I'll keep gold next year.
Maybe I'm missing something, but why not Trial Elite? For $215 for silver or $430 for gold, you get instant status. To keep it you have to fly 10 segments/7500 miles in 90 days for silver or 20/15000 for gold. If you can fly the qualifying segments, it's cheaper than buying, and also the segments count for your 2013 requalification. I bought gold a month ago, I will get in my 20 segments in 90 days, and I'll fly over 60 this year so I'll keep gold next year.
Trial Preferred is only for folks who have not been Preferred for some decent interval.
This is easier advice to give than it is to take, but why not just buy up? US has worked for you, and you'll be a Preferred flyer on US in 2013, hence will requalify yourself for 2014. Yes, I know that $579 is a big gulp, but think of it as $50/month this one year for not having to do all this fussing, fly in the back, never have a prayer of an upgrade, and so on.
Programs: US GP, MR Platinum, PC Platinum, HHonors Gold, Avis First, Enterprise Plat
Posts: 102
Quote:
Originally Posted by Biggie Fries
Trial Preferred is only for folks who have not been Preferred for some decent interval.
This is easier advice to give than it is to take, but why not just buy up? US has worked for you, and you'll be a Preferred flyer on US in 2013, hence will requalify yourself for 2014. Yes, I know that $579 is a big gulp, but think of it as $50/month this one year for not having to do all this fussing, fly in the back, never have a prayer of an upgrade, and so on.
I am considering it, but 579 is a lot of money for silver. If it were gold i think i'd do it in a heartbeat but silver isnt that great and its a good chunk of cash.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sjpmurph01
Shoot me a PM. I was in the same situation this time last year and I think I can help.
- I'd check this first.
