FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Long-time EXPs: Are you flying AA less because of DEQM & UA status giveaways?
Old Jul 4, 2012, 11:41 pm
  #5  
Stripe
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,976
Am I traveling less because of a perceived devaluation of EXP? No. That would be silly.

Do I perceive a devaluation of EXP? Not really. Upgrades are about the same. A few missed so far this year, but they were all the usual suspects (2 DFW-AUS on busy evenings and one DFW-SFO). I am waitlisted for C upgrades for self and spouse to Europe in early September. If those fail I might start thinking EXP is not so hot. But so far, the EXP line still answers quickly and the service remains good. "Expanded" award availability for EXPs seems to be a myth, but I have never experienced otherwise.

However, with trips already booked I have requalified for EXP this year, so I am opting to divert some remaining 2012 travel to DL to requalify for Platinum, at least when the price is similar and the route makes sense (not AUS-DFW, for example). I do prefer AA's F service.

Finally, I haven't seen the labor issues manifest themselves in the front-line service, for which I am grateful. I went through the ups and downs with NW and their years of labor/bankruptcy/merger issues, and I haven't seen anything like that at AA.
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