I won't profess to know everything, but as I understand it you are going to lose quite a few benefits under the merged program.
At 75,994 qualifying miles you will be PLT (Platinum) on AA. To qualify for PLT under the Aadvantage program it requires you to earn 50,000 Elite Qualifying Miles or Elite Qualifying Points or 60 segments. At the PLT level you will earn 100% bonus miles on all flights.
To be upgraded you will need to request the upgrade, preferably when booking, and use 500 mile upgrades. You earn four (4) 500 mile upgrades for every 10,000 miles you fly. The 500 mile upgrades can also be purchased online or at the airport if you haven't earned enough. Online they cost $30 each. If the upgrade is available you can be confirmed as early as 72 hours before departure.
So, lets say you are flying to DFW and are happy with your MCE (Main Cabin Extra) seat you were able to select at the time you booked your flight. There is no need to request the upgrade. If you are flying to MIA and want an upgrade make sure you request the upgrade when you book the flight. You don't need to have the 500 mile upgrades in your account, you only need to have/buy them if the upgrade comes through.
To receive complimentary upgrades you would need to reach EXP status by flying 100k miles or 120 segments. There is no 75k status level in the old or new Aadvantage program.
I sincerely hope this helps. If you have more questions feel free to PM me, I am also PHX based and a long time AA flyer.
Originally Posted by
millsryno
Can somebody please break this all down for me so that even my 3rd grader could understand it? I've never been so confused about something in my life. Here is my situation, and I am worried I am majorly getting screwed, but don't want to whine until I am sure I fully understand.
I have worked my butt off to get to US Platinum. In fact, I got the credit card and spent $25K on it to get the extra 10,000 PQM so I could actually get to platinum. This is my second year doing this. The reason I wanted to do this was so that I could get free upgrades to first class. I get upgraded about 50% of the time as a platinum preferred. I even take some of the more inconvenient flights just so I can increase my odds of getting a first class upgrade. I don't care about the meals, I don't drink alcohol, I just want the extra space so I can work. I'm a big guy and need the extra space to be able to function on the flight and get work done.
I can get miles to fly from any airline or credit card, but I fly US Air and work hard at getting Platinum for those free first class upgrades. My company won't allow me to pay more for first class.
I'm sitting at 75,994 preferred qualifying miles this year and there is no way I can get up to the next tier. I'm based in PHX.
if I get upgraded 50% of the time now, what can I expect to happen moving forward in comparison? Do I have to pay money to upgrade?
If I am not getting upgraded, what should keep me from just moving my business to Southwest Airlines? Co-workers fly SWA and like it. I have not flown it, so don't know.
Can somebody please reply to my situation and break this down so that even a dummy like me can understand how I will be impacted?
Thanks.