Originally Posted by
usuario
I have less problem with the new rule per se than the way they changed the previous rule (much more generous and been there for years) without notice. Not unlike how people feel about unannounced devaluations.
To be clear I have been flying with AA every year in the recent few years. And because of that, I never had to reactivate the expired miles for redemptions. So it seemed better to wait until I actually had to use them instead of reactivating and hoarding. Oh well..
I don't understand that last sentence. You have been flying AA every year, so I don't understand why you would have 3 years (18 months until expirate, and 18 months after expiration) to reactivate.
The goal should be to have some activity within the first 18 months so they don't expire, as you would have to pay to unexpire them at that point. It is a lot cheaper to simply have activity within the 18 months.
Was the "unlimited" reactivation period even a published part of the program? If not, then it was always subject to being pulled at any point without notice. Of course, instead of changing it to 18 months, they could have simply increased the price to more than you would want to pay.