Originally Posted by
hyedmd
Hi James, unfortunately, I don't follow all aspects of AS/AA partnership very closely. If what you said is correct (and I have no reason to doubt it), then I agree that this is the step in establishing mutually equal earnings between both carriers.
I should just clarify that AS doesn't earn/benfit on AA BE fares booked into B class & AA doesn't earn/benefit on AS
Saver fares booked into X class.
On non BE fares, AS members earn a minimum of 500 EQM on AA flights while AA members earn EQM as a percentage of "actual" miles flown based on fare class. They also earn EDQ as a percentage of miles flown based on fare class.
Any AA flight in any non basic economy fare class 500 miles or less will earn the Minimum 500. EQM when credited to Mileage Plan and is the base for Elite bonuses. A $49 337 mile flight from LAX-PHX still earn 500 EQM & 1125 RDM for a 75K. The same hold true on longer flights. An AA flight 800 miles long in a 50% fare class would be 400 EQM but topped up to 500. An 1800 mile flight in a 25% fare class would be 450 EQM but topped up to 500.
All Elites in Mileage Plan are eligible for complimentary upgrades even on an award redemption. Only ExPlat AA members are eligible for upgrades on awards.
AS 75Ks are eligible to upgrade a companion on an AA flight while that hasn't been implemented yet on AS for AA ExPlats.
The upgrades on AA with or without a companion are nice but purchasing a low earning EQM flight for the upgrades isn't going to help much for requalification in Mileage Plan especially with the AS metal flight prerequisite. I certainly would fly AA on 500 mile or less flights or to destination AS can't get you to but it wouldn't be a focus while in status earning mode for AS.
All AA Elites are eligible for complimentary upgrades on flight up to 500 miles. Beyond that, Platinum Pro, Platinum & Gold Elites need stickers, either earned or purchased at $40 each; I sticker per additional 500 miles of flight distance. SEA-PHX is 1106 miles so three stickers are required to request an upgrade. The third sticker required for the last 106 miles. 5 stickers for LAX-MIA. The last time I flew LAX-MIA I booked close in into a 50% EQM fare bucket for $109. I was upgraded at T-72 into Flagship Business, yet an AA Elite needs to request an upgrade with $250 worth of instruments. I think AA Elites are holding the short end of the stick.
There is an arbitrage for AA Elites in earning EQD, more pronounced in paid F, on longer routes. If your upgrades start to wane, that may be a contributor. It is entirely possible to attain AA ExPlat by solely flying AS.
James