Originally Posted by
js1993
Was there a pandemic in 2019? Why should AA have offered you a waiver in 2019?
What exactly did you earn back "the hard way"? The EXP qualifiers in 2020 and/or '21 were about half what they were in 2019.
The idea that someone like the OP can "get EXP back" after being dropped from EXP to nothing by buying a lot of international J is utterly comical. No self-respecting person would give money to AA after being treated like that.
Once again, a reminder: A huge percentage of the people who earned EXP in 2019 never got to use the benefits. The idea that they're being gifted some huge freebie if extended is silly.
The OP edited post shows they will drop to Lifetime Gold but they always buy F on domestic flights from SFO to JFK/ORD/DFW. If always buying F - then what does EXP buy you for only traveling on paid domestic flights. They indicated they will get it back by Oct/Nov. So what is the point. Paid F beats domestic upgrades.
2021 earning was only about $3K less than before. Only EXP got the bonus $3K - lower levels got less. I earned it without the lower levels.
Point is - someone dropping to Gold (and being Gold by lifetime status) and extended to EXP would beat out Plat Pros and Plat for upgrades with much more spend and LP.