Originally Posted by
GUWonder
Arsene Wegner is not I, but I will note with regard to the above response to my words that what has transpired with DL SkyMiles may very well be indicative for AA miles too: devaluing the miles via more dynamic mileage ticket pricing did anything but kill DL’s SkyMiles business with Amex; but it also was followed by a big increase in the number of Amex Platinum accounts in the years that followed and by DL+Amex having to spruce up the DL Amex products. In other words, customers seem to have diversified bank card holdings a bit more in response and ended up with more choices than before — even outside the DL+Amex, AA+Citi and UA+Chase combinations.
Arguably, AA had already devalued the program enough and was on course to devalue it more that they ran into this LoyaltyPoints scheme — counting toward elite status — as a way to keep the hamsters running on the program hamster wheel for it.
I thought the appeal of DL Amex cards is status, not earning pesos. Does AA think they're DL? They recently said they're not putting money into many needed improvements so I don't see how they get there. They don't even give you a tablet in domestic business, nevermind real IFE. I'll stop but there's obviously more.