Originally Posted by
rune87
I've never really understood this chase for more and more, and honestly, the more more people exceed the thresholds, I'd almost say the more entitled they become. Honestly, your brag signature kinda backs that up along with your status dropping and how long you have been on FT. Some of the worse behavior I've seen onboard is from MMs. There really isn't much more for Alaska to give, other than stripping benefits from the lower levels. As a stockholder, I would almost wager that upsetting one 100k or overachiever, which in truth is really a captive at that point, is more than made up by a handful of MVPs that are happy they suddenly have status. I don't see essentially rolling over status for another year, which would discourage additional flying as really being financially prudent. They are far more likely to brag to their friends and with likely more enthusiam. One simply needs to look at what Delta is doing with notes to Silvers over Diamonds. DL clearly already has that marketing data for their operation. The reality is, after 100k you are either going to leverage your benefits, or you will go elsewhere for the year, which again, kinda seems counterintuitive unless you are mixing a domestic and international program. I think where they are at right now is a happy median, with perhaps the nod to a limited 25k EQM or so rollover if they want to step their toes in that direction. Or it becomes a 100k choice benefit.
I am sorry being the target of your resentment of my tenure during the Flyertalk program, which I don't feel should be equated as "bragging". Nor have I ever t felt "entitled" about anything. I submit that I have just been flying a lot and have simply gotten old, withy wife of 55 yrs. I have been diss'd by many programs, including AA, that refused bo make me Concierge Key way back when, despite paying a lot of money for lifetime Airpass (won't divulge since it will incite unintended resentment to you). I didn't let it put a dent in my self-esteem. I did what you suggested. I flew everybody else, even while holding the Airpass, and got max status everywhere else in the world. On nights when I searched for meaning or amusement, I reflected on the extra revenue that AA would have gotten if it had accorded me the status ai thought worthy of. I'm probably not the only guy in that bucket. I once held a position in AA (for years known as AMR, now AAL), but not after the big diss. I still fly them when it is the best scenario, and wife and I hold >7mm total flown miles, which we don't know what we'll deal with (sorry about the offensive bragging, it is just an incidental finding). The main thing is we just sucked it up and continued flying on our terms. I can only ask that you not hold it against me. I am hopefully an ally on the flying needs we both have in the world
I wish you and everyone else the best in getting value about the frequent flying that you do. My spouse and I are approaching 80 and hope to have our health improve to fly as much as is reasonably needed. One of my hopes is that flyers get the best they can from the flying programs that they're in. I appreciate that you seem to be in agreement that there should be some incentive buckets for AS flyers to achieve over the 100K bucket, as other carriers seem to have been doing. It can be titrated and adjusted, as you suggested, and may remain fluid. I would like to hope AS will arrive at that kind of position.