Originally Posted by
prathetkrungthep
AA is completely revenue based both for redeemable miles and elite qualifying loyalty points (LPs) with bonus multipliers for having status, which means that it can be hard to attain it the first time, but easier to maintain when you have a higher status multiplier. Unfortunately I highly doubt AA will take a match from a OW partner program, but they have been known to offer paid status challenges—you will just have to message or call. Note that AA has now enhanced away earning of miles and LPs on basic economy fares. AA does not have a cap on how many LPs you can earn, so if you really want to earn your way into OWS you can just spend the appropriate amount on an AA cobranded credit card. You can learn more about this on the AA forum (there are plenty of tricks also on how to find the best value on the shopping and hotel portals, etc.)
In terms of crediting to a status-less AA account while still using your OWS benefits, I am afraid this will mostly only work for lounge access (though this will be a big plus for the time being, since non-AA/AS OWS get lounge access including Greenwich at JFK while flying purely domestic itineraries, whereas AA/AS elites do not), but you generally not be able to credit to AA while enjoying your OWS seat selection perks or baggage allowances.
Depending on what your travel pattern is like, you might want to consider AS. It is still a distance-based program for the time-being, with a minimum of 100% earning (except for Saver fares) when booked via AS dot com (including partner metal issued on AS stock). When flying partner metal issued on partner stock, there is a discount multiplier for Y fares, but 100% for PY, and then premium cabin bonuses for J and F. Redemption-wise I find it a little less useful compared to AA, but I have moved over to AS because I find maintaining status in a distance-based program easier than a revenue-based one.
Thanks for your reply. I'll call them when I'm in the US and see if they'll status match once I have OWS but won't hold out hope in that case. When you say it's revenue based do you mean on flights, or CC spend can help here too? The former I always cheap out on, but I'm usually able to spend a lot on my credit card thanks to work so that could be one pathway I guess.
Got it on the lounge - yes the main reason I chased OWS was for lounge access for me and my partner. Since we'll only have access if I use my JMB number I'll definitely continue to use this for the time being. I guess once I hit lifetime OWS I could always try and get something with SA so my flight choice can be more flexible in the future. Will look into the Greenwich lounge as well, thanks
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Understood on AS. Distance-based is easier, but realistically I'm looking for good redemption values which might make AA more beneficial for me.
Originally Posted by
CPH-Flyer
AS has the benefit that you earn 100% of distance on awards booked. So awards through AS has a bit extra to them. I'd definitely look at the Atmos program before settling in a US based program.
Thank you for the second shout out for AS, I will definitely look into it. I guess for me the downside of switching to Atmos would be not getting the JAL Crystal perks at the same time, so will need to see how to navigate that.
Originally Posted by
izzik
Basic Economy on AA no longer earns miles at all. You'll get elite benefits like seat assignment and baggage, but earnings are officially 0%.
Are you planning on buying BE fares on AA routes? If yes, then there is no point in starting with a new program.
JMB is still distance based, so I would continue to fly JL coded flights JFK-TYO and just credit JL on your AA flights. Even the cheapest JAL mileage-earning economy fares will still get LSP.
AA is revenue-based and economy is not going to earn very much, unless you are buying last minute expensive economy fares.
Keep making progress towards LSP 3 star, because that is actually achievable.
For flights to LON, I would be buying BE simply because it's so cheap and I get baggage through OWS. I guess in this case it would have been credited through my JAL number anyway so would not have earned miles. If I were to fly without my JAL number I would not buy BE since I need the baggage. So if it were worth it in the long term, I could consider that path, if that makes sense. But I hear you on the revenue-based side - I likely would not be buying last minute expensive fares haha. Thank you
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Originally Posted by
toofast
If it was me, I'd just focus on just getting to 1,500 LSPs, for JGC 3 star, and credit all flights to JAL.
Then look at possible US frequent flyer programs once you've secured lifetime OWS.
That's the plan - I've hit the ~1,250 I have now within a year thanks to a lot of CC spend, so JGC 3 star should just be a matter of time now. Thanks
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