Are most people getting status with AQM or AQS?
Sep 6, 2019, 10:15 am
#106
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,604
I'm in favour of AC moving the benchmark higher to 150K AQM / 140 AQS and $25K AQD for SE qualification. Or doing something like UA (GlobalServices) or AA (Concierge Key) has for those FFers who exceed 200K AQM / 180 AQS and $40K AQD.
Considering that 4 x YYZ-YVR-MEL in J will get you over 100K AQM and would roughly be $40K AQD, it isn't that difficult to easily achieve SE. That raises the question of is someone who potentially only flies 4 times annually in J worthy of the highest frequent flier status?
Considering that 4 x YYZ-YVR-MEL in J will get you over 100K AQM and would roughly be $40K AQD, it isn't that difficult to easily achieve SE. That raises the question of is someone who potentially only flies 4 times annually in J worthy of the highest frequent flier status?
Sep 6, 2019, 10:15 am
#107
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Montreal & Nashville
Programs: Aeroplan SE100K, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, BW Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 391
I think you have a warped sense of people's travel patterns. Making SE requires a massive amount of travel by any reasonable standards. It may not seem like that much to FTers, but 100K AQM or 95 AQS is a decade's worth of travel for a lot people. The stats that AC published ages ago showed steep drop-offs while moving up the tiers. Why do you think it would be different for SE? I'd suggest even the cow's numbers are generous; if there are 10,000 SEs, I doubt there are 2,000 200K+ AQMers.
I think you have a warped sense of people's travel patterns. Making SE requires a massive amount of travel by any reasonable standards. It may not seem like that much to FTers, but 100K AQM or 95 AQS is a decade's worth of travel for a lot people. The stats that AC published ages ago showed steep drop-offs while moving up the tiers. Why do you think it would be different for SE? I'd suggest even the cow's numbers are generous; if there are 10,000 SEs, I doubt there are 2,000 200K+ AQMers.
that's before AQD, so although there might be way more frequent travelers and status holders overall, the ratio between classes has likely a steeper dropoff for SE seeing how many have a hard time getting the $20K AQD
If I were flying more than I am right now I'd stop looking at metal and right after $20k concentrate on reaching higher perks for AQM since AQD "stops" at $20k where AQM has a lot of perks at higher levels.
Sep 6, 2019, 10:41 am
#108
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,569
Are status programs for good customers, or a mechanism to drive customer behavour? Well, yes.
AQD measures quite accurately customers who spend money. And drives customers to spend money.
How and on what is kinda irrelevant.
Sep 7, 2019, 6:32 pm
#109
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: YAM, CIU, CGN
Programs: AC FOTSG, DL WM
Posts: 190
When I list off my travel schedule to my non-frequent-flyer friends & family, they unfailingly look at me like I've got a toaster on my head.
Sep 7, 2019, 8:54 pm
#110
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 904
Just wanted to underline this. I do 6-8 trips a year -- more travel than many jobs, but imho, hardly any kind of hardcore road warrior.
When I list off my travel schedule to my non-frequent-flyer friends & family, they unfailingly look at me like I've got a toaster on my head.
When I list off my travel schedule to my non-frequent-flyer friends & family, they unfailingly look at me like I've got a toaster on my head.
Sep 18, 2019, 1:39 pm
#111
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC75K, Hertz 5*, Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 46
-A.
Sep 18, 2019, 1:44 pm
#112
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC75K, Hertz 5*, Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 46
Paid J from YYZ-GRU comes in at ~5-6k
Paid J from YYZ-FRA comes in at ~4-6k
That's three trips, 6 segments, and at least 20k. Add in all of the YYZ-SFO, YYZ-LHR, YYZ-MEX, and other misc travel in economy, and it's not hard to see AQD and AQM completely out of alignment.
-A.
Sep 18, 2019, 2:54 pm
#113
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Montreal & Nashville
Programs: Aeroplan SE100K, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, BW Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 391
I am exactly in the ratio for AC bean counters.
Getting 100k AQM and $20k AQD on my next flight next week.
I will likely have less than 1k over both.
But that's for early recognition as I have 1-2 more trips planned (very calm fall season)
Getting 100k AQM and $20k AQD on my next flight next week.
I will likely have less than 1k over both.
But that's for early recognition as I have 1-2 more trips planned (very calm fall season)
Sep 18, 2019, 3:18 pm
#114
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,331
This year I'm well over on AQM but hardly have any AQS yet. EYW will fix that.
2018: 264k AQM 99 AQS
2017: 195k AQM 77 AQS
2016: 73k AQM 125 AQS
2015: 88k AQM 103 AQS
2014: 117k AQM 106 AQS
2013: 104k AQM 105 AQS
2012: 37k AQM 22 AQS
I started out with AQM, then quickly had both, then the AQM dropped, and now they're both over the thresholds again.
It's amazing what a few paid intercontinental J trips will do to shift the balance from AQS to AQM.
2018: 264k AQM 99 AQS
2017: 195k AQM 77 AQS
2016: 73k AQM 125 AQS
2015: 88k AQM 103 AQS
2014: 117k AQM 106 AQS
2013: 104k AQM 105 AQS
2012: 37k AQM 22 AQS
I started out with AQM, then quickly had both, then the AQM dropped, and now they're both over the thresholds again.
It's amazing what a few paid intercontinental J trips will do to shift the balance from AQS to AQM.
Assuming I don't book any more flights.