Elite (EQM) Buy-Up Offers for 2019
Nov 30, 2018, 3:12 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Nov 30, 2018, 3:30 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Nov 30, 2018, 3:59 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Programs: AA ExPlat, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 909
I don't know how good their accountants are, starting with Mr. Tilden. Time will tell, right? I'm not sure how much monetizing elite tier jump will help either. I'm sure there are some for whom the offer seems like a good deal. But we've spent a lot of time on many recent threads recounting the diminution of benefits at all elite tiers. I just hope those who are burning a ton of miles or paying hard cash to buy up are clear that benefits that once seemed assured (eg GGU usage, comp upgrades clearing at/near windows, halfway decent grub in F) may or may not be available moving forward.
Nov 30, 2018, 4:22 pm
#49
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Right, 90% of my qualification miles are from partner int'l flights. Not sure how the Airline industry works, but I've never understood the following: (1) why AS would care or reward my flights with partners (not as if they're getting the revenue, so why award the miles?); (2) for whatever reason, when I manually credit AA int'l portion to AS, AA CSRs always make an effort to suggest I can earn tons of EQD on AA (again, not sure why they care, since I've already paid them money for the fare).
Nov 30, 2018, 4:26 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2003
Location: PDX USA
Programs: AS MVPG, AA, BA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Platinum, IHG, Hertz 5*
Posts: 690
Admittedly, I've not been here for awhile, but when do you mean by this? Did AS stop upgrading MVP/Golds at 48/72 hrs? Or, is this a function of no U space and a gazillion 75ks, or both?
Nov 30, 2018, 4:31 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Airlines compensate each other for the miles one partner's FFP members earn on the other, just as they compensate each other for award redemptions.
Nov 30, 2018, 5:41 pm
#52
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,832
Flying, especially if you must fly on the airline in question, takes effort and commitment. There are lots of people who don’t fly an airline or use a hotel chain often but will buy status, or get a credit card that confers status, anywhere they can just to reap the benefits.
As I said, the thing many of us like about AS is that they don’t (usually) sell status; you have to earn it and that’s the way I like it. And also as I said, it is just my opinion so you can disagree if you like but don’t minimize the impact it has on those of us who earn status the hard way. I fear this is the beginning of a slippery slope - selling status as other airlines do.
Nov 30, 2018, 6:57 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
AS pricing for paid F is often out of whack with respect to OAL, so it leaves those seats empty and available for upgrades, but they could price it more competitively and both monetize the seats and swell the ranks of "elites" more rapidly due to the COS multiplier.
Nov 30, 2018, 7:50 pm
#54
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
surprised also at the amounts listed. Pretty pricey for 208 miles. Do you already have MVP status or is this your first year coming up?
Nov 30, 2018, 8:00 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
AS has been really clamping down on U space. Usually, upgrades are processed around T-2. Many report upgrades greatly decreased over the last year. Not a gazillion 75s.
Nov 30, 2018, 8:08 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
They already do - it's usually called paid F. On AS it even includes club access, which other airlines don't offer for regular F, just the premium routes that cost big $.
AS pricing for paid F is often out of whack with respect to OAL, so it leaves those seats empty and available for upgrades, but they could price it more competitively and both monetize the seats and swell the ranks of "elites" more rapidly due to the COS multiplier.
AS pricing for paid F is often out of whack with respect to OAL, so it leaves those seats empty and available for upgrades, but they could price it more competitively and both monetize the seats and swell the ranks of "elites" more rapidly due to the COS multiplier.
Dec 1, 2018, 10:52 am
#60
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
I read some recent article where someone stated that AS said that they aim to hold back 50% of F seats for elite upgrades?? It wasn't quoted so I am not sure where that came from. It certainly is not consistent with current U inventory behavior.