AS 75k status or MVPG + AA ExPlat?
May 16, 2019, 3:52 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
If you have cash flow problems, you are right. But of we assume that cash flow is not a problem, then your can buy all the tickets you want, so the only question is about value.
The implicit assumption is that if you did not have the RDM you would eventually spend money to aquire them. That's where the cost savings comes from. If you get free toothpaste for a year you are saving money -- not because you plan to sell the toothpaste, but because you don't have to buy it. The end result is the same. If you get extra RDM it means that you don't need to spend money to aquire more, and that's a cost savings.
The implicit assumption is that if you did not have the RDM you would eventually spend money to aquire them. That's where the cost savings comes from. If you get free toothpaste for a year you are saving money -- not because you plan to sell the toothpaste, but because you don't have to buy it. The end result is the same. If you get extra RDM it means that you don't need to spend money to aquire more, and that's a cost savings.
You stated you may not fly a paid international itinerary next year. If instead, you are using the value of all the extra RDM on the coast2coast and JL SEA-NRT promotions you will accumulate for international awards, do you plan to let your MVPG status lapse next year? If not, you still have to pay out of pocket and fly for status. With your preference for UA to Hawaii and your overall dislike of AS F domestically, how will you achieve that?
If I get RDM Branded Toothpaste free for a year, it isn't a cost savings towards status. I still need to buy EQM Branded toothpaste for status and the accompanying benefits. Sure, the RDM Branded toothpaste has value and a double miles promotion gives you extra value in more RDM toothpaste, it just doesn't reduce the yearly cost out of pocket towards status. I have never said otherwise.
You could attain MVPG in 2019 good through the end of 2020 with 16 2500 miles transcon segments. Whether that produces 50K, 90K RDM (minimum for non-status achieving MVPG without/with the bonus) or 2M RDM doesn't change the fact that if you want to retain MVPG in 2020 through the end of 2021 you still need to spent out of pocket in 2020. The value of the RDM earned is irrelevant. You continually try to say that the value of the extra RDM will lower my out of pocket for Status. Not true!
James.
May 16, 2019, 4:15 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
out of pocket cost is really nothing. we spent 35k in 2 days to buy tickets when there was a deal. i dont understand why keep on arguing about cash spending.
cost of EQM = cash - value of RDM. you seem to have problem with this simple equation.
cost of EQM = cash - value of RDM. you seem to have problem with this simple equation.
May 16, 2019, 5:01 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Yes, exactly, this.
If we ignore the value of actually getting to travel somewhere, when you fly you get two things: EQM and RDM. There is one price tag on the ticket, and you get both of those things for that price. In order to assign a price tag to one or the other, you need to split the cost of the ticket between those two things.
If we ignore the value of actually getting to travel somewhere, when you fly you get two things: EQM and RDM. There is one price tag on the ticket, and you get both of those things for that price. In order to assign a price tag to one or the other, you need to split the cost of the ticket between those two things.
May 16, 2019, 5:34 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
We will have to agree to disagree.
May 16, 2019, 5:36 pm
#35
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Yes, exactly, this.
If we ignore the value of actually getting to travel somewhere, when you fly you get two things: EQM and RDM. There is one price tag on the ticket, and you get both of those things for that price. In order to assign a price tag to one or the other, you need to split the cost of the ticket between those two things.
If we ignore the value of actually getting to travel somewhere, when you fly you get two things: EQM and RDM. There is one price tag on the ticket, and you get both of those things for that price. In order to assign a price tag to one or the other, you need to split the cost of the ticket between those two things.
James
May 16, 2019, 7:33 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
Cost of EQM = cash! Correct! The RDM rebate does not lower your cost of EQM = cash for requalification of Status. RDM is irrelevant in attaining/retaining status. You and @VegasGambler seem to have a problem with that simple concept!
We will have to agree to disagree.
We will have to agree to disagree.
May 17, 2019, 7:55 am
#37
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,443
I was an EXP and a MVP Gold for 10 years. However, those were the days when you could credit AS flights to your AA account and life was easier (more SWU, easier to sit up front, and not revenue based). It was not a bad run. The ability to cancel awards and redeposit without penalty is a plus in both of these programs. The EXP desk used to be great at recognizing issues proactively and rebooking EXPs. Not sure how good AS is with Golds, but they are great with 75Ks.
The SWUs are great if you can find any space.
I suppose the flagship dining is a big plus for AA, unless you fly domestically. I still get Flagship lounge access as a LT plat, which is nice.
It also really depends where you live - when I started flying AA (was a TWA flyer), there was a club here, there were more flights from SEA and less competition for upgrades. These days, not so much. I fly them usually from a international departure point (ORD, PHL, RDU, JFK) to my European destination. I usually take AS to that destination.
The SWUs are great if you can find any space.
I suppose the flagship dining is a big plus for AA, unless you fly domestically. I still get Flagship lounge access as a LT plat, which is nice.
It also really depends where you live - when I started flying AA (was a TWA flyer), there was a club here, there were more flights from SEA and less competition for upgrades. These days, not so much. I fly them usually from a international departure point (ORD, PHL, RDU, JFK) to my European destination. I usually take AS to that destination.
May 23, 2019, 4:01 pm
#38
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 had to make this call last year and picked 75K. What it really came down to is who do I WANT to fly with next year the most? That's where I want the best status. AA stinks operationally and mileage earning so they lose. I am happy to still be with Alaska even though I have fewer flight options. Sometimes I have to fly AA and I have last years Plat status still to get me into MCE. I even didn't do one round trip needed to get PlatPro last year as I needed all the flights I could get on AS (plus a SEA-BOS-SEA MR) to get to 75K.
May 23, 2019, 8:31 pm
#39
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,443
I had to make this call last year and picked 75K. What it really came down to is who do I WANT to fly with next year the most? That's where I want the best status. AA stinks operationally and mileage earning so they lose. I am happy to still be with Alaska even though I have fewer flight options. Sometimes I have to fly AA and I have last years Plat status still to get me into MCE. I even didn't do one round trip needed to get PlatPro last year as I needed all the flights I could get on AS (plus a SEA-BOS-SEA MR) to get to 75K.
as where you need to fly? How sensible of you.
May 25, 2019, 12:18 pm
#40
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
Heh... yeah my route is SEA-DFW/DAL so I have a choice between AS and AA. If you are frequently flying to one destination your choices are limited. Soon my pattern will switch to MSP (DL or AS) or Houston (stuck with UA. AS times/freq arent good for me
)
May 25, 2019, 8:08 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I'd like to point out that I was not actually considering flying AA; just taking advantage of the OWE status for international flights on OW carriers, and free changes / redeposits on OW carrier award flights booked with AA miles.
Eg, I just flew NRT-BKK in J (no F on that flight).
With OWE I could have used the F lounge in NRT (which I've never actually been to because even though I've flown JL F twice, it was always a circle trip and I always flew F to Tokyo, not from -- I always continued on to somewhere else in Asia, with no F cabin available)..
Eg, I just flew NRT-BKK in J (no F on that flight).
With OWE I could have used the F lounge in NRT (which I've never actually been to because even though I've flown JL F twice, it was always a circle trip and I always flew F to Tokyo, not from -- I always continued on to somewhere else in Asia, with no F cabin available)..
May 26, 2019, 12:48 am
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
I'd like to point out that I was not actually considering flying AA; just taking advantage of the OWE status for international flights on OW carriers, and free changes / redeposits on OW carrier award flights booked with AA miles.
Eg, I just flew NRT-BKK in J (no F on that flight).
With OWE I could have used the F lounge in NRT (which I've never actually been to because even though I've flown JL F twice, it was always a circle trip and I always flew F to Tokyo, not from -- I always continued on to somewhere else in Asia, with no F cabin available)..
Eg, I just flew NRT-BKK in J (no F on that flight).
With OWE I could have used the F lounge in NRT (which I've never actually been to because even though I've flown JL F twice, it was always a circle trip and I always flew F to Tokyo, not from -- I always continued on to somewhere else in Asia, with no F cabin available)..
May 26, 2019, 9:06 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
This trip I didn't but it was paid so all business class.
May 26, 2019, 7:39 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
check the math yourself. (i only credit non AS partner to AS last two years).
Assumption AA miles 1.4cpm AS miles 1.9 cpm.
you need 5K EQD and 35k EQM. Assuming you are in a class than earns 25% EQD, you would need to credit 20k BIS miles to AA for the match.
Here is my calcuation as I am both 75k and exec plat.
if i credit to AS, i earn 350% (1 +0.25 (COS) + 1.25 (75k) +1 (premium bonus)
if I credit to AA, I earn 245% (1+0,25 +1.2)
The value I earn for credit to AS is 20000*3.5*1.9 = 1330
The value I earn for credit to AA is 20000*2.45*1.4 = 686,
if it involves BA, you lose more value because BA has a higher earn rate on AS. you have to adjust the calculation.
The value I lose from crediting to AA is 650 USD. which you can use to determine whether it is worth to credit to AA.
now that I have done the math again, maybe i should try to keep AA exec plat...
i have around 9k booked for EQD and i can credit some of my other airline to AA instead of AS...
Assumption AA miles 1.4cpm AS miles 1.9 cpm.
you need 5K EQD and 35k EQM. Assuming you are in a class than earns 25% EQD, you would need to credit 20k BIS miles to AA for the match.
Here is my calcuation as I am both 75k and exec plat.
if i credit to AS, i earn 350% (1 +0.25 (COS) + 1.25 (75k) +1 (premium bonus)
if I credit to AA, I earn 245% (1+0,25 +1.2)
The value I earn for credit to AS is 20000*3.5*1.9 = 1330
The value I earn for credit to AA is 20000*2.45*1.4 = 686,
if it involves BA, you lose more value because BA has a higher earn rate on AS. you have to adjust the calculation.
The value I lose from crediting to AA is 650 USD. which you can use to determine whether it is worth to credit to AA.
now that I have done the math again, maybe i should try to keep AA exec plat...
i have around 9k booked for EQD and i can credit some of my other airline to AA instead of AS...