AS Changes How You Earn Elite Status With Partners
#16
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75k, Hyatt Globalist, National Executive Elite
Posts: 272
We don't know if it's just a temporary change or a permanent change -- looks like a permanent structural change(EQMs on all flights + minimum AS segment), but the EQM requirement stays low for at least 2021. I would imagine the EQM will go higher post-COVID.
Due to the low earning rate for partner Y flights & the minimum AS segment requirement I doubt it would attract people who mainly fly partners. However, it does make AS the easiest program to earn OWE so I do see some people switching to get that. It could lead to more people flying AS metal, which is exactly what AS wants.
Due to the low earning rate for partner Y flights & the minimum AS segment requirement I doubt it would attract people who mainly fly partners. However, it does make AS the easiest program to earn OWE so I do see some people switching to get that. It could lead to more people flying AS metal, which is exactly what AS wants.
#17
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
These requirements make it trivially easy to get MVP. One international roundtrip on Qatar or Emirates on a decent business class fare (can be snagged for $2k or so), and you can get MVP (assuming you do some typical flying on alaska metal domestically through the year). If you're not someone who pays for business class, 2 roundtrip economy class fares (say one to africa, another to europe) should be able to get you mvp also.
On top of one business class fare roundtrip, if you also do one more economy or business class international roundtrip on a partner airline, MVP Gold is basically within reach.
On top of one business class fare roundtrip, if you also do one more economy or business class international roundtrip on a partner airline, MVP Gold is basically within reach.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,586
These requirements make it trivially easy to get MVP. One international roundtrip on Qatar or Emirates on a decent business class fare (can be snagged for $2k or so), and you can get MVP (assuming you do some typical flying on alaska metal domestically through the year). If you're not someone who pays for business class, 2 roundtrip economy class fares (say one to africa, another to europe) should be able to get you mvp also.
On top of one business class fare roundtrip, if you also do one more economy or business class international roundtrip on a partner airline, MVP Gold is basically within reach.
On top of one business class fare roundtrip, if you also do one more economy or business class international roundtrip on a partner airline, MVP Gold is basically within reach.
#19
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Bonvoy Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,809
It seems like AA and AS are working closely with each other based on AA's changes that were announced today as well. The fact that they're working together is somewhat worrying with the AS program from the bonus earning rates on partner flights, redemption rates, and routing rules (specifically stopovers). I doubt AA will be happy if AS kept most of those things as-is as it would entice many AA elites over to AS, depending on how the complimentary upgrade reciprocity goes.
#20
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Really? I guess I wouldn't have imagined that there were many AA elites who would be equally or better served by the AS route network than by AA's (which I assume would also be a requirement for most travelers).
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,411
As someone who's earned 75K largely on CX, JL, and EK premium cabin flights, I'm shocked that AS is making it easier, as it was pretty darn easy already. I guess that adding the AS minimum segments balances that out slightly.
The difficulty for me will be choosing between AA and AS for 2021. One of the challenges AS faces is that the change fee waiver for Gold and higher is no longer the unique, high-value benefit it used to be.
The difficulty for me will be choosing between AA and AS for 2021. One of the challenges AS faces is that the change fee waiver for Gold and higher is no longer the unique, high-value benefit it used to be.
#22
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
As someone who's earned 75K largely on CX, JL, and EK premium cabin flights, I'm shocked that AS is making it easier, as it was pretty darn easy already. I guess that adding the AS minimum segments balances that out slightly.
The difficulty for me will be choosing between AA and AS for 2021. One of the challenges AS faces is that the change fee waiver for Gold and higher is no longer the unique, high-value benefit it used to be.
The difficulty for me will be choosing between AA and AS for 2021. One of the challenges AS faces is that the change fee waiver for Gold and higher is no longer the unique, high-value benefit it used to be.
#23
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
Huh, didn't expect AS to make qualification less with partners.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,376
So, I guess for all the "oh noes, AS will have to add an EQD component to earning status" handwringing... no, not so much for 2021.
I guess we need something new to handwring about?
Seriously, 99.9% of everyone would look at you like you had sprouted three heads if you told them they should switch frequent flyer programs because of award stopovers. Most of the world doesn't have thousands of posts on FlyerTalk and wouldn't need to hyperoptimize their award trip to Hawaii or Disneywold (really, people need to stop thinking that the average award redemption for an AS customer is a trip to JNB on CX with stopovers each way).
Any number of AA's joint venture partners (BA, JL, EI, AY, IB, QF) have rules, earning and redemption rates that differ from AA's. Nobody gives breech birth to kittens over this, even though a JV is a closer relationship than what AA/AS have (in that JV partners actually share revenue and can coordinate schedules, which won't be the case for AA/AS). AS can mind their knitting for their loyalty program just fine and so can AA.
It seems like AA and AS are working closely with each other based on AA's changes that were announced today as well. The fact that they're working together is somewhat worrying with the AS program from the bonus earning rates on partner flights, redemption rates, and routing rules (specifically stopovers). I doubt AA will be happy if AS kept most of those things as-is as it would entice many AA elites over to AS, depending on how the complimentary upgrade reciprocity goes.
Seriously, 99.9% of everyone would look at you like you had sprouted three heads if you told them they should switch frequent flyer programs because of award stopovers. Most of the world doesn't have thousands of posts on FlyerTalk and wouldn't need to hyperoptimize their award trip to Hawaii or Disneywold (really, people need to stop thinking that the average award redemption for an AS customer is a trip to JNB on CX with stopovers each way).
Any number of AA's joint venture partners (BA, JL, EI, AY, IB, QF) have rules, earning and redemption rates that differ from AA's. Nobody gives breech birth to kittens over this, even though a JV is a closer relationship than what AA/AS have (in that JV partners actually share revenue and can coordinate schedules, which won't be the case for AA/AS). AS can mind their knitting for their loyalty program just fine and so can AA.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Dec 10, 2020 at 1:31 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,591
In a post-covid world with fewer flights overall, this is probably going to work out to a wash for me. It might mean a little more competition from people who fly AA a lot, but it also will give me a little more flexibility to earn all my EQMs in one place on transcon flights without having to work around whatever limited schedule AS has by itself. The penalty of having to earn a bunch of partner miles before they counted certainly kept me on AS in the past, but for the next couple years the flights might just not be there to choose.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,586
#27
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
It will be nice to fly AA and not feel that your earnings are wasted in the AS + Partner category if you are not flying AA often. It will also be beneficial in markets not served by AS. AA often has great y-up fares to PE & J that will make flying with them more attractive.
In the new year, how about AA F SJC-PHX-DFW-LAX with the last segment in a lie-flat J on a 787 widebody? That will earn 4087 EQM and set you back $83, yes that is correct $83.
James
#28
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,548
really feel this is just for 2022 status. I see AS going back to the 75/90 req for 75k status. Also, would not be surprised if another level is added on top of 75k with a 100k+ mile requirement.
I am glad they added a AS metal requirement!
I am glad they added a AS metal requirement!
#29
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
LOL, not sure how it could get much more slashed than it is right now. Most reasonably priced Y tickets earn, what, 25-30% on partners? In most cases you’d be very lucky to get 50% or more without moving up to higher fare codes or premium cabins. Whereas AS metal earns 100% minimum, even on a $39 fare.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,591
I suspect all the airlines will be doing things to make it easier to qualify for status over the next few years. I was flying UA for work after (and before) 9/11 and they were being pretty generous with the FF program, including comping me up a level a few times, unsolicited. This has been harder on the airlines than 9/11 and the remote conferencing alternatives are much better now than they were. It's likely that there's some amount of permanent conversion to remote meetings, so it will take them longer to get back to where things were. In the meantime they'll be offering as many inexpensive soft benefits as possible to get people onto their aircraft, including easier mileage earning if it helps attract people over. And I'll be enjoying the reduced ground traffic into LAX.