May 22, 2013, 3:23 pm
Last edit by: JY1024
AA has confirmed that there will be no "soft landings" (whereby elite members will drop a maximum of one elite level regardless of miles flown) for 2014:
To clarify, the Soft Landing policy will be going away at the end of the year.
However, this does not change how an AAdvantage member can earn Elite status. If you currently hold Executive Platinum status (through February 28, 2014), but only earn enough Elite qualifying miles to qualify for Gold status by December 31, 2013, then you will receive the status that you meet the criteria for (as opposed to receiving a soft landing exception to Platinum status), which would go into effect March 1, 2014.
Status earned as a result of Double EQM promotions and Elite status challenges will, of course, be honored. Additionally, customers who have earned AAdvantage Gold or Platinum status as a result of the Million Miler program will continue to receive their benefits for the lifetime of those programs
However, this does not change how an AAdvantage member can earn Elite status. If you currently hold Executive Platinum status (through February 28, 2014), but only earn enough Elite qualifying miles to qualify for Gold status by December 31, 2013, then you will receive the status that you meet the criteria for (as opposed to receiving a soft landing exception to Platinum status), which would go into effect March 1, 2014.
Status earned as a result of Double EQM promotions and Elite status challenges will, of course, be honored. Additionally, customers who have earned AAdvantage Gold or Platinum status as a result of the Million Miler program will continue to receive their benefits for the lifetime of those programs
"Your Elite Status" email from AA: No soft landing 2014 onward (Confirmed)
May 21, 2013, 2:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP 1M
Posts: 299
"Your Elite Status" email from AA: No soft landing 2014 onward (Confirmed)
Seems they are insinuating there will be no EQM/EQP bonus offers this year. Interesting.
From the email I received today:
"Can you believe we're almost halfway through 2013? Hopefully you're on track to achieve your goal of elite status qualification for 2014. To check how many elite qualifying points, miles and segments you've earned thus far, simply log in to your account.
Previously, based on your prior year status, you benefited from an exception to receive a higher level of elite status than you actually earned. Next year, regardless of your current status, your elite status for the next membership year will be based on your elite qualifying activity in 2013.
We invite you to achieve the highest level you can to earn the greatest benefits. You can also find details about qualifying for elite status here."
From the email I received today:
"Can you believe we're almost halfway through 2013? Hopefully you're on track to achieve your goal of elite status qualification for 2014. To check how many elite qualifying points, miles and segments you've earned thus far, simply log in to your account.
Previously, based on your prior year status, you benefited from an exception to receive a higher level of elite status than you actually earned. Next year, regardless of your current status, your elite status for the next membership year will be based on your elite qualifying activity in 2013.
We invite you to achieve the highest level you can to earn the greatest benefits. You can also find details about qualifying for elite status here."
May 21, 2013, 2:39 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAH, HOU
Programs: UA Silver, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, Former CO Presidential Plat (for a day!)
Posts: 217
Did AAdvantage remove Elite Status Soft Landing
I just received an e-mail from AA titled "Your Elite Status"
With the following paragraph in it:
Am I correct in understanding that as an EXP I will become an instant kettle if I don't get beyond 25K miles this year? I was likely going to hit Gold at least, but I was hoping to keep Platinum at a minimum...
With the following paragraph in it:
Previously, based on your prior year status, you benefited from an exception to receive a higher level of elite status than you actually earned. Next year, regardless of your current status, your elite status for the next membership year will be based on your elite‑qualifying activity in 2013.
May 21, 2013, 2:49 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: LAS
Programs: Aegean Miles & Bonus Gold, HHonors Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 300
Odd email: "Your Elite Status"
Just got a strange email from AA.
The reason it's odd is that I qualified for my ExecPlat status based on miles last year; I didn't get any exception. I do almost all my flying around the holidays (and will likely qualify for ExecPlat again this year). My annual mileage is currently 0, which is why I'm thinking I got this, but...
If I'm reading it right, it seems to imply that there will be no "soft landings" or "status buy backs".
Odd email to get, so I thought I'd stick it here so y'all could see it.
Cheers,
-SF
Can you believe we're almost halfway through 2013? Hopefully you're on track to achieve your goal of elite status qualification for 2014. To check how many elite‑qualifying points, miles and segments you've earned thus far, simply log in to your account.
Previously, based on your prior year status, you benefited from an exception to receive a higher level of elite status than you actually earned. Next year, regardless of your current status, your elite status for the next membership year will be based on your elite‑qualifying activity in 2013.
We invite you to achieve the highest level you can to earn the greatest benefits. You can also find details about qualifying for elite status here.
Previously, based on your prior year status, you benefited from an exception to receive a higher level of elite status than you actually earned. Next year, regardless of your current status, your elite status for the next membership year will be based on your elite‑qualifying activity in 2013.
We invite you to achieve the highest level you can to earn the greatest benefits. You can also find details about qualifying for elite status here.
If I'm reading it right, it seems to imply that there will be no "soft landings" or "status buy backs".
Odd email to get, so I thought I'd stick it here so y'all could see it.
Cheers,
-SF
May 21, 2013, 2:50 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP 1M
Posts: 299
I got the same email, but I did not receive an exemption, soft landing, or buffer zone bump up. I earned 108,000 miles, but did so only with the end of year bonus. I took the email to mean there would be no bonuses this year.
Last edited by Psyclone*Jack; May 21, 2013 at 8:07 pm
May 21, 2013, 2:52 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
I got the same email (started another thread which can be deleted), but I did not receive an exemption, soft landing, or buffer zone bump up. I earned 108,000 miles, but did so only with the end of year bonus. I took the email to mean there would be no bonuses this year.
Cheers.
May 21, 2013, 2:55 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP 1M
Posts: 299
Yes, I was referring to DEQM. Why are you certain this is referring to soft landings? I did not receive the benefit of one in 2012, so why did I get the email?
May 21, 2013, 2:55 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
May 21, 2013, 2:57 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
May 21, 2013, 3:02 pm
#14
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, DL PLT, UA 1P, SPG Gold
Posts: 415
Seems to me that the e-mail went out only to ones that actually had some kind of soft landing in previous year(s). Perhaps this will apply to everyone or they may be implementing some kind of soft landing limitations.