Rate American AAdvantage
Nov 19, 2009, 2:56 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 56
my only complaint is that you should be able to use the 500-mile upgrades on international flights!
Nov 19, 2009, 2:59 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NY
Programs: AA Gold; SPG: Gold:
Posts: 473
Standing alone = A
Compared to other programs = A+
Compared to other programs = A+
Nov 19, 2009, 3:01 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,452
Nov 19, 2009, 3:43 pm
#20
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
In absolute terms, I'd give the program a B.
+ The ability to earn miles on and redeem upgrades on (almost) all fare classes is a plus compared to some other programs.
+ I also like the way the 500-mile upgrade system works. I'm happy to buy extra stickers when necessary, because the F product is worth the cost.
– However, the high copays on international upgrades make it much more difficult to get a good value for your mile these days. As AA continues to devalue AAdvantage miles, they risk reducing demand for those miles on the other side of the equation.
– An alternative to being able to use 500-mile upgrades on international flights would be to provide some sort of mechanism for non-EXPs to earn a smaller number of eVIPs/SWUs. For example, one could choose to earn 1 eVIP for 20K EQM instead of 4+4 stickers. This would be particularly valuable to elites who do not do a lot of mainline domestic travel.
+ The ability to earn miles on and redeem upgrades on (almost) all fare classes is a plus compared to some other programs.
+ I also like the way the 500-mile upgrade system works. I'm happy to buy extra stickers when necessary, because the F product is worth the cost.
– However, the high copays on international upgrades make it much more difficult to get a good value for your mile these days. As AA continues to devalue AAdvantage miles, they risk reducing demand for those miles on the other side of the equation.
– An alternative to being able to use 500-mile upgrades on international flights would be to provide some sort of mechanism for non-EXPs to earn a smaller number of eVIPs/SWUs. For example, one could choose to earn 1 eVIP for 20K EQM instead of 4+4 stickers. This would be particularly valuable to elites who do not do a lot of mainline domestic travel.
Nov 19, 2009, 3:51 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern UK
Programs: None since COVID - yet!
Posts: 330
AAdvantage - has to be A
Sure there are possible improvements, but compared to any other program on offer it's miles ahead (240,000 miles in 15 months for a spend of only around $6000!), so anything else would be a bonus.
AA itself on the other hand would be lucky to get a C, but that's a trade-off I'm more than happy to accept.
Sure there are possible improvements, but compared to any other program on offer it's miles ahead (240,000 miles in 15 months for a spend of only around $6000!), so anything else would be a bonus.
AA itself on the other hand would be lucky to get a C, but that's a trade-off I'm more than happy to accept.
Nov 19, 2009, 3:51 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
My Grade: A
There are pros and cons but overall, particularly vs the competition, aadvantage is as good as it gets. I hope it stays that way. It's what keeps me away from Delta
There are pros and cons but overall, particularly vs the competition, aadvantage is as good as it gets. I hope it stays that way. It's what keeps me away from Delta
Nov 19, 2009, 4:26 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 472
Pros
AAdvantage program gets a strong A! It's probably the best program out there.
Cons
The co-pays are over-priced for upgrading.
The fleet itself is getting tired and using smaller and smaller planes for long flights gets a
from me.
Would also like to see stickers being able to be used for international.
AAdvantage program gets a strong A! It's probably the best program out there.
Cons
The co-pays are over-priced for upgrading.
The fleet itself is getting tired and using smaller and smaller planes for long flights gets a
from me.Would also like to see stickers being able to be used for international.
Nov 19, 2009, 6:27 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SBA & LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, BA Lifetime Blue, Marriott Gold, and many others
Posts: 1,152
Program is an A -- best FF program in existence.
Airline is a C -- Especially don't like the poor J product for long haul international compared to true flat bed competitors.
Airline is a C -- Especially don't like the poor J product for long haul international compared to true flat bed competitors.
Nov 19, 2009, 9:57 pm
#25
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: going left
Programs: Dime con quien andas,y te dire quien eres
Posts: 367
I give it a B+. I have always been able to find an award flight but occasionally have to spend more points than I want to. Now as lifetime Plat, it's even better!
Nov 19, 2009, 10:08 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
I would give the program an A-. I like how free domestic upgrades aren't given to the lower statuses, which includes me 
because it gives us all a fighting chance. We just choose our battles.
Airline? probably a B+ to B, because flying on JL made me realize that a lot more can be done in terms of food and service. While discrimination against weight and looks can't be made here in the US, there's something to be said about feeling more relaxed when a young female FA asks what you'd like for a beverage over an older hoarse-voiced lady who could be your grandma
because it gives us all a fighting chance. We just choose our battles.Airline? probably a B+ to B, because flying on JL made me realize that a lot more can be done in terms of food and service. While discrimination against weight and looks can't be made here in the US, there's something to be said about feeling more relaxed when a young female FA asks what you'd like for a beverage over an older hoarse-voiced lady who could be your grandma
Nov 19, 2009, 10:47 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 95
B+ I wish PLT could upgrade TATL or TPAC without using miles.
Nov 19, 2009, 11:23 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: OC, California
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Gld, HH Gld
Posts: 2
The AAdvantage program gets a modest B.
Sure, complementary upgrades (rarely international) and access to first class lounges are a nice perk. But lets be honest, American biz class on these aging birds is nothing to brag about. Even the biz class on 77As is just Ok in comparison to the new biz of UA.
I know that the request was to rate the AAdvantage program and not AA itself nor the OW alliance... but let's face it, they're all inter-related:
What is a complementary upgrade worth if the biz class is just above average?
How good can the AAdvantage be if the OW alliance is too limited?
It seems to me that OW (11 partners) is rapidly losing ground over Star Alliance (25 partners). That concerns me more than anything.
Sure, complementary upgrades (rarely international) and access to first class lounges are a nice perk. But lets be honest, American biz class on these aging birds is nothing to brag about. Even the biz class on 77As is just Ok in comparison to the new biz of UA.
I know that the request was to rate the AAdvantage program and not AA itself nor the OW alliance... but let's face it, they're all inter-related:
What is a complementary upgrade worth if the biz class is just above average?
How good can the AAdvantage be if the OW alliance is too limited?
It seems to me that OW (11 partners) is rapidly losing ground over Star Alliance (25 partners). That concerns me more than anything.
Nov 20, 2009, 7:02 am
#29
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: London
Programs: AAdvantage, and BAEC in name only
Posts: 804
A-
Happy UK based PLAT, AAdvantage much preferred over BAEC.
Would like to see: Some ability to upgrade TATL without co-pay, though I do think that by 500mile stickers would probably be too easy! US based Promos such as bonus miles BOS-LAX being available to me - why not? UK shopping to be reinstated. A better CC deal next month (fingers crossed on this one!)
Happy UK based PLAT, AAdvantage much preferred over BAEC.
Would like to see: Some ability to upgrade TATL without co-pay, though I do think that by 500mile stickers would probably be too easy! US based Promos such as bonus miles BOS-LAX being available to me - why not? UK shopping to be reinstated. A better CC deal next month (fingers crossed on this one!)
Nov 20, 2009, 11:45 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Victoria, B.C.
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Gold LT
Posts: 1,943
My Grade - A
Biggest Plus++
Decent award availability
Upgrades are easy to redeem - lots of space to upgrade (ie they fill the cabin and allow last minute gate upgrades)
8 eVips for top elite
Elite program - promises top level unlimited domestic, and they actually have space to deliver
Widebody domestic service
PLUS
lounge access for elite status
decent business class product - (good but not as good as others)
Negatives
domestic lounges mediocre - no free alcohol or snacks
charge for luggage = planes overstuffed with caryon
targetted promos - this Canadian can't sign up for some of the promos advertised on the website (BOS promo, credit card promos etc etc)
Biggest Plus++
Decent award availability
Upgrades are easy to redeem - lots of space to upgrade (ie they fill the cabin and allow last minute gate upgrades)
8 eVips for top elite
Elite program - promises top level unlimited domestic, and they actually have space to deliver
Widebody domestic service
PLUS
lounge access for elite status
decent business class product - (good but not as good as others)
Negatives
domestic lounges mediocre - no free alcohol or snacks
charge for luggage = planes overstuffed with caryon
targetted promos - this Canadian can't sign up for some of the promos advertised on the website (BOS promo, credit card promos etc etc)
Last edited by smilee; Nov 20, 2009 at 11:47 am Reason: forgot one