Speculation: How long do you think the 1m/2m lifetime status will continue?
Aug 27, 2010, 12:47 pm
#46
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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It seems like it's in AA's interest to keep the program as-is.
For years, it has caused me to use AA's partners whenever I'm in a position to choose and the typical product bundle is going to include some airline's miles. iDine and flowers are two examples...if I use FTD, I can either accept 20% off the price (usually) or I can accept airline miles. I nearly always pay the extra 25%, purchasing AA miles.
With iDine, I figure 5-8% of my meal's cost is for miles. I accept AA miles for these transactions as well.
It's all because of the lifetime levels - AA partner miles are more valuable than UA partner miles. (Both are more valuable than of the other programs in the U.S.)
So I'm driving incremental revenue to AA to get to 1MM/2MM - and then I'm likely to give them incremental revenue in the form of choosing AA over the competition for travel.
Why would they kill this off? It would make no sense.
For years, it has caused me to use AA's partners whenever I'm in a position to choose and the typical product bundle is going to include some airline's miles. iDine and flowers are two examples...if I use FTD, I can either accept 20% off the price (usually) or I can accept airline miles. I nearly always pay the extra 25%, purchasing AA miles.
With iDine, I figure 5-8% of my meal's cost is for miles. I accept AA miles for these transactions as well.
It's all because of the lifetime levels - AA partner miles are more valuable than UA partner miles. (Both are more valuable than of the other programs in the U.S.)
So I'm driving incremental revenue to AA to get to 1MM/2MM - and then I'm likely to give them incremental revenue in the form of choosing AA over the competition for travel.
Why would they kill this off? It would make no sense.
Aug 27, 2010, 12:48 pm
#47
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, 1MM
Posts: 643
What percent of AA's flyers (or even % of elite members) are xMM? Very, very small I imagine.. why would AA impact their long-time customers this way? Is it worth it?
Yes, xMM can be achieved via lots of point accrual w/o flying but that represents a microscopic proportion of AAdvantage members.
Yes, xMM can be achieved via lots of point accrual w/o flying but that represents a microscopic proportion of AAdvantage members.
Aug 27, 2010, 12:55 pm
#48
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However, in comparison to what it does to other elite members, changes in this area probably have at least as much or more to do with what it does to AA.
Aug 27, 2010, 12:57 pm
#49
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Aug 27, 2010, 12:59 pm
#50
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It seems like it's in AA's interest to keep the program as-is.
For years, it has caused me to use AA's partners whenever I'm in a position to choose and the typical product bundle is going to include some airline's miles. iDine and flowers are two examples...if I use FTD, I can either accept 20% off the price (usually) or I can accept airline miles. I nearly always pay the extra 25%, purchasing AA miles.
With iDine, I figure 5-8% of my meal's cost is for miles. I accept AA miles for these transactions as well.
It's all because of the lifetime levels - AA partner miles are more valuable than UA partner miles. (Both are more valuable than of the other programs in the U.S.)
So I'm driving incremental revenue to AA to get to 1MM/2MM - and then I'm likely to give them incremental revenue in the form of choosing AA over the competition for travel.
Why would they kill this off? It would make no sense.
For years, it has caused me to use AA's partners whenever I'm in a position to choose and the typical product bundle is going to include some airline's miles. iDine and flowers are two examples...if I use FTD, I can either accept 20% off the price (usually) or I can accept airline miles. I nearly always pay the extra 25%, purchasing AA miles.
With iDine, I figure 5-8% of my meal's cost is for miles. I accept AA miles for these transactions as well.
It's all because of the lifetime levels - AA partner miles are more valuable than UA partner miles. (Both are more valuable than of the other programs in the U.S.)
So I'm driving incremental revenue to AA to get to 1MM/2MM - and then I'm likely to give them incremental revenue in the form of choosing AA over the competition for travel.
Why would they kill this off? It would make no sense.
Aug 27, 2010, 1:01 pm
#51
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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Perhaps more importantly, if someone has achieved status through heavy credit card use, but hardly flies, does it matter if they have elite status? If they fly a lot, they would earn status the regular way. If they hardly fly, then they are taking very little from other elite members or AA by having status.
AA probably realizes that most of the miles are BIS or double RDMs from flying for PLT/EXPs.
Aug 27, 2010, 1:06 pm
#52
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Actually, on peak vacation routes/times, it seems like there are far fewer elites on the plane than on my usual flights. I've generally received quality customer service from AA during vacation-period irrops - both in my "real" Plat years and as a 1MM Gold.
Aug 27, 2010, 1:08 pm
#53
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I personally find DL partner miles worth less because I find Skyteam and DL's redemption difficulties worth less, so I can't honestly say I'm choosing AA over DL just because of MM levels. (Although for 5,000 miles per Marriott night, I've been happily accepting some DL this summer.)
Aug 27, 2010, 1:27 pm
#54
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I don't fly DL enough to know myself - do you know why they killed it off?
I personally find DL partner miles worth less because I find Skyteam and DL's redemption difficulties worth less, so I can't honestly say I'm choosing AA over DL just because of MM levels. (Although for 5,000 miles per Marriott night, I've been happily accepting some DL this summer.)
I personally find DL partner miles worth less because I find Skyteam and DL's redemption difficulties worth less, so I can't honestly say I'm choosing AA over DL just because of MM levels. (Although for 5,000 miles per Marriott night, I've been happily accepting some DL this summer.)
DL management killed it off years before NW and KL joined up with SkyTeam.
Aug 27, 2010, 1:42 pm
#55
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 526
Exactly. If I were EXP for life, I'd have little incentive to fly a full 100K miles each year. I could fly 50K and still be EXP,with all of the benefits. I'd certainly not be the sort of person that AA would want to give EXP to (as if I were now 
). With GLD and PLT, there's not nearly as much given away, and there's incentive for EXP. Definitely no business reason (and AA are a business, after all) to grant LT EXP.
Cheers.
). With GLD and PLT, there's not nearly as much given away, and there's incentive for EXP. Definitely no business reason (and AA are a business, after all) to grant LT EXP.Cheers.
How about lifetime EXP at some major threshold such as 5mm or 10mm miles.
If AA feels credit cards are not as important than limit it to miles flown only--but this is to reward loyal fliers that have been with AA for years and to make it an incentive to fliers that are with AA now.
If the reward system did not work than why is AA doing it at all?
That is because it works--and it works best with the people that fly the most and are the most loyal.
Aug 27, 2010, 1:52 pm
#56
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Aug 27, 2010, 2:07 pm
#57
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
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It's being rumored more actively than usual that the MM program will end late this year. I don't know, either way. However, if this is the case, you can't make 1MM by then.
If it isn't the case, you don't have to make 1MM by then.
Either way, business as usual. No need for heroic measures.
If it isn't the case, you don't have to make 1MM by then.
Either way, business as usual. No need for heroic measures.
Aug 27, 2010, 2:23 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ORD/PSP
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Posts: 1,002
I disagree--what else is new?
How about lifetime EXP at some major threshold such as 5mm or 10mm miles.
If AA feels credit cards are not as important than limit it to miles flown only--but this is to reward loyal fliers that have been with AA for years and to make it an incentive to fliers that are with AA now.
If the reward system did not work than why is AA doing it at all?
That is because it works--and it works best with the people that fly the most and are the most loyal.
How about lifetime EXP at some major threshold such as 5mm or 10mm miles.
If AA feels credit cards are not as important than limit it to miles flown only--but this is to reward loyal fliers that have been with AA for years and to make it an incentive to fliers that are with AA now.
If the reward system did not work than why is AA doing it at all?
That is because it works--and it works best with the people that fly the most and are the most loyal.
Aug 27, 2010, 2:27 pm
#59
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
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Posts: 5,452
As a recent convert to the FT mindset of accumulating miles, I will continue to do just that on AA.
If AA changes the rules, I will still have the miles to take a couple of nice trips on QANTAS, British Airways or Cathay Pacific.
Aug 27, 2010, 2:31 pm
#60
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Hi all,
I'm in the process of deciding if million mile lifetime Gold status on AA is a worthwhile goal to pursue.
I currently have 360K miles, with another 110K in the pipeline. Additionally, I have 80K MR points and 150K Starwood points. If I were to transfer all of these into AA miles today, I'd be about 265K miles shy of a million.
I'm in the process of deciding if million mile lifetime Gold status on AA is a worthwhile goal to pursue.
I currently have 360K miles, with another 110K in the pipeline. Additionally, I have 80K MR points and 150K Starwood points. If I were to transfer all of these into AA miles today, I'd be about 265K miles shy of a million.