eVIPs - an unusable benefit for me...
Oct 13, 2010, 9:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: CMI
Programs: AA EXP & 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz GLD
Posts: 954
eVIPs - an unusable benefit for me...
Howdy,
I am really curious - how many of you folks allow eVIPs to pile up in your account until they expire.
Most of my eVIPs I give away to people, once in a while I manage to complete a trade (rare).
Drives me nuts that one of the biggest benefits AA has is worthless to me. Now it's worthless because I am a miser - if I paid cash for my airline tickets I would feel horrible when I have the miles to fly where I wish.
So I can't use a VIP - maybe I'm the only person on the planet who feels this way.
Yes - most years I give them away - only a few have expired in my account.
Back in the sticker days - AA would exchange them for me for miles. Which was nice, because I never used the stickers (gee - go figure).
I hate the fact that it's a violation of the TOS to swap VIPs.
So - am I alone? Does no one wish that AA would exchange them? Am I missing something - is there anything on earth I could do with them besides apply them to paid tickets?
I would love it if for 2eVIPS I could upgrade an award seat.
Heck - I'd love anything for them - but anything at all violates the TOS if I read it correctly.
Bah!
Keep the faith,
Pakse
p.s. Yes - that's me in CC; but I had 0 bites on any...so I've emailed my entire extended family about any future travel they have....like I do every year
I am really curious - how many of you folks allow eVIPs to pile up in your account until they expire.
Most of my eVIPs I give away to people, once in a while I manage to complete a trade (rare).
Drives me nuts that one of the biggest benefits AA has is worthless to me. Now it's worthless because I am a miser - if I paid cash for my airline tickets I would feel horrible when I have the miles to fly where I wish.
So I can't use a VIP - maybe I'm the only person on the planet who feels this way.
Yes - most years I give them away - only a few have expired in my account.
Back in the sticker days - AA would exchange them for me for miles. Which was nice, because I never used the stickers (gee - go figure).
I hate the fact that it's a violation of the TOS to swap VIPs.
So - am I alone? Does no one wish that AA would exchange them? Am I missing something - is there anything on earth I could do with them besides apply them to paid tickets?
I would love it if for 2eVIPS I could upgrade an award seat.
Heck - I'd love anything for them - but anything at all violates the TOS if I read it correctly.
Bah!
Keep the faith,
Pakse
p.s. Yes - that's me in CC; but I had 0 bites on any...so I've emailed my entire extended family about any future travel they have....like I do every year
Oct 13, 2010, 9:55 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, BD GE
Posts: 672
I use every single one of my evips and then some. Do you not buy international tickets in Y?
Oct 13, 2010, 9:58 am
#3
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,952
I use all mine and/or share some with my family and friends. They also work to Hawaii; I cannot be happier about my ability to use eVIPs.
Last edited by Spiff; Oct 13, 2010 at 10:18 am
Oct 13, 2010, 10:02 am
#4
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Always on vacation
Programs: aa exp - spg gold - Hyatt Diamond - HH Gold
Posts: 6,007
I probably have given away 50% of my SWUs in the past two years and still feel it is a valuable benefit.
It seems to me that you do put more value in trading than goodwill.
It seems to me that you do put more value in trading than goodwill.
Oct 13, 2010, 10:03 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Yeah, it's not entirely clear what your situation is - *somebody* must be paying for some of your travel, or you wouldn't have the miles to fly where you wish. Do you qualify via short hop business trips?
Oct 13, 2010, 10:18 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
Most of our travel is domestic.
Except for 2 or 3 international trips a year. But I do agree, I wouldn't mind trading for something.
Oct 13, 2010, 10:20 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
We determine the number of international trips each year based on how many SWUs we have. Then we decide where to go
Cheers.
Cheers.
Oct 13, 2010, 10:28 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BOS, PHX, LAX
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM+, Lifetime PLT, Admirals Club
Posts: 479
How can you be earning eVIPs if you're not flying on paid tickets? It's impossible. And only EXPs earn VIPS. And you can only be EXP if you fly BIS 100K miles. Therefore, you have countless opportunities each year to use them. Yes, you are the only person on the planet who flies AA that has an issue with them. Everyone else cannot get enough of them.
Oct 13, 2010, 10:33 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
How can you be earning eVIPs if you're not flying on paid tickets? It's impossible. And only EXPs earn VIPS. And you can only be EXP if you fly BIS 100K miles. Therefore, you have countless opportunities each year to use them. Yes, you are the only person on the planet who flies AA that has an issue with them. Everyone else cannot get enough of them.
Cheers.
Oct 13, 2010, 10:33 am
#11
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Oct 13, 2010, 10:36 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Although probably not many flyers like this, but if one attains EXP status solely on domestic travel and only travels domestically (in AA terms) he/she is likely being upgraded most of the time by complimentary EXP upgrades. Particularly, if one tends to book early.
Unless you have others to give eVIPs/SWUs to, yes for this type of EXP the eVips do not have real value. Perhaps, AA should allow EXPs to trade back eVips for miles but again this likely impacts a small percentage of EXPs.
Unless you have others to give eVIPs/SWUs to, yes for this type of EXP the eVips do not have real value. Perhaps, AA should allow EXPs to trade back eVips for miles but again this likely impacts a small percentage of EXPs.
Oct 13, 2010, 10:44 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Solution: pay for a deep-discount international Y fare, apply SWU, think of it as a "$3000 off on J" coupon. Maybe that'll satisfy your miserly instincts 
Oct 13, 2010, 10:44 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Los Angeles/New York City
Programs: AA ExPlat
Posts: 61
Hmm -- I'm flying to NRT from LAX tomorrow in business, upgraded from coach, on a ticket purchased two days ago. I'm pretty darn happy!
If one were bouncing around the US on ERJs, I suppose the SWUs would be less useful...
If one were bouncing around the US on ERJs, I suppose the SWUs would be less useful...
Oct 13, 2010, 10:44 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
With the two 2x eqm promos last year and 125k bonus, I got 12 evips (8 by the end of August). With the aid of Expertflyer, I didn't purchase my intl flights until I knew that C class was available--though some of the flights were close to a year away. This year, I've already re-qualified for exp, and have already booked two rt intl flights (but since these were only 4 months in the future), I used two at the time of booking, I'm waiting for two of the segments to come through.