Public evidence of possible changes to Million Miler Program?
Apr 28, 2011, 2:23 pm
#586
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Programs: AA Advantage Starwood
Posts: 81
Paranoid again
Here I am, away on vacation and made the mistake of checking in on FT. Now the paranoia starts again. I sit here at 1,867,000 miles. My goal has been to get the lifetime platinum under my belt. I only fly about 8-10 times per year so BIS miles are slow in coming. I have gotten spoiled with an upgrade rate over 90% as a humble Gold.
I did not want to pass 2 million miles until next year to take off the pressure of having to use the eVIP's in a shorter period of time. It's hard to know what AAdvantage intentions are. If they change the program I would get caught short. Will they change the program overnight without fair warning? It is their playground and they make the rules. I can transfer 100K SPG points and can purchase the few remaining miles and get this done by next week. This is the direction I am leaning towards but am I being overly paranoid?
My other major concern is the solvency of American Airlines. I have put my lifetime eggs in their basket. How much longer can they continue to burn through quarterly losses.
I did not want to pass 2 million miles until next year to take off the pressure of having to use the eVIP's in a shorter period of time. It's hard to know what AAdvantage intentions are. If they change the program I would get caught short. Will they change the program overnight without fair warning? It is their playground and they make the rules. I can transfer 100K SPG points and can purchase the few remaining miles and get this done by next week. This is the direction I am leaning towards but am I being overly paranoid?
My other major concern is the solvency of American Airlines. I have put my lifetime eggs in their basket. How much longer can they continue to burn through quarterly losses.
Apr 28, 2011, 2:23 pm
#587
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,307
Why do I think that they are making the decision on when to announce/implement changes based on whether they want all of the extra revenue from people topping off miles/signing on with partners who purchase miles in huge blocks (like financial partners) to go in Q2 or Q3? If they are very close to goals for Q2 then perhaps they'll induce people to go on mileage binges prior to 7/1, while if they're already way behind it may make more sense to get it to happen in Q3, when they still have a chance of meeting predictions.
Apr 28, 2011, 2:26 pm
#588
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Here I am, away on vacation and made the mistake of checking in on FT. Now the paranoia starts again. I sit here at 1,867,000 miles. My goal has been to get the lifetime platinum under my belt. I only fly about 8-10 times per year so BIS miles are slow in coming. I have gotten spoiled with an upgrade rate over 90% as a humble Gold.
I did not want to pass 2 million miles until next year to take off the pressure of having to use the eVIP's in a shorter period of time. It's hard to know what AAdvantage intentions are. If they change the program I would get caught short. Will they change the program overnight without fair warning? It is their playground and they make the rules. I can transfer 100K SPG points and can purchase the few remaining miles and get this done by next week. This is the direction I am leaning towards but am I being overly paranoid?
My other major concern is the solvency of American Airlines. I have put my lifetime eggs in their basket. How much longer can they continue to burn through quarterly losses.
I did not want to pass 2 million miles until next year to take off the pressure of having to use the eVIP's in a shorter period of time. It's hard to know what AAdvantage intentions are. If they change the program I would get caught short. Will they change the program overnight without fair warning? It is their playground and they make the rules. I can transfer 100K SPG points and can purchase the few remaining miles and get this done by next week. This is the direction I am leaning towards but am I being overly paranoid?
My other major concern is the solvency of American Airlines. I have put my lifetime eggs in their basket. How much longer can they continue to burn through quarterly losses.
Apr 28, 2011, 2:34 pm
#589
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: St. Louis
Programs: AA PLAT 3.8mm, DL gold
Posts: 314
I need 100,000 more miles to hit 3 million...how sick is that?
Apr 28, 2011, 2:38 pm
#590
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Apr 28, 2011, 2:43 pm
#591
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ORD/PSP
Programs: AA LT Plat, 6.0 MM, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,002
Apr 28, 2011, 3:07 pm
#592
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Apr 28, 2011, 4:07 pm
#593
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NZ
Posts: 32
I can confirm that with a US address, after I hit 1mm in March, I was given 8 e500 upgrades. I can't speak to ex-US.
Apr 28, 2011, 4:09 pm
#594
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
... although in fairness, I did drop some cash on a few hundred shares of AMR, but I'm not crazy enough to put a non-trivial portion of my savings into it.
Apr 28, 2011, 4:39 pm
#595
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Avis PC
Posts: 125
I did not want to pass 2 million miles until next year to take off the pressure of having to use the eVIP's in a shorter period of time. It's hard to know what AAdvantage intentions are. If they change the program I would get caught short. Will they change the program overnight without fair warning? It is their playground and they make the rules. I can transfer 100K SPG points and can purchase the few remaining miles and get this done by next week. This is the direction I am leaning towards but am I being overly paranoid?
Apr 28, 2011, 4:44 pm
#596
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Avis PC
Posts: 125
Investing in airline stocks for the long haul is just plain crazy. It is just a bad business model with tight regulation, high fixed costs, unionized employees, fierce competition, and fuel risks.
Apr 28, 2011, 4:47 pm
#597
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Mundelein, Il
Programs: Executive Platinum
Posts: 482
Here I am, away on vacation and made the mistake of checking in on FT. Now the paranoia starts again. I sit here at 1,867,000 miles. My goal has been to get the lifetime platinum under my belt. I only fly about 8-10 times per year so BIS miles are slow in coming. I have gotten spoiled with an upgrade rate over 90% as a humble Gold.
I did not want to pass 2 million miles until next year to take off the pressure of having to use the eVIP's in a shorter period of time.
I did not want to pass 2 million miles until next year to take off the pressure of having to use the eVIP's in a shorter period of time.
Don't quote me on this but I believe when I crossed 1mm I received 4 EVIPs (SWU's) and received another 4 EVIPs when I passed 2mm. I have a North American address. I could be wrong but I believe I did get EVIP's when I crossed the first million.
I need 100,000 more miles to hit 3 million...how sick is that?
I need 100,000 more miles to hit 3 million...how sick is that?
I received my first eVIPs when I hit 2 MM and not at 1MM.
Apr 28, 2011, 5:23 pm
#598
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Apr 28, 2011, 8:25 pm
#599
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
Is there a bonus for traanser of miles on aa.com, aka, Shaare Miles. (from one AA account to another)
I know that there is (was) a 30% discount to buy miles, also a current 20% off to buy miles,
I am just curious? I know terrible return, but to top off into MM it might be worth it.
I know that there is (was) a 30% discount to buy miles, also a current 20% off to buy miles,
I am just curious? I know terrible return, but to top off into MM it might be worth it.
Apr 28, 2011, 8:51 pm
#600
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Programs: AA Advantage Starwood
Posts: 81
Not all my eggs in AA's basket
Retirment in airline stocks. Absoluely no way. I am sure I own some through mutual funds and index funds. But I have put my hopes for continuing elite status in AA. I probably will not be able to achieve this with any other airline if they get into trouble. If Amercan goes under and I lose my miles and status, I will probably be out of the frequent flyer game and will book lowest fares alone.