AAdvantage Dynamic Air Awards for Elites [to be discontinued 1 April 2014]
Aug 2, 2011, 4:35 pm
#76
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev
Posts: 2,593
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By the way, the T&C state the same: not eligible for upgrades. (listed under header "restrictions")
By the way, the T&C state the same: not eligible for upgrades. (listed under header "restrictions")
Aug 2, 2011, 4:37 pm
#77
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
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My answer was based strictly on the information posted on the page describing these awards. Near the bottom, there's a row "Eligible for Upgrades" (or something like that). "No" is indicated in the column for Dynamic Awards.
Of course, we all know that things don't always work "in real life" the way the policy is written.
My answer was based strictly on the information posted on the page describing these awards. Near the bottom, there's a row "Eligible for Upgrades" (or something like that). "No" is indicated in the column for Dynamic Awards.
Of course, we all know that things don't always work "in real life" the way the policy is written.
I had looked at that chart again after posting and found that too (and was just about to edit previous post, but no point now). From the chart it does seem pretty clear.
So, now my question just reduces down to the curious nature of the fare buckets being displayed. I guess AA must have some sort of internal flag other than fare bucket that determines if the flight earns miles and is upgradeable.
Aug 2, 2011, 5:05 pm
#78
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
I suspect many with the negative comments based on a first-spin of the tool may just be a little too narrowly focused on this product vs. MilesAAver awards. I find this gives more options...for example, on days where there are no MilesAAver awards for a trip to Vegas, several Dynamic Air Award options exist starting at 30k miles RT.
Aug 2, 2011, 5:20 pm
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
I believe this, combined with the increase in certain award "prices" (HI flights being the notable one on TB),
....
Raising the award price for HI, a favorite of once-per-year travelers who get all their points on credit cards, is a no brainer: they'll pay 10k more r/t for a "free" flight to HI. After all, that's the one and only thing they've been saving the miles for all year.
...
....
Raising the award price for HI, a favorite of once-per-year travelers who get all their points on credit cards, is a no brainer: they'll pay 10k more r/t for a "free" flight to HI. After all, that's the one and only thing they've been saving the miles for all year.
...
Hawaii Saver Awards are still 35K RT for Economy and 75K RT for First/Business
They were this way the last time the FT wiki was updated in March 2010
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...edule_%28AA%29
And they remain that way today when viewed on AA.com
http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/f...ward-chart.jsp
Aug 2, 2011, 6:25 pm
#80
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: ORD/PSP
Programs: AA LT Plat, 6.0 MM, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,002
Out of curiosity, I checked 9/2 one way STL-BOS, which was only available as a 25K AA award. Here it's 17K, a pretty substantial reduction. Maybe still not a great buy, but....
Last edited by siankaan1; Aug 2, 2011 at 6:29 pm Reason: Removed "too", one can never have too many miles!
Aug 2, 2011, 6:39 pm
#81
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 37
That's my point, there were plenty of MileSaaver seats available for the same flights, so why would I deliberately use the Dynamic site and pay 5k more in miles?
Aug 2, 2011, 6:48 pm
#82
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053
Aug 2, 2011, 7:16 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
DynAir makes some sense though I think it'll be case-by-case for sure...
NYC to SEA
Eco MileSAAver 1-stop T 12.5k
Eco AAnytime non-stop Y 25k
Eco DynAir non-stop Q 17k
Biz/First MilesSAAver non-stop Z 25k
DynAir makes sense if:
1) You know the route is popular, so no point booking Y hoping to upgrade. (That is, if 25k Z MileSAAver is not available. Not the case here.)
2) Save 8k flying non-stop vs. AAnytime Y
NYC to SEA
Eco MileSAAver 1-stop T 12.5k
Eco AAnytime non-stop Y 25k
Eco DynAir non-stop Q 17k
Biz/First MilesSAAver non-stop Z 25k
DynAir makes sense if:
1) You know the route is popular, so no point booking Y hoping to upgrade. (That is, if 25k Z MileSAAver is not available. Not the case here.)
2) Save 8k flying non-stop vs. AAnytime Y
Due to a combination of many AA miles and concerns about the long term program, I've started thinking about using some for less valuable things than international business.
Out of curiosity, I checked 9/2 one way STL-BOS, which was only available as a 25K AA award. Here it's 17K, a pretty substantial reduction. Maybe still not a great buy, but....
Out of curiosity, I checked 9/2 one way STL-BOS, which was only available as a 25K AA award. Here it's 17K, a pretty substantial reduction. Maybe still not a great buy, but....
Thanks in advance.
Aug 2, 2011, 7:32 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,541
Aug 2, 2011, 7:41 pm
#85
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,541
Agreed....I'm sure when the site is performing well, we'll see how the valuation scales.
Two things appear certain:
- On cheap, far-in-advance bookings, you're getting about 1cpm. It's a poor option for that scenario.
- On a very expensive "I have to be on this exact flight tomorrow", mingw's post early in the thread - an $1,120 R/T fare for 49k, the system does indeed seem smart enough to cap at the AAnytime award level.
So the question is what that value/redemption curve looks like in between our notional $150 R/T and our notional $1,000+ R/T. Maybe there's a narrow sweet spot in there somewhere...a place where you can get close to 2cpm and redeem somewhat less than 50,000 miles for the award.
I think of my own worst-case scenario: needing a last-minute one-way that would run about $400. (I seem to get that one once a year or so.) Could I get it for 20k instead of 25k? Who knows...
Two things appear certain:
- On cheap, far-in-advance bookings, you're getting about 1cpm. It's a poor option for that scenario.
- On a very expensive "I have to be on this exact flight tomorrow", mingw's post early in the thread - an $1,120 R/T fare for 49k, the system does indeed seem smart enough to cap at the AAnytime award level.
So the question is what that value/redemption curve looks like in between our notional $150 R/T and our notional $1,000+ R/T. Maybe there's a narrow sweet spot in there somewhere...a place where you can get close to 2cpm and redeem somewhat less than 50,000 miles for the award.
I think of my own worst-case scenario: needing a last-minute one-way that would run about $400. (I seem to get that one once a year or so.) Could I get it for 20k instead of 25k? Who knows...
On expensive flights/routes, where there are no Saver Awards, the redemption rate is so close to the AAnytime rate, that it is not a relevant advantage. Maybe there will be some pop up exceptions, but I have a sense this will be the proximate concept/formula.
Aug 2, 2011, 7:47 pm
#86
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: AA 1MM
Posts: 3,182
The AA AAdvantage Award Chart has NOT changed.
Hawaii Saver Awards are still 35K RT for Economy and 75K RT for First/Business
They were this way the last time the FT wiki was updated in March 2010
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...edule_%28AA%29
And they remain that way today when viewed on AA.com
http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/f...ward-chart.jsp
Hawaii Saver Awards are still 35K RT for Economy and 75K RT for First/Business
They were this way the last time the FT wiki was updated in March 2010
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...edule_%28AA%29
And they remain that way today when viewed on AA.com
http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/f...ward-chart.jsp
Aug 2, 2011, 8:14 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
http://www.travelingbetter.com/forum...3&postcount=21
F/J North America to Hawaii has been 37.5K for a while now.
Aug 2, 2011, 8:21 pm
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
I suspect many with the negative comments based on a first-spin of the tool may just be a little too narrowly focused on this product vs. MilesAAver awards. I find this gives more options...for example, on days where there are no MilesAAver awards for a trip to Vegas, several Dynamic Air Award options exist starting at 30k miles RT.
We do have to hope that they don't reduce overall MilesAAver availability.
But I still think it's bad value for the mileage. IMO, any domestic mileage award except maybe Transcon premium class isn't great value, even at the MilesAAver level. Except perhaps for a last minute trip where there is plenty of inventory but not enough advance purchase for reasonable fares.
Me, I'll stick to international premium awards, preferably on partners...
Aug 2, 2011, 8:31 pm
#90
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
Annoyingly, when I log in it allows me to see redemption rates so I'm assuming I'll only find out for sure that I've been discriminated against when I try to confirm my request.