Oct 29, 2012, 6:59 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST
NOTE: AA has announced there will be NO SOFT LANDING in 2014. Those lacking sufficient EQM/EQP/EQS to make status 1 mar 2014 will not "fall" one status level; they will "fall" to whatever level they actually earned flying in C/Y 2013. Link.
AAdvantage status "soft landing" is the experience of dropping only one status level when one has not flown sufficiently to maintain current level, or even retain a lower level, of status. Through status year ending 28 Feb 2013, EXP only "fell" to Platinum, Platinum to Gold (and Gold to white card / no status) regardless of how the status was originally earned, the next status year.
~American AAdvantage Moderation Team
NOTE: AA has announced there will be NO SOFT LANDING in 2014. Those lacking sufficient EQM/EQP/EQS to make status 1 mar 2014 will not "fall" one status level; they will "fall" to whatever level they actually earned flying in C/Y 2013. Link.
AAdvantage status "soft landing" is the experience of dropping only one status level when one has not flown sufficiently to maintain current level, or even retain a lower level, of status. Through status year ending 28 Feb 2013, EXP only "fell" to Platinum, Platinum to Gold (and Gold to white card / no status) regardless of how the status was originally earned, the next status year.
~American AAdvantage Moderation Team
2012-13 AA "Soft Landing" / Status Downgrade: discussion & experiences (consolidated)
Dec 12, 2012, 10:09 am
#61
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 5
yes, forgot to mention that I had signed up. the trip on miles will put me a tad over with the double elite it will give me enough buffer as well.
Dec 12, 2012, 10:14 am
#62
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Jan 19, 2013, 4:35 am
#63
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Nice
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AA Concierge Key, Delta, United, Emorates, and others
Posts: 4,694
Were 2011 soft landings universal?
In another board I mentioned that three of my colleagues had been downgraded from EXP to Gold (I mistyped as Silver) when their company contact with AA expired at the end of 2009 and they had zero flights on AA in 2010. They'd all three already qualified for EXP for 2010, but had nothing for 2011 and were given Gold. That was soft, in a way, since they were entitled to nothing at all, but it was not the single tier downgrade mentioned here and elsewhere. BTW, all of these people are non-US members and have flown AA almost exclusively between their home country and the US.
Another poster accusing me of falsifying this story, insisting that the soft landings have been hardwired for all AAdvantage members.
Does anybody here have knowledge of:
1. Whether the soft landings were hard wired for all AAdvantage members or just residents of certain countries or otehr factors?
2. If soft landings were hard wired, how could the single year drop from EXP to Gold have happened?
Another poster accusing me of falsifying this story, insisting that the soft landings have been hardwired for all AAdvantage members.
Does anybody here have knowledge of:
1. Whether the soft landings were hard wired for all AAdvantage members or just residents of certain countries or otehr factors?
2. If soft landings were hard wired, how could the single year drop from EXP to Gold have happened?
Jan 19, 2013, 4:55 am
#64
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 161
In another board I mentioned that three of my colleagues had been downgraded from EXP to Gold (I mistyped as Silver) when their company contact with AA expired at the end of 2009 and they had zero flights on AA in 2010. They'd all three already qualified for EXP for 2010, but had nothing for 2011 and were given Gold. That was soft, in a way, since they were entitled to nothing at all, but it was not the single tier downgrade mentioned here and elsewhere. BTW, all of these people are non-US members and have flown AA almost exclusively between their home country and the US.
Another poster accusing me of falsifying this story, insisting that the soft landings have been hardwired for all AAdvantage members.
Does anybody here have knowledge of:
1. Whether the soft landings were hard wired for all AAdvantage members or just residents of certain countries or otehr factors?
2. If soft landings were hard wired, how could the single year drop from EXP to Gold have happened?
Another poster accusing me of falsifying this story, insisting that the soft landings have been hardwired for all AAdvantage members.
Does anybody here have knowledge of:
1. Whether the soft landings were hard wired for all AAdvantage members or just residents of certain countries or otehr factors?
2. If soft landings were hard wired, how could the single year drop from EXP to Gold have happened?
Jan 19, 2013, 5:00 am
#65
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Nice
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AA Concierge Key, Delta, United, Emorates, and others
Posts: 4,694
Actually I did that myself one year when I lost a corporate discount on AA but retained it on DL, making AA roughly 50% more expensive on my typical routes at the time. I had more than 6mm miles on AAdvantage at the time so I retained Lifetime Platinum. Your explanation was what I assumed, even though a seemingly knowledgable person says that it was impossible to have dropped more than one tier a year.
Jan 19, 2013, 7:37 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,714
Actually I did that myself one year when I lost a corporate discount on AA but retained it on DL, making AA roughly 50% more expensive on my typical routes at the time. I had more than 6mm miles on AAdvantage at the time so I retained Lifetime Platinum. Your explanation was what I assumed, even though a seemingly knowledgable person says that it was impossible to have dropped more than one tier a year.
ETA: I've just seen who the 'knowledgeable person' is and he is often right...but he's not infallible
On a separate note, it has been reported on another board that the soft landings are going away. This apparently comes from a phone conversation with an AA CS agent.
Last edited by Stripy; Jan 19, 2013 at 8:04 am
Jan 19, 2013, 7:42 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.6MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 838
A friend of mine who has been EXP for ten years didn't fly as much last year (65,000 miles by his recollection). He was shocked to receive EXP status for this year and chalked it up to his long term relationship with AA.
Jan 19, 2013, 8:00 pm
#68
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
How many points did he have, though? Was he doing any paid flights in first or business, or full fare coach. Any other factors in play?
Jan 19, 2013, 8:14 pm
#69
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
We do have some posts claiming members have received EXP renewal without making the actual required numbers.
Jan 20, 2013, 1:23 pm
#70
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
How did your friend find out that he received EXP status for this year? I did not reach the requalification requirements last year, but I have yet to receive my 2013 credentials (which will presumably be 2013 PLT credentials).
Feb 2, 2013, 7:21 am
#71
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
I had EXP through the UA status match and will lose that status - either soft landing or no status if they don't offer it. I do have a flight currently booked in March - will my EXP status still reflect on that reservation for the purpose of upgrading, retaining exit row seat (if no soft landing), etc?
Oct 6, 2013, 11:18 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: TX
Programs: Marriot Plat Elite, AA EXP, Nat Exec Elite
Posts: 192
Is soft landing gone or am I being schnookered?
I am EXP now and will not make even fly enough to make PLT this year. I thought I would soft land to PLT anyway but then got this e-mail from AA:
Hello PAX,
AAdvantageŽ Executive Platinum Number: XXXXXXX
You currently hold AAdvantageŽ Executive Platinum status, but it looks like you haven't had a chance to fly quite as much this year. You have 30,454 AAdvantage elite-qualifying miles, 23,371 points and 39 segments but, not to worry! We're going to help you reach Platinum with a special shortcut:
Fly a little more and you're Platinum
Only 10,000 more points
......
Here's how to qualify: Register by November 15, 2013 with code STR13. Keep flying American or our elite-qualifying participant airlines through December 31, 2013 to reach your goal of 10,000 more elite-qualifying points. Once you do, you're set to enjoy Platinum status beginning on March 1, 2014. Of course, you'll continue to enjoy your current Executive Platinum benefits until then.
Hello PAX,
AAdvantageŽ Executive Platinum Number: XXXXXXX
You currently hold AAdvantageŽ Executive Platinum status, but it looks like you haven't had a chance to fly quite as much this year. You have 30,454 AAdvantage elite-qualifying miles, 23,371 points and 39 segments but, not to worry! We're going to help you reach Platinum with a special shortcut:
Fly a little more and you're Platinum
Only 10,000 more points
......
Here's how to qualify: Register by November 15, 2013 with code STR13. Keep flying American or our elite-qualifying participant airlines through December 31, 2013 to reach your goal of 10,000 more elite-qualifying points. Once you do, you're set to enjoy Platinum status beginning on March 1, 2014. Of course, you'll continue to enjoy your current Executive Platinum benefits until then.
Oct 6, 2013, 11:21 am
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
Oct 6, 2013, 11:55 am
#74
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
