AA EXP Expiration Question
Jan 16, 2001, 4:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 26
AA EXP Expiration Question
I just noticed that my 2000 EXP card does not expire until Feb 2002. Everything I can find says the EXP must be re-qualified for each year. Does being a multi-million miler offer a year of "grace" in case I do not re-qualify?
Any info will be appreciated
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Fundi
Any info will be appreciated
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Fundi
Jan 16, 2001, 4:24 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: los angeles
Programs: Hyatt Courtesy card. Delta 2MM Diamond. AA platinum pro
Posts: 1,898
On AA, all elite levels last an extra 2 months, presumably so all miles can be credited and credentials sent out and received.
Jan 16, 2001, 6:37 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FTFOE
Programs: TalkBoard: We discuss / ad nauseum things that mean / so very little
Posts: 10,225
FFFundi: First a couple of definitions for elite status membership. The qualification year follows the calendar year 01Jan to 31Dec, whereas the membership year runs from 01Mar to the following 28Feb (29Feb in leap years). When you qualify for elite status, you get to enjoy the benefits of that status level for the remainder of the current membership year, plus the next membership year. Thus your 2000 EXP card with a Feb2002 expiry suggests to me that you qualified for EXP sometime between 01Mar2000 and 31Dec2000. This gets you EXP status from the time you qualified through 28Feb2001 (end of current membership year) and all the way to 28Feb2002 (next membership year).
Voila, as clear as mud!
FewMiles..
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Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage: http://home.webflyer.com/fewmiles/AA/
Voila, as clear as mud!
FewMiles..
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Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage: http://home.webflyer.com/fewmiles/AA/
Jan 16, 2001, 6:55 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Seattle
Posts: 933
The best part about this rule is that you could make a mega mileage run (a big RTW, for example) in January, qualify as EXP, and be EXP for 25 months.
Someone who qualifies in Jan. 2001 would be a member until Feb. 2003!
Someone who qualifies in Jan. 2001 would be a member until Feb. 2003!
Jan 16, 2001, 7:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,290
Oh.. oh...
This seems to work badly for me. I qualified on 19th December 2000, which means that I have status through Feb 2002. This is barely
14.5 months. I lose out by 10.5 months from the maximum, am I right or left? December seems to be the worst month to qualify for status!
Maple
PS. by the way, FewMiles, I just surfed to your website and chanced upon the glossary which mentioned that an undocumented feature is the *chance* of earning class of service bonuses on operationally upgraded sectors. I was comped from Y to C recently, but earned no CoS bonuses. Any comment? (not that I am not already completely elated by the comped 12hr international flight!)
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Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
[This message has been edited by maple (edited 01-16-2001).]
This seems to work badly for me. I qualified on 19th December 2000, which means that I have status through Feb 2002. This is barely
14.5 months. I lose out by 10.5 months from the maximum, am I right or left? December seems to be the worst month to qualify for status!
Maple
PS. by the way, FewMiles, I just surfed to your website and chanced upon the glossary which mentioned that an undocumented feature is the *chance* of earning class of service bonuses on operationally upgraded sectors. I was comped from Y to C recently, but earned no CoS bonuses. Any comment? (not that I am not already completely elated by the comped 12hr international flight!)
------------------
Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
[This message has been edited by maple (edited 01-16-2001).]
Jan 16, 2001, 8:03 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,290
Wait a minute... I do not agree with PaulSEA1. Methinks that if one qualifies in, say, January 2001, then his status runs through Feb 2001 (current membership year) and onto Feb 2002 (new membership year). That's 14 months. Not for 26 months until Feb 2003.
If someone qualifies in March 2001, for example, then he would enjoy status through Feb 2002 (current) onto Feb 2003 (new), making it 24 months. So March's the longest and most AAdvantageous qualifying motnh I guess.
Again, right or left, FewMiles?
Maple
------------------
Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
If someone qualifies in March 2001, for example, then he would enjoy status through Feb 2002 (current) onto Feb 2003 (new), making it 24 months. So March's the longest and most AAdvantageous qualifying motnh I guess.
Again, right or left, FewMiles?
Maple
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Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
Jan 16, 2001, 8:37 pm
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,664
Sorry Maple, you are wrong. Anyone who qualifies during 2001 will retain his or her status through Feb 2003 -- no matter when it was earned.
For example, I qualified for Exec Plat status in December 1999. My status was good from Dec 1999 until Feb 2001. I requaled for Exec Plat status in December 2000 and will be Exec Plat until Feb 2002.
--Jim
For example, I qualified for Exec Plat status in December 1999. My status was good from Dec 1999 until Feb 2001. I requaled for Exec Plat status in December 2000 and will be Exec Plat until Feb 2002.
--Jim
Jan 16, 2001, 8:43 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,290
Yo,
I was chatting online with 2 Many Miles and learnt of my mistake. Before I could come back and remove the silly *newbish* comments, you popped by. So I cannot hide my shame anywhere now...!
But it's anyway a cause for joy!
I was chatting online with 2 Many Miles and learnt of my mistake. Before I could come back and remove the silly *newbish* comments, you popped by. So I cannot hide my shame anywhere now...!
But it's anyway a cause for joy!
Jan 16, 2001, 11:24 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FTFOE
Programs: TalkBoard: We discuss / ad nauseum things that mean / so very little
Posts: 10,225
Originally posted by JIMBOLIGUY:
... Anyone who qualifies during 2001 will retain his or her status through Feb 2003 -- no matter when it was earned.
... Anyone who qualifies during 2001 will retain his or her status through Feb 2003 -- no matter when it was earned.
Qualifying after 01Mar, then certainly you get status till Feb2003.maple: Re: op-upgds and CoS bonuses, this relates to how your op-upgd is processed. It's something like this: If they somehow put you in J inventory then you'll get the J CoS bonus, but if they just twiddle with your seat assignment so that you end up in the J cabin, then no CoS bonus. I've got no experience in this matter, so others will be able to provide a better answer.
FewMiles..
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Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage: http://home.webflyer.com/fewmiles/AA/
Jan 17, 2001, 2:08 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 26
Everyone, thanks for your ideas.
I have been EXP since the programs inception, so FewMiles theory doesnt seem to work in my case.
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Fundi
I have been EXP since the programs inception, so FewMiles theory doesnt seem to work in my case.
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Fundi
Jan 17, 2001, 8:21 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FTFOE
Programs: TalkBoard: We discuss / ad nauseum things that mean / so very little
Posts: 10,225
Info duly noted, FFFundi! Is the "expiry" for EXP determined differently than for the other levels, then?
FewMiles..
FewMiles..
Jan 17, 2001, 10:35 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,290
What I learnt is this, so correct me if I have gone astray.
Assume qualification in January 2001:
(1) Current membership year (for
qualification in Jan2001) is actually Mar2001-Feb2002.
(2) New membership year runs from Mar2002-Feb2003.
(1)+(2)=Membership from Jan2001 through end of current membership year (Feb2002) plus next membership year from Mar2002 till Feb2003.
In short, this analysis suggests that qualification in Jan 2001, (or any other date in 2001) retains status till Feb2003.
The second, less generous analysis is this, again assuming Jan 2001 qualification.
(1) Current membership year started in Mar2000 and ends Feb2001 (because although Jan2001 is the start of the qualifying year, it still belongs to the old membership year).
(2) New membership year runs from Mar2001 to Feb2002.
(1)+(2)=Qualification in Jan2001 earns status only till Feb2002.
Well, which is which? The main confusion lies in the fact that Jan & Feb, although belonging to a new qualifying year, belong to the old membership year.
I am more supportive of the analysis that since Jan & Feb are months belonging to the new qualifying year, the membership year that they relate to should not be that of the old one. Hence, I am supportive of the 26 months membership school of thought. But then again, who doesn't?
FewMiles: Qualifying for EXP by Feb, or even Jan, does not seem to be too far-fetched if we do the sums.
Take me for example,
YUL-DFW-NRT-DFW-YUL=15880 q-points
First Class CoS=7940 q-points
Total per trip=23,820 q-points
100,000 q-points divided by that works out to be about 4.2 trips. To bring that down to 4 trips, a funky routing would do the trick, perhaps eg. YUL-BOS-JFK-DFW-NRT (I love YUL-BOS because it fully maximises the minimum 500 q-points rule).
Of course I am assuming the luxury of flying in First Class with the 1.50 q-points per mile flown thinggy! But see, it's not highly unlikely!
Back to the topic, will someone who knows an angel on the EXP desk care to find out which analysis is the one practiced by AA? Or maybe RDURES1 could comment.
Thanks in advance!
Maple
------------------
Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
Assume qualification in January 2001:
(1) Current membership year (for
qualification in Jan2001) is actually Mar2001-Feb2002.
(2) New membership year runs from Mar2002-Feb2003.
(1)+(2)=Membership from Jan2001 through end of current membership year (Feb2002) plus next membership year from Mar2002 till Feb2003.
In short, this analysis suggests that qualification in Jan 2001, (or any other date in 2001) retains status till Feb2003.
The second, less generous analysis is this, again assuming Jan 2001 qualification.
(1) Current membership year started in Mar2000 and ends Feb2001 (because although Jan2001 is the start of the qualifying year, it still belongs to the old membership year).
(2) New membership year runs from Mar2001 to Feb2002.
(1)+(2)=Qualification in Jan2001 earns status only till Feb2002.
Well, which is which? The main confusion lies in the fact that Jan & Feb, although belonging to a new qualifying year, belong to the old membership year.
I am more supportive of the analysis that since Jan & Feb are months belonging to the new qualifying year, the membership year that they relate to should not be that of the old one. Hence, I am supportive of the 26 months membership school of thought. But then again, who doesn't?
FewMiles: Qualifying for EXP by Feb, or even Jan, does not seem to be too far-fetched if we do the sums.
Take me for example,
YUL-DFW-NRT-DFW-YUL=15880 q-points
First Class CoS=7940 q-points
Total per trip=23,820 q-points
100,000 q-points divided by that works out to be about 4.2 trips. To bring that down to 4 trips, a funky routing would do the trick, perhaps eg. YUL-BOS-JFK-DFW-NRT (I love YUL-BOS because it fully maximises the minimum 500 q-points rule).
Of course I am assuming the luxury of flying in First Class with the 1.50 q-points per mile flown thinggy! But see, it's not highly unlikely!
Back to the topic, will someone who knows an angel on the EXP desk care to find out which analysis is the one practiced by AA? Or maybe RDURES1 could comment.
Thanks in advance!
Maple
------------------
Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
Jan 17, 2001, 11:28 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, BA Gold
Posts: 876
Q-points accumulate on a Jan-Dec basis. Membership year runs from Mar-Feb. If you accrue 100K points in Jan or Dec, no matter - you've achieved EXP status during the prescribed amount of time (the Jan-Dec qualifying year) and that status is valid for the remainder of the membership year, plus the next membership year. Thus, if you make EXP anytime in 2001 - whether it's Jan or Dec - your status will run thru Mar 2003.
Jan 17, 2001, 3:20 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,290
Which means you are supportive of the more generous analysis. Eg. Qualification in January 2001 enjoys status for the last two months of the previous membership year (Mar2000-Feb2001), plus the remaining of the current membership year (Mar2001-Feb2002) plus the new membership year (Mar2002-Feb2003). 26 months in all, incredible, unbelievable.
But if you strictly follow this idea, then one might contend that people who "qualify" in Jan/Feb 2001 might not be able to use their status before Mar 2001, since Jan/Feb2001 belong to the old membership year for which they were not qualified.
On the other hand, if it is insisted that Jan/Feb2001 be included since they are a part of "current year", then membership should only last through Feb2002, since "current year" would then refer to Mar2000-Feb2001, and new year referring to Mar2001-Feb2002. You cannot have both slices of cake and eat them both (unless AAdvantage is truly thus AAdvantageous!).
Do you guys get what I mean? It seems untrue that qualification in Jan2001 enjoys status for the last 2 months of the previous membership year, plus all of the current membership year, plus all of the next membership year!
FewMiles, please get us some input on this! Actually, I think that this is truly worth noting. Thanks!
Maple
------------------
Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
But if you strictly follow this idea, then one might contend that people who "qualify" in Jan/Feb 2001 might not be able to use their status before Mar 2001, since Jan/Feb2001 belong to the old membership year for which they were not qualified.
On the other hand, if it is insisted that Jan/Feb2001 be included since they are a part of "current year", then membership should only last through Feb2002, since "current year" would then refer to Mar2000-Feb2001, and new year referring to Mar2001-Feb2002. You cannot have both slices of cake and eat them both (unless AAdvantage is truly thus AAdvantageous!).
Do you guys get what I mean? It seems untrue that qualification in Jan2001 enjoys status for the last 2 months of the previous membership year, plus all of the current membership year, plus all of the next membership year!
FewMiles, please get us some input on this! Actually, I think that this is truly worth noting. Thanks!
Maple
------------------
Flew every one of those 25,000 Q-miles and onto 50,000!
Jan 17, 2001, 4:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Where the West begins !
Posts: 987
I believe everyone was right at one time, and also wrong at one time the more we composed.
Any elite qualifying flights you take in year 2001 (Jan thru Dec) are towards the membership year Mar 1 2002 thru Feb 28 2003.
If you get 100K in January 2001 and didnt fly AAdvantage again the remainder of the year, you have qualified EP for the membership year beginning March 1 2002 as they will run the evaluation on Jan 1 2002 and look at your total 2001 miles. You are meanwhile grandfathered into the reminder of the current year (2001), if you do not already have that status.
This is straight qualification logic. No challenges, thats a whole different program (and yes, there are no EP challenges, but otherwise).
[This message has been edited by Island (edited 01-17-2001).]
Any elite qualifying flights you take in year 2001 (Jan thru Dec) are towards the membership year Mar 1 2002 thru Feb 28 2003.
If you get 100K in January 2001 and didnt fly AAdvantage again the remainder of the year, you have qualified EP for the membership year beginning March 1 2002 as they will run the evaluation on Jan 1 2002 and look at your total 2001 miles. You are meanwhile grandfathered into the reminder of the current year (2001), if you do not already have that status.
This is straight qualification logic. No challenges, thats a whole different program (and yes, there are no EP challenges, but otherwise).
[This message has been edited by Island (edited 01-17-2001).]