AuAAdvantage

To look at it from a glass-is-half-full standpoint, chances are the seat you bought on a discount fare would have gone out empty. I'd guess that easily over 90% of legacy carrier flights (perhaps LCC as well) take off with empty seats (not counting non-revs). Every buck an airline collects is worthwhile, otherwise they wouldn't offer discount fares. Of course, walk-up/last minute exorbitant-fare bucks are appreciated more. Just looking at it from another perspective.

emcat

I agree with your observation. However, if AA only got F pax, they would be able to fly less planes while getting more revenue. I realize that this comparison is unfair and maybe unrealistic given the market, but my point is that AA has an incentive to reward full-fare F/C travel.

AuAAdvantage

Very true. But in doing that, they have to be careful not to screw over the discount fare flyer. That's how Delta lost several thousand dollars worth of business per year from myself and my family. Thay decided to give only half credit towards elite status on discount fares and had the nerve to call it an "enhancement" (like I'm too dumb to figure out I'm getting the shaft!), even though the elite status they gave me (Silver Medallion) cost them virtually nothing. Well, bottom line is that AA's coffers got enhanced, at least in my case.

BenjaminNYC

That's why I like the AA/UA system best. You can get Elite on base miles, but you can ALSO get it faster on higher fares. It's "fair" - no pun intended!

tinkybelle

I am 47500 q pts and 33k miles.
Would i have any chance of asking for plat status next year?

I just couldnt put myself on another flight this year.

azmmza

do a mr if you want to be plt next year

logic would say that they would want to keep you as a AA flyer but on the other hand if 47.5 q points were enough then they would lower the thresh hold for plt to that. its a tough call but they do have to make it now and then.
what i think AA should do is add a new category for earning elite status. now they have miles and points they should also add revenue, i.e. at $5000 you get gold regardless of how many miles were flown and 10 grand you would get plt and at 20 grand exp. i know that people spend way more than i do every year and are not even platinum its kind of strange that i get recognized as a better customer and spend less. of course in my revenue model only flights flown on AA metal would count but i dint see them making any changes to elite qualification requirements any time soon

kanebear

TWA had something exactly thike this... I recall reading about it shortly before they went *poof*. You could qualify on miles and/or revenue. They didn't have a points situation.

Also, is it just me or does AA seem to be backing away from the no waivers/favors stance just a tad? Quite a few times recently I've had change fees waived and the agents have really gone the extra mile to help me out. For a while there (early '04) even on paid J/F travel I was given zero lattitude.

TxAA Flyer

Why not make a trip from Austin To DFW to HPN to SFO-DFWto Austin, then enjoy all of next year!

TxAA Flyer

elimuli

You have another few days, take a day, find a cheap place to fly to, and fly straight back. mia, sea, lax, fll.....

SuperSnoop

That might be difficult, since he needed the miles in 2003.

rnprasad

I am in a similar boat. I have 95,500 Q points for this year so far and about 80K Q miles. One of my international trip got cancelled earlier this month and could not reach 100K. I have requested explat desk for consideration and still waiting for reply. One problem in my case is that, I have about 22K q points have not showed up yet as they are from BA and CX and I sent fax copies of boarding passes.

Once I get the reply from AAdvantage, I will let you guys know of the exceptions from this year.

Prasad

andrzej

I think that elimuli was replying to tinkybelle's post (#50).

JonNYC

Your situation is different. The BA and CX flights will eventually post and that will solve your problem. You are not seeking an "exception" at all. (Unless you are saying that the missing 22K are already included in the 95,500 figure?)

In any case, AAdvantage keeps a "phantom counter" for lack of a better term, for such cases, i.e. even if those last 2 2004 flights don't post until 2005, you'll be instantly made EP as if they credited on time. Again, assuming that's what you meant. Other than that, w/ 95.5 Q-points-- I'd plan a run if I were you.

Neal

If you're theory is correct, I may have benefited from it a few years ago. Back in 2001, before I reached 2MM/Lifetime Platinum, I had signed up for the Platinum Challenge. The first 7,000 or so points I had earned, were from flights flown on discounted tickets. But for the remaining points needed, I bought a paid F class ticket from MIA-LAX, including a few intra state flights in California. (Those flights were in paid F as well.)

This rather expensive "mileage run" was scheduled to begin on 09/13/01, just days before my "challenge" deadline. But due to "9-11," all planes were grounded thus not allowing me to complete the challenge. I called AAdvantage CS and asked if my Platinum Challenge deadline could be extended so that I would still have a shot at Platinum status. I told the rep that my planned, (but cancelled,) trip would have given me Platinum. She then looked up my reservation and after a reviewing it, said, "How about if I just move you up to Platinum right now?" I didn't argue.

While 9-11 certainly was beyond my control, would I have gotten that same treatment if my upcoming flights were on discounted tickets? Although, I'll never know for sure, I have a feeling that's why I was given Platinum status.