AdaQuonsett

Do you people think AA will add another week to the year as far as qualifying for elite status since there's been so many disruptions?

vasantn

It's a valid point, but I doubt it. If this had happened towards the end of the year, maybe.

bdemaria

Hmmm, interesting point. I suspect if there are any changes to the qualification requirements, I don't think it would be to add a week more b/c then in 2009 there would be only 51 weeks.

Rather, there could be greater leeway granted to people who come close to the minimums but don't quite make it.

AAir_head

As noted, up-thread, if you're close come end-of-year you may be able to appeal based on lost travel...but I wouldn't count on it being successful unless you can prove you were impacted significantly by the past few weeks of disruptions in AA's schedule (e.g., multiple itineraries you had bought were un-flyable due to the maintenance cancellations).

Given there are roughly 8 months remaining, I think it's expecting a bit too much. Get original routing credit for any re-routes or endorsements to other carriers now, while AA is in a conciliatory and generous mood; the "honeymoon" is unlikely to last longer than a few weeks.

cheers!

FWAAA

The last time AA melted down like this was mid-February, 1999, when the APA staged a sickout over the RenoAir purchase. Pilot absences caused several thousand flight cancellations until they were ordered back to work by a judge.

To help say "we're sorry" to the customers, AA offered DOUBLE EQMs for the rest of that month, about a two week window. Hasn't done that since then.

AA53

AA should worry more about customers that have switched and are never coming back. I am certain they have burned a lot of goodwill.

MIKESILV

Why would you want to fly and acquire status on an airline that you think is going to be bankrupt?

mike

Laney Hit Grice

Exactly. One of the things I have learned on FT is to just call or write AAdvantage customer service if I have a concern...they're usually very reasonable. I lost two AA EQS on an involuntary reroute through United this week; instead of fretting about it (my normal tendency), I emailed and asked if I could receive the two EQS which would have resulted from travel on AA. As suggested in other AA threads, I used the phrase involuntary reroute. Less than two hours after I wrote the email, I was notified I would receive the original EQM and EQS. Plus, I got one segment in my Mileage Plus account for the United flight.^

So, if the OP was rerouted or bagged a trip due to cancellation, he should be able to get the miles/segments. In the current circumstances I can't believe AA would make any fuss about it, at least for the next few weeks.

ndhapple

I wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of promotion for FF's to help repair the damage done by this fiasco. Especially for FF's in markets where AA doesn't have a lock and they could easily move their business to like (oh I don't know like UA at ORD, or DL at JFK, or UA or DL at LAX etc).

TrojanHorse

what was the practice in 2001 with the stoppage after 9/11; I don't believe AA gave any ground did they?

FWAAA

AA (as did some other airlines) simply extended everyone's status by one year (expired 2/28/03 instead of the expected 2/28/02).

Deltahater

Really not a valid point. A few days here or there is not a reason to extend it.

And, if you fly that much that these last few days make a difference to you, then you will requalify for EXP by May anyways...

vasantn

Yes, I was just searching for the same post that I believe you are referring to, and couldn't find it.

AA53

There is a lot of buzz about companies reducing travel...much is unnecessary and the lost time/money from this travel is huge. Big corporations are using HALO rooms and other technology in lieu of travel. This debacle could be a catalyst.

The mass apology sent by email last night from AA was sad. This company is lost.

Ready2Go

Are you sure about that? I first made GLD in the post-9/11 part of 2001, and I could have sworn that double EQMs was the carrot that got me there.