jcrossen

Right, I value the RDM more than you obviously, I would think I'm not alone in this ... so that would be a hit, reducing those coming in a drastically upping the fee (as US did), would be harmful. If I were EXP, it might be a different story, but as PLAT (and previously GLD), the upgrades are not "free" and not plentiful enough. IMO, no RDM bonus, effectively cuts the value of elite in half.

giggy

yeah those middle seats in biz dont win any prizes

aaupgrade

For EXP that is true.

Where it would really be noticeable would be for those who are Plat. Removing RDMs would make them almost the same as Gold, sans boarding and ahead in the upgrade queue; hardly an increase in benefits worthy of flying 50-99K annually. So with RDM changes I would see some people flying more to reach EXP, but probably see a lot more flying less since Plat would mean little in the way of additional benefits. JMO

redwall850

One money making idea for airlines would be to offer same day 24 hour buy ups to F to all customers at checkin of some amount prior to elite upgrades to F.

For example full fare F might be $2,500 fully refundable.
YUP might be $2,000 but nonrefundable.
Same day upgrades might be $60 per 500 miles offered through online check in to all customers including elites.
Elites would get seated after at the gate for $30 per 500.

This would be somewhat like bidding on travel as it reaches the end. If any passenger including elites felt F was important enough they would pay a higher bidprice to jump the Que.

JMHO
Short

giggy

Thats absurd, then no one would buy FC advance

aaupgrade

Well that is a good way to make your best customers happy.. NOT. But at least the people that found that cheapo fare and rarely fly you would be happy. What's so wrong with this picture... Oh wait, are you one of the US execs?

gemac

I think that you're right, that this would not impact the different levels of elites equally. Gold has significant other benefits over dirt - preboarding, exit row selection, sticker earning and upgrades, bag fee exemption, elite TSA and checkin lines. Gold would only lose a 25% bonus. Probably not the biggest thing in the world for Golds. There is still a significant benefit to being Gold vs. dirt.

EXPs get unlimited free domestic upgrades, VIPs, FL lounge on international travel, and the EXP desk, so that is a significant step up from Platinum.

Platinums would have the most problem with this, as the only significant difference between Gold and Plat would be AC access on international routes, something that a lot of Plats never have an opportunity to use. If someone flies enough on AA (because of schedules or non-stops, say) to achieve Gold, and has significant additional flying that might be somewhat cheaper or more convenient on another airline, they will lack incentive to channel that additional flying to AA, because Plat is not much better than Gold, and they are not getting bonus RDM on AA.

I experience this every year. As an example, I paid $100 more this year to fly AA LAX-OGG-LAX than it would have cost me on Hawaiian. I did this because I got 5,000 more miles on AA than I would have on Hawaiian (the 100% Plat bonus miles). Without the bonus miles, I would have flown Hawaiian.

If this were to happen, I think AA would see a substantial number of their Plats drop to Gold (and experience the corresponding revenue drop). Of course, AA might devise something to differentiate Plat from Gold (say, 4 eVIPs), but this would end up costing AA more than the extra redeemable miles.

jcrossen

And if you already have an AC membership, that really kills that benefit. Leaving only getting ahead of Golds on Upgrade/Standby Lists. I've done the same thing as you, paid extra on AA to get status miles to hit PLAT, ditching the 100%bonus would put a swift end to that.

ty97

Yes, I agree with this. The AAdvantage program is one of the few strong differentiators AA has. I don't think they are unwise enough to much with it.

Tango

EP's only make a tiny fraction of the people who fly on AA. If you change the rules enough to make people less loyal to AA (and they start to fly the most direct routing or best fare), not only does AA loose revenue, but many of these people sill see less value in having mileage affinity cards tied to any one airline and then you are talking about a serious revenue hit.

brp

Completely agree. When I was PLT, I was still accumulating more than using, so the bonus still wouldn't have mattered to me as much...but it would have been a larger portion of my benefits being cut than it is now, to be sure. I know I'm in the minority here, and I think catering to the likes of me in this regard is not in the best interests of the passengers or the airline...just in the best interest of me (and my wife)

Cheers.

bdemaria

I think another reason why it is unlikely for AA to follow is they way in which the bonus miles are used. When I was PLT, I understood that flying SFO-LHR would yield c. 12,500 miles, w/the bonus = 25K miles, just enough to cover a one way upgrade w/a copay. Eliminate the 100% PLT mileage bonus and you could eliminate the revenue that comes from the copays.

AAJetMan

Figures...right after I make PLT for Life.
Say it ain't so.

bdemaria

It ain't so. The thread is nothing more than speculation.

brp

But we're AA's most valuable customers according to the reps I've spoken with

Cheers.