Apr 8, 2014, 2:44 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA Increases AAnytime Award Mileage Costs / Adds Tiers [8 Apr 2014]
AA Award Changes for travel as of June 1, 2014:
http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/pressrelease...light-services
• Explorer Awards (formerly known as oneworld Awards) discontinued (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...pr-2014-a.html)
• AAnytime Awards split into Levels 1, 2, 3
• MilesSAAver Awards remain split into Levels 1 (formerly Off-peak) and Level 2 (formerly Peak)
• Link to Miles tiers and requirements for award travel through May 2014
• Link to Miles tiers and requirements for awards travel as of June 1 2014
AAnytime Award Tiers by Date (note that they vary by regions)
Green = Level 1
Yellow = Level 2
Red = Level 3
CONUS Calendar:
N. America - Hawaii Calendar:
New AAnytime rates, including current Level 3 prices (no more guessing what the * means):
Moderator Note:
We would invite members who are frustrated at this change and interested in venting, or who would like to discuss ways to communicate displeasure to the powers that be, to head to this thread:
Angry about AAdvantage devaluation / vent / what can I do? (April 2014, consolidated)
AA Increases AAnytime Award Mileage Costs / Adds Tiers [8 Apr 2014]
Apr 8, 2014, 8:39 am
#79
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
Apr 8, 2014, 8:41 am
#80
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA EXP(.96MM), AMEX Platinum, United Premier Silver, Delta Gold, SPG Platinum 50, Hilton Gold VIP
Posts: 1,744
Here's what we can learn from the recent American Airlines AAdvantage Devaluations - http://first2board.com/pointssummary...-devaluations/
Apr 8, 2014, 8:45 am
#81
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Austin,TX (AUS)
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 767
I'm glad I cashed in half my miles for my trip to Italy in June. I'm looking to use more miles for my Christmas trip, probably to Paris.
This change is another reminder why one should never hoard miles for the long term. Use them as soon as you have them.
This change is another reminder why one should never hoard miles for the long term. Use them as soon as you have them.
Apr 8, 2014, 8:46 am
#82
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Belfast
Posts: 398
Exactly - quit whining, all of you. The rules have changed - a lot, as expected. And, they will continue to change in the future, probably negatively. New AA will continue to optimize its rules and regs - including for AAdvantage -- so as to optimize their profitability. Your job is to optimize your own behavior within the constraints they provide. If you don't like it, take Amtrak.
Think about it....how can you optimize your behavior? That requires planning. And that planning doesn't count for sh*t when they change the rules overnight. Think of people who have been planning explorer awards - try telling them they weren't optimizing their behavior? What a load of nonsense.
Apr 8, 2014, 8:51 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,518
Apr 8, 2014, 8:52 am
#86
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
The main inflation reason is no doubt the 100k miles credit cards etc. and AA did not have to make these available, they are completely responsible for printing their currency and selling them to credit card companies and then with no notice, slashing the value of the currency.
That is not acceptable behaviour.
That is not acceptable behaviour.
This is more like "stock watering," which is when crooked capitalists conceal crucial information about a failing business. Instead, they print/sell tons of stock to take advantage of hoodwinked investors who buy it because they don't know the business' true condition.
Stock watering was one reason why the SEC was created. Businesses are now required to file regular reports on their financial condition so investors can make educated decisions about whether to buy stock.
In this case, AA sold watered miles. AA management knew that the mile they were selling was only going to be worth 1/2 mile today. So what did it do? It issued tons of watered miles to capture as much capital as possible before its customers found out that they had been hoodwinked.
Apr 8, 2014, 8:52 am
#87
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: SPG Gold/HH Diamond/CC Gold/Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 310
I have trouble subscribing to the "Earn & Burn" method. I get that points are a devaluing currency but at the end of the day I'd rather have points available for trips I need/want to take in the future instead of burning through them ASAP.
I am disappointed with the overnight change, however. Give us at least a week, a few days, any sort of notice would have been great for those who had plans in the works and wanted to redeem at current (now former) levels.
I am disappointed with the overnight change, however. Give us at least a week, a few days, any sort of notice would have been great for those who had plans in the works and wanted to redeem at current (now former) levels.
Apr 8, 2014, 8:56 am
#88
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Apr 8, 2014, 8:57 am
#89
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
<tinfoil hat>
Could the recent delays in posting miles from new Citi AA cards be intentional, so that those people wouldn't be able to use their bonuses with the old award charts?
</tinfoil hat>
Could the recent delays in posting miles from new Citi AA cards be intentional, so that those people wouldn't be able to use their bonuses with the old award charts?
</tinfoil hat>
Apr 8, 2014, 8:57 am
#90
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Belfast
Posts: 398
This is not "inflation," which is generally an accidental outcome of mistakes in monetary policy.
This is more like "stock watering," which is when crooked capitalists conceal crucial information about a failing business. Instead, they print/sell tons of stock to take advantage of hoodwinked investors who buy it because they don't know the business' true condition.
Stock watering was one reason why the SEC was created. Businesses are now required to file regular reports on their financial condition so investors can make educated decisions about whether to buy stock.
In this case, AA sold watered miles. AA management knew that the mile they were selling was only going to be worth 1/2 mile today. So what did it do? It issued tons of watered miles to capture as much capital as possible before its customers found out that they had been hoodwinked.
This is more like "stock watering," which is when crooked capitalists conceal crucial information about a failing business. Instead, they print/sell tons of stock to take advantage of hoodwinked investors who buy it because they don't know the business' true condition.
Stock watering was one reason why the SEC was created. Businesses are now required to file regular reports on their financial condition so investors can make educated decisions about whether to buy stock.
In this case, AA sold watered miles. AA management knew that the mile they were selling was only going to be worth 1/2 mile today. So what did it do? It issued tons of watered miles to capture as much capital as possible before its customers found out that they had been hoodwinked.