Apr 9, 2014, 11:05 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Angry about AAdvantage devaluation / vent / what can I do? (April 2014, consolidated)
Thread referred to: Devaluation, new tiers, oneworld Explorer award gone, etc. 8 April 2014
Without any prior notification, American Airlines announced on 8 April 2014 some significant AAdvantage program rescissions and devaluations, effective immediately:
- oneworld Explorer awards can no longer be claimed; (pre-existing awards will be honored)
- Stopovers at North American gateways for international partner award tickets were eliminated
- AAnytime awards now reflect variable, demand-based pricing
- US Dividend Miles North Asia premium awards have repriced
Important Information
AAnytime Awards: Effective April 8, 2014, for tickets issued for travel starting June 1, 2014, we have updated award levels. We will continue to honor any award tickets issued on / before April 7, 2014. For award bookings after April 8 for travel between April 8 and June 1, 2014, these award mileage levels will apply.
oneworld Explorer Awards are no longer available for award booking. We will continue to honor any award tickets issued on / before April 7, 2014.
AAnytime Awards: Effective April 8, 2014, for tickets issued for travel starting June 1, 2014, we have updated award levels. We will continue to honor any award tickets issued on / before April 7, 2014. For award bookings after April 8 for travel between April 8 and June 1, 2014, these award mileage levels will apply.
oneworld Explorer Awards are no longer available for award booking. We will continue to honor any award tickets issued on / before April 7, 2014.
Possibilities for action / communication:
Here's what you can do, as stated by the U.S. Supreme Court in its recent case (Source: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions...2-462_p8k0.pdf page 13)
It is your duty to enter a complaint with the DOT at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/CP_AirlineService.htm. You can even quote this passage from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Congress has given the Department of Transportation (DOT) the general authority to prohibit and punish unfair and deceptive practices in air transportation and in the sale of air transportation, 49 U.S.C. §41712(a) , and Congress has specifically authorized the DOT to investigate complaints relating to frequent flyer programs. See FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, §408(6), 126 Stat. 87. Pursuant to these provisions, the DOT regularly entertains and acts on such complaints.
Originally Posted by ooshawn
Just wrote an unhappy letter to AA/USAir execs (all email addresses I could find), if you want to feel free to use/build off of the following:
douglas.parker<at>usairways.com,
sean.bentel<at>aa.com,
tom.horton<at>aa.com ?
Customer.Relations<at>aa.com,
ken.fischer<at>usairways.com,
robert.isom<at>usairways.com,
suzanne.rubin<at>aa.com
douglas.parker<at>usairways.com,
sean.bentel<at>aa.com,
tom.horton<at>aa.com ?
Customer.Relations<at>aa.com,
ken.fischer<at>usairways.com,
robert.isom<at>usairways.com,
suzanne.rubin<at>aa.com
Originally Posted by MyTravels
USPS:
<Executive Name>
P.O. Box 619616
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9616
<Executive Name>
P.O. Box 619616
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9616
Angry about AAdvantage devaluation / vent / what can I do? (April 2014, consolidated)
Apr 11, 2014, 4:53 pm
#212
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 385
Yes, better than DL and US but not UA which I've used several times to book partner awards, several with free international stovers.
Apr 11, 2014, 5:01 pm
#214
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Apr 11, 2014, 5:02 pm
#215
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
It's their problem to figure their way around that while still not treating people poorly.
Apr 11, 2014, 5:04 pm
#216
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 385
Apr 11, 2014, 5:05 pm
#217
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
You guys need to get over this. Frequent flyer program terms and conditions all say that airlines can unilaterally make changes or even shut a program down. At their will. You are paying for air transportation. That's what you get when you buy a plane ticket. Nowhere in your contract does it say benefits will always be the same. Deal with it and move on
Apr 11, 2014, 5:09 pm
#218
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,374
This is why I'm burning all my miles now. I'm free! Thanks AA for some great years of awesome travel experiences. During the past year or so, I've felt like you've bent me over and shoved it in. There's no loyalty left.
Apr 11, 2014, 5:13 pm
#219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Apr 11, 2014, 5:14 pm
#220
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 385
Me too and I just got a 60k Explorer award before the deadline. Problem is I've only got 23k left and I had been planning to come back from Europe on a separate off peak saver award. AS IF!
I saw the writing on the wall for all programs a few years ago. I had Delta silver for several years in a row and it was great the first year or two then started to lose benefits very rapidly. I just extrapolated that experience to all remaining legacy carries. Lo and behold...
Didn't you see the optional K-Y next to the checked baggage option?
I saw the writing on the wall for all programs a few years ago. I had Delta silver for several years in a row and it was great the first year or two then started to lose benefits very rapidly. I just extrapolated that experience to all remaining legacy carries. Lo and behold...
I'm free! Thanks AA for some great years of awesome travel experiences. During the past year or so, I've felt like you've bent me over and shoved it in. There's no loyalty left.
Apr 11, 2014, 5:15 pm
#221
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,374
Apr 11, 2014, 5:17 pm
#222
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,374
Me too and I just got a 60k Explorer award before the deadline. Problem is I've only got 23k left and I had been planning to come back from Europe on a separate off peak saver award. AS IF!
I saw the writing on the wall for all programs a few years ago. I had Delta silver for several years in a row and it was great the first year or two then started to lose benefits very rapidly. I just extrapolated that experience to all remaining legacy carries. Lo and behold...
Didn't you see the optional K-Y next to the checked baggage option?
I saw the writing on the wall for all programs a few years ago. I had Delta silver for several years in a row and it was great the first year or two then started to lose benefits very rapidly. I just extrapolated that experience to all remaining legacy carries. Lo and behold...
Didn't you see the optional K-Y next to the checked baggage option?
Apr 11, 2014, 5:19 pm
#223
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 385
Exactly - right after the bonus promotion to buy miles. And wasn't there a recent new Citi card promotion?
Sure the airlines have the prerogative to change their programs at will. In practice, however, this is just simply not done except in extenuating circumstances, i.e., Malev's rather rapid dissolution a couple years back.
Sure the airlines have the prerogative to change their programs at will. In practice, however, this is just simply not done except in extenuating circumstances, i.e., Malev's rather rapid dissolution a couple years back.
Apr 11, 2014, 5:22 pm
#224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Fair enough, I hope you will consider LCC's just to spite the biggies. I plan on doing that.
Apr 11, 2014, 5:24 pm
#225
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 385
That's the $64k question at the moment for probably 75% of the people who post to this website.
Some, myself included, say AS as you can earn with Skyteam and OW partners. However, as DL unfortunately makes aggressive moves into SEA I foresee another one biting the dust in the not too distant future. Had been hoping it would have been AA/AS merger if there had to be one but alas...
Big problem with AS is that it appears that for redeeming on partners they only offer awards between the US and other regions and also the lack of one ways on Skyteam airlines.
Some, myself included, say AS as you can earn with Skyteam and OW partners. However, as DL unfortunately makes aggressive moves into SEA I foresee another one biting the dust in the not too distant future. Had been hoping it would have been AA/AS merger if there had to be one but alas...
Big problem with AS is that it appears that for redeeming on partners they only offer awards between the US and other regions and also the lack of one ways on Skyteam airlines.