Last edit by: JDiver
SWU / Rewards for EXP and Beyond [more than 200K EQP/EQM]
Executive Platinum AAdvantage members with 150,000 and 200,000 EQ Miles will automatically receive two extra SWU / Systemwide Upgrades (two at 150,000 EQM and at 200,000 EQM thereafter, earned in the same calendar year).
If you think you are eligible and have not received them, call AAdvantage Customer Service:
AAdvantage Customer Service
Have questions about your AAdvantage account or program benefits?
Call us
Within the U.S. or Canada
800-882-8880 or your elite reservation number
Monday - Friday.
8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CT
817-963-7882 (fax)
Have questions about your AAdvantage account or program benefits?
Call us
Within the U.S. or Canada
800-882-8880 or your elite reservation number
Monday - Friday.
8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CT
817-963-7882 (fax)
Rumor: new elite level(s) and low-fare product details coming
SWU / Rewards for EXP and Beyond [more than 200k EQP/EQM - what next?]
#286
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
The irony of course is that when I'm not traveling for business, all those miles are then used for long haul trips with the wife to e.g. Hong Kong.
#287
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
Wow, that's lame. So instead of being a way of formalizing the system of getting additional SWUs they have in the past, really it's just a backdoor way of making it twice as hard to get the same number of SWUs as we got last year with no real upside at all.
Feeling really good about my decision to stop spending money on AA after August this year. Status on another airline seems a lot more valuable than "overachieving" on AA.
Feeling really good about my decision to stop spending money on AA after August this year. Status on another airline seems a lot more valuable than "overachieving" on AA.
#288
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Durham, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP and 1MM, UA 1K, HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 424
I would prefer to get some "guaranteed" upgrades, similar to what is offered by BA for their top tier, than having many SWUs that have little value to me.
For BA members that qualify for Gold Guest List (GGL)' which is a an upper subset of Gold (their Emerald Tier), BA offers: A twice per membership year redemption for up to 5 people (i.e. member and up to 4 others) booked into revenue classes (A, D, T, B) rather than award classes. Such GGL redemptions are known in some quarters as Jokers. To qualify for GGL you have to earn over three times the requirement for Gold, but it is a clearly stated benefit that their best customers can strive for.
I have considered moving to the BA Avios program specifically for this benefit which would be of GREAT value to me.
They offer "upgrade certificates' similar to SWUs when you reach Gold.
#289
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
I appreciate the optimism but do not share your hope.
I would prefer to get some "guaranteed" upgrades, similar to what is offered by BA for their top tier, than having many SWUs that have little value to me.
For BA members that qualify for Gold Guest List (GGL)' which is a an upper subset of Gold (their Emerald Tier), BA offers: A twice per membership year redemption for up to 5 people (i.e. member and up to 4 others) booked into revenue classes (A, D, T, B) rather than award classes. Such GGL redemptions are known in some quarters as Jokers. To qualify for GGL you have to earn over three times the requirement for Gold, but it is a clearly stated benefit that their best customers can strive for.
I have considered moving to the BA Avios program specifically for this benefit which would be of GREAT value to me.
They offer "upgrade certificates' similar to SWUs when you reach Gold.
I would prefer to get some "guaranteed" upgrades, similar to what is offered by BA for their top tier, than having many SWUs that have little value to me.
For BA members that qualify for Gold Guest List (GGL)' which is a an upper subset of Gold (their Emerald Tier), BA offers: A twice per membership year redemption for up to 5 people (i.e. member and up to 4 others) booked into revenue classes (A, D, T, B) rather than award classes. Such GGL redemptions are known in some quarters as Jokers. To qualify for GGL you have to earn over three times the requirement for Gold, but it is a clearly stated benefit that their best customers can strive for.
I have considered moving to the BA Avios program specifically for this benefit which would be of GREAT value to me.
They offer "upgrade certificates' similar to SWUs when you reach Gold.
Still, I maintain fewer SWUs in circulation should make them easier to redeem, with everything else being equal. AA are more generous with SWUs than BAEC is with the "upgrade certificate".
#290
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: CX Diamond, AA CK (quit 2018), Starwood Platinum, National EXC Elite
Posts: 283
[QUOTE=jmappleby;27235292] I totally agree that AA (and other US airlines) could learn something from BA's treatment of very frequent flyers. @jonnyc has alluded to something coming for CY17 a few times.
Absolutely. A $55-60k spend EXP, 350k EQM flyer should not be treated the same as a $12k 100k mile flyer. There needs to be some differentiation, that is transparent. SWU's are not a reward for a J flyer. And, personally I prefer J to F anyway on the 77W.
Absolutely. A $55-60k spend EXP, 350k EQM flyer should not be treated the same as a $12k 100k mile flyer. There needs to be some differentiation, that is transparent. SWU's are not a reward for a J flyer. And, personally I prefer J to F anyway on the 77W.
#292
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,982
I am at 225k EQM for the year and have stopped flying AA/oneworld completely until early 2017 because of this limitation. I understand that some people are getting exceptions because they are big spenders, but the rest of us are pushed away. This is the kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish decision that is confusing.
#293
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Durham, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP and 1MM, UA 1K, HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 424
I am at 225k EQM for the year and have stopped flying AA/oneworld completely until early 2017 because of this limitation. I understand that some people are getting exceptions because they are big spenders, but the rest of us are pushed away. This is the kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish decision that is confusing.
#294
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I am at 225k EQM for the year and have stopped flying AA/oneworld completely until early 2017 because of this limitation. I understand that some people are getting exceptions because they are big spenders, but the rest of us are pushed away. This is the kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish decision that is confusing.
#295
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
I am at 225k EQM for the year and have stopped flying AA/oneworld completely until early 2017 because of this limitation. I understand that some people are getting exceptions because they are big spenders, but the rest of us are pushed away. This is the kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish decision that is confusing.
Of course, everyone needs to decide for themselves what's important. Personally, not getting the extra SWUs is not an issue for me.
#296
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
AA is not pushing you away as much as you are running away. Just because the brass ring shute is not working is not a good reason to get off the merry-go-round. If you're only flying AA for the future benefits you might be able to secure is not a reason to give up the benefits you've earned by flying AA.
As for the notion that SWUs are somehow going to become easier to use, for me they're very low value if they can't be confirmed at booking time. So unless AA starts releasing a lot more C inventory in advance rather than waiting until the last minute as they seem to be mostly doing these days, the theoretically improved chance of a battlefield upgrade is hardly going to offset the fact that they've cut the benefit in half.
#297
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Durham, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP and 1MM, UA 1K, HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 424
... As for the notion that SWUs are somehow going to become easier to use, for me they're very low value if they can't be confirmed at booking time. So unless AA starts releasing a lot more C inventory in advance rather than waiting until the last minute as they seem to be mostly doing these days, the theoretically improved chance of a battlefield upgrade is hardly going to offset the fact that they've cut the benefit in half.
I let 4 SWUs expire this February (I know I should have given them away).
I have 11 SWUs expiring Feb 28 2017 that I am giving away to friends and colleagues. I have only been able to use 3 this year to upgrade from J to F on TPAC flights. Looked at using 4 for a vacation trip for me and Mrs DevilDawg1960 and ended up giving up. Even with great flexibility (timing and location) could not get anything to work.
Since I won't gamble on a battlefield upgrade, I am only using them to go from J to F and there are not many opportunities for this. I will make sure that I give away what I cannot use so they do have value in that way.
You might ask "why is he fighting for more SWUs if he cannot use them?" and I would have to admit that I do not have a good answer. Maybe it is because I am competitive and more is better. I am also beginning to embrace the concept of giving them to others so they can have a better experience.
#298
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I am at 225k EQM for the year and have stopped flying AA/oneworld completely until early 2017 because of this limitation. I understand that some people are getting exceptions because they are big spenders, but the rest of us are pushed away. This is the kind of penny-wise, pound-foolish decision that is confusing.
Sometime next year, the challenges will be greater: not only will SWU clear by amount of EQD spend within each status tier, Premium Economy is quite possibly going to be the upgrade path from Main Cabin / MCE on ircraft that have it just as it is on other oneworld carriers currently, and one will have to purchase PEY to potentially upgrade to Business.
#299
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
Update on this, I received 2 SWUs for hitting 250k, and 2 more for CK, bringing me to a total of 12 this year.
Interestingly... the system has expired 4 of them, which has brought the total back down to 8.
Interestingly... the system has expired 4 of them, which has brought the total back down to 8.
#300
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First
Posts: 1,414
So.. do we get 2 extra SWUs for hitting 250k EQM, or is this discretionary based on spend? Did you have to call in? Has anyone else had any experience? Deciding whether I should put my next 100k mi of flying for the rest of the year on UA to match and maintain 1K or to just stick with AA.