Oct 28, 2014, 7:12 am
Last edit by: JDiver
HELP: JUST THE FACTS / FAQs: Combined AA/US AAdvantage FFP 2014 on
PLEASE NOTE: this thread has been re dedicated for "JUST THE FACTS" in an attempt to raise the signal to noise ratio, allowing members to find germane information about the AAdvantage program (merged pre-merger AAdvantage, and Dividend Miles, now under way) program and get factual answers to your / frequently asked questions from experienced members.
REACTION DISCUSSION: Combined AA/US AAdvantage program announced Oct 2014 – opinions
Please use the thread started for impressions, opinions, reactions, feelings, concerns, etc. and keep this thread for "JUST THE FACTS" and ACTUAL REPLIES. And of course, feel free to add new facts and findings to this wiki for members' ease in finding information on the new FFP.
Thank you, the AA fora moderation team
REACTION DISCUSSION: Combined AA/US AAdvantage program announced Oct 2014 – opinions
Please use the thread started for impressions, opinions, reactions, feelings, concerns, etc. and keep this thread for "JUST THE FACTS" and ACTUAL REPLIES. And of course, feel free to add new facts and findings to this wiki for members' ease in finding information on the new FFP.
Thank you, the AA fora moderation team
AAdvantage loyalty program in 2015 - LINK
The AAdvantage program will continue to offer three elite status levels – AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum and Gold – and you’ll still have three ways to qualify with elite-qualifying miles, points and segments. On January 1, 2015, the segment qualification requirement for Executive Platinum will move to 120, and the current 100 segment threshold will continue until December 31, 2014.
Three tiers:
- Executive Platinum - 100k EQM / 100k EQP / 120 Segments
- Platinum - 50k EQM / 50k EQP / 60 Segments
- Gold - 25k EQM / 25k EQP / 30 Segments
Elite Status Benefits:
- AAdvantage elite status members receive select reciprocal benefits to enrich their travel journey when flying on US Airways.
- This includes upgrades on US Airways on the day of departure when available, First/Business Class check-in, priority through security checkpoints, priority boarding, complimentary checked bags, access to preferred seats, and priority baggage delivery for Executive Platinum and Platinum members.
- Upgrades will still be different on American and US Airways flights until we have a single reservation system at the end of 2015. For now, continue flying and enjoying reciprocal benefits and the ability to earn and redeem miles on both carriers. We’ll keep you updated as we move forward with other important integration milestones.
Million Miler Program:
- 1 Million combined miles - Lifetime Gold Status
- 2 Million combined miles - Lifetime Platinum Status
Upgrades on American: https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/AAdvantage2015/index.jsp#500mile
- All flights 500 miles and under, no stickers needed and are complimentary regardless of elite status for the elite members.
- Complimentary upgrades will be auto requested for all elite levels at booking. Non complimentary upgrades (aka those needing 500mi stickers) will have to be requested manually.
- No complimentary upgrades for Y/B fares for Gold/Platinum anymore (unless flight is 500 miles or less)
- Companion Upgrades still will require 500mi stickers to be used.
- 8 SWUs for EXP level and EXPs still will not earn 500mi stickers to use for companions.
2015 - January Updates:
- Executive Platinum and Chairman's Preferred members enjoy complimentary same-day confirmed flight changes on American, a new benefit
- Redeem all your Special Dividends by early 2015; qualification ends in December 2014
2015 - 2nd Quarter Updates:
- Move to three elite status levels in the AAdvantage program – Gold, Platinum and Executive Platinum
- Qualify for elite status based on elite-qualifying miles, segments or points
- Receive a 100% mileage bonus if you're a Dividend Miles Gold or Platinum member who becomes AAdvantage Platinum
- Redeem miles for AAnytime awards and mileage upgrade awards on both American and US Airways marketed and operated flights
- Upgrade on American marketed and operated flights before day of departure
On March 13 2015, AAdvantage sent a letter to members saying "we're on track to bring the US Airways Dividend Miles® program into the AAdvantage program within the next 30 days."
N.B. The previous thread discussing the putative, pre-announcement AAdvantage program, entitled "Speculation and discussion of what the new merged FFP might look like (consolidated)" can be found here; it has been closed and archived.
Some useful resources:
FT:Airport Terminal, Gate & Counter Changes
Link to Gary Leff's "View from the Wing" interview with AA's Suzanne Rubin
Link to TravelingBetter with JonNYC's information.
Clarifying contact from AA provided by jmachin:
We want to address all your concerns. Thank you for responding to our most recent email.
I apologize for the delay in answering. I wanted to discuss the point you raised with our executive team and get you a correct answer.
When our frequent flyer programs are combined sometime in the second quarter of 2015, if your 2014 combined elite-qualifying activity meets the requirements for AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, then your AAdvantage account will be updated with Executive Platinum status. The requirements for 2014 are 100,000 elite-qualifying miles, 100,000 elite-qualifying points, or 100 elite-qualifying segments, with at least 4 segments flown on American Airlines or US Airways.
This means that if you end 2014 with 107 elite-qualifying segments and at least 4 of those segments were American Airlines or US Airways flights, then you will receive Executive Platinum status when the programs are combined. Until that point, you will have Dividend Miles Preferred Platinum status.
Please be aware, beginning in 2015, the segment requirements will be 120 segments to re-qualify for Executive Platinum status. We look forward to having you as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum member!
Regards,
Kathleen L.
AAdvantage Customer Service
American Airlines.
I apologize for the delay in answering. I wanted to discuss the point you raised with our executive team and get you a correct answer.
When our frequent flyer programs are combined sometime in the second quarter of 2015, if your 2014 combined elite-qualifying activity meets the requirements for AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, then your AAdvantage account will be updated with Executive Platinum status. The requirements for 2014 are 100,000 elite-qualifying miles, 100,000 elite-qualifying points, or 100 elite-qualifying segments, with at least 4 segments flown on American Airlines or US Airways.
This means that if you end 2014 with 107 elite-qualifying segments and at least 4 of those segments were American Airlines or US Airways flights, then you will receive Executive Platinum status when the programs are combined. Until that point, you will have Dividend Miles Preferred Platinum status.
Please be aware, beginning in 2015, the segment requirements will be 120 segments to re-qualify for Executive Platinum status. We look forward to having you as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum member!
Regards,
Kathleen L.
AAdvantage Customer Service
American Airlines.
HELP: JUST THE FACTS / FAQs: Combined AA/US AAdvantage FFP 2014 on
Mar 30, 2015, 1:12 pm
#1216
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: AA PLT, AS 75K, DL DM, HY Globalist, HH Diamond, MC/RZ/SW Platinum, AB/UA Silver, WN CP
Posts: 1,122
Hi Carl. Thanks for responding and the clarifying question.
Actual no, I am not initially concerned with the +1 upgrade. My question is around my T-100 hr complimentary upgrade possibility if I have someone else attached to my ticket. Does having someone on my ticket Prevent me Or Change my chances of being upgraded T-100 with them on it?
Put it another way, I only want 1 seat upgrade - mine.
I understand clearly that the way to best assure this happening is 2 separate bookings but if it doesnt matter and my upgrade chances are completely unaffected by having the other person on my booking, then I'd prefer to have just 1 booking.
Am I clear or just confusing the question more?
thanks
Actual no, I am not initially concerned with the +1 upgrade. My question is around my T-100 hr complimentary upgrade possibility if I have someone else attached to my ticket. Does having someone on my ticket Prevent me Or Change my chances of being upgraded T-100 with them on it?
Put it another way, I only want 1 seat upgrade - mine.
I understand clearly that the way to best assure this happening is 2 separate bookings but if it doesnt matter and my upgrade chances are completely unaffected by having the other person on my booking, then I'd prefer to have just 1 booking.
Am I clear or just confusing the question more?
thanks
Mar 30, 2015, 2:37 pm
#1217
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Mar 30, 2015, 9:03 pm
#1218
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: OKC
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, Marriott Rewards Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, TK M&S Elite
Posts: 290
HELP: JUST THE FACTS / FAQs: Combined AA/US AAdvantage FFP 2014
Still 0 500 mile upgrades in my account. I wonder if it Is because I placed all miles in US Airways. More likely I just need to be patient.
Mar 31, 2015, 1:31 pm
#1221
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Mesa, AZ
Programs: AA Ex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 638
I qualified for CP in 2014 and I received 24 certs (which is supposedly the maximum) so I would expect you to get some too but it may just take time.
Mar 31, 2015, 2:16 pm
#1222
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
This is incorrect; CPs becoming EXPs will earn stickers based on their 2014 flying.
Mar 31, 2015, 6:00 pm
#1223
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Ambassador, B6 Mosaic, SBUX Gold, Best Buy Elite
Posts: 1,838
Mar 31, 2015, 6:24 pm
#1224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
My account didn't get merged so I need to call in to have it fixed. But how does one get a human? The horrifically bad automated voice attendant cannot understand a word I am saying and it just hangs up on me. What is the trick to getting human on the phone?
I've been calling the US Air Platinum line, which of course connects me to AAdvantage now. Is there a better number?
I've been calling the US Air Platinum line, which of course connects me to AAdvantage now. Is there a better number?
Mar 31, 2015, 6:42 pm
#1225
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
My account didn't get merged so I need to call in to have it fixed. But how does one get a human? The horrifically bad automated voice attendant cannot understand a word I am saying and it just hangs up on me. What is the trick to getting human on the phone?
I've been calling the US Air Platinum line, which of course connects me to AAdvantage now. Is there a better number?
I've been calling the US Air Platinum line, which of course connects me to AAdvantage now. Is there a better number?
If the problem is with an FFN, try using NATO / ICAO etc. phonetic alphabet.
Juliet Delta India Victor Echo Romeo
Mar 31, 2015, 7:14 pm
#1226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Like I said it cannot understand a word I am saying. Voice commands simply do not work. How can I get to a human with DTMF? Pressing 0 just takes me to another menu where they want to hear me speak out a command.
I'm calling from overseas and I think the designer of this system didn't realize that AA flies its customers internationally.
I'm calling from overseas and I think the designer of this system didn't realize that AA flies its customers internationally.
Apr 1, 2015, 5:14 am
#1227
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
Like I said it cannot understand a word I am saying. Voice commands simply do not work. How can I get to a human with DTMF? Pressing 0 just takes me to another menu where they want to hear me speak out a command.
I'm calling from overseas and I think the designer of this system didn't realize that AA flies its customers internationally.
I'm calling from overseas and I think the designer of this system didn't realize that AA flies its customers internationally.
Apr 1, 2015, 5:35 am
#1228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
It's a poorly designed system that cannot deal with the types of speech encoding systems that are popular with today's international VoIP services. When I talk overseas to a human we can hear each other fine, but these cheap automated systems like AA uses don't work at all. They should at least let you zero out to a human.
Apr 1, 2015, 5:41 am
#1229
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: AA PLT, AS 75K, DL DM, HY Globalist, HH Diamond, MC/RZ/SW Platinum, AB/UA Silver, WN CP
Posts: 1,122
It's a poorly designed system that cannot deal with the types of speech encoding systems that are popular with today's international VoIP services. When I talk overseas to a human we can hear each other fine, but these cheap automated systems like AA uses don't work at all. They should at least let you zero out to a human.
Apr 1, 2015, 8:42 am
#1230
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: Bonvoy Amb; AA EXP
Posts: 1,136
OK. I've done a bit of research and have the following questions as a legacy and existing AA EXP:
1. If I am flying US, do I still have to call the EXP line and have them patch me over to the Chairman's line in the case of IRROPS or changes? Or, are they going to be gracious and actually email us the corresponding phone#? Will the Chairmans line recognize the EXP AA FF#?
2. Has anyone had the experience yet of flying on US metal/US ticket with an AA FF# and been upgraded before T-24?
1. If I am flying US, do I still have to call the EXP line and have them patch me over to the Chairman's line in the case of IRROPS or changes? Or, are they going to be gracious and actually email us the corresponding phone#? Will the Chairmans line recognize the EXP AA FF#?
2. Has anyone had the experience yet of flying on US metal/US ticket with an AA FF# and been upgraded before T-24?