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Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach
(Post 24526472)
Gold status is better than no status.
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Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach
(Post 24526472)
Gold status is better than no status.
My own issue with Gold is that many if not most of the Gold benefits are offered to others by virtue of them simply having a particular credit card. It's almost asinine that customers who qualify for Gold through flying get broadly similar benefits to those offered to some credit card holders. |
Originally Posted by swajames
(Post 24526682)
Could not agree more.
My own issue with Gold is that many if not most of the Gold benefits are offered to others by virtue of them simply having a particular credit card. It's almost asinine that customers who qualify for Gold through flying get broadly similar benefits to those offered to some credit card holders. |
Originally Posted by uncre8tv
(Post 24524663)
Within the last few weeks it seems AA has stripped every bit of value from Gold status. All "preferred" (not MCE) seats are $$ and you aren't allowed to request upgrades (so why even earn them?)
I emailed to complain and got a call back. Retention rep acknowledged both of those changes. Put me on a free Plat challenge with Plat status during the challenge... happy to take them up on it, pretty sure I'll meet it, and I will probably keep using AA during my Plat status. If/when I fall back to Gold again, it's time to start flying WN. Gold gets a free checked bag? woohoo - that's the one "extra" on AA my company will pay for. At least on WN they'll cover early bird. A lot of Plat and EXP might put their nose in the air at this, but I really feel that there is zero value to Gold now and find it kind of an insult. "You get what you pay for" sure... but I get more if I pay another airline. BTW, what makes you think you'll go from Platinum back to Gold? If you don't fly sufficiently you'll end up with a new, shiny white card on March 1, 2016. Enjoy your shortcut Platinum status; it's worth more than Gold, for sure, but it's usually given for significantly more flying / revenue. |
This kind of misinformation is not, in fact, helpful. Gold is good for five separate and independent reasons.
I am lifetime Gold. I can therefore state with authority that the benefits of Gold (beyond what you'd get, say, with the Exec card (which I also have)) are the five items as follows: free standby, no close-in award fees, Main Cabin Extra at check-in, a 25% mileage bonus, and "sticker" upgrades upon request & availability. Those five things either do it for you or they don't. For many years I was Platinum and, sure, Gold isn't as nice as Platinum. But it's pretty good. It got my whole family upgraded to first class on a LGA-DFW flight this past Fall, for example, and got us all "fast track" passes for passport control and for security at CDG last week, for another example. Am I bitter about only being Gold? Absolutely. Would I give it up, though? Not on your life! |
Originally Posted by Sant
(Post 24526664)
Unless you have the Citi Platinum or Executive card.
My Lifetime Gold is $0/year. |
Also, and to repeat, the Exec card does NOT give you the five items I listed above that Gold does give you, specifically (i) free standby, (ii) no close-in award fees, (iii) Main Cabin Extra at check-in, (iv) a 25% mileage bonus, and (v) "sticker" upgrades upon request & availability.
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Originally Posted by bosman
(Post 24525700)
Agree; most logical answer. As noted above, these benefits remain for AA flights.
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Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach
(Post 24526472)
Gold status is better than no status.
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Originally Posted by mvoight
(Post 24527612)
So a rant about Gold benefits being taken away even though they never existed on US Air flights ..........
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I wouldn't say it is worthless, but I am not sure if it is worth it for me either. My status lapsed as of March 1. I was offered an extension for $499. I decided instead to go for the Executive card at $450. I fly 95% paid F/J, so I don't feel that I receive much additional benefit with status.
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For me it's not worthless but not amazing either. Most of my flights these days are either mid-con (DFW to WAS or NYC) or international. First class is nice but not essential, especially when you still have to pay for it (as opposed to complimentary upgrades). Priority AAccess is nice, but I've never had a problem with Group 1 boarding, which I get with my credit card. Free bag is nice, but I usually don't check my bag and I also get a free bag with my credit card. Free MCE at check-in is very nice.
I got to taste the good life when I had temporary Platinum status with Delta. I'd love to experience that again. |
I really don't get the question.
What does "worthless" mean? I fly when I need to fly. After a while, they gave me Gold, then eventually, Lifetime Gold. Cool. I still fly when I need to fly, but have a few more perks. Status is great when it comes as a free benefit from doing what I would do, anyway. I wouldn't pay for it, nor would I fly unnecessarily just to get it. |
For me, frankly, the real issue is the upgrade queue. US has a lot of elites . . . most of whom don't fly through DFW, but I'm still not sure where it's all going to leave me.
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Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach
(Post 24526472)
Gold status is better than no status.
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