Nov 17, 2015, 2:47 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AAdvantage Program Changes for 2016 - Just the Facts
as announced 17 Nov 2015 in FAQ on aa.com
as announced 17 Nov 2015 in FAQ on aa.com
PLEASE READ BEFORE ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS: we are seeing the same questions come up time and again, and those are often addressed here. NOTE: this thread is being closely monitored and moderated as needed to ensure it stays within the narrow remit of its topic.
Please see and post to AAdvantage Changes for 2016 - Discussion and Reaction all reactions, speculation about next steps, opinions, discussion, praise, complaints etc.
Link to AAdvantage program updates and FAQ links (17 Nov 2015)
New related threads:
FAQ: Award changes after 22 March 2016 - which incur redeposit, which not (Award changes 22 March 2016 or after may incur award miles redeposit (fees) and significant increases of miles required to issue new ones - but some changes may be made without doing so.)
See Earning AA Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM on AA, oneworld, partners 2016 for more about earning EQM.
See Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners later 2016 for more regarding AAdvantage Award ("Redeemable") Miles.
FAQ: Award changes after 22 March 2016 - which incur redeposit, which not (Award changes 22 March 2016 or after may incur award miles redeposit (fees) and significant increases of miles required to issue new ones - but some changes may be made without doing so.)
See Earning AA Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM on AA, oneworld, partners 2016 for more about earning EQM.
See Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners later 2016 for more regarding AAdvantage Award ("Redeemable") Miles.
Also: brp has revised his spreadsheet for 2016 conditions - now named Miles Tracker v. 8.0. It can be downloaded from Gargoyle's page linked to in the OP, or here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...Tracker-v8.xls (NOTE: due to technical problems, the proper spreadsheet was not uploaded.)
AA reducing some checked baggage allowance tickets pchs on / after 29 Mar 2016
Elite Qualification and Earning Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) - Change 1 Jan 2016
In 2016, there will be two methods to qualify for elite status:
EQM will continue to be calculated based on distance flown (base miles). All EQM on AA marketed flights ("AA codeshares" / "AA coded flights") will earn at least 1 EQM per mile flown, with bonus multipliers for higher fares (regardless of operating carrier, AA itself or another carrier):
AA Marketed Flights LinkAA Elite-Qualifying Partner Airlines
Link to aa.com Partner Airline Miles Earning Charts as of 1 Jan 2016.
The is no minimum dollar spending requirement to obtain status.
- Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS)
- Elite Qualifying Points (EQP) no longer exist (EQM replaced them).
- Thresholds for elite status qualification remain the same as 2015.
AA Marketed Flights Link
- 3 EQMs/mile – Full-fare First or Business / F, J
- 2 EQMs/mile - Discount First or Business / A, P, D, R, I
- 1.5 EQMs/mile – Full-fare Main Cabin / Y, B and W when AA marketed on airline partners
- 1 EQM/mile - Discount Main Cabin / all other Main Cabin fares
- This applies to all AA marketed flight numbers, regardless of operating carrier.
- Elites continue to earn 500 EQM minimum per segment
Further confirmation of above from inside AA. He (JonNYC) got a message from AAdvantage
Originally Posted by JonNYC Vie
That's what I'm told as well-- fix on the way, system not operating as intended at present.
Further confirmation of above from inside AA. He got a message from AAdvantageCheers.Originally Posted by AAdvantage
Thanks for your questions on EQM earning. There is a glitch in how the minimum mileage guarantee for EQMs is being calculated. The calculation should credit the 500 mile minimum before applying the EQM multiplier. Beginning in the next few weeks, we will be running a retroactive process to “true up” any accounts where the member did not earn the proper number of EQMs. This process will continue to run until the calculation can be reprogrammed in the AAdvantage system.
So, they will do an adjustment for those that were shorted so far and the system will soon be fixed for real.
So, they will do an adjustment for those that were shorted so far and the system will soon be fixed for real.
Cheers.
- 1.5 EQMs/mile - First, Business, and Premium Economy
- 1.0 EQMs/mile - Full-fare economy (typically Y and B, but varies by partner)
- 0.5 EQMs/mile - All other mileage-earning economy fares
- This applies to partner-marketed flights which are eligible to earn AAdvantage miles (typically meaning operated by oneworld carriers and affiliates, though this varies by partner), even if operated by AA.
The is no minimum dollar spending requirement to obtain status.
AAdvantage Miles Award Charts - Change 22 Mar 2016
Link to American Airlines Award Charts as of 22 Mar 2016 (Note: some region descriptions were updated ~10 Feb 2016.)
See this post by Smiley90 for a compilation of new mileage redemption charts and changes.
Link to oneworld and other airline Award Charts as of 22 Mar 2016
Link to tool for old and new award chart comparison by bgriz18.
The number of miles required for many awards changed effective March 22, 2016. Award flights ticketed on or after March 22, 2016 will be subject to the new award charts.
In addition, off-peak (OP) periods have been sharply reduced. For example, Europe OP has changed from Oct. 15-May 15 to Nov. 1-Dec. 14 & Jan. 10-Mar. 14.
See this post by Smiley90 for a compilation of new mileage redemption charts and changes.
Link to oneworld and other airline Award Charts as of 22 Mar 2016
Link to tool for old and new award chart comparison by bgriz18.
The number of miles required for many awards changed effective March 22, 2016. Award flights ticketed on or after March 22, 2016 will be subject to the new award charts.
In addition, off-peak (OP) periods have been sharply reduced. For example, Europe OP has changed from Oct. 15-May 15 to Nov. 1-Dec. 14 & Jan. 10-Mar. 14.
NOTE: Region changes
- Bolivia and Manaus, Brasil: changing from South America 2 to South America 1
- Venezuela: changing from South America 1 to South America 2
- Guam: changing from Asia 2 to South Pacific
- Sri Lanka: changing from Asia 2 to Indian Subcontinent/Middle East
- Kiribati, Palau, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu: added to South Pacific region
For the first part of 2016, RDMs will continue to be earned as they are today. Sometime (most likely later) in "the second half of 2016" RDMs will switch to spend-based model, akin to Delta and United.
RDMs earned will be the base fare plus carrier-imposed fees (excluding any government-imposed taxes and fees) times the following multiplier based on status level:In the example below, in Costa Rican Colones so used only for illustrative purposes, the airport and countered fees and taxes would be excluded from RDM calculations:
As it states in the thread specific to this issue, it appears ~01 October is the likely start date for revenue-based Award Miles earning - and they'll announce one month in advance.RDMs earned will be the base fare plus carrier-imposed fees (excluding any government-imposed taxes and fees) times the following multiplier based on status level:
- 5 miles/U.S. dollar – non-status AAdvantage member
- 7 miles/U.S. dollar – Gold Member
- 8 miles/U.S. dollar – Platinum Member
- 11 miles/U.S. dollar – Executive Platinum Member
Earning AA Award / "Redeemable" Miles / RDM on AA, partners later 2016
(2 May 2016)
Hi everyone,
This is what I´ve read on a Brazilian blog.
The blogger met Suzane Rubin on the T-Mobile Arena, and posted that she told him that they would not change before September, and probably only in October, with a 1-month notice.
I have a booked roundtrip Sao Paulo to Dallas in August, so I hope he is right and this information helps !
I don´t know him, but I follow his blog. You can check it (in Portuguese):
http://www.mestredasmilhas.com/2016/...ards-2016.html
(Reformatted for wiki use.)
Hi everyone,
This is what I´ve read on a Brazilian blog.
The blogger met Suzane Rubin on the T-Mobile Arena, and posted that she told him that they would not change before September, and probably only in October, with a 1-month notice.
I have a booked roundtrip Sao Paulo to Dallas in August, so I hope he is right and this information helps !
I don´t know him, but I follow his blog. You can check it (in Portuguese):
http://www.mestredasmilhas.com/2016/...ards-2016.html
(Reformatted for wiki use.)
"Agora vamos às novidades. Tive o privilégio de conversar particularmente com a Suzane Rubin, e a equipe do AAdvantage, e já posso adiantar algumas informações aqui. Eles me confirmaram que a mudança para revenue não irá ocorrer antes de setembro, mas com data provável em Outubro deste ano, e com pelo menos 1 mês de aviso prévio. Também o crédito de pontos será na data do voo, ou seja, se você compra uma passagem agora, e voa somente em dezembro, provavelmente irá receber pontos, e não milhas pela distância voada."
Translated:
Now for the news. I had the privilege to talk particularly with Suzanne Rubin and the AAdvantage team, and I can share some advance information here. It was confirmed to me that the change to revenue (based earning) will not occur before September, but with a probable date in October this year, and with at least one month's notice. Also the credit points will be for the date of the flight, or if you buy a ticket now, and fly only in December, will probably get points, but not (Award / Redeemable) miles by distance flown.
Translated:
Now for the news. I had the privilege to talk particularly with Suzanne Rubin and the AAdvantage team, and I can share some advance information here. It was confirmed to me that the change to revenue (based earning) will not occur before September, but with a probable date in October this year, and with at least one month's notice. Also the credit points will be for the date of the flight, or if you buy a ticket now, and fly only in December, will probably get points, but not (Award / Redeemable) miles by distance flown.
Business Extra changes
Effective 30 Nov 2015, European Business Extra members' accounts have been migrated to the joint AA-BA-IB "On Business" programme. (Announced 24 Nov 2015)
Apparently effective ~1 Jan 2016, BPX- upgrades become more restricted. See this post. (Remains unannounced!)
24 hour ticket hold gone as of 1 April 2016
HOLD ticket WILL change 1 Apr 2016 - 24 hr hold or / & cancel
Effective April 1, you will not be able to put paid bookings on 24-hour hold if making them by telephone.
The 24-hour hold (as well as "pay for extended hold") will be available online, though 24-hour hold will only be available for an indeterminate, interim period of time.
There will be no free cancellation if travel is booked less than seven days out.
Other key changes
- As of January 1, 2016, EXPs will earn 4 SWUs (down from 8) upon requalification with 100K EQM. Two additional SWUs will be earned at 150K EQM, and again at 200K EQM.
- As of March 1, 2016, Gold and Platinum elite members will earn 4 "stickers" for each 12,500 EQM flown (up from 10,000 EQM) in a membership year.
- As of March 1, 2016, the price to purchase a "sticker" (online, kiosk, agent) increases to $40 (up from $30 online/kiosk, $35 agent).
- As of March 1, 2016, the price to purchase 8 "stickers" using miles increases to 40,000 RDM (up from 35,000 RDM).
- Elite status earned in 2016 for 2017 will expire on January 31, 2018.
- No announcement about the rumored revised status challenge has been made
JUST THE FACTS: 2016 AAdvantage Program Changes Announced 17 Nov 2015
Nov 18, 2015, 2:25 pm
#211
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Nov 18, 2015, 2:51 pm
#213
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Norway, Maine
Programs: United Silver and HH Diamond
Posts: 1,474
Does anyone know if the Central America Awards went down?
Bumping my own comment since it seems to have gotten lost in this thread:
Nov 18, 2015, 2:57 pm
#214
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,514
Nov 18, 2015, 3:06 pm
#215
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Norway, Maine
Programs: United Silver and HH Diamond
Posts: 1,474
Nov 18, 2015, 3:07 pm
#216
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,110
A single fare, INN4S4C1, covering an outbound departure from DUB 2016-09-14 and returning from HNL departing 2016-09-18, with a routing of
DUB-(BA)-LCY-(BA)-SNN-(BA)-JFK-(AA)-LAX-(AA)-HNL-(AA)-LAX-(AA)-LHR-(BA)-DUB
Booking classes J/I/I/I/A/A/I/J.
Fare construction DUB BA X/E/LON BA X/E/NYC AA X/LAX AA HNL M 1383.01INN4S4C1 AA X/LAX AA X/E/LON BA DUB M 1383.01INN4S4C1 NUC 2766.02 END ROE 0.896229 XT 9.00UP 60.61UB 3.60YC 4.60XY 3.30XA 23.20US 7.40AY 106.50YQ 106.50YR 3.00XF LAX4.50
How will AA divide the fare paid between BA and AA, to know what fare amount to multiply by the RDM earning rate for the miles earned by AA?
It will be fairly obvious for them to work out the earning from the non-AA components (flight miles * travel class weighting * foreign carrier fraction), but what about the AA components?
Nov 18, 2015, 3:08 pm
#217
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum, AA Executive Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 25
Has anyone heard if there are EQM minimums for flights? Currently on AA, if you are flying on a shorter distance flight (under 500 miles I think) you would receive a minimum 500 EQPs for that flight. Has anyone heard if there will be a minimum EQM under the new system?
Nov 18, 2015, 3:13 pm
#218
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Yellow Springs
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 1,523
I have to assume it's an editing error. Base miles (elite qualifying) is the old language; it seems pretty clear to me that base miles are no longer elite qualifying, so the "(elite qualifying)" bit is just a relic. EQMs are now a multiplier times miles flown, whereas EQPs were a multiplier of base miles.
But I'm not aware of any indisputable evidence. (I too haven't made it all the way through the thread.)
But I'm not aware of any indisputable evidence. (I too haven't made it all the way through the thread.)
The current earning chart expiring 12/31/15 has the 2nd column as "Base miles (elite qualifying)" while the new one for 1/1/16 and after just has "Base miles". Someone forgot to delete the "(elite qualifying)" in the other charts.
Nov 18, 2015, 3:26 pm
#219
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,639
In trying to find some good in the changes I'd have to say the new short-haul awards might be useful, however not understanding the premium to fly out of Canada in the new award schedule. It's always been the same as US 48 and still is on most other carriers. Fortunately I'm within 2 hours of a border airport, so will be spending a lot more time in BUF.
But when July 1st comes around, I opined, I (as plat) will earn 8 miles for each qualifying dollar I spend. An RDM will cost me about 12.5 cents. (That's on AA - other carriers' earning charts will be posted eventually.
I was hoping someone would tell me I was wrong, but so far the only respondent reminded me that Dirts and Golds will pay even more, and ExPlats a bit less.
And repeating myself again since I still think either I'm missing something (I hope) or people are looking at January and ignoring July, I pointed out that at least for someone based near LAX, booking a domestic award flight seems to cost me about one FF mile per penny of the cheapest available cash fare. So it'll cost me 12 cents to earn a mile, and I'll get a penny for it.
Not?
Nov 18, 2015, 3:28 pm
#220
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
AA has a very helpful FAQ on it's homepage. I suggest you read it. This question is very clearly answered there.
Nov 18, 2015, 3:49 pm
#221
Join Date: May 2001
Location: is everything...but...
Programs: dont matter anymore...
Posts: 3,019
Nov 18, 2015, 4:18 pm
#222
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
As I noted a couple of pages back, for many pax things don't change much for the first half of 2016, but it seems to me that a big hammer comes down in the second half.
But when July 1st comes around, I opined, I (as plat) will earn 8 miles for each qualifying dollar I spend. An RDM will cost me about 12.5 cents. (That's on AA - other carriers' earning charts will be posted eventually.
I was hoping someone would tell me I was wrong, but so far the only respondent reminded me that Dirts and Golds will pay even more, and ExPlats a bit less.
And repeating myself again since I still think either I'm missing something (I hope) or people are looking at January and ignoring July, I pointed out that at least for someone based near LAX, booking a domestic award flight seems to cost me about one FF mile per penny of the cheapest available cash fare. So it'll cost me 12 cents to earn a mile, and I'll get a penny for it.
Not?
But when July 1st comes around, I opined, I (as plat) will earn 8 miles for each qualifying dollar I spend. An RDM will cost me about 12.5 cents. (That's on AA - other carriers' earning charts will be posted eventually.
I was hoping someone would tell me I was wrong, but so far the only respondent reminded me that Dirts and Golds will pay even more, and ExPlats a bit less.
And repeating myself again since I still think either I'm missing something (I hope) or people are looking at January and ignoring July, I pointed out that at least for someone based near LAX, booking a domestic award flight seems to cost me about one FF mile per penny of the cheapest available cash fare. So it'll cost me 12 cents to earn a mile, and I'll get a penny for it.
Not?
If you spend $100 , you will receive 800 points - this is regardless of flight distance. This does break down to 12.5c giving 1 point
How much you value a point is how to determine value.
It is not costing 12c to earn a mile per se - you are paying to get a flight - if you just want miles , purchasing them is a much better value
Nov 18, 2015, 4:20 pm
#223
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
"5 miles/U.S. dollar – non-status AAdvantage member"
Hmmm. So a non-status AAdvantage member now gets bonus miles for every flight based on the price of the ticket? If that's true, they should scrap it and give those "extra" bonus miles to the Platinums. Yuuuuuuuuuuuuupp!!
Hmmm. So a non-status AAdvantage member now gets bonus miles for every flight based on the price of the ticket? If that's true, they should scrap it and give those "extra" bonus miles to the Platinums. Yuuuuuuuuuuuuupp!!
Nov 18, 2015, 4:22 pm
#224
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
Nov 18, 2015, 4:34 pm
#225
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 372
Well, how are you going to work out this one?
A single fare, INN4S4C1, covering an outbound departure from DUB 2016-09-14 and returning from HNL departing 2016-09-18, with a routing of
DUB-(BA)-LCY-(BA)-SNN-(BA)-JFK-(AA)-LAX-(AA)-HNL-(AA)-LAX-(AA)-LHR-(BA)-DUB
Booking classes J/I/I/I/A/A/I/J.
Fare construction DUB BA X/E/LON BA X/E/NYC AA X/LAX AA HNL M 1383.01INN4S4C1 AA X/LAX AA X/E/LON BA DUB M 1383.01INN4S4C1 NUC 2766.02 END ROE 0.896229 XT 9.00UP 60.61UB 3.60YC 4.60XY 3.30XA 23.20US 7.40AY 106.50YQ 106.50YR 3.00XF LAX4.50
How will AA divide the fare paid between BA and AA, to know what fare amount to multiply by the RDM earning rate for the miles earned by AA?
It will be fairly obvious for them to work out the earning from the non-AA components (flight miles * travel class weighting * foreign carrier fraction), but what about the AA components?
A single fare, INN4S4C1, covering an outbound departure from DUB 2016-09-14 and returning from HNL departing 2016-09-18, with a routing of
DUB-(BA)-LCY-(BA)-SNN-(BA)-JFK-(AA)-LAX-(AA)-HNL-(AA)-LAX-(AA)-LHR-(BA)-DUB
Booking classes J/I/I/I/A/A/I/J.
Fare construction DUB BA X/E/LON BA X/E/NYC AA X/LAX AA HNL M 1383.01INN4S4C1 AA X/LAX AA X/E/LON BA DUB M 1383.01INN4S4C1 NUC 2766.02 END ROE 0.896229 XT 9.00UP 60.61UB 3.60YC 4.60XY 3.30XA 23.20US 7.40AY 106.50YQ 106.50YR 3.00XF LAX4.50
How will AA divide the fare paid between BA and AA, to know what fare amount to multiply by the RDM earning rate for the miles earned by AA?
It will be fairly obvious for them to work out the earning from the non-AA components (flight miles * travel class weighting * foreign carrier fraction), but what about the AA components?