View Poll Results: My plans for dealing with the 2016 AAdvantage changes:
I'm actually benefitting from this - good deal for me.
46
6.80%
I'm neutral - I gain some, lose some. I'll stay.
132
19.53%
I'm not happy, but stuck with AA / oneworld at this point.
176
26.04%
I'm unhappy & will use AA & other airlines opportunistically.
274
40.53%
I'm outta here! Bye, American.
48
7.10%
Voters: 676. You may not vote on this poll
AAdvantage Changes for 2016 - DISCUSSION, REACTION & POLL
Dec 4, 2015, 2:56 pm
#826
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
US also had an electronic upgrade system years ago. CP's and a companion got upgraded for free. Silvers and Golds (this was before the US-HP merger, so there was no Platinum level) earned something like four 500-mile e-upgrades for each 10K miles flown on US metal. I can't remember when it switched to free upgrades for all elites -- sometime around 2003, I think -- but I do recall the uproar by CP's when US converted all of the lower level elites' 500-milers into RDM's.
AND, US used to give ALL elites two SWU's per year.
AND, US used to give ALL elites two SWU's per year.
Dec 4, 2015, 7:41 pm
#827
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Regarding the "stickers"..... yeah, I'm fully aware of the 500 mile upgrades. I don't like them. I don't see the need for them. The # I have keeps growing because I can't use them. And some flights having 30+ on the upgrade list means there are plenty who want to use, but can't. On US, we didn't have that junk.... your preferred, if there's a seat you get it. On AA, you could have preferreds on the plane with no upgrades and potentially have 1st class seats sit empty on a flight if there we no 500 mile upgrades available. It will never happen because there are too many out there, but it's possible. That just seems stupid to me.... but I assume there's a reason for it....
I think there are a number of EXPs who spend most of their money for premium international travel where much of the flying is on partners. If AA had a minimum spend and only counted revenue allocated to AA flights, this could cut those EXPs.
Dec 4, 2015, 7:45 pm
#828
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
(Leisure, [B]not[/B MR, though). For us, it would depend on the magnitude of the spend requirement.Then again, as I just extended a trip by one day to see David Gilmour at Radio City Music Hall, I'd say that we're somewhat flexible in areas of travel arrangements
Cheers.
Dec 4, 2015, 11:52 pm
#829
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: AA LTP 2MM, Marriott/SPG Rabid Plat w/Ambassador, HHonors Gold
Posts: 696
Dec 5, 2015, 2:05 am
#830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
US also had an electronic upgrade system years ago. CP's and a companion got upgraded for free. Silvers and Golds (this was before the US-HP merger, so there was no Platinum level) earned something like four 500-mile e-upgrades for each 10K miles flown on US metal. I can't remember when it switched to free upgrades for all elites -- sometime around 2003, I think -- but I do recall the uproar by CP's when US converted all of the lower level elites' 500-milers into RDM's.
AND, US used to give ALL elites two SWU's per year.
AND, US used to give ALL elites two SWU's per year.
Dec 5, 2015, 2:35 am
#831
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: AA, 1.5MM, GE
Posts: 213
Booo
No, I'm not happy w/the changes, I won't benefit at all and will lose even when following the same flying routine that has me solidly plat for many years. AA is a for profit airline and they clearly are gearing their awards program towards those that spend more, I understand that. But I don't have to like it. So now, without doing anything differently, I'll fly to LA and earn a fraction of the miles I formally earned and redemption rates are way, way up. It will take much, much longer to earn that F seat to HKG. Noth'n special anymore, just another sky pesos program... (well, not quite... 
)
)
Dec 5, 2015, 8:23 am
#832
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Dec 5, 2015, 11:00 am
#834
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
While it's certainly true that there was at one time the number 6 out there instead of 4 (for CK-- not EP) :
I personally don't buy the idea that that has anything to do with a focus group and especially that any focus group of Exec Plats would have told them "eh. 6, 4 -- no matter"
But hey, anything's possible!
I personally don't buy the idea that that has anything to do with a focus group and especially that any focus group of Exec Plats would have told them "eh. 6, 4 -- no matter"
But hey, anything's possible!
Last edited by JonNYC; Dec 5, 2015 at 11:32 am
Dec 5, 2015, 12:20 pm
#835
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
I don't think it was suggested that they went "no - matter" , just suggested that the level of antipathy was equally high at 6 as for 4
Dec 5, 2015, 12:31 pm
#836
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Dec 5, 2015, 12:38 pm
#837
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Dec 5, 2015, 12:43 pm
#838
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
If questions were on a scale , something like - very dissatisifed through to very satisfied , that if different questions were asked regarding 4 and 6 upgrades being given, the I can believe that both would be at very dissatisfied
If asked "would you prefer 4 upgrades or 6" , then I would not believe that both would be rated equally
If asked "would you prefer 4 upgrades or 6" , then I would not believe that both would be rated equally
Dec 5, 2015, 1:54 pm
#839
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Studies like this also are done to gauge how to mitigate the fallout will be - promote change x or y. The decision has been made, now we are focused on how to disseminate the information the best way possible.
Dec 5, 2015, 7:37 pm
#840
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
And anyone could have predicted the same negative response. "Do you still want 8 SWUs or 6?" versus "Do you still want 8 SWUs or 4?" I think all of the responses would have been the same.