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REACTION, DISCUSSION: EQD, status tier, upgrade changes as of 6 Jun 2016

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View Poll Results: The AAdvantage changes announced 6 Jun 2016 will
incentivize me to fly AA more, as I benefit overall
27
3.55%
cause me to buy premium over discount AA fares
26
3.42%
not impact my travel on AA in the balance
128
16.82%
make me choose AA or a competitor, depending on itinerary
181
23.78%
make me become an independent agent
221
29.04%
cause me to join another airline's FF program
178
23.39%
Voters: 761. You may not vote on this poll

Old Jun 6, 2016, 10:31 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: JDiver
AAdvantage Changes Announced 6 Jun 2016 - REACTION, DISCUSSION

This thread is dedicated to "REACTION, DISCUSSION" of the changes announced June 6, 2016.

For "JUST THE FACTS", please use JUST THE FACTS: EQD, status tier, upgrade changes as of 6 Jun 2016


Link to AAdvantage Program Updates page on aa.com.

Link to Gary Leff's "View from the Wing" blog article on these changes.

Link to Ben "Lucky" Schlappig's take in "One Mile at a Time" on View From the Boarding Area

Summary of changes:

aa.com: Unknown but intended: aa.com updated to show EQM, EQD and RDM/AW for your convenience when booking and in your account for keeping informed about your accruals.
Aug 2016:

Change to earning Award / Redeemable Miles to revenue based begins (see FT thread)

Bonus award miles "More Miles" for premium cabin discontinued

For travel beginning August 1, 2016

Earn award miles based on your ticket price and elite status on American-marketed flights.

You earn miles on the base fare plus carrier-imposed fees minus government-imposed taxes and fees. The more you spend (and the higher your elite status level) the more you’ll earn.
  • AAdvantage® member – 5 miles for every U.S. dollar
  • Gold member – 7 miles for every U.S. dollar (40% bonus)
  • Platinum member – 8 miles for every U.S. dollar (60% bonus)
  • Platinum Pro - 9 miles for every U.S. dollar
  • Executive Platinum member – 11 miles for every U.S. dollar (120% bonus)
On most flights marketed by partner airlines, you'll earn award miles based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class of your ticket. Rates will be available by July 15.

NOTE: this also pertains to "special fares", such as those purchased through AA Vacations. (not AA language)

1 Jan 2017:

Status earning to have EQM/EQS criteria AND "EQD" revenue spend requirement

In addition to the (same as 2016) required EQM or EQS, to earn status one will have to also earn "Elite Qualifying Dollars" / "EQD" spend credit as follows (during the calendar year):

"EQDs will be awarded based on:

Ticket price (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, excluding any government-imposed taxes and fees) on American-marketed flights

EQD calculations will not include change fees and similar (premium seats, baggage, etc.) charges.

Q. Do checked bag fees, seat purchases, 500-mile upgrades or other products/service fees count toward earning award miles and EQDs?

No, only the base fare paid for your ticket including any carrier-imposed fees will count toward earning award miles and EQDs. Fees for other products or services will not be awarded miles or EQDs, including but not limited to the following: checked baggage fees, Admirals Club® memberships, Wi-Fi passes, in-flight food and beverage purchases, in-flight entertainment, unaccompanied minor fees, pet travel fees, 500-mile upgrades, mileage upgrade cash co-payments, Mileage Multiplier, BuyMiles, GiftMiles, ShareMiles or other mileage purchases, ticket change fees, ticketing fees, same-day confirmed flight change or standby fees and service charges. (Thanks to ty97.)
Flights marketed by oneworld® carriers and Alaska Airlines will earn EQDs based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class purchased (as may "special fares" - not AA language)

NOTE: EQD offset may be earned by spend on Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red and Silver cards (added language not from AA)

With the addition of EQDs, we’ll remove the rule that 4 segments must be traveled on American or American Eagle during the qualifying year to receive elite status."
New EQD requirement
  • Gold - $3,000
  • Platinum - $6,000
  • Platinum Pro - $9,000 (beginning 1/1/17)
  • Executive Platinum - $12,000
Elimination of four AA marketed EQS requirement

NOTE: Concierge Key is treated as a higher status tier than Executive Platinum for upgrade Priority, but is not otherwise an AAdvantage status tier.

Change from three status tiers to four - new 75K "Platinum Pro" added

"In 2017 you can start earning toward a new level, Platinum Pro, with benefits like:
  • Complimentary upgrades on flights in 500-mile upgrade markets
  • Earn 9 award miles/U.S. dollar (80% bonus)
  • 2 free checked bags
  • oneworld® Sapphire status
  • 72 hour upgrade window
NOTE: Platinum upgrade window goes from 72 to 48 hours; Concierge Key upgrade window is 120 hours.


February 2017

Introduction of highly restricted AA Basic Economy fares. FT link.

These will accrue 0.5 EQM, 0.5 EQS, will not permit rollaboard size / overhead baggage (only one personal item) unless you have status, no upgrades permitted, etc.


"Late" 2017:

Change to upgrade priority to EQD-based priority

"The way your upgrade request is prioritized will change later in 2017. You’ll be listed according to your elite status level followed by the number of EQDs earned in the last 12 months."
EP, and within EP by EQD spend in last 12 month period; PlatPro, ditto, and on to Platinum, Gold. For both upgrade request and airport list if request goes to airport list.

Executive Platinums able to upgrade MC / coach award flight (On flights 500 mile upgrades are usable, courtesy upgrades; priority within EP by last 12 month EQD spend).

"Starting later in 2017, Executive Platinum members can use their complimentary 500-mile upgrade benefits on AAdvantage® award tickets for travel on American from Main Cabin to the next class."

Peripheral issues:

AA Vacations: AA Vacations packages (like partner airline tickets) will earn EQD, EQM, and RDM/AW based on the distance flown as determined by the fare class purchased. This is in accordance with the "Special Fares" section of the new EQD earnings pages, and confirmed here

EQD requirements will apply to non-US residents as well as US as currently exists

EQD requirements can be partially offset by spend on Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red or Silver cards.

Partners (AS and oneworld): accrual of EQM as reflected on charts on aa.com; EQD credit to be announced (15 Jul 2016)

Status: AA has no current plans to add "Lifetime Platinum Pro" status.


Resources:

GLOSSARY:

EQD: Elite Qualifying Dollars (base fare + carrier imposed fees, - government imposed taxes and fees)

EQM: Elite Qualifying Miles (accrual depends on fare basis, airline and miles flown)

EQS: Elite Qualifying Segments (discrete qualifying segment credited by AA)

Platinum Pro: new tier beginning 1/1/17 requiring $9,000 EQD and 75,000 EQM or 90 EQS in one calendar year

For links to new threads about these and other recent changes affecting AA flyers, see below.

Link to AAdvantage Program Updates page on aa.com.

Link to Gary Leff's "View from the Wing" blog article on these changes.

Link to Ben "Lucky" Schlappig's take in "One Mile at a Time" on View From the Boarding Area

Link to Andy's take on the Award Miles earning changes on View From the Boarding Area.

Links to useful threads:

GUIDE: Earning EQD / Elite Qualifying Dollars on AA and partner airlines (2017 on)

GUIDE: Earning AA Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM on AA, oneworld, partner airlines 2017

GUIDE: Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners 1 Aug 2016

HELP DESK: Elite Qualifying EQD, EQM & Award / RDM Calculations & Planning 2017

AAdvantage® earning estimates - FAQ (aa.com)
(aa.com "AAdvantage program updates" - link)

Link to FT thread: What are AA Platinum Pro Benefits? Are they worth it? (master thread)

Link to FT thread: oneworld not requiring connecting protection or interline baggage 1 Jun 2016

Link to ARCHIVE: "Speculation about upcoming changes tba 6 Jun 2016"

Updated 6 Jan 2012 - JDiver


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REACTION, DISCUSSION: EQD, status tier, upgrade changes as of 6 Jun 2016

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Old Aug 31, 2016, 12:17 pm
  #1681  
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1k, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by Dave Noble
If the values for the total cost are correct, then indeed should expect to get about 13,304 miles from the inbound trip

I assume that the values do not include taxes

If you are booked in different booking classes in each direction, would make it very likely for the mileage outbound and inbound to be different
The values do not include taxes, they were taken straight from the AA booking email. One was a BA flight Marketed as AA, the other was on AA. Both are classed as C fares.
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Old Aug 31, 2016, 12:23 pm
  #1682  
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AA does not sell flights in C class - C is used by AA for mileage or SWU upgrades to business class

What is the fare basis outbound and the fare basis inbound? also , is this a simple r/t or is it an open jaw booking?
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Old Aug 31, 2016, 12:40 pm
  #1683  
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1k, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble
AA does not sell flights in C class - C is used by AA for mileage or SWU upgrades to business class

What is the fare basis outbound and the fare basis inbound? also , is this a simple r/t or is it an open jaw booking?
My apologies. The fare code is I and it was just a return flight between ORD-LHR. It looks like that's coded as a Business Award seat, but it wasn't booked as such.
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Old Aug 31, 2016, 12:46 pm
  #1684  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Posts: 890
Originally Posted by Lavezzi
My apologies. The fare code is I and it was just a return flight between ORD-LHR. It looks like that's coded as a Business Award seat, but it wasn't booked as such.
I is discounted business revenue. U is a business sAAver award.
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Old Aug 31, 2016, 12:57 pm
  #1685  
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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Just checking on ITA

Taxes plus surcharges for that route total $1136.06 ( with current exchange rates )

The AA surcharge componant is $828

It looks like you may be misreading the amount on which you are due to earn miles

Of the 1160.86 , I think that only $828 is eligible earning and the remining $332.86 is taxes/charges which are ineligible

This would make the total eligible earning r/t being $1832 + $828 = $2660
On a simple r/t in I class, this would be split evenly $1330 each way

1330 * 8 = 10,640 which is what you earned

I would expect that you will earn exactly the same amount on the way back
Dave Noble is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2016, 1:05 pm
  #1686  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,318
Originally Posted by JDiver
Not yet. If / when it's announced, if will be added to the Wikipost here and to the EQD thread linked to in the Wikipost.
There time goes on, the less likely I think it will be. I don't think they will bother to announce that there isn't an exception; the decision might be already made.
beachfan is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2016, 2:55 pm
  #1687  
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1k, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by Dave Noble
Just checking on ITA

Taxes plus surcharges for that route total $1136.06 ( with current exchange rates )

The AA surcharge componant is $828

It looks like you may be misreading the amount on which you are due to earn miles

Of the 1160.86 , I think that only $828 is eligible earning and the remining $332.86 is taxes/charges which are ineligible

This would make the total eligible earning r/t being $1832 + $828 = $2660
On a simple r/t in I class, this would be split evenly $1330 each way

1330 * 8 = 10,640 which is what you earned

I would expect that you will earn exactly the same amount on the way back
Thanks for the help. As you said it looks like I didn't deduct the taxes. It would help if AA split that out on booking confirmations going forward.
Lavezzi is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2016, 8:28 pm
  #1688  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
Waiting for EQD Waiver announcement

Per beachfan in the "Facts" thread
Originally Posted by beachfan
There time goes on, the less likely I think it will be. I don't think they will bother to announce that there isn't an exception; the decision might be already made.
JonNYC has indicated that he thought an EQD waiver was in the works but at the same time beachfan's speculation feels right to me too, i.e. they may decide to do nothing and not announce anything. No EQD waiver means I'm out- I spend only about 50% the $/EQM necessary to hit any particular level, and I definitely don't want to spend more on plane tickets than I already do. That means either United or Delta I think- assuming I have no chance of making top tier then Delta looks good for their 75k level vs. United- and both of them look better than AA for that. Both Delta and United have significant fee waivers and exceptions there, and Delta allows you to gift a 25k level status to someone, if I understand correctly.

At 50k it's more equal between the three but again, with no waiver it's no go for me.
fanger is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2016, 12:08 am
  #1689  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: ex-multiyear AA EXP/OWE, now SA Gold/AC Super Elite
Posts: 165
I've charged about 75k in expenses this year so far on my Air Canada Platinum Amex. I would gladly jump to an AA-branded card (AS has a Canadian one) if they gave me a reason to do so.

AC offers a reduction in status qualification for non-citizens - if AA is willing to do it for me as a Canadian, they'll keep me.

I'll easily hit 150,000 flown with AA/OW by the end of this month.

They want that business again next year? Earn it.

Would I likely hit the 12K spend in 2017? Sure, it's possible, but would be tough. I suspect I'd have to do a bunch of PE flights with CX to Asia to game it.

I am non-plussed about this.

It doesn't matter to me that I might still make top tier in 2017 with the changes - what does matter is that most of these airlines treat us like .....

When things get bad for them, they'll wish they had kept their loyal customers loyal.
RichVan is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2016, 12:09 am
  #1690  
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Originally Posted by RichVan
I've charged about 75k in expenses this year so far on my Air Canada Platinum Amex. I would gladly jump to an AA-branded card (AS has a Canadian one) if they gave me a reason to do so.

AC offers a reduction in status qualification for non-citizens - if AA is willing to do it for me as a Canadian, they'll keep me.

I'll easily hit 150,000 flown with AA/OW by the end of this month.

They want that business again next year? Earn it.

Would I likely hit the 12K spend in 2017? Sure, it's possible, but would be tough. I suspect I'd have to do a bunch of PE flights with CX to Asia to game it.

I am non-plussed about this.

It doesn't matter to me that I might still make top tier in 2017 with the changes - what does matter is that most of these airlines treat us like .....

When things get bad for them, they'll wish they had kept their loyal customers loyal.
RBC Avion points transfer to AA 1:1, just in case you thought there was no such thing
Smiley90 is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2016, 8:40 am
  #1691  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Originally Posted by beachfan
There time goes on, the less likely I think it will be. I don't think they will bother to announce that there isn't an exception; the decision might be already made.
I really, really find that hard to believe. "Follow the leader" for the most part has been the big three's game over the last several years, and if UA and DL have a credit card partner waiver, I reckon AA will too. The credit card partner and the contours of it are most definitely "up in the air" (pun intended) but almost assuredly there will be one of some form or fashion.

Safe travels.
GTITAN is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2016, 8:51 am
  #1692  
uxb
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Originally Posted by GTITAN
I really, really find that hard to believe. "Follow the leader" for the most part has been the big three's game over the last several years, and if UA and DL have a credit card partner waiver, I reckon AA will too. The credit card partner and the contours of it are most definitely "up in the air" (pun intended) but almost assuredly there will be one of some form or fashion.

Safe travels.
I think the reason we haven't heard of a waiver is because they are letting Citi and Barclaycard duke it out. On its face, I think Citi already already won as Barclaycard issued their accounts using the 5466 (Citi-prefix) for account numbers. Definitely TBD though.
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Old Sep 1, 2016, 9:20 am
  #1693  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,039
Originally Posted by uxb
I think the reason we haven't heard of a waiver is because they are letting Citi and Barclaycard duke it out. On its face, I think Citi already already won as Barclaycard issued their accounts using the 5466 (Citi-prefix) for account numbers. Definitely TBD though.
I could be wrong, but I'd be surprised if both Barclays and CITI both don't get it. AA recently announced a contract extension with both of them.

Also, the 5466 has nothing to do with anything as Barclays was issuing that many, many years before the merger even existed. That is most definitely NOT reserved for CITI cards.
GNRMatt is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2016, 9:31 am
  #1694  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,663
Originally Posted by RichVan
...When things get bad for them, they'll wish they had kept their loyal customers loyal.
Exactly this.
apeortdz is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2016, 7:46 pm
  #1695  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Saw a posting on a FB group where someone with some inside knowledge said that there wouldn't be a cc waiver. Could be fact. Could be fiction. But am starting to think that no word from AA -- especially after the announcement of a cc deal extension with both citi and Barclays that maybe there may not be any type of waiver.
AAExecPlatFlier is offline  


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