transparent

The missing factor with this view is incentivizing marginal spend. Even the "$5k EXPs" are valuable in that they were incentivized to spend more for connecting itineraries, extra trips, etc. That is behavior that needed incentivizing. FF who do not care about RDM because they have too many already and who are on OPM do not need more incentivizing. We'll see if it works out the way they thought when the next downturn comes. I'll bet many they lost will not come back.

Dave Noble

Encouraging people to take up seats on multiple flights rather than 1 flight , for a small extra revenue doesn't seem like behaviour to be encouraged

AAExPlat

It can be. If the plane leaves with an empty seat, that is lost revenue with fixed cost baked in. If they get even $500 for any of the empty seats, it narrows the gap.

AAExPlat

Of course many don't come back. For some, they have moved on to another hobby. For others, they have found other ways to spend money or made a long-term commitment to something other than travel. And for many, when the economy will hit the skids, they simply won't trust the legacies...

akcae

Small extra revenue is better than zero revenue for an empty seat.

mrow

Someone taking a connecting itinerary on you is better than someone taking a direct itinerary on another carrier.

uxb

I recently got a status match to BA Gold through my company, so I am going to move the flights I bought via AA.com over to BA and take advantage of their triple Avios promo. I mean, why would I accept a third in RDM when I can get the full value and then some with BA. I've already made PLT and will not make EXP this year, so yeah.

econometrics

Good move, IMO. The 3x Avios thing really was nice timing for you. ^

mvoight

Additionally, elite status on BA get you lounge access worldwide, unlike AA status which doesn't give you lounge access in North America (except for MEX)

uxb

True, but I really hate BA. *sigh*

ckx2

It'd be only four required BA flights tho. If you don't care about UDU, BA Gold is pretty awesome.

Jacobin777

I was expecting one as well. Looks like AA "copy and paste" the worse parts of DL and UA's FF program but didn't include the better part.

-I never said AA won't eventually announce a CC waiver.

-Maybe AA is clueless. After all, this is the same CEO who tried to charge pax for water.

You have your opinion and I have mine however I really do NOT appreciate you speaking to me in a condescending manner.

Count me in. I'm actually glad I don't have to spend god knows how much time searching for MR fares, etc.

I guess it was fun while it lasted but I'm actually spending more time playing guitar (again) now.

ORD-TGU

I am a leisure and budget value traveler. As a lifetime Plat I justified paying a little more to fly AA because of the RDM, lounge, seat assignment and more than likely upgrade. I frequently bought stickers. Just for the RDM it justified going to Europe, HKG or S.A. on a whim. All on Coach. During low season, so flights were half full. It justified doing MR.

What really has me fuming is the deliberate lack of Saaver Awards.

My shift is now to burn my miles, all international. I will not earn anymore through flying, credit card, shopping mall, dine program, hotel, car rental, etc. Shifting my credit cards to PP lounges.

I have booked my next 3 flights with Southwest. All cheaper than AA. And also it is impressive that I got domestic awards at 10K RT! OT, but I love SW refund policies and also reimbursement of the difference in price.
What really convinced me was trying to book spring break awards. Impossible on AA. Now on SW I easily got 4 seats to CUN and at 18K each!
I will miss ORD Lounge, and preferred seat assignment. But my 2017 goal is to get SW companion pass. So that means all domestic work trips will go to SW. Maybe just $7,500 a year, but I know SW will welcome me.

Overall, I am not a sore looser, I am at peace with AA. I break up in a friendly way. I am glad that my 15 year relationship was fun, but now, move on. But I know I will see AA in the future, to still burn my miles, but not as my main carrier.

NovaEngr

Assuming there is no EQD waiver for CC, a big loser is the Barclay’s Aviator Silver card (the old US card). The primary benefit of that card’s $195 annual fee is the 10K EQM issued for $40K calendar year spend.

Come 2017, I suspect the critical path for earning status for many will be the EQD requirement, not the EQM. Absent some relief from the EQD requirement (even just partial relief proportionate to the 10K EQM), paying the annual fee is likely not worth it. With the Citi card, the Admiral’s Club membership pretty much pays the fee with the EQM on top of that.

My card anniversary and fee comes due early in the year, so I will know the situation before I pay for another year. I feel for Silver cardholders who have to decide now whether to pay the $195 not knowing what will happen in 2017 regarding the EQM waiver. It sure seems like it is not going to happen.

KenInEscazu

I'm sure that statement is correct for many, but that's precisely their goal. They are in the driver's seat right now, and there is nothing on the horizon that gives optimism to anyone hoping it will change.

As one who pays for premium cabin seating, I have no problem meeting the EQD. Having both Citi and Barclay cards means that I can fly less and still qualify - or switch to award tickets once my EXP has been renewed for the following year. That may be about to change, however.

Being MDE based, I'm just tired of dealing with American for my trips to and from the USA. I'm now using Copa whenever possible, including creating my own connection from a Copa city to my ultimate destination over to AA. The 319s just aren't that comfortable with my travel frequency, and there are countless other problems.

Mainly I hate connecting at MIA and waiting for my large Priority-marked bags to arrive at customs baggage claim. They always come out last. I'm pretty sure that it's the way they come out of the hold because of size, but I am still paying a premium price for substandard service. I only wish that waiting for bags was the least of my problems this year.

Now that I have qualified for 2017 EXP for a couple of months and using miles (or trying) for every AA trip, I'm even more disappointed. The awards are often (dare I say "usually?") insanely priced in miles in one direction, the other or both. I booked my daughter to meet me at SFO for Thanksgiving last night. AA wanted 25,000 for Economy on the outbound and only offered something at 77,000 for the return. I didn't even check to see if the 77,000 miles for the return were F or Y, but it didn't matter. 102,000 total miles for DFW-SFO-DFW on an airline where I'm EXP vs. 75,000 total in F on UA where I no longer have any status. No brainer.

UA doesn't fly here (MDE), or I might seriously consider switching back to them. Our options just stink these days, so we're going to pay one way or the other. IME, however, AA is the worst. They just happen to have the most options for my regular destinations. Otherwise, I would be gone, and it has little to do with the recent Elite qualification and miles-earning changes. ::heavy sigh::