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
Jun 6, 2016, 10:31 am
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.
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.
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)
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)
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.
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."
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.)
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.)
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."
- Gold - $3,000
- Platinum - $6,000
- Platinum Pro - $9,000 (beginning 1/1/17)
- Executive Platinum - $12,000
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
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."
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
REACTION, DISCUSSION: EQD, status tier, upgrade changes as of 6 Jun 2016
Sep 15, 2016, 1:01 pm
#1786
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
To the extent that EQDs are a thing, I've never understood the credit card waivers. It seems impossible that the CC spending represents anywhere near the value to the airline as the revenue differences between even GLD and PLT.
In any case, it seems like AA already renegotiated its deals with Barclays and Citi. I'd imagine if a waiver was forthcoming, we would have heard about it by now. Maybe AA's telling you that if you want to qualify based on EQMs and credit card spending, you should pick a different airline.
In any case, it seems like AA already renegotiated its deals with Barclays and Citi. I'd imagine if a waiver was forthcoming, we would have heard about it by now. Maybe AA's telling you that if you want to qualify based on EQMs and credit card spending, you should pick a different airline.
Sep 15, 2016, 4:56 pm
#1787
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Pardon the vernacular, but I am beginning to get the idea that AA is so not into me anymore!
Sep 23, 2016, 1:14 pm
#1791
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
Sadly moving these threads off the sticky is the same as a burial, but is the idea of a Basic Economy fare off the table now that they have effectively rewarded based on price anyway and reduced the number of upgrades in total via shorter 'unofficial' inventory release?
Or, is that new fare class waiting until all of the new uniforms are rolled out?
Rasheed
Or, is that new fare class waiting until all of the new uniforms are rolled out?
Rasheed
Sep 23, 2016, 1:23 pm
#1792
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
Sadly moving these threads off the sticky is the same as a burial, but is the idea of a Basic Economy fare off the table now that they have effectively rewarded based on price anyway and reduced the number of upgrades in total via shorter 'unofficial' inventory release?
Or, is that new fare class waiting until all of the new uniforms are rolled out?
Rasheed
Or, is that new fare class waiting until all of the new uniforms are rolled out?
Rasheed
Sep 23, 2016, 3:29 pm
#1793
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Sadly moving these threads off the sticky is the same as a burial, but is the idea of a Basic Economy fare off the table now that they have effectively rewarded based on price anyway and reduced the number of upgrades in total via shorter 'unofficial' inventory release?
Or, is that new fare class waiting until all of the new uniforms are rolled out?
Rasheed
Or, is that new fare class waiting until all of the new uniforms are rolled out?
Rasheed
Sep 24, 2016, 2:35 pm
#1794
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 109
In defense of the poster to whom you responded, I believe the problem is AA has decided to no longer care about travelers who purchase their own ticket for the purpose of flying for adventure and experiencing the world via AA allegiance but rather to cater to corporate flyers who travel via the deep pockets of big business. Personally, I see an uneven playing field where corporate flyers receive unfair perks.
Sep 24, 2016, 2:56 pm
#1795
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
In defense of the poster to whom you responded, I believe the problem is AA has decided to no longer care about travelers who purchase their own ticket for the purpose of flying for adventure and experiencing the world via AA allegiance but rather to cater to corporate flyers who travel via the deep pockets of big business. Personally, I see an uneven playing field where corporate flyers receive unfair perks.
Sep 24, 2016, 3:09 pm
#1796
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
In defense of the poster to whom you responded, I believe the problem is AA has decided to no longer care about travelers who purchase their own ticket for the purpose of flying for adventure and experiencing the world via AA allegiance but rather to cater to corporate flyers who travel via the deep pockets of big business. Personally, I see an uneven playing field where corporate flyers receive unfair perks.
Does that really seem such a strange idea for a company to do?
Sep 24, 2016, 3:33 pm
#1797
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 109
You are right. It is not surprising. Corporate America is in bed with corporate America. Small business continues to lose. As a result the small business owner will no longer hold allegiance to American Airlines. American Airlines will not care. To me sad that it is always about money. Money is power. The little guy, Mom and Pop lose.
Sep 24, 2016, 3:35 pm
#1798
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 109
Sep 24, 2016, 3:42 pm
#1799
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
You are right. It is not surprising. Corporate America is in bed with corporate America. Small business continues to lose. As a result the small business owner will no longer hold allegiance to American Airlines. American Airlines will not care. To me sad that it is always about money. Money is power. The little guy, Mom and Pop lose.
What I read these days with "corporate america" is many companies requiring staff to travel on the cheapest fares
Sep 25, 2016, 1:59 pm
#1800
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
FWIW, I didn't get into so much flying with AA (really, US) because I invented their Frequent Flyer program. Rather, the Frequent Flyer program(s) started lobbying me. As I read the rules, and began reading flyertalk, I came to recognize that by concentrating my travel, first on US and then on AA, and doing quite a bit more of it than I was doing before (and this is without counting drastically increased flying by spouse, too), an experience -- flying commercially -- that I was doing grudgingly could be rationalized and improved, at least from my perspective. As I mention doubtless more than once upstream, lots of stuff still goes bad, but the conveniences and other goodies of elite status smooth it out, at least on average.
Anyhow, in this now-disappearing set of Frequent Flyer programs (that I did not invent), the trick was to capitalize on their "non-linearities": hitting a level, following a promotion, and so on. If I was willing to adjust myself somewhat, I could earn some privileges that I valued.
In moving to a more "linear" reward system -- with the EQD requirement in particular, and the coming no-benefits Y fares as the coup de grace --, where one is essentially getting a trading stamps-like rebate on consumption, my incentive to travel so much with AA goes down. So be it. I have my own thoughts on moral economies, but they are not relevant here. Just pointing out -- like others above -- that if you are not on OPM and/or you manage "your" OPM and need to be cost conscious, and/or you really just don't need to fly that much, then all of the changes dissuade travel on AA in the same way that the programs once persuaded me (and probably others) to fly with them. As to why a business "should" or "should not" operate this way, that seems to me neither here nor there. I don't own AA or run AA. I just fly them. At least for maybe another year.
Anyhow, in this now-disappearing set of Frequent Flyer programs (that I did not invent), the trick was to capitalize on their "non-linearities": hitting a level, following a promotion, and so on. If I was willing to adjust myself somewhat, I could earn some privileges that I valued.
In moving to a more "linear" reward system -- with the EQD requirement in particular, and the coming no-benefits Y fares as the coup de grace --, where one is essentially getting a trading stamps-like rebate on consumption, my incentive to travel so much with AA goes down. So be it. I have my own thoughts on moral economies, but they are not relevant here. Just pointing out -- like others above -- that if you are not on OPM and/or you manage "your" OPM and need to be cost conscious, and/or you really just don't need to fly that much, then all of the changes dissuade travel on AA in the same way that the programs once persuaded me (and probably others) to fly with them. As to why a business "should" or "should not" operate this way, that seems to me neither here nor there. I don't own AA or run AA. I just fly them. At least for maybe another year.