FlyingFrZ

I am in the same boat as you. Excited to be on track for AA ExPlat next year (Plat Now) but I will probably only be loyal to AA during 2017.

At this point if AA introduces the same EQD waiver for spending $25k on their co-branded cards then its not that big a disappointment, but I am still probably going to switch allegiances to Alaska going forward (At least until they go revenue )

GUWonder

AA's program was the last of the US3's frequent flyer programs that motivated me to hand over more of my money to AA than I would otherwise hand over to an airline. Now, with these changes too, I dont see the big use for collecting and redeeming a lot more US airline miles/points when I can pick up roundtrip transatlantic business class tickets for $1000-$1600 without having to hunt and peck for "reasonably-priced" mileage ticket space that just doesn't work out so well so often.

RustyC

WN has been a bit disappointing here in ATL ever since the AirTran merger...the fact that both NK and F9 have set up and expanded operations like they have at a WN HUB is pretty remarkable, as having both a legacy hub (DL) and an LCC hub (WN) would seem to make life very difficult for anyone else if you follow the conventional wisdom. Yet the ULCCs still see an under-served market at their level.

WN was late and uncharacteristically clumsy with their "Transfarency" campaign, IMO. They needed something earlier that was more pointed. They're still a better choice for many people (especially families with bags), but people won't automatically just know that.

Southwest, JetBlue and the ULCCs don't have big ad budgets, but I think they've so far missed a huge opportunity to poach even more customers from UA/AA/DL by claiming their FF programs are now BETTER for most people than the legacies.

They can now point out it takes fewer flights or dollars to get a free one. Maybe they can't get you to Europe or Australia, but this is a country where most people don't travel internationally and many don't have passports. If you can cover places like MCO, LAS, and a few others you're complete enough for them, and WN now goes to Mexico/Caribbean and Allegiant to Hawaii.

In some cases the ULCCs/LCCs need to review their programs to make them better (ESPECIALLY by making mileage expiration less aggressive), but it could be quite a turnabout from a few years ago when legacies would use FF programs to hold down the upstart LCCs, matching or nearly matching fares and having other things like assigned seats or a free carry-on or miles being the tiebreak for so many people. Now the shoe could be on the other foot.

PaulInTheSky

Well, true. However, apparently one would try to always choose to use the stickers on the longest flights, JFK-SFO/LAX, where DL does not allow upgradds on premium transcons.


One will always have to burn their eVIPs in some way. Was thinking to burn them all starting late this year but I guess I can keep some of them in 2017.

We probably should and will.

DL have good JV relationships with AF/KL, but KL's TATL premium cabin is tied with mileage earning in accordance with MQDs. AF J/F is all distance based, and the same goes with the suddenly emerged MU. UA has more(LH, NH, and even SQ has it distance-based), but one cannot get LT miles out of the partners.

We will get the MQDs, and I think at least some of the OneWorld partners would stick with distance-based earning structure. I am absolutely a non-believer of RDM/EQD structures. Shrinking it into four eVIPs makes it easier to just burn all the eVIPs on AA metal(Y/J) and goes with partner premium cabin earning structure.

BA LT Gold would be a better choice from now on for ones who go for LT EMD status.

We do not need to see the economy goes south before airlines are begging us to come back. Oil spikes would do the job fine.

no2chem

I'm not sure 125k would have made people more upset. If you're hitting 12k EQD, probably 125k eqm is within your reach. From reading the thread, those complaining would actually of preferred something like 150k or 200 EQM requirement over 12k EQD (my guess).

I think there isn't that much outcry because they're not taking AWAY any benefits, just changing who gets them and how hard it is to get them. If they did something like restrict SWU usage, take away comp sticker upgrades, require SWUs on premium transcons or remove OW sapphire from platinum, there certainly would have been a huge outcry.

_bart_

[QUOTE=24left;26738239]Scott Kirby said:

"A statistic that, when I have told people, they find somewhat amazing, is that 87% of the people that have flown American Airlines in the last year flew us only one time. 87% of our unique customers fly us one time per year or less, and they represent over 50% of our revenue."
]

And no one wonders why they're not coming back?

Smiley90

You're ignoring an airline that HAS an FFP, arguably one of the best if not THE best now and has been very successful and just expanded - AS.

I would think a lot of especially west-coast based flyers will take a very long and hard look at AS, especially after acquiring Virgin. And they award plenty distance-based awards with ambitious redemptions like CX, Emirates and newly JL F.

We'll see how long THAT lasts of course, but still.

conklaven

I am not sure that its that they don't wonder... I think its more they don't care.

iamnadv

Well, I was hoping to reach 2M to make PLAT for life but based on today's program updates, lifetime PLAT is not going to be worth it in the long haul, especially with this third tier. Oh well, unless they have a CC spending waiver, I won't be bothering to re-qualify for EXP starting in 2017 either...no way will I be spending $12K/year (plus an Admirals Lounge fee) when I can just fly with any lower cost competitor on a direct flight to my usual destinations. I'm sure I will be getting a phone call from AA like I did a few years ago when I didn't fly for a few months but this time, I will be telling them I am on a permanent vacation from frequently flying with AA.

Dave Noble

[QUOTE=_bart_;26738753]Who says that they are not coming back ? they may be flying less than once per year but using the same airline when they do

KenInEscazu

UA and DL both have less service to South America. I'm not sure about DL, but one of the reasons I left UA was their lack of network to the SE USA. I have customers there that I often "can't get to from here." Wherever "here" is.

It may have improved since late 2014, but I also got really tired of all the UA RJs that were cramped and worn out. It was brutal for my last couple of years there.

TrojanHorse

As a prior thread stated; the big 3 auto companies didn't have to adjust or compete until the foreign competitors came in;

Question are there any good analysis out there (on FT or elsewhere) that might show if any Foreign carrier has a better FFP to join. I've always thought that foreign programs were less generous than US Based programs but now with the US based programs all coming to meet each other at the bottom of the toilet, maybe a foreign carrier might have a better FFP.

It may be in these 12 or 13 pages but is there a summary of what you get as a PeePee rather than a Plat lite?

calvinoeh

Been travelling less every year due to less work travel and different priorities. Have been MR to make EXP last 2 years. I'm probably resigned to not go for status moving forward and just pay for C if flying long haul.

eponymous_coward

You're quite right that I am ignoring them. Not due to unfamiliarity living in SEA, however, and having flown them extensively with multiyear status on them.

The utility of AS as a program is problematic for a lot of people not living on the West Coast. Take, for instance, earning on Delta:

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...-airlines.aspx

Or British Airways:

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...h-airways.aspx

You're not going to be reaping the benefits of lots of flying on cheap partner airfares by joining AS MP.

Funny you should mention Emirates, considering AS no notice devalued their awards:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...no-notice.html

That's a sneaky trick right out of the DL/AA/UA playbook, wouldn't you say? What makes you think they won't try another one?

They're also merging with an airline that has a revenue-based program. So I don't think it's a 100% lock that they will stay away from revenue-based accrual. So they're "safe" the same way AA was "safe" in, say, 2013-2015; dealing with other problems.

Better for what? Giving you loads of miles to fly to exotic foreign lands in F cabins while spending $1.47 on the airfare necessary to make those miles? Better elite benefits? Better chances at upgrades?

PaulInTheSky

Well, even if it is capped at 100k or 125k EQM as you suggested, I wouldn't think it would be that difficult to achieve the status. With the premium fares on AA (FT forum), some one-way J/F fares are enough to bump people up for 40k EQMs. Three of those one-ways, then you are all set. The question is, would any of us spend $12k on OneWorld, crediting all the flights to AA just to make EXP, knowing the fact that the best we can get is LT PLT? I am roughly four/five years away from LT PLT, and I am seriously considering my options. If AA does not ramp up the LT levels, a lot of business would go to UA. Their new Polaris business class looks very promising and competitive to 77W Business class on AA.

They seriously need to take away the MQD requirements for non-US members.