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
REACTION, DISCUSSION: EQD, status tier, upgrade changes as of 6 Jun 2016
Jun 27, 17, 9:58 am - Wikipost
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Jun 9, 16, 9:14 am
#781
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: Gate Louse Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,164
Originally Posted by upinsmoke
The whole point of this mess is to get people to buy more (and higher priced) tickets on the airline when they otherwise wouldn't (because they would have bought elsewhere).
Going all-revenue means someone who hit $12k with 50k EQM could now shift their spending elsewhere to gain elite status. This system makes sure they continue to spend beyond $12k to reach the 100k EQM.
Going all-revenue means someone who hit $12k with 50k EQM could now shift their spending elsewhere to gain elite status. This system makes sure they continue to spend beyond $12k to reach the 100k EQM.
Jun 9, 16, 9:19 am
#782
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: Gate Louse Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,164
Originally Posted by Fanjet
I think many people see loyalty as being able to extract the most benefit from the minimal amount of cost. How odd that the airlines don't want to follow that model anymore. It's like a groom at the altar telling his soon-to-be-bride: I promise to be loyal, to honor and cherish you, so long as you stay thin, remain pretty, and continue to cook and clean.
I guess there are people who do it. I know multiple people who've signed up for that plan more than once.
Jun 9, 16, 9:28 am
#783
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: Gate Louse Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,164
Originally Posted by sapguy
Your points are RIGHT ON!
As a bemused UA 1K lurker, I am not at all surprised at all the indignation of "program gutting", and "goodbye AA because my business is no longer valued", blah blah blah.
Over at UA, we had the same indignation and ranting by over-entitled elites who have had it good for too long (many even bragged that they requalified for 1K for $1,200 since it's a mileage based program).
As a bemused UA 1K lurker, I am not at all surprised at all the indignation of "program gutting", and "goodbye AA because my business is no longer valued", blah blah blah.
Over at UA, we had the same indignation and ranting by over-entitled elites who have had it good for too long (many even bragged that they requalified for 1K for $1,200 since it's a mileage based program).
Well, at UA, we're over all that now, and for quite sometime already. Today, UA flights are very full, average fares are slightly higher than before the move to the revenues-based model, and UA is on its way to becoming a decent airline again.
And a lot of the change has happened since SMI/J has left. I never thought I'd see the day I wanted Tilton back until Jeff showed up. He cut everything to the bone (under the name of Operation Quality
) and UA continually lagged the competition in terms of profits.Funny now that UA has a CEO who actually wants to improve things and even admitted they sucked that things are starting to change. Jeff was a cutter. Period.
I predict that AA will be just fine, as the US3 airlines need to thin their elite ranks to get rid of the unprofitable flyers which compete with the benefits of elites paying far higher fares. HVF are key assets in this new world of airlines economics.
Jun 9, 16, 9:29 am
#784
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 8,339
Originally Posted by Superguy
Didn't A3's *G easy qualification disappear?
It still may be easier than most, but I heard the golden ticket's over. I haven't followed *A much over the last couple years.
It still may be easier than most, but I heard the golden ticket's over. I haven't followed *A much over the last couple years.
http://runningwithmiles.boardingarea...ify-hard-earn/
Last edited by nk15; Jun 9, 16 at 9:36 am
Jun 9, 16, 9:34 am
#785
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 8,339
The EQD will prove some pain, because ironically I am now finding extremely cheap fares on AA in 2017. I am almost at 90-100k eqms and only 3.5k eqds, it seems I will have to reach 200keqms to meet the minimum spent in 2017, which is nuts, I don't want to fly that much, the hotel costs are killing me...
Jun 9, 16, 9:39 am
#786
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
Honestly looking at the BA program, it's far better for those who are consistently buying J/F fares. Plus you'd get comp Admirals Club once you hit Silver/Sapphire and FL at Gold/Emerald.
Jun 9, 16, 9:41 am
#787
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,733
Originally Posted by Superguy
...UA may be offering the same screw job on miles, but at least you can actually use them. I've had a much easier time burning UA miles as a Kettle than I have AA miles as an elite.
Every time I look in the last 2 years, same situation.
Jun 9, 16, 9:49 am
#788
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: Gate Louse Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,164
Originally Posted by FlyingFrZ
Well it does sound like in your particular situation you will be earning more RDM, especially if you are primarily paying for domestic premium class flights
I paid $1000 for an F ticket that was about 2500 miles one way. I ended up getting about 14,500 miles between COS bonus, PLT bonus, and premium fare bonus for flights < 3000 miles.
Under the new program, I'd probably get about 8100 miles, since about $100 of that fare was taxes.
Same deal on a P fare I bought to ICN earlier this year. The current plan netted me about 53,000 miles. On a $5500 fare (without tax), I'd end up with 49,500. Not a huge difference, but I'm certainly not making out for buying the premium fare. In fact, I'd get about the same whether I bought the P fare or the full Y fare. You'd think AA would rather me by the Y fare, as then they wouldn't have had to provide me all the F perks for about the same money.
And even with the premium fares, you're still capped at 75k RDMs per ticket. So there's diminishing returns the more you pay - unless you can afford expensive one way premium tickets.
The only place I've seen an increase is on short haul flights that are on the expensive side.
Jun 9, 16, 9:54 am
#789
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: Gate Louse Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,164
Originally Posted by sayonara
It's difficult to ascertain whether the airlines' hidden agenda is to dump loyalty programs or they have lost perspective of what the programs were originally set to accomplish. I find it difficult to believe that the IRS and corporate compensation committees are going to let the status quo continue - rewarding the wealthy with a tax free benefit that has suddenly become over the top enriching. For example, an executive at EP level who pays $5,000 for a RT Business class ticket will receive 55,000 miles for the trip. Three RTs will equal Business Class to Europe Level 1 Anytime and two RT will earn Business Class Mile Saver. If the executive delays purchasing the ticket, the trip could easily earn 90,000 miles which would equal Business Class Level 2 Anytime after only 2 RTs. My prediction - the ultimate payers will aggressively seek to claim the value generated my these overly rich programs. "Small business" flyers who are passing on the cost will also be impacted. And when that doesn't happen the IRS will change the tax code now that the programs are skewed to shaft the less fortunate. This leaves the airlines vulnerable to class warfare based on all the things done to economy fliers: bag fees, crammed seating and back of the plane seating.
I believe that we all should be more respectful of those riding in coach. (the back of the plane arrives the same time as the front) The new program shows a whole lot of disrespect. Thoughts?
I believe that we all should be more respectful of those riding in coach. (the back of the plane arrives the same time as the front) The new program shows a whole lot of disrespect. Thoughts?
Tickets earn 75k RDM tops, even if more could have been earned without the cap. Buy a $10k ticket as an EXP? Tough - you still get 75k miles unless you do it as 2 one ways, which may or may not be cost prohibitive.
You're also going on the assumption that premium award tickets are easy to come by on AA. They're not. One can earn a crap ton of miles, but without planning and flexibility, and a bit of luck, actually burning them for premium awards (especially on TATL flights with no YQ) is difficult. Even harder if you want to take someone with you.
Jun 9, 16, 10:01 am
#791
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: Gate Louse Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,164
Originally Posted by brp
I would be interested in this as well. I've made modifications for my AA tracking sheet to include a column for EQD, but I will be able to tweak it more once the partner earning figures are out in July. But that will just look at the implications of AA and various partners on AA status. Yours is a different, and very interesting, dimension for decision-making.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Jun 9, 16, 10:07 am
#792
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: Gate Louse Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,164
Originally Posted by JonNYC
Me too-- no comparison even, I find UA miles much easier to use than AA miles for my particular travel. Just last week flew JFK-FRA-LIN and returned this week MUC-EWR using UA miles for J-awards and all were incredibly easy to get and book on-line, on-the-fly. And, there were -many- options available.
Every time I look in the last 2 years, same situation.
Every time I look in the last 2 years, same situation.
On the rare occasion I could find a 12.5k one way Y seat, there's only ever one. Rarely multiples. So I ended up having to get 2 F tickets for my mother-in-law and stepson for their trip next week. Ironically, it's easier to find F - and in multiples, than it is for Y tickets. Go figure.
A couple years ago, I burned 200k miles on 2 C *A tix for my honeymoon. Easy as pie to find, and multiple options. As a bonus, we were able to find availability such that we are able to book a long layover and spend the day in AMS before heading on. I can't imagine doing that on AA.
Jun 9, 16, 10:13 am
#793
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: US, AA, Delta, BA, Hilton, Marriot, HYATT
Posts: 433
Originally Posted by sapguy
Your points are RIGHT ON!
As a bemused UA 1K lurker, I am not at all surprised at all the indignation of "program gutting", and "goodbye AA because my business is no longer valued", blah blah blah.
I predict that AA will be just fine,
As a bemused UA 1K lurker, I am not at all surprised at all the indignation of "program gutting", and "goodbye AA because my business is no longer valued", blah blah blah.
I predict that AA will be just fine,
BTW AA service sucks (if there is any) and miles are completely useless.
Jun 9, 16, 10:19 am
#794
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,845
Originally Posted by nk15
The EQD will prove some pain, because ironically I am now finding extremely cheap fares on AA in 2017. I am almost at 90-100k eqms and only 3.5k eqds, it seems I will have to reach 200keqms to meet the minimum spent in 2017, which is nuts, I don't want to fly that much, the hotel costs are killing me...
I know two top tier UA flyers, both 100% leisure flyers, and they meet the $12,000 spend over there by purchasing more expensive international economy tickets. UA makes it a little easier as you need those kinds of tickets to upgrade with systemwides, so at least they have a little incentive. At AA you'd just be throwing the money at them to hit the spending minimum.
Jun 9, 16, 10:19 am
#795
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: US, AA, Delta, BA, Hilton, Marriot, HYATT
Posts: 433
Originally Posted by Superguy
I've been having to use miles lately to move family around the country (kids seeing parents, family weddings, etc). I find myself being forced to redeem F awards on AA more because there are rarely, if ever, Y seats available at 25k level. Sure, 25k one way maybe, and often higher. Even flying on light days and willing to fly at off peak times - no dice.
At least Delta is better in that sense. If the ticket price is low then there is a low mileage award.
