ARCHIVE: Speculation about upcoming changes tba 6 Jun 2016
Jun 6, 2016, 9:36 am
#106
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,232
Waiting too see what happens to million miler program......
Jun 6, 2016, 9:36 am
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
I have a friend who took a buy-up to Norwegian's Premium Economy for OAK-ARN when it first started. It's surprisingly similar to 1990s J class, at a lot lower price.
The fare classes affected by this status banhammer and Basic Economy will determine what happens for me. If it's just O/Q, then it means buying up to A now and then on vacation fares. If it also includes G/S/N, that's almost all of my work travel, I have very few fares in W or L.
If I wanted to take a true "stars and scrubs" approach to Advantage, then only S and higher would be eligible for EQM or MCE, and only V and higher would be eligible for complementary or sticker upgrades to F, and then only at T-24. At that point, there's really no reason to have an elite program.
The fare classes affected by this status banhammer and Basic Economy will determine what happens for me. If it's just O/Q, then it means buying up to A now and then on vacation fares. If it also includes G/S/N, that's almost all of my work travel, I have very few fares in W or L.
If I wanted to take a true "stars and scrubs" approach to Advantage, then only S and higher would be eligible for EQM or MCE, and only V and higher would be eligible for complementary or sticker upgrades to F, and then only at T-24. At that point, there's really no reason to have an elite program.
Jun 6, 2016, 9:39 am
#108
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Starting to think the news is that AA has outsourced AAdvantage to Sixt. Can't think of anything else that would engender such doom and gloom from JonNYC
.
Jun 6, 2016, 9:40 am
#109
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP, WoH Globalist
Posts: 104
Is AA really getting better? In terms of service? Operations?
I thought that their merger was still a bit of a mess, although certainly not as big of a mess as UA/CO.
DL has been taking this tack, but at least DL has good operations and generally good service with happy employees.
I thought that their merger was still a bit of a mess, although certainly not as big of a mess as UA/CO.
DL has been taking this tack, but at least DL has good operations and generally good service with happy employees.
Yeah, my take is that they're not really getting better, they're just catching up. The onboard (hard) product is marginally improved, at least with respect to the 772s/77Ws. I've had many "good" flights on AA, both domestic and international, but they are good in the sense that good is the absence of significant problem -- there's absolutely nothing especially memorable.
Jun 6, 2016, 9:44 am
#110
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: DC
Programs: AA Plat, MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 116
^ My thoughts exactly. It's sad when a good flight simply means you didn't get a crap crew with an attitude who clearly doesn't want to be there. But I get it, smiling is hard.
Jun 6, 2016, 9:45 am
#111
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
Jun 6, 2016, 9:47 am
#112
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
Any bets on the new elite levels being called Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald? And the benefits for Gold and Platinum then are?
It's a pity that historically QF has seriously neglected Perth
... Not that AA ever paid any attention either 
. At least SE Asia was better (economically) at connecting to the USA than Sydney until recently. It was fun while it lasted. 
Back to my hole where I can (re)consider wandering
Fred
It's a pity that historically QF has seriously neglected Perth
... Not that AA ever paid any attention either . At least SE Asia was better (economically) at connecting to the USA than Sydney until recently. It was fun while it lasted. Back to my hole where I can (re)consider wandering
Fred
Jun 6, 2016, 9:47 am
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,733
Isn't 4pm the normal time for bad news?
Jun 6, 2016, 9:51 am
#114
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,038
That would assume that AA management perceives this as bad news. For them, they may be saying, "This is a glorious day! Let's let our customers know!".
No matter how bad the changes are, as per JonNYC, I can pretty much guarantee their e-mail to everyone and web posting will word it as if these changes are positive and beneficial for consumers.
No matter how bad the changes are, as per JonNYC, I can pretty much guarantee their e-mail to everyone and web posting will word it as if these changes are positive and beneficial for consumers.
Jun 6, 2016, 9:51 am
#116
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boston, MA (BOS)
Programs: AA PLT Pro 2MM, DL Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Ambassador + LT Plat, COFC Venture X, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 5,587
Wasn't the November award chart changes announcement, RDMs by spend (date still TBD), and SWU reduction news rolled out around 3pm CT? This was Tuesday, November 17, 2015.
Jun 6, 2016, 9:51 am
#117
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Location independent
Programs: AA PlatPro, Asiana Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 287
Jun 6, 2016, 9:52 am
#118
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SLC
Programs: DL PM, Hilton/Marriott Gold
Posts: 971
I took GNRMatt's comment as more of a personal decision not to pursue elite status for himself as opposed to AA dumping elite status, which I don't think will happen.
I've arrived at somewhat of the same conclusion. I fly enough to earn some modicum of it on DL without extra effort, and I have LT on AA. I think the days of me working hard, taking extra flights, charging X amount on a card product just for the sake of status are over for me too. For me, the "thrill is gone."
I've arrived at somewhat of the same conclusion. I fly enough to earn some modicum of it on DL without extra effort, and I have LT on AA. I think the days of me working hard, taking extra flights, charging X amount on a card product just for the sake of status are over for me too. For me, the "thrill is gone."
I could generally justify an extra $10-15 in ticket price on AA as GLD usually meant I could get proactively re-accommodated in the event of delays, and MCE access meant space to open my laptop and work a bit on the plane. If I'm stuck in Y- regardless, AA is losing out on $400 a week, because I'm spending $399 on DL/WN/UA.
Jun 6, 2016, 9:56 am
#119
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: DC
Programs: AA Plat, MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 116
1. Pebbles - regular members
2. Cubic Zarconia - Current Gold
3. Ruby - Current Platinum
4. Sapphire - New middle tier
5. Emerald - Current EXP
Jun 6, 2016, 10:01 am
#120
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: C.A.
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 72
i am waiting to buy a trip to SCL... just curious to see what happens today before deciding.