ARCHIVE: "Sticker" / 500-mile E-Upgrades & EXP "UDU" Upgrades (2015)
May 28, 2015, 12:15 pm
#76
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,607
500 mile upgrade certificates not issued to EXP elites
This has been discussed in the past numerous of times. Basically it boils down to revenue, and also to allow GLD & PLT the possibility of upgrades as well. I believe UA & DL offer complementary upgrades to elite companions, and lower level elites complain about not being able to upgrade.
There is only so many seats available.
There is only so many seats available.
May 28, 2015, 12:23 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 403
Can't speak for UA's, but DL's program puts all elites, even the highest tier, at the very bottom if they are with a companion.
May 28, 2015, 2:30 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Yes, EXPs need them for companions, but their travel is comped. The Plt/Gld need them for their own travel. Sounds fair to me, but then I'm LTG.
Now the thing to watch is if you are close (within 7500 miles) of reaching the 10K by the end of the window, call in to see if they will issue fewer than 4. Every little bit helps.
Now the thing to watch is if you are close (within 7500 miles) of reaching the 10K by the end of the window, call in to see if they will issue fewer than 4. Every little bit helps.
May 28, 2015, 3:17 pm
#79
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 215
Yes, EXPs need them for companions, but their travel is comped. The Plt/Gld need them for their own travel. Sounds fair to me, but then I'm LTG.
Now the thing to watch is if you are close (within 7500 miles) of reaching the 10K by the end of the window, call in to see if they will issue fewer than 4. Every little bit helps.
Now the thing to watch is if you are close (within 7500 miles) of reaching the 10K by the end of the window, call in to see if they will issue fewer than 4. Every little bit helps.
May 28, 2015, 3:24 pm
#80
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,571
Given that EP members can get complimentary upgrades on all eligible flights, does not seem unreasonable at all that they do not earn additional 500 mile upgrades too.
May 28, 2015, 4:17 pm
#81
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Not a few EPs begin their EP careers with a stash of 500 milers anyway.
May 28, 2015, 4:28 pm
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Yes, it's a numbers game. And there's no one better at it than AA! If it was me, I'd be asking for mileage towards upgrades for those flights that I did not get upgraded (including those paid J/F). That sounds like a good compromise to reward EXPs when upgrades are not used. But I doubt they will be making any changes soon.
May 28, 2015, 4:54 pm
#83
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 215
If you want numbers, consider you do actually get the upgrades every time your flight is upgraded, it's just that they are used at the same time. So if you get upgraded on 50% of your flights, then flying 10K, upgraded 5K, requires 10 upgrades that are granted and burned at flight time. So instead of only earning 4, you got 10! And you want more? Something about cake and eating it too come to mind.
Yes, it's a numbers game. And there's no one better at it than AA! If it was me, I'd be asking for mileage towards upgrades for those flights that I did not get upgraded (including those paid J/F). That sounds like a good compromise to reward EXPs when upgrades are not used. But I doubt they will be making any changes soon.
Yes, it's a numbers game. And there's no one better at it than AA! If it was me, I'd be asking for mileage towards upgrades for those flights that I did not get upgraded (including those paid J/F). That sounds like a good compromise to reward EXPs when upgrades are not used. But I doubt they will be making any changes soon.
May 28, 2015, 4:58 pm
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Currently they do not expire. And keep in mind you can buy them with miles if you really need to.
May 28, 2015, 5:36 pm
#86
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,571
Why? If concerned , then when upgrading another passenger , if lack of 500 mile upgrades is an issue, get the other person to pay the fee. Seems odd to just not use them just because you wont earn additional when holding EP status.
May 28, 2015, 5:58 pm
#87
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,377
As a recent [forced] transfer from an infinitely more simple program, you need to realize the concept of a "500-mile upgrade" is, at best, archaic, and more likely something spawned in the 1970s or thereabout.
May 28, 2015, 6:07 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 215
I think it depends on who is the companion. But you are probably right - keeping them just for the sake of keeping doesn't make much sense. I have several domestic flights coming up before reaching EXP status so will try to use some of them. Will test upgrade success rate for platinum status at the same time.
May 28, 2015, 9:15 pm
#89
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
Been covered other times, but it still gripes me. I was EXP for a number of years when I started flying AA, so no stickers even though I flew >120,000 each year (almost all TPAC). Then, when I dropped to PLT last year, I had zero stickers in my account. If I had been PLAT all along, I would have had many. I even asked AA if there could be some way to back credit PLATs when they drop from EXP the number they would have had; of course, told no. And, as an aside, I got exactly three complementary domestic upgrades and lost all my global upgrades since I was never able to use them (I tried, but wasn't able to get even one flight where they could be used).
May 28, 2015, 11:05 pm
#90
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948