Speculation: Safe To Say There Will Be Fewer EXP In 2018 ?
Oct 19, 2017, 5:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 72
Speculation: Safe To Say There Will Be Fewer EXP In 2018 ?
Deciding on a potential "miles run" to retain EXP with the purchase of a J class ticket to Asia. Figuring there will be even less now with the EQD minimum.
Will have 100k EQMs and 9k EQD come mid December. Travel domestically very often and a few times a year to Tokyo and Hong Kong. Have been lucky where all of my system wide upgrades have been approved far in advance and I have only *not* been upgraded 3 flights out of 25 or so.
Big question : Is it worth me purchasing a $3000 biz class to Tokyo, to ensure being at the top of the upgrade list domestically and what could/wold likely be another four free upgrades in Y on longhaul flights for next year.
Decisions, decisions. Any insight is appreciated!
Will have 100k EQMs and 9k EQD come mid December. Travel domestically very often and a few times a year to Tokyo and Hong Kong. Have been lucky where all of my system wide upgrades have been approved far in advance and I have only *not* been upgraded 3 flights out of 25 or so.
Big question : Is it worth me purchasing a $3000 biz class to Tokyo, to ensure being at the top of the upgrade list domestically and what could/wold likely be another four free upgrades in Y on longhaul flights for next year.
Decisions, decisions. Any insight is appreciated!
Oct 19, 2017, 5:39 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: AA PLT PRO, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plt. Premier
Posts: 587
Deciding on a potential "miles run" to retain EXP with the purchase of a J class ticket to Asia. Figuring there will be even less now with the EQD minimum.
Will have 100k EQMs and 9k EQD come mid December. Travel domestically very often and a few times a year to Tokyo and Hong Kong. Have been lucky where all of my system wide upgrades have been approved far in advance and I have only *not* been upgraded 3 flights out of 25 or so.
Big question : Is it worth me purchasing a $3000 biz class to Tokyo, to ensure being at the top of the upgrade list domestically and what could/wold likely be another four free upgrades in Y on longhaul flights for next year.
Decisions, decisions. Any insight is appreciated!
Will have 100k EQMs and 9k EQD come mid December. Travel domestically very often and a few times a year to Tokyo and Hong Kong. Have been lucky where all of my system wide upgrades have been approved far in advance and I have only *not* been upgraded 3 flights out of 25 or so.
Big question : Is it worth me purchasing a $3000 biz class to Tokyo, to ensure being at the top of the upgrade list domestically and what could/wold likely be another four free upgrades in Y on longhaul flights for next year.
Decisions, decisions. Any insight is appreciated!
Oct 19, 2017, 6:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
We kid about this every year — “there will be a big purge come 3/1 (next year it is 2/1). Never really have seen a huge difference since AA tends to offer buy-ups and buybacks. And then challenges. And comp uograde to EP to Select customers. And then there are new/re-signed Corp contracts that seem to throw some new EPs into the mix.
we have ave yet to hear how they will handle buy/ups this year or how they will deal with people that say met the EQD requirement but not the EQM requirement. And visa versa I guess.
But, with all of this said, “next Feb 1 could bring a good flush” now that PP exists with half way decent benefits. U might be right!
Only time will tell..
we have ave yet to hear how they will handle buy/ups this year or how they will deal with people that say met the EQD requirement but not the EQM requirement. And visa versa I guess.
But, with all of this said, “next Feb 1 could bring a good flush” now that PP exists with half way decent benefits. U might be right!
Only time will tell..
Last edited by AAExecPlatFlier; Oct 19, 2017 at 7:50 pm
Oct 19, 2017, 6:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AA, DL, Avis, Enterprise, National, IHG, HH, SPG/MR
Posts: 1,852
If upgrades are important to you for a particular route, just pay for an F or J fare to begin with. If you're not getting status organically, your rolling EQDs are probably too low to get upgrades consistently anyway.
Oct 19, 2017, 7:07 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
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Oct 19, 2017, 7:10 pm
#7
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
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Oct 19, 2017, 7:25 pm
#9
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Oct 19, 2017, 7:45 pm
#10
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Oct 19, 2017, 7:49 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
Oct 19, 2017, 7:55 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,605
How much do you value yout time as to waste a couple of days just sat on an aeroplane to Tokyo, hanging around in Tokyo and flying back
Does it actually sound sane to spend $3000 to improve the change of getting an upgrade domestically
Oct 19, 2017, 8:01 pm
#13
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Oct 19, 2017, 8:26 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SMF / SFO
Posts: 226
Oct 19, 2017, 8:40 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Do you have the Barclay Red or Silver card? Depending on how much you spend ($25K or $50K) you could be getting $3K or $6K EQD plus 10K EQM.
If you are considering a $3K J ticket - $25K per year is likely in your range. Pay your taxes on your CC, with the 1.87% fee. Much cheaper than spending $3K for a mileage run.
I am not expecting a big drop in the number of EXPs. I earned it in June of this year but with the help of the CC bonuses. People are also getting their EQD up, above the cheap ticket price by getting Bulk fares through AA Vacations or Citi Thank you points. And some are doing cheap Qatar J fares as well for Distance based EQD calculation.
If you are considering a $3K J ticket - $25K per year is likely in your range. Pay your taxes on your CC, with the 1.87% fee. Much cheaper than spending $3K for a mileage run.
I am not expecting a big drop in the number of EXPs. I earned it in June of this year but with the help of the CC bonuses. People are also getting their EQD up, above the cheap ticket price by getting Bulk fares through AA Vacations or Citi Thank you points. And some are doing cheap Qatar J fares as well for Distance based EQD calculation.