6 million miles... (but only Lifetime Platinum status)
Feb 7, 2018, 7:30 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Maybe they're waiting for all of those who raked in lifetime miles via CC spend to die off and then release lifetime status for 3MM, 4MM+?
In all honestly, it doesn't make sense to reward someone PLT/PPRO/EXP for life if they haven't spent a fraction of the time/money with their butt in a seat.
In all honestly, it doesn't make sense to reward someone PLT/PPRO/EXP for life if they haven't spent a fraction of the time/money with their butt in a seat.
*My guess is that the re-evaluation process might be impossible for AAs tech people.
Feb 8, 2018, 7:37 am
#62
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC-BNA
Programs: Lifetime Plat/4mm miles, Starwood, HiltonHonors
Posts: 657
All entitlement aside, I do think that with the introduction of the Platinum Pro tier, AA does have a real opportunity to expand the Lifetime status program. It's clear that they don't want to give away EXP status to anyone unless they actually fly enough to earn it. But, perhaps adding Lifetime Pro status at the 3, or even 4 million mile level, could be something in the cards for the future. Heck, UA even gives away lifetime Global Services at 5 million, which is a pretty amazing benefit for those that are able to attain it.
Feb 8, 2018, 11:03 am
#64
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 4.1MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 9
I got to over 2MM 95% from flying. Perhaps AA could modify awarding lifetime status by re-assessing* how one attained the miles in the MM bank; so if one reaches (say) 3MM based on BIS miles, that pax might get Plat Pro for life.
*My guess is that the re-evaluation process might be impossible for AAs tech people.
*My guess is that the re-evaluation process might be impossible for AAs tech people.
Something like 10 years EXP and 5MM+ could make a lot of sense for LT EXP... Air France also has something like that (not really useful if you don't live in France though...): LT top status if you achieve top status 10 years in a row...
I know I'm dreaming here, but wouldn't that be nice?
Feb 8, 2018, 11:19 am
#65
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: TX/TN
Programs: AAEP, other airs, hotels, ccs
Posts: 26
I like the responses here; thanks FT posters. Yes, it's good to cast a bit of shade on original poster, but also good discussion of that others do, what AA has done historically. Being realistic about these programs is important. These aren't discounts for flying, they are benefits. And, yes, I am one of those struggling to even achieve 1M on my money. I'll get there before I die
!
Thx, posters, for keeping us grounded in this.
!Thx, posters, for keeping us grounded in this.
Feb 10, 2018, 9:48 pm
#66
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DEN - MAD
Programs: AS 100K/F9 100K/*A-Gold/AA 1.6mm/HyattGlobal/IHG SPIRE/Hilt-Caes-Wynd DIAM/Rad & Crown&Anch GOLD
Posts: 466
Yeah, and it was the BIS requirement for LT status 
I remember one bonus that included trips starting in Nashville, and some other places. I think it was Nashville, may Raleigh...
Places I didn't usually go to. I got to the starting city, then booked other tickets starting from there I remember a trip that including going to SJU, then flying to SEA..
Fares were low and I was getting a very high upgrade percentage... I got a cheap roundtrip to Germany for Thanksgiving weekend, to have enough to earn the bonus at 125K miles.
I think you had a choice, and I chose 2 SWU's. Of, I had burned 2 SWUs to go to Germany. But the many RDMs were a bonus
I remember one bonus that included trips starting in Nashville, and some other places. I think it was Nashville, may Raleigh...
Places I didn't usually go to. I got to the starting city, then booked other tickets starting from there I remember a trip that including going to SJU, then flying to SEA..
Fares were low and I was getting a very high upgrade percentage... I got a cheap roundtrip to Germany for Thanksgiving weekend, to have enough to earn the bonus at 125K miles.
I think you had a choice, and I chose 2 SWU's. Of, I had burned 2 SWUs to go to Germany. But the many RDMs were a bonus
Clarification: I think people mentioning the 2009 quadruple earning might actually be talking about the vaunted “triple-doubles” from SFO/LAX/SAN-BOS? I did eight of those, each earning 10,444 EQM and 15,666 RDM. It was like a commuter train, seeing the same dozen or more faces on every ex-LAX redeye!
Last edited by noneemac; Feb 10, 2018 at 9:50 pm Reason: Fix typos
Feb 11, 2018, 1:36 am
#67
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AUS, GVA, and in between
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 178
For those of us coming from the US side, only BIS miles have ever counted for lifetime status - and they needed to be BIS *on US* (not UA or LH or whatever). We never had the chance to rack them up with wildly generous offers. So, yeah, without a recalculation on the AA side, there will be a certain resentment if higher lifetime tiers are added.
Feb 12, 2018, 2:51 am
#68
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,827
Feb 13, 2018, 3:29 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
Of course, AA could change/discontinue the lifetime program at any point, but for the meager amount it costs to give someone lifetime gold or platinum status (and especially with rolling EQD bumping infrequent lifetime elites to the bottom of the upgrade list), it's probably a good investment.
Feb 13, 2018, 6:19 pm
#71
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
The only reason Continental was able to go through and add up Lifetime Miles was that their IT contractor at the time (EDS) - told them that had all these backup tapes stored with all the FF data and it was possible to do. But likely expensive and it took a year to do. CO did not think they still had the data available. This then resulted in CO coming up with a good Lifetime program. And when merging with UA - UA had its data too.
I think AA would consider doing it if they could. But who knows - maybe they would not want to spend the money like CO did.
Feb 13, 2018, 11:14 pm
#72
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,850
Gotta love those one-hit wonder posters like Jhanwell 
Agreed. I enjoy BA and try to fly them rather than AA if I have a choice between the two (which happens frequently, as LHR is my closest airport).
Going to be at 5MM on AA soon (vast majority BIS) and if there's still no LT program above Platinum then I'm jumping ship and going for LT Gold on BA ^
Going to be at 5MM on AA soon (vast majority BIS) and if there's still no LT program above Platinum then I'm jumping ship and going for LT Gold on BA ^
Mar 21, 2018, 6:27 pm
#73
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MIA LAX GIG, AA CK
Posts: 211
Maybe they're waiting for all of those who raked in lifetime miles via CC spend to die off and then release lifetime status for 3MM, 4MM+?
In all honestly, it doesn't make sense to reward someone PLT/PPRO/EXP for life if they haven't spent a fraction of the time/money with their butt in a seat.
In all honestly, it doesn't make sense to reward someone PLT/PPRO/EXP for life if they haven't spent a fraction of the time/money with their butt in a seat.
I know that AA doesn't post total overall miles anymore but on a call with CK the agent said wow you're almost at 30MM total miles / 24MM lifetime miles.
Mar 21, 2018, 6:48 pm
#74
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
Were the majority of your miles earned through CC spend?