usafltg

Not to hijack the thread, but i'm in a similar situation. I'm a current EXP with AA, but I've had a "serious" lack of travel this year for work (only 17k EQMs, and only a $4k EQD). I expect my domestic travel to pick back up here in September. Obviously I'm not even a glimpse into being considered for CK let alone EXP for another year (been an EXP YoY since 2007). Seeing as how they are now offering status matches to people who have NO status all the way to EXP, and not doing much with current customers.... this makes me shudder a bit.

What options are available to get to a top tier on perhaps another airline? Or is there something that can be done with American yet? Or am I basically screwed and have no options.... ???

3Cforme

Unless you're senior with a corporate account Delta does challenges, not matches (and not to Diamond it is said). Think about the route networks more than status, really. Connections suck v. non-stops.

Dallas49er

LOL

​​But I don't splutter, and I don't shake my fist. Nonetheless, it is a funny image.

In spite of the WSJ article (baloney), I don't think anyone in AA "Management" would climb down from their ivory towers to fly with the great unwashed masses. Parker sightings anyone? 2018, 2017, 2016, ...

Athena53

I retired in mid-2014 with LIfetime Gold status and a pile of AA miles. I feel a bit of an attachment to AA because that does mean no checked bag fees, use of Priority lines, and sometimes an earlier boarding group. Sometimes I can't figure it out at all- after not flying AA for over a year I was upgraded (using the 500-mile certs) on 3 out of the 4 segments on a round trip between MCI and BOS.

Still- for the long hauls I consider myself a free agent and it's very liberating. As others have said, the perks of loyalty can be bought for the price of a Business Class fare. Since retirement I've made two trips to KEF on IcelandAIr and selected UA for my upcoming trip to Edinburgh because the price and the schedule were better. I did just get the AA MC for the 60,000-mile signing bonus and that will affect my decisions somewhat, but when it comes up for renewal all bets are off.

Ord Liza

Contact United about a challenge to 1K when you are a little bit closer to your expected fall travel. IIR, I got 1K immediately for 3 months and was able to extend it for the next year by flying 35,000 (I think) miles in that 3 month period. Subject to some conditions. Having done that, I'm within striking distance of qualifying for *A gold for another year by flying just 15K more UA miles. Works for me.

chazas

Yes, but there can be significant differences in experience that counterbalance that. I "gave up" AA loyalty last year, even though I'm lifetime plat (actual flying would never get me more than gold) because I live closer to IAD (UA) than DCA (AA). I spent the last several months flying nonstop, but mostly United Express crap out of IAD, with inconvenient gates (OMG, that A concourse, unbelievably awful), cancelled flights, purchased E+ seats that turned out to be not in E+, nonexistent service (OJ and water only on a 1.5 hour late afternoon flight, really?), rude FAs, etc. AA isn't always great but I'm going back (which mostly means DCA and likely more connections), even at the cost of an occasional $70-90 Uber ride to my car at a commuter rail station. The overall stress is just lower.

MarkOK

That is why I got my Exec card -- I was doing about 4 work trips and 3 'family' trips a year. Not really even enough EQD/EQM to get Gold, but for a $450 annual fee, I avoided ~500$ in baggage fees (all my trips are 7 days or longer, often requires a mixture of casual and formal wear, and I don't care to pack 'light')), we have a lounge during layovers (which are on 100% of our trips) where my wife and I can drink some cheap wine and the kid could play on a computer in the kids room, and minor perks such as avoiding those dreaded check-in kiosks, having AC angels to deal with our IRROPs (a god-send in convenience and service about twice a year), and global entry credit (to slightly speed up immigration and customs on the return for that 1 international trip a year) with precheck privileges (worthless 80% of the time, but that 20% of the time when it matters, it sure matters). I've never used the card for purchases -- 25K EQM does me no good to get me to the next level (my EQD and EQM earning rate has always been spot on equal grounds for me), and the miles aren't worth more than 1.3 cent/mile to me (compared to easily 2 cent/pt with Hyatt or 2% cash back on another CC).

Now I fly enough to get Gold naturally, perhaps Platinum (-- my PlatPro is via a conveniently timed challenge), so some of the CC calculus has changed -- I get free bags anyways, but I get more value than before in terms of AC access; still no reason to spend a dollar on the card when the EQM boost does zero good for me because I don't have the EQD to match.

And to circle back to the thread -- Since most -tangible- benefits can be bought for an annual fee of $450, I don't think status between "member" to "plat pro" means anything at all other than the mileage boost with the higher statuses (it takes forever without the mileage bonus to earn enough for a free flight), and if you fly certain routes the higher statuses may get you some domestic upgrades to domestic F (usually, on short segments where at best you can choose a low value snack from a basket), and though I don't place nearly as much value for MCE as it seems others do, it is nice to have a wide selection of seat choices. At ExecPlat -- the only additional benefits is maybe more domestic F upgrades (still can be scant depending on your routes), and SWUs, which to me on the outside looking in look very attractive because paying J or F for international flights is a reach -- If I had the money to just by the best F value out there anyways, the attractiveness of securing SWUs certainly lessons. Compare that with my hotel loyalty program (--- confirmed suites for up to 4 weeks a year, other upgrades at check in, free breakfasts or lounge access, waived fees for this and that, free night certificates, good enough pt redemptions that more than half my nights on personal trips are free, and at some properties a nice welcome amenity, etc), the Aadvantage loyalty program is a gigantic nothing burger.

Fact: My hotel loyalty program, not AA and not even work, has actually led me to double my rate of personal travel, which is primarily why my travel with AA has increased over the last year as has my AA status.

abk

As much as I agree with you let us not forget that Parker says they will never loose money again.

Athena53

I agree- my primary card is a Fidelity 2% cash back card but I just got the AA MC. I'll get the 60K mile bonus easily, and with the current miles in my account will be close to the miles needed for unrestricted Business Class to Europe- one of the best values in terms of $ per mile. Will definitely use it for double mileage on AA travel and probably use it for foreign currency purchases since there's no additional FX fee. That's about it.

pbd456

if you travel enough, you can be a both free agent and exp.

LondonElite

Seriously?

SJOGuy

I disagree with the manner in which you've expressed a few of your points, but you have to do what you think best. You're the only one who can decide what works for you. I wish you well.

What is there to "turn down"? I am perfectly capable of laying out the limited bedding they provide in F or J. It's not a hotel. Quite honestly, I'd feel embarrassed to ask someone to do it for me on a plane. YMMV.

jcatman

C'mon. Eliminating turn down service would deprive true celebrities like Zach Honig, Brian Kelly and Sam Chui of a critical posting to their respective Instagram accounts.

Dallas49er

So am I (embarrassed). On AA it is an APFA grievance, started by (probably) ELDERLY, BURNED OUT...

However, it is OFFERED UPON BOARDING on CX, JL, LH, Korean, Malaysia, China Southern, and the list goes on.

It shouldn't be yet another continuing conflict point of AA FA vs AA PAX about doing ones job vs doing the absolute minimum one can get away with.

But I continue to shovel sand against the tide .

Adelphos

1) Standby for later flights. I visit DC a decent amount to visit family. On the Sunday DCA-LGA flights, I just book whatever the cheapest flight is, standby, and show up to the airport at my leisure. Makes flying back and forth pretty seamless. Probably the main reason I would want to keep AA status.
2) Decent upgrade percentages on business trips, even as a Gold
3) Have used the priority check-in lane a few times this year
4) Free bags

When combining award flights, business trips, and leisure trips, I'll probably do about 60,000 BIS miles this year (obviously a lot less than many here). Status has made it a bit easier.