Nov 5, 2018, 12:18 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AAdvantage program changes have been announced, to be implemented 1 January 2019. In part:
AAdvantage® program updates
What’s new (link)
2019 AAdvantage® program updates
We’re introducing a few updates effective January 1, 2019, for AAdvantage® members, including new qualification requirements for AAdvantage® Executive Platinum status and extra rewards Executive Platinum members can choose.
Additionally, we’re changing how you earn Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) on American and select oneworld® airlines, and what you earn when flying on special fares (such as bulk or consolidator fares) and exception tickets (cases when ticket/fare details are unavailable).
Executive Platinum qualification and rewards
The Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD) requirement for AAdvantage® Executive Platinum status is increasing from $12,000 EQDs to $15,000 EQDs for the 2020 membership year. (You’ll need to earn $15,000 EQD in 2019 to qualify for Executive Platinum for the Status year beginning 1 Feb 2020.)
Upon qualification for Executive Platinum status, members who reach 150,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs), 200,000 EQMs and 250,000 EQMs can choose a reward.
Reach 150,000 EQMs and choose from:
2 systemwide upgrades
40,000 bonus miles
Gift of AAdvantage® Gold status
Reach 200,000 EQMs and choose from:
2 systemwide upgrades
40,000 bonus miles
Gift of AAdvantage® Platinum status
Reach 250,000 EQMs and choose from:
2 systemwide upgrades
40,000 bonus miles
Gift of AAdvantage® Platinum status
You can track your progress toward reaching these reward levels in your account. Once you reach these goals, your reward choices will be available in your wallet.
Earning Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs)
The EQMs you earn on select oneworld® airlines are increasing to be aligned with what you earn when flying on an American-marketed flight. (NOTE: affects JBA one world airlines only)
British Airways
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
The EQMs earned on American-marketed flights on fares booked in “Y” are decreasing from 1.5 EQMs to 1.0 EQMs per mile flown to be more in line with the ticket value.
Earning on special fare tickets
Earning on special fare tickets
We’re adjusting the award miles, class of service bonus, EQDs and EQMs to match the value of the ticket for select booking codes for travel on American-marketed flights on these ticket types:
Special fares (such as bulk and consolidator fare tickets)
Earning when ticket/fare details are unavailable
In some cases what you earn on these tickets is increasing and in other cases it’s decreasing.
What’s new (link)
2019 AAdvantage® program updates
We’re introducing a few updates effective January 1, 2019, for AAdvantage® members, including new qualification requirements for AAdvantage® Executive Platinum status and extra rewards Executive Platinum members can choose.
Additionally, we’re changing how you earn Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) on American and select oneworld® airlines, and what you earn when flying on special fares (such as bulk or consolidator fares) and exception tickets (cases when ticket/fare details are unavailable).
Executive Platinum qualification and rewards
The Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD) requirement for AAdvantage® Executive Platinum status is increasing from $12,000 EQDs to $15,000 EQDs for the 2020 membership year. (You’ll need to earn $15,000 EQD in 2019 to qualify for Executive Platinum for the Status year beginning 1 Feb 2020.)
NOTE: see Barclaycard Aviator Red no EQD, Silver $3k EQD Only as of 2019 thread on credit card EQD reductions
Reach 150,000 EQMs and choose from:
2 systemwide upgrades
40,000 bonus miles
Gift of AAdvantage® Gold status
Reach 200,000 EQMs and choose from:
2 systemwide upgrades
40,000 bonus miles
Gift of AAdvantage® Platinum status
Reach 250,000 EQMs and choose from:
2 systemwide upgrades
40,000 bonus miles
Gift of AAdvantage® Platinum status
You can track your progress toward reaching these reward levels in your account. Once you reach these goals, your reward choices will be available in your wallet.
Earning Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs)
The EQMs you earn on select oneworld® airlines are increasing to be aligned with what you earn when flying on an American-marketed flight. (NOTE: affects JBA one world airlines only)
British Airways
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
The EQMs earned on American-marketed flights on fares booked in “Y” are decreasing from 1.5 EQMs to 1.0 EQMs per mile flown to be more in line with the ticket value.
Earning on special fare tickets
Earning on special fare tickets
We’re adjusting the award miles, class of service bonus, EQDs and EQMs to match the value of the ticket for select booking codes for travel on American-marketed flights on these ticket types:
Special fares (such as bulk and consolidator fare tickets)
Earning when ticket/fare details are unavailable
In some cases what you earn on these tickets is increasing and in other cases it’s decreasing.
AAdvantage Program Changes as of Jan 2019 and EXP EQD Requirement
Nov 5, 2018, 2:40 pm
#91
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
Part of the issue here might be that Bridget Blaise-Shamai doesn't have credit card spend as a key preference indicator on her end of the year performance metrics. I think revenue from Barclaycard buying miles will tank and someone may get fired for millions in lost revenue due to these changes.
$25k can get you in the upper echelon of status on United and Delta, while $50k in CC spend on AA would only get you AA's lowest teir status. AA is lagging behind the competition in this space.
$25k can get you in the upper echelon of status on United and Delta, while $50k in CC spend on AA would only get you AA's lowest teir status. AA is lagging behind the competition in this space.
Nov 5, 2018, 2:42 pm
#92
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PL, SPG G, MR G, HH G, CC G, AMEX PL
Posts: 1,465
When I looked at their earning structure I saw more options of earning 100% EQM with *A then with AA partners, more C booking choices for the purpose. I'm trying to find their Vacations earning structure but can't locate it so far. AA has a very detailed page about their vacations credits.
Nov 5, 2018, 2:42 pm
#93
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Maybe it's time to do a status match next year and move to UA then.Best of luck.
Nov 5, 2018, 2:43 pm
#94
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PL, SPG G, MR G, HH G, CC G, AMEX PL
Posts: 1,465
Part of the issue here might be that Bridget Blaise-Shamai doesn't have credit card spend as a key preference indicator on her end of the year performance metrics. I think revenue from Barclaycard buying miles will tank and someone may get fired for millions in lost revenue due to these changes.
$25k can get you in the upper echelon of status on United and Delta, while $50k in CC spend on AA would only get you AA's lowest teir status. AA is lagging behind the competition in this space.
$25k can get you in the upper echelon of status on United and Delta, while $50k in CC spend on AA would only get you AA's lowest teir status. AA is lagging behind the competition in this space.
Nov 5, 2018, 2:44 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PL, SPG G, MR G, HH G, CC G, AMEX PL
Posts: 1,465
I can simply open a new account, wouldn't make much difference to me.
Nov 5, 2018, 2:51 pm
#96
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
This is the direction the airline industry is going. Those that get "free stuff" will be paying for that "free stuff" indirectly, as most loyalty programs require. Next up will be the loss of complimentary upgrades for GLD and PLT (outside of paying for stickers.) Also good chance loss of MCE for PLT, or a required co-pay.
Nov 5, 2018, 2:51 pm
#97
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
Nov 5, 2018, 2:57 pm
#98
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PL, SPG G, MR G, HH G, CC G, AMEX PL
Posts: 1,465
Nov 5, 2018, 3:00 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,031
Nov 5, 2018, 3:01 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
When I looked at their earning structure I saw more options of earning 100% EQM with *A then with AA partners, more C booking choices for the purpose. I'm trying to find their Vacations earning structure but can't locate it so far. AA has a very detailed page about their vacations credits.
As others mentioned, it's the general trend of domestic airlines now. I am still grateful it won't be as hard as getting CX DM....
Nov 5, 2018, 3:04 pm
#101
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Nov 5, 2018, 3:04 pm
#102
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hilton, IHG
Posts: 35
In my experience, the most common reason I flew on a Y fare was a rebooking due to irregular operations or other reservation foul up. So I didn't actually pay for full fare Y, but I got the 1.5x multiplier.
Nov 5, 2018, 3:07 pm
#103
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Part of the issue here might be that Bridget Blaise-Shamai doesn't have credit card spend as a key preference indicator on her end of the year performance metrics. I think revenue from Barclaycard buying miles will tank and someone may get fired for millions in lost revenue due to these changes.
$25k can get you in the upper echelon of status on United and Delta, while $50k in CC spend on AA would only get you AA's lowest teir status. AA is lagging behind the competition in this space.
$25k can get you in the upper echelon of status on United and Delta, while $50k in CC spend on AA would only get you AA's lowest teir status. AA is lagging behind the competition in this space.
DL requires 250K for top tier diamond
United requires unobtanium spend for top tier 1K ie - you can only qualify for Platinum on spend ie second tier
Nov 5, 2018, 3:16 pm
#104
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PL, SPG G, MR G, HH G, CC G, AMEX PL
Posts: 1,465
If the ticket starts with 016 then it's UA structure for RDM, same as on AA. I'll need to browse UA forums for rules on vacations bookings.
Nov 5, 2018, 3:19 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
The overall changes would kick-out from the elite club (or make them pay up) those elites with enough miles but 'only' getting 12-15K EQDs, sure. But on the other hand, the changes could elevate PlatPros who have 15K EQDs but below 100K EQM by giving them more EQMs on any partner flights. Does the ExecPlat group really shrink? Or does it merely shift around, in better favor of international jet-setters with a mixture of AA/partner flights but over 15K spend, while shunning anyone with <15K in spend (even if it is all on AA metal).