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, 11:13 am
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Hardly a surprise that any legacy carrier wants to focus on higher spend customers, bearing in mind that there are still three elite status levels below EXP. With the economy on screech, more paid F/J, and capacity adjusted to PRASM, something has to give and that has become the lower spend EXP.
Further hardly a surprise that AA becomes the last of the legacies to do this. The last thing AA wants or needs is the low spend DL / UA high status people jumping ship to AA over the spend issue.
Further hardly a surprise that AA becomes the last of the legacies to do this. The last thing AA wants or needs is the low spend DL / UA high status people jumping ship to AA over the spend issue.
Nov 5, 2018, 11:25 am
#49
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
I'm fine with this. 12K EQD was not a high bar - neither is 15K really.
A smaller EXP pool is a good thing. Less credit card based elites is also a good thing.
<won't be a popular opinion here - but it's how I see things on this one >
A smaller EXP pool is a good thing. Less credit card based elites is also a good thing.
<won't be a popular opinion here - but it's how I see things on this one >
Nov 5, 2018, 11:34 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
This change doesn't really affect me as I usually end up with about $25K spend, miles are also a non issue, EQM are over 150K for me. So thinning out EXPs is a good thing.
However, I find EXP pretty useless. Usually purchase J or F tickets as I don't want to play the upgrade game. SWUs are useless, scarce availability to use for someone else or me at booking. Elimination of F on most international routes means I can't really use them unless I go to LHR for a J to F upgrade. New Flagship lounges are nice, but I'd get access with my international J or as a lifetime Platinum member so no perk there. First class check in has disappeared, now its all one big priority line with everyone who has an AA credit card or Gold. Flagship check in is ok when available and I'm traveling to a qualified destination.
However, I find EXP pretty useless. Usually purchase J or F tickets as I don't want to play the upgrade game. SWUs are useless, scarce availability to use for someone else or me at booking. Elimination of F on most international routes means I can't really use them unless I go to LHR for a J to F upgrade. New Flagship lounges are nice, but I'd get access with my international J or as a lifetime Platinum member so no perk there. First class check in has disappeared, now its all one big priority line with everyone who has an AA credit card or Gold. Flagship check in is ok when available and I'm traveling to a qualified destination.
Nov 5, 2018, 11:56 am
#53
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
This doesn't make much sense. Discounted first/business class fares are usually significantly less expensive than full Y fares. Unless they're really focusing this on government Y fares which are probably much much lower. Frankly there's rarely a reason to need to buy a full Y domestically, but on the other hand, often that's the only one-way fare available for overseas flights, and is usually more than discounted J.
Nov 5, 2018, 11:58 am
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
Nov 5, 2018, 11:58 am
#55
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
Nov 5, 2018, 12:00 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz PC, GE + Pre✓, Amazon Super Special Prime
Posts: 1,008
Especially since SWU are becoming harder to use, you can extract more value out of the status gift or miles.
As one who is spending about $20-$25K per year right now, I'm not put off by this. From seeing the loads in premium cabins this past year on INTL flights, I can tell that AA is courting EXP customers who spend more, and weeding out those who do not. Seems like a simple business decision here, and Delta and UA helped give them the courage to do it. 
But the improved EQM earning in J/F on Oneworld partners is a VERY nice improvement. Now I can go back to buying itineraries on BA.com in J, which often tend to be cheaper than the same itinerary on AA.com for me, and can still earn full EQM. No more paying AA a premium just to get my full EQMs. ^
But the improved EQM earning in J/F on Oneworld partners is a VERY nice improvement. Now I can go back to buying itineraries on BA.com in J, which often tend to be cheaper than the same itinerary on AA.com for me, and can still earn full EQM. No more paying AA a premium just to get my full EQMs. ^
I guess the point is now moot, as I can book wherever I please as long as my AA FFN is attached to the PNR.
I have been looking at some fares into Europe next year, and would much rather fly BA F than AA F or J, and could now get the appropriate EQM to go with it!
Nov 5, 2018, 12:02 pm
#57
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
What qualifies as AA marketed? Was always confused on how to leverage what website, what flight number or codeshare, etc. to get the best EQM for a Non-AA metal flight on a OW partner.
I guess the point is now moot, as I can book wherever I please as long as my AA FFN is attached to the PNR.
I have been looking at some fares into Europe next year, and would much rather fly BA F than AA F or J, and could now get the appropriate EQM to go with it!
I guess the point is now moot, as I can book wherever I please as long as my AA FFN is attached to the PNR.
I have been looking at some fares into Europe next year, and would much rather fly BA F than AA F or J, and could now get the appropriate EQM to go with it!
And on a separate note I am sure you are not alone in the comment of BA F - one of the best TATL J you could get.
Nov 5, 2018, 12:04 pm
#58
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
And, though there may be less 'credit card based elites' and those in the 12K-15K range may fall out, would that be counterbalanced by the changes in how people get EQM credit on partner airlines??
Nov 5, 2018, 12:05 pm
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
Thank goodness for the AA posters on FlyterTalk, the world's largest microscopic community of 'flying misfits' forsaken by AA management.
No but really, there is incredible knowledge (and clarification about obscure topics) that seem to break faster on FT and get covered in greater detail here than in almost any other place other than JonNYC's breakfast table.
No but really, there is incredible knowledge (and clarification about obscure topics) that seem to break faster on FT and get covered in greater detail here than in almost any other place other than JonNYC's breakfast table.
Nov 5, 2018, 12:08 pm
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913