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, 12:13 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SF
Programs: UA / 1K & AA ExP
Posts: 48
I'm in a slightly different boat. I'm a 1MM++ with AA. Do about 120k miles per year. I am also a small business owner. This means I have to watch my pennies - $1k saved means I can bonus out my employees $1k. Every dollar DOES matter. So pushing me to buy higher fares just to keep my tushy happy only causes me frustration. Also, my employees fly who I tell them to fly -- and many of them do 25-50k/year. So my satisfaction is worth about $25k/year, and 300k miles / year. But AA, UA, DA, will never see it that way.
If AA thought about the SMB market at all (and they should, it's the fastest growing market), they'd wrap some sort of status cookie into the Business ExtrAA program for SMB. IE: Keep your personal flight spend/miles at a certain level, and your cumulative company flights/spend above a level, and you get ExPlat. They do this for large corporation. But nobody does it for SMB. And by evaluating me, individually, they're going to lose the 300k miles / $25k altogether when I start forcing my team to fly Alaska (which offers better routes for us anyway domestically).
Probably doesn't matter to them. But I keep thinking that the airline that figures this out is going to be the darling of the SMB / startup market.:
If AA thought about the SMB market at all (and they should, it's the fastest growing market), they'd wrap some sort of status cookie into the Business ExtrAA program for SMB. IE: Keep your personal flight spend/miles at a certain level, and your cumulative company flights/spend above a level, and you get ExPlat. They do this for large corporation. But nobody does it for SMB. And by evaluating me, individually, they're going to lose the 300k miles / $25k altogether when I start forcing my team to fly Alaska (which offers better routes for us anyway domestically).
Probably doesn't matter to them. But I keep thinking that the airline that figures this out is going to be the darling of the SMB / startup market.:
Nov 5, 2018, 12:18 pm
#62
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SF
Programs: UA / 1K & AA ExP
Posts: 48
For a business traveler, perhaps. But for a primarily personal traveler, 12K was indeed a high bar. But, of course, the elite status programs with airlines aren't made for people travelling on their own dime anyways.
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??
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, 12:44 pm
#64
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Not sure I follow how "thinning the heard" helps anyone...the upgrade priority is already based on EQDs so those that barely make it are already at the bottom of the EXP pile so those that spend more already get priority. If there's some delusional thinking that AA will somehow improve service for EXPs after this I have a lightly used bridge for sale.
Nov 5, 2018, 12:48 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,222
No worries - I read the AA email first and it was confusing too.
Nov 5, 2018, 12:48 pm
#67
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego US and Brisbane AU
Programs: AA EXP/2MM - DL PM - OZ Diamond - Bonvoy LTT - Hyatt Glob - IHG Plat - National EE - Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,315
I was on the fence about booking a C ticket on another airline for next year. This makes that decision easier now. Instead of actively booking OW tickets to get EXP (Ill be at 14k eqd this year), I'll settle for PP and more competitive pricing on flights. With my travel patterns, what am I really out? Some SWU's that rarely clear in advance anymore? Lower down on the upgrade list for the 3 times a year I fly this ragged airline? What hurts the most is going to be loosing the free redeposit on award tickets. I have a tendency to change them. I guess with some of the money I save, I'll still come out ahead!
I'm thinking I may go this route, as well. I had just at $13,000 EQD in travel this year. Another $2k would be doable but hard to justify without a major change in my travel profile. I'm not sure the systemwides are worth the effort. My biggest thing is loss of lounge access when traveling internationally, but frankly that's an area where PP excels. I also really like the EXP desk, they've been incredibly helpful for me this year. We'll see how this shakes out next year. I also managed to qualify on UA for Gold. Had I consolidated those travels on AA I'd have probably made the $15k cut but there are times when that's just not possible (routes, prices, etc).
Wish there was a pathway to LT EXP or better MM milestones beyond 2MM. I may as well keep going for 1MM on UA instead, since *A Gold is nice to have as well.
Nov 5, 2018, 12:52 pm
#68
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: US
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, Starwood Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,020
Nov 5, 2018, 12:56 pm
#70
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
It’s ironic AA chose to add the image of 737-823 N908NN, a leased in (Wells Fargo) 737 that will soon be graced with Project Awaysis “MSTC” (More Sardines Throughout Coach”), minilavs and less.
I’m sure glad I decided to get off the merry go round with lifetime Platinum effective 2019 Status year. This just reinforces my decision. ”Good day, JDiver out.”
I’m sure glad I decided to get off the merry go round with lifetime Platinum effective 2019 Status year. This just reinforces my decision. ”Good day, JDiver out.”
Last edited by JDiver; Nov 5, 2018 at 1:04 pm
Nov 5, 2018, 1:02 pm
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,264
I’m just here to see the 90% of posts that are like...
”I spend $25k/yr so I don’t care”
”I barely reach $12k/yr... screw AA, I’m never flying them again.”
”I spend $25k/yr so I don’t care”
”I barely reach $12k/yr... screw AA, I’m never flying them again.”
Nov 5, 2018, 1:16 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,973
"i buy $15K F fares before I eat breakfast in the morning"
"not a problem I spend $1.5MM with AA last year".
Nov 5, 2018, 1:21 pm
#73
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,960
It’s ironic AA chose to add the image of 737-823 N908NN, a leased in (Wells Fargo) 737 that will soon be graced with Project Awaysis “MSTC” (More Sardines Throughout Coach”), minilavs and less.
I’m sure glad I decided to get off the merry go round with lifetime Platinum effective 2019 Status year. This just reinforces my decision. ”Good day, JDiver out.”
I’m sure glad I decided to get off the merry go round with lifetime Platinum effective 2019 Status year. This just reinforces my decision. ”Good day, JDiver out.”
Nov 5, 2018, 1:22 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,973
It's amazing to think that just 2 years ago one could get EXP with a bunch of cheap mileage runs. I bet there were EXPs with EQD's less than $5K then. I see what AA is targeting. Too bad their higher spend thresholds don't come with anything better for the EXP.
Nov 5, 2018, 1:24 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,581
Not sure I follow how "thinning the heard" helps anyone...the upgrade priority is already based on EQDs so those that barely make it are already at the bottom of the EXP pile so those that spend more already get priority. If there's some delusional thinking that AA will somehow improve service for EXPs after this I have a lightly used bridge for sale.