brp

Yeah, thanks for mentioning that- sorry for glossing over that part. We already have the BA flights for this membership year. We go to Europe at least twice a year (we go in Jan and Feb- the timing goes back to the days when a) SWU expired at the end of Feb and b) SWUs could clear at booking ). Earlier this year, and again next year, we booked BA Holidays trips due to good PE fares, LHR flights from SFO and SJC and availability of Avios upgrades to business (and have enough Avios from Chase Sapphire and Emex PLT).

I looked at my spreadsheet after I got home and, due to a couple of late-add SFO-MIA RT I fares, we will actually have 15K+ EQD this year (on about $11.9K spend) and 121K EQM. However, anything above the 12.1K and 104K we have now doesn't matter. So for this year, at least, seems a no-brainer to credit these SFO-MIA flights to BA. It's 140TP each way, so that makes 560 for both trips.

Then, next year we have a combination of {SFO,SJC}-LHR-{HEL,BI)}. So about 8 flights (really 9 with a short LAX-SJC lag on AA, but 8 with BA). If we credit just the short intra-Europr legs on BA, that's our 4 flights. And they wouldn't add much in EQD to AA. That gets us BA Silver pretty much for nothing. And that gives FL access in locations we visit (JFK, MIA, LAX, DFW). I see no reason not to do it this year.

Going forward, if I think we won't make EXP, still seems to make sense to push this to BA Gold (6 J transcons at about $1100 each would do it), and go with LT Plat rather than try for Plat Pro- although that may be possible as well.

Going forward, need to evaluate (and model) each year in advance.

Also, our BA membership years are offset by 6 months (Nov. 8, May 8). I thought about trying to change it (which I've read is impossible, but this may actually be better for combined status as we don't both need it).

What I don't know - if my membership year is Nov. 9, 2018 - Nov. 8, 2019 and I qualify in, say, Feb 2019, do I have status just through Nov. 2019, or Nov. 2020 (as would happen with AA)?




Oh, it can be done with the right flights. We want to go to the places we want to go, though, rather than going to the places with good deals. We do do the BA PE fares, but a lot of our stuff is domestic and we have to factor those in.

Cheers.

BlatheringPenguin

Nothing additional at tiers after 250K EQM.

turkeyRIOO

Many of the DL amex $250k spenders are small business owners who can put that much on the card and are not 1%ers. The cards are also cumulative so if you have business and personal they count towards the limit.

Zacnlinc

Was thinking about as well... Just ad an new level between EXP and CK with the new requirements and sweeten the pot with a perk like six SWU with two being confirmed upgardes at booking. Also, why just tinker with the EXP Tier? Every tier should have seen an increase perhaps.

jfinsocal

I'm not sure why there is little love for lower spend EXP - the costs to the airline aren't that great. Maybe the cost of a couple copay + miles on SWU flights plus the cost of first class lounge access. Could be trying to purge low RASM flyers from the system but there aren't that many out there. I suppose we will never know. What's a better program AA Plat Pro or DL Plat? Each would appear to be comparably easy to reach. Non-hub captive flyer here so that's not an issue.

rbAA

I'm always looking for the best alternatives, since I'm starting out in BKK. So, still going where we need to be, just need to position to the starting point, i.e. March/April trip back to the US is taking advantage of the PEK-LAX I fare that AA dropped to $1300. We'll do a few days on the ground in China on our way to PEK.

I had looked at BA GGL but then came to the realization, I'd have to fly on BA to take advantage of most of the swag they were offering. Pass on that. Sounds like you've got the better solution for your travels.

cova

For me, likely doesn't make sense to continue with AA (with Lifetime 1K). I am not sure if these changes are best for AA.

I earn about $16K EQD (includes $6K from CC) and around 140K EQM. About 1/2 the trips I might not do if it wasn't for the FF programs.

Likely not worth it to add $2K to $5K spend to get me up to to $15K (assuming I still do the $50K CC to get $3K EQD).

I am not getting upgraded on any significant flights on AA at this time (except short flights at off peak times). So main benefit as EXP is free changes to rewards.

I traveled this past 4 day weekend to west coast via ORD, Upgraded on DCA-ORD flights - one in advance, one at gate. For the gate one, I was #1 on the upgrade list and got the one upgrade seat on a A319. Longer flights I was #2 and #1 on the upgrade list - but no upgrades cleared. So what is the point. Even if I am #1 or #2 on the list - I am still not getting upgraded. Although for peak flights to DFW, I can be down at #15 on the list.

So here is the plan I am looking at: Based at DCA/IAD. Have UA LT 1K, AA LT Gold.

1. Switch most all travel back to UA (with LT 1K). Travel only AA for nonstop short routes North/South on the East Coast with AA Gold status.. UA is best for International from IAD. And better reward availability.

2. Move CC spend to my UA CCs. Likely cancel AA Club card and Barclay Silver card. Just keep original base AA Citi card.

Flew on a newly configured high density 738 this weekend. Exit rows were OK, but F looked bad. Not sure if I want an upgrade (over exit row) on the new configurations.

The net - AA will lose over $10K revenue and the revenue from about 250K worth of CC purchased miles. (including bonuses added).

But I may not give up Barclay card - simply to get the PIN card feature - not available on other US credit cards.

kiowavt

Likely means just buying seats on any airline. To make it I would have to buy so many high end seats it defeats the purpose of having ExPlat.

kiowavt

We all thought that last time, when the EQM and EQD arrived. Now I get fewer upgrades, and later, dropping the value. And then this? Might as well move miles elsewhere.

kiowavt

And me. Seriously. Likely use it soon if so.

DataPlumber

enpremiere

ElmhurstNick

AA is still not competitive with DL with partner EQD on premium economy fares. DL gives 30% on VS/AF PE, AA gives 20% on BA PE.

ElmhurstNick

The ALL CAPS.

I've always said that everybody should evaluate their travel vendor relationships (hotel, air, rental car) every year. It's ok to make a change. When the 500-milers upgrade priority changed, I went from being AA EXP to BA Silver + DL Platinum (in three weeks) + WN A-List. Not as many perks, but much more flexibility for less total spend.

PaulInTheSky

Yes, by operating airlines. AA is actually harder to obtain than UA and DL now due to the lack of INTL address exemption. Getting CX DM is ultra difficult, and it serves no purpose if one looks to have LT status.