19 years of EXP , had surgery this year and AA will not grant me an extension
Dec 22, 2018, 5:40 pm
#106
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,153
Maybe, but just one sided. Reminds me of the unfaithful wife telling her husband to not stray. For years the program was the only profitable aspect of the airline, so it seems they capitalized on that to our benefit. Now, the watch word is monetize-especially the premium cabin. It's only business, so expectations are in check. Looking at other options may not be as satisfying, but there are options and many can be made to work.
Dec 22, 2018, 6:47 pm
#107
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Maybe, but just one sided. Reminds me of the unfaithful wife telling her husband to not stray. For years the program was the only profitable aspect of the airline, so it seems they capitalized on that to our benefit. Now, the watch word is monetize-especially the premium cabin. It's only business, so expectations are in check. Looking at other options may not be as satisfying, but there are options and many can be made to work.
Dec 22, 2018, 9:43 pm
#108
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AUS, LAX
Programs: AA EXP - 2.2 MM, Admirals Club, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Avis Presidents, National Exec
Posts: 1,581
I can tell you exactly what would have happened. My EXP DH had major surgery one year and it took him out of traveling for about half the year. He received a call FROM AA proactively asking him why his travel dropped so much that year, he explained and sent in a dr note, and they granted him another year of status. This was many many years ago - and it kept him loyal to AA for many more years since.
Dec 23, 2018, 5:43 am
#109
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 141
AA must have noticed because as I browse the “bump up thread” the order I got to buy up was ridiculously cheap and I still passed.
Its nit not worth it and you just found out the hard way why: because in this relationship with AA it’s one sided. You care to have a relationship with them while they could care less either way.
Sorry for your let down and disappointment—-go enjoy your air travel with someone else.
Cheers,
TG
Dec 24, 2018, 9:30 am
#110
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC-BNA
Programs: Lifetime Plat/4mm miles, Starwood, HiltonHonors
Posts: 657
Dec 24, 2018, 10:24 am
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,066
BINGO. I left AA this year. I spent somewhere around 45k on air travel this year, less than $1,000 on AA. I voted with my wallet, sometimes spending more money to fly other airlines that provide better service. First time in my life.
AA must have noticed because as I browse the “bump up thread” the order I got to buy up was ridiculously cheap and I still passed.
Its nit not worth it and you just found out the hard way why: because in this relationship with AA it’s one sided. You care to have a relationship with them while they could care less either way.
Sorry for your let down and disappointment—-go enjoy your air travel with someone else.
Cheers,
TG
Dec 25, 2018, 8:34 pm
#112
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,890
As the boomer generation ages and becomes more and more frail, airlines will encounter this more and more. I think someone with two decades of loyalty should be given the benefit of the doubt and have their status extended. But the airlines, seeing the looming army of the walking wounded, may feel differently. There's a story about loyalty in there somewhere.
The only way to win is to book the lowest fare. It's a race to the bottom that was started by the airlines, not the passengers. I've been plat/gold on AA for years now - this will be my last year. From now on, it's fares all the way.
The only way to win is to book the lowest fare. It's a race to the bottom that was started by the airlines, not the passengers. I've been plat/gold on AA for years now - this will be my last year. From now on, it's fares all the way.
interesting point that got me thinking. Lifetime platinum for more than 10 years and never really wanted to spend money or time to get to exp..i hate to think of all of us as the walking wounded but is probably true. We are also potentially more interested in comfort and premium seats and services which we thought would be on a single airline we know and trusted or at least did so in the past but we need to vote with our feet and wallet and just pick the best route and fare like most travelers already do At the beginning of this thread I would have gone for making an exception but I think the use of some criteria is needed to make a fair decision Not sure how many proactively reach out to AA like OP did.
and yes am exp this year due to flying on next day international flights for a family health emergency. Early in the year so trying to squeeze out benefits for 2019.
Dec 25, 2018, 9:28 pm
#113
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
Most points have been made, but seriously, the OP had an unfortunate accident, not of AA's doing that grounded them for 30% of the year. But in the whole year they only made 50% of required EXP PQM qualification criteria. So 19 years as EXP/CK is pretty good going. but it's not as if the OP was even vaguely close to re qualifying.
Can in point, I was an EXP for 6 years and then dropped to 0 PQM/PQD/PQS in 2010 (moved to Portland and realized AA was virtually absent at that time in the PNW). AA never even called me to find out what happened. They don't care.
Can in point, I was an EXP for 6 years and then dropped to 0 PQM/PQD/PQS in 2010 (moved to Portland and realized AA was virtually absent at that time in the PNW). AA never even called me to find out what happened. They don't care.
Dec 26, 2018, 10:16 pm
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I think the mistake a lot of people make is thinking there is some type of personal relationship with the airline they are doing business with, when there isn't.
The FF program is there for you to continue flying the airline. It is not there to award you for past service. They believe they know what amount of benefits are needed for you to keep giving them money.
I have lifetime PLT status, so I fly the airline quite a bit still, but not as much as I used to. I like the free baggage and other perks, but since the drop to fare based award miles, it is better some times to not fly AA.
I just booked a summer cruise from Genoa. I am OK traveling one checked bag to Europe and that is generally what most carriers offer. I will be flying Lufthansa for all 4 flights, TATL in Premium Economy.. My primary reason for this is the cost. I found a fare that was $900 per person less than what I could find on AA, and the lowest fares I found had be connecting at JFK, LAX, or MIA. With Lufthansa, I am flying DFW-FRA for my 2 TATL flights. I would much rather connect at FRA than any of those other cities, and saving $1800 is even more of incentive, even if I won't have lounge access.
The FF program is there for you to continue flying the airline. It is not there to award you for past service. They believe they know what amount of benefits are needed for you to keep giving them money.
I have lifetime PLT status, so I fly the airline quite a bit still, but not as much as I used to. I like the free baggage and other perks, but since the drop to fare based award miles, it is better some times to not fly AA.
I just booked a summer cruise from Genoa. I am OK traveling one checked bag to Europe and that is generally what most carriers offer. I will be flying Lufthansa for all 4 flights, TATL in Premium Economy.. My primary reason for this is the cost. I found a fare that was $900 per person less than what I could find on AA, and the lowest fares I found had be connecting at JFK, LAX, or MIA. With Lufthansa, I am flying DFW-FRA for my 2 TATL flights. I would much rather connect at FRA than any of those other cities, and saving $1800 is even more of incentive, even if I won't have lounge access.
Dec 26, 2018, 10:41 pm
#115
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest
Posts: 296
That said -- this past year my wife had planned a trip -- using AA miles outbound to NYC with a cruise and return from LHR to Phoenix using AA miles. The trip was planned for May. In April she had a seizure -- and surgery. Clearly unable to make the trip. I contacted AA with the problem, needing to cancel fhe flights and queried about getting the miles back.
Not only did they refund the miles, they refunded the fees I did not need to forward them the doctor's report which I had). We had insurance through a 3rd party -- but needed only to use that for the cancelled cruise.
So sometimes they do manage the service thing.
Not only did they refund the miles, they refunded the fees I did not need to forward them the doctor's report which I had). We had insurance through a 3rd party -- but needed only to use that for the cancelled cruise.
So sometimes they do manage the service thing.