Rumor: Changes coming to Aadvantage Program in March
Jan 18, 2019, 6:13 pm
#31
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
With mileage earning being revenue based, plus AA pushing selling miles, and CC's buying lots of miles, miles are just another sort of currency. How about eliminating capacity controls on awards - ala WN!
Jan 18, 2019, 7:02 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Maybe an extension from those surveys that circulated many months ago??
I am rather surprised at how many longish routes have an mix of both mainline and regional jets with AA. Is there a reason why DFW-PHX needs a CRJ at 6:24 PM to be followed by a 757 at 6:50 PM? That isn't anything to do with AAdvantage though.
I am rather surprised at how many longish routes have an mix of both mainline and regional jets with AA. Is there a reason why DFW-PHX needs a CRJ at 6:24 PM to be followed by a 757 at 6:50 PM? That isn't anything to do with AAdvantage though.
Jan 18, 2019, 7:08 pm
#33
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,605
Wild speculation...USA-Europe, currently 30K in Y, 60K in J. I think 35K in PE would be reasonable. But I bet it will be 45K or 50K.
Indeed availability is more important for those of us who have the miles. But how many people pay cash for PE anyway? They should make lots of awards available, especially if priced at 45-50K...but probably won't.
Indeed availability is more important for those of us who have the miles. But how many people pay cash for PE anyway? They should make lots of awards available, especially if priced at 45-50K...but probably won't.
Plenty of people purchase premium economy on airlines that I am aware of and many are happy with it - gives a lot more pleasant a journey than economy
Avoid night flights and I would happily pay for than rather than pay for business class on many routes
Jan 18, 2019, 7:14 pm
#34
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: COU
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 499
I guess I don't see why everybody thinks the PE award flights thing is what the agent alluded to. OP didn't say anything about wanting that (at least in the post) right? Personally I don't see that as some big thing that changes the game for us. Mostly everything associated with PE just fills me with dread for the day that SWU/copays just go Y->W instead of Y->J.
Jan 18, 2019, 7:27 pm
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: USA
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 519
It would be great to have more available saver awards without married segments. Going to Europe requires flights that look like a checkerboard move.
Jan 18, 2019, 7:32 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,009
Did I hear widebody PIT-OGG service is coming...
I give it 7 posts to the first "AA hates its customers"/"AA scr*&#ing its customers again" post
Jan 18, 2019, 7:36 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
Jan 18, 2019, 7:45 pm
#38
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
they are going to stop the credit card push on the plane
and return to 8 SWI on qualifying for EXP
and return to 8 SWI on qualifying for EXP
Jan 18, 2019, 7:50 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
I guess I don't see why everybody thinks the PE award flights thing is what the agent alluded to. OP didn't say anything about wanting that (at least in the post) right? Personally I don't see that as some big thing that changes the game for us. Mostly everything associated with PE just fills me with dread for the day that SWU/copays just go Y->W instead of Y->J.
But, in the context of this specific OP, who is an EXP, visiting with an agent and expressing the sense of "not feeling the love" and questioning if re-qualifying is worth it, I'm just wondering if PE award charts is something that would will be highly valued by EXPs? Maybe some, I'm sure, but in my experience, most people that consistently qualify for EXP are either a) not using awards because they are on the hamster wheel of re-qualifying or b) they are obsessed with J/F redemptions and generally turn their nose up at anything not in those cabins.
So, yes, I'm confident JonNYC is correct re: PE awards, but I wonder if that is what this agent is alluding too or if there might be something else. Of course, in my experience, if there is something else, JonNYC would probably know about that too before an EXP phone agent!
Regards
Jan 18, 2019, 8:02 pm
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Western PA
Programs: ExPlAAt; United 1K
Posts: 480
"But, in the context of this specific OP, who is an EXP, visiting with an agent and expressing the sense of "not feeling the love" and questioning if re-qualifying is worth it, I'm just wondering if PE award charts is something that would will be highly valued by EXPs? Maybe some, I'm sure, but in my experience, most people that consistently qualify for EXP are either a) not using awards because they are on the hamster wheel of re-qualifying or b) they are obsessed with J/F redemptions and generally turn their nose up at anything not in those cabins."
This is pretty much a summary of the conversation. I was polite, she was interested and kept asking questions. I gave concrete examples -- AA's cost ORD to AMM is nearly triple Royal Jordanian's. An award redemption to PTY was 95,000 points in coach, and RJ's for 3 of 4 segments. There are other examples. I've just gotten frustrated at how expensive (cash, award points, etc) AA has gotten.
This is pretty much a summary of the conversation. I was polite, she was interested and kept asking questions. I gave concrete examples -- AA's cost ORD to AMM is nearly triple Royal Jordanian's. An award redemption to PTY was 95,000 points in coach, and RJ's for 3 of 4 segments. There are other examples. I've just gotten frustrated at how expensive (cash, award points, etc) AA has gotten.
Last edited by jackonferry; Jan 18, 2019 at 8:08 pm Reason: included quote I was responding to
Jan 18, 2019, 8:14 pm
#41
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
The question was asked:
anyone have any inkling about pending Aadvantage program changes?
Yes, I do
But very very true that there's no way for me to know what the agent was referring to and how much of it was this, although with he OP's clarification above, I think I, for one, can see why this agent might have thought this was a -somewhat- pertinent way to change the subject a bit
Jan 19, 2019, 1:54 am
#42
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: 16,276
Sounds quite possible there are multiple changes afoot, if PE awards are happening by EOM and OP was told about some change in March.
The introduction of PE awards has me concerned that the opportunity will be seized to increase J prices simultaneously. You know, to “remain competitive” and provide differentiation between the products.
I’m still waiting for the fare-based redemption shoe to drop, but I always figured it’d be Delta first.
Either way, a good reminder for me to burn a fat pile of miles this month.
The introduction of PE awards has me concerned that the opportunity will be seized to increase J prices simultaneously. You know, to “remain competitive” and provide differentiation between the products.
I’m still waiting for the fare-based redemption shoe to drop, but I always figured it’d be Delta first.
Either way, a good reminder for me to burn a fat pile of miles this month.
Jan 19, 2019, 5:10 am
#43
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I remember the LIT-NRT calls. I would think that XNA-PVG would be more successful.
Jan 19, 2019, 6:13 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,257
Jan 19, 2019, 6:17 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816