Email from AA Asking for votes for Freddie Awards
Mar 1, 2019, 12:26 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Similar to what I posted on the Marriott thread, yes, AA has its warts - the D0 focus, declining EXP agents, operational cluster, bad baggage handling. That said, AA does have a solid upgrade program, a worthwhile J class internationally to upgrade to, good partners to use awards on etc.
So yes, while parts of AA are frustrating, its not like the program is disproportionately worse than its peers. I live in 2 UA Hubs and still have zero interest in getting on one of their planes.
So yes, while parts of AA are frustrating, its not like the program is disproportionately worse than its peers. I live in 2 UA Hubs and still have zero interest in getting on one of their planes.
Mar 1, 2019, 12:37 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
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On the earning side yes, they are quite similar.
What has irked me the most living in Europe is the total lack of availability for premium transatlantic awards on anything but BA. IB awards have evaporated. Air Berlin is no longer. Finnair isn't super practical. OW has a very limited number of partners. Even ex-Europe to Asia is far worse than before. If I can't use the miles, earning them is pretty useless.
Star Alliance has far better options (more partners and more non-UA availability).
As for SkyPesos, well, that's in a league of its own... not paying 500,000 miles to fly Paris-NYC.
These days, AA has one of the worst programs in my opinion. It's been gutted. Anyway, they won't be getting my Freddie award vote.
What has irked me the most living in Europe is the total lack of availability for premium transatlantic awards on anything but BA. IB awards have evaporated. Air Berlin is no longer. Finnair isn't super practical. OW has a very limited number of partners. Even ex-Europe to Asia is far worse than before. If I can't use the miles, earning them is pretty useless.
Star Alliance has far better options (more partners and more non-UA availability).
As for SkyPesos, well, that's in a league of its own... not paying 500,000 miles to fly Paris-NYC.
These days, AA has one of the worst programs in my opinion. It's been gutted. Anyway, they won't be getting my Freddie award vote.
Mar 1, 2019, 2:38 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
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Similar to what I posted on the Marriott thread, yes, AA has its warts - the D0 focus, declining EXP agents, operational cluster, bad baggage handling. That said, AA does have a solid upgrade program, a worthwhile J class internationally to upgrade to, good partners to use awards on etc.
So yes, while parts of AA are frustrating, its not like the program is disproportionately worse than its peers. I live in 2 UA Hubs and still have zero interest in getting on one of their planes.
So yes, while parts of AA are frustrating, its not like the program is disproportionately worse than its peers. I live in 2 UA Hubs and still have zero interest in getting on one of their planes.
Mar 1, 2019, 2:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 615
Speak for yourself. The upgrade program sucks imo and disproportionally heaps tons of award on just a few. Spend 15K a year -- sure, you may get 30-80% upgrade rates depending on your routes/flight times, SWUs can clear on very valuable overseas routes, and can get your partner (or other travel companion) upgraded with you. But spend 10K a year and your upgrades may very well be near 0% on those same travel patterns because you are always, in every single case, behind them in line.
Mar 1, 2019, 4:07 pm
#8
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Speak for yourself. The upgrade program sucks imo and disproportionally heaps tons of award on just a few. Spend 15K a year -- sure, you may get 30-80% upgrade rates depending on your routes/flight times, SWUs can clear on very valuable overseas routes, and can get your partner (or other travel companion) upgraded with you. But spend 10K a year and your upgrades may very well be near 0% on those same travel patterns because you are always, in every single case, behind them in line.
Mar 1, 2019, 4:12 pm
#9
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Can't speak for DL, but a lot of people on the UA forum gripe about the lack of upgrades too. On AA, PPRO and up all put on the list, while below has to support their upgrades with stickers. So less competition on the lower end. UA has EVERYONE on the list. On heavy routes, like hub to hub, it wasn't uncommon to see 1Ks pretty far down the list, with some silvers being like 85th in line.
They all more or less copy DL these days. Each plan has it quirks, but at least to me, each FFP is more or less the same. You have to look at what airline(s) work for you, and if you can live with their FFP's quirks.
They all more or less copy DL these days. Each plan has it quirks, but at least to me, each FFP is more or less the same. You have to look at what airline(s) work for you, and if you can live with their FFP's quirks.
Mar 1, 2019, 7:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,581
Rehashed debates about the status of the program aside...
Why should I even care about the Freddies? It's basically like those "Airline of the Year" stickers on AA planes - a marketing thing that says nothing about the reality of the airline or traveling experience for me.
Surely the only "rating" of the FFP that maters to me is my own.
Why should I even care about the Freddies? It's basically like those "Airline of the Year" stickers on AA planes - a marketing thing that says nothing about the reality of the airline or traveling experience for me.
Surely the only "rating" of the FFP that maters to me is my own.
Mar 1, 2019, 7:30 pm
#13
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The Marriott email is funnier, including the "fact" that Starriott/Bonvoy/SPG/MR/RC programs have been nominated for IIRC six different awards.