No real incentive to go just over EXP limit
Mar 30, 2019, 10:37 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Raleigh, NC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 219
I will make EXP on my next flight. Since I moved back to NYC, it seems better served by both United and Delta. So I guess I'll work on one of those for status. I currently have no status on Delta, but silver on United. I still have the EQD waiver on both as my home address is still registered to Spain.
I thought about it, there's absolutely no reason to push the limits. So I'll just gain status on others.
I thought about it, there's absolutely no reason to push the limits. So I'll just gain status on others.
Mar 30, 2019, 11:22 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Are you willing to fly 2-4 segments on British Airways? If so, then credit your travel on AA to British Airways. Earn silver or gold status. Enjoy the Oneworld lounges, even when flying domestically on AA.
Mar 31, 2019, 2:28 am
#18
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Zurich / Europe / New York
Programs: LH, BA, AA
Posts: 1,309
That’s exactly what I do, I don’t go beyond EXP since my travel pattern is 99% international (C and F) and the 1% domestic is 100% booked in domestic first. I put my spends beyond EXP to BA to earn Silver or gold ...
Mar 31, 2019, 4:28 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
I have been thinking about this for a while.. all my flights are booked in J.(after decades of flying coach), I have been using my SWU to go from J to F (being lucky so far,4 out 4 this year)
last year I was $29K and 225K miles, so still have 4 SWU to use,
The only reason I stay with AA, as opposed to going over to BA is that, I like collecting the miles, so my wife and I can enjoy a wonderful trip some where in the world, where we normally could not afford F or J to get there
last year I was $29K and 225K miles, so still have 4 SWU to use,
The only reason I stay with AA, as opposed to going over to BA is that, I like collecting the miles, so my wife and I can enjoy a wonderful trip some where in the world, where we normally could not afford F or J to get there
Mar 31, 2019, 6:02 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Asia, Europe, LATAM? I think whatever the majority of your flying to makes a difference. I personally have thought of getting a OWS status on a non-AA OW carrier just to have access to the AA Flagship lounges while flying domestic since they will have them at most of the hubs eventually.
Mar 31, 2019, 9:40 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,850
…already flown and booked enough to qualify EXP. It seems more sensible this year to just get top status with another carrier rather than keep going. the extra swu certificates are nearly useless. very hard to clear for our family of four based on our experience so we end up flying biz tickets anyway...
I'm sure some other types of flyers may be adequately incentivised to keep flying after requalification. But we no doubt represent a segment of the market that is not particularly valuable to AA. Oh well.
I credit to Star Alliance after requalifying for EXP every year. Guess I should update my profile status at some point. But it helps for trips where OneWorld has an inferior schedule, or where OneWorld doesn't offer service. It's been nice to experience the LH facilities at FRA for example.
Agreed. Just switch to another airline or alliance after requalifying on AA (until or unless they bring their incentives back up to the previous higher standard, and/or bring eVIP or SWU useability back up to the previous higher standard).
Mar 31, 2019, 9:50 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
If you are LAX based and pay for business class, then the extra SWUs are actually a pretty decent value. I use them to get my family from paid Business into F, both LAX-LHR and HKG-LAX are easy to find A5 to do this.
BTW, I think there are a ton of EXPs in your boat, so if they bumped you, it would be hundreds (maybe thousands) of others w similar spend who would be let in. I think that is why they set the $$ amount for CK where it is...
BTW, I think there are a ton of EXPs in your boat, so if they bumped you, it would be hundreds (maybe thousands) of others w similar spend who would be let in. I think that is why they set the $$ amount for CK where it is...
Mar 31, 2019, 10:11 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,043
Mar 31, 2019, 10:30 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Mar 31, 2019, 10:42 am
#25
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
One possible advantage, in the long run, to signing up with another FFP is that some afford lifetime status in higher tiers than AA. The the most you can achieve on AA is lifetime Platinum / oneworld Sapphire, which though not worthless certainly doesn’t get you the perquisites of lifetime BA Gold / Emerald, for example. Check them out with the long view, choose wisely.
Mar 31, 2019, 12:46 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
The value in EXP is the EXP and Oneworld benefits, CK gets you what, first on the plane?
I don't think I understand the alternative; are you suggesting that someone who makes it to EXP is going to switch to Delta and start flying without status or upgrades on them, to try and juggle two elite programs?
I don't think I understand the alternative; are you suggesting that someone who makes it to EXP is going to switch to Delta and start flying without status or upgrades on them, to try and juggle two elite programs?
Mar 31, 2019, 2:01 pm
#27
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,976
There are certainly some benefits to being EXP even if you generally buy J and F: access to the EXP desk (such as it is these days), priority during IROPs, access to OneWorld F lounges, access to certain preferred seats on BA (e.g. 1A and K on the 747), and of course the SWUs. Those are useful to upgrade the occasional domestic trip where you have to fly Y, or to upgrade friends and relatives, or to turn J into F if you're on one of the few routes where F is still available. So it's definitely worth being loyal to the point of earning EXP. Beyond that, no, unless you're naturally going to fly enough to earn CK. I've never been CK and almost certainly never will be, but the ability to board first and get occasional special handing during an LHR transfer, for example, hardly seem worth flying extra in the hope of earning it.
Mar 31, 2019, 2:39 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
There are certainly some benefits to being EXP even if you generally buy J and F: access to the EXP desk (such as it is these days), priority during IROPs, access to OneWorld F lounges, access to certain preferred seats on BA (e.g. 1A and K on the 747), and of course the SWUs.
10 year EXP, I finally gave up on AA last year and moved OWE status to BA Gold. Since I generally buy J and F, my favorite EXP benefit was no change fees on award tickets. The EXP desk is a far cry from just a couple of years ago. As Lifetime Platinum, the biggest difference is in calling AA where it now takes a little longer to reach a clueless agent. But my BA Gold benefits more than compensate. Much easier to re-qualify at a fraction of the cost of achieving EXP and I get Flagship (and LAX QF Lounge) access if and when I fly AA.
Last edited by SFO777; Mar 31, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Mar 31, 2019, 2:45 pm
#29
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 715
Mar 31, 2019, 2:59 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
I would get to EXP then switch to Star Alliance if it were me. I too have 7 SWUs, the only used one was for my son to UG SFO to AUS. I got a call from AA a couple of months ago and she asked me what i thought about the program. I specifically told her the SWUs had lost value, so that is no longer a reason for me to requalify.