ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Million Miler Program as of Dec 2011 (master thd)
Aug 24, 2011, 3:35 pm
#196
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
I am glad for this change, I think it preserves the integrity of the status levels, indicating that LT Plat will have good value going forward. I have been EXP, Plat, or Gold since 1999, and I think I've flown 1 million of my 1.9MM BIS.
Now to figure out how to delay hitting 2MM until January 1, 2012. It will be a decade at least between earning the MM 4SWUs going forward, so would love to delay the expiration date of my next batch until 2013.
Now to figure out how to delay hitting 2MM until January 1, 2012. It will be a decade at least between earning the MM 4SWUs going forward, so would love to delay the expiration date of my next batch until 2013.
Aug 24, 2011, 3:36 pm
#197
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
Thank, Maya, for the early heads-up. We appreciate your keeping us informed.
Aug 24, 2011, 3:37 pm
#198
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NY Metro Area
Programs: AA 2MM Yay!, UA MM, Costco General Member
Posts: 49,047
I tell you what....go fly on UA...but stop and take a look at what kind of program devaluations are in the works over there...they make the million miler realignment here look like child's play. If rumored changes to MP program come through as leaked at this point, then 1P on UA will be completely useless...
Aug 24, 2011, 3:37 pm
#199
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,063
AmericanAirlines: As has been pointed out by a number of posters here, a deep discount Economy flyer would earn the same progress towards lifetime status than a full fare First flyer, when the latter has possibly paid many times the fare paid by the former. When it comes to qualifying for regular elite status (Gold, Platinum or EXP), premium flyers are rewarded through the Elite Qualifying Points system.
For example, when I was traveling for my employer, the travel rules specified that we had to purchase the lowest published fare, but when I was traveling for vacation perhaps I wanted to pay for a J ticket. With SkyMiles - discounting its numerous problems - I would be rewarded for such purchases. If I could wave a magic wand, I would merge EQP and EQM but have a minimum earn of 1 EQM per mile flown.
As for these changes, they don't really affect me. I didn't have hundreds of thousands of dollars stored in Bank Direct, I didn't churn Citi AA cards and I don't shop through the AA portal. I would say that EXP trumps the lifetime statuses, and most people will continue to fly AA even when they hit the lifetime goal. If not, why hit the status if you're not going to utilize it? I can understand the loss of getting 4 SWUs as frequently, but if you're hitting the MM thresholds that quickly, don't you already have a boatload of miles you can redeem for premium cabin travel?
Aug 24, 2011, 3:37 pm
#200
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Programs: AA P-Pro, Chase SP, SPG Gold
Posts: 556
I could see how it bites for a lot of you, but for those of us with little to no status, it's okay with me. Not everyone on this board cares about lifetime status, it never registered with me personally and I am closer to the beginning of a career than to the end of it. I only want to be able to take my family of five somewhere for free every 125,000 or so miles.
I'll be Gold for the first time next year and that makes me happy in some small way. I will keep my Aadvantage cards (including the new Executive Card) on fire so that I can take the family somewhere far away and fun.
As long as they don't ever mess with redeemable miles and give us lots of earning choices, life is good....real good.
I'll be Gold for the first time next year and that makes me happy in some small way. I will keep my Aadvantage cards (including the new Executive Card) on fire so that I can take the family somewhere far away and fun.
As long as they don't ever mess with redeemable miles and give us lots of earning choices, life is good....real good.
Aug 24, 2011, 3:38 pm
#201
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AA ExecPlat (1MM), Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 41
I currently wield a regular ol' Citi AAdvantage MasterCard, which I've had for over a decade. I received an offer from Citi for the new Citi Executive(SM) / AAdvantage® World Elite(TM) MasterCard® a month or so ago, but didn't pull the trigger on it because I had just renewed my AC membership in June.
Now, with the new MM plan, I'm wondering if I can upgrade my existing card to the new Citi Executive card, but have the new card cover my AC fee for next year. Seems a little far-fetched, but never hurts to ask, right?
Thanks,
--woodstock
Now, with the new MM plan, I'm wondering if I can upgrade my existing card to the new Citi Executive card, but have the new card cover my AC fee for next year. Seems a little far-fetched, but never hurts to ask, right?
Thanks,
--woodstock
You cannot upgrade the Citi Plat card...please see my and other's posts.
Aug 24, 2011, 3:39 pm
#202
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
Aug 24, 2011, 3:42 pm
#203
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 321
hmm... 
Last edited by onlybeef42; Sep 28, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Aug 24, 2011, 3:43 pm
#204
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dallas
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,523
I for one am very disappointed in this. I've known about this perk for probably 15 years. My father crossed 1MM at least 20 years ago and 2MM 15 years ago. He stopped flying AA much about 10 years ago at just shy of 5MM. My goal had been to always pass him with my lifetime Platinum card. No way in hell I'll hit 5MM BIS.
I would think I would be a prime target of AA. Im in my low 30s, professional who now travels extensively for work (100k miles annually, virtually all of it fairly last minute domestic flying, no mileage runs whatsoever) I'm sitting on about 350k in miles and with my flying, credit card offers, and probably $75k in annual credit card spend (almost excusively reimbursed by my company), i figured I would be there within a year or two. Now I'm looking at nearly 6 1/2 years to hit lifetime gold? and probably 15 years for Platinum? Yikes, it just doesnt interest me anymore.
This gives me zero incentive to try and accrue as many miles as possible on AA. I've purposefully avoided the other airlines' deals for credit cards, bonus miles, etc, to concentrate on AA. I make sure every flight is on AA (and some make no damn sense or cost $500 more than connecting).
Today, I honestly dont see a reason to do that anymore. It's a shame and I wish AA hadnt have done this. It's a perk that really made me more loyal to them than I probably should have been. Sure i'll continue to fly AA 90% of the time, but any of the extra money AA got from marketing deals with credit cards, mortgage companies, real estate referrals, brokerage firms, rental car companies, etc is gone from me. I might as well build a portfolio of airlines with 250k miles or more through those offers to use as alternatives to AA.
I would think I would be a prime target of AA. Im in my low 30s, professional who now travels extensively for work (100k miles annually, virtually all of it fairly last minute domestic flying, no mileage runs whatsoever) I'm sitting on about 350k in miles and with my flying, credit card offers, and probably $75k in annual credit card spend (almost excusively reimbursed by my company), i figured I would be there within a year or two. Now I'm looking at nearly 6 1/2 years to hit lifetime gold? and probably 15 years for Platinum? Yikes, it just doesnt interest me anymore.
This gives me zero incentive to try and accrue as many miles as possible on AA. I've purposefully avoided the other airlines' deals for credit cards, bonus miles, etc, to concentrate on AA. I make sure every flight is on AA (and some make no damn sense or cost $500 more than connecting).
Today, I honestly dont see a reason to do that anymore. It's a shame and I wish AA hadnt have done this. It's a perk that really made me more loyal to them than I probably should have been. Sure i'll continue to fly AA 90% of the time, but any of the extra money AA got from marketing deals with credit cards, mortgage companies, real estate referrals, brokerage firms, rental car companies, etc is gone from me. I might as well build a portfolio of airlines with 250k miles or more through those offers to use as alternatives to AA.
Aug 24, 2011, 3:45 pm
#205
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
Here's another side-effect. More crowded Admirals Club lounges.
The Citi Executive card ($450/year) includes a lot of benefits, such as priority check-in, etc. It also includes an AC membership.
So... lots of people will get the Citi Executive card so then can continue to get Lifetime miles from credit card purchase. They will also start visiting ACs, thus making increasing the AC population.
I'm not an AC member, and am wondering if I will AVOID the crowds by waiting near the departure gate instead of the AC!
The Citi Executive card ($450/year) includes a lot of benefits, such as priority check-in, etc. It also includes an AC membership.
So... lots of people will get the Citi Executive card so then can continue to get Lifetime miles from credit card purchase. They will also start visiting ACs, thus making increasing the AC population.
I'm not an AC member, and am wondering if I will AVOID the crowds by waiting near the departure gate instead of the AC!
Aug 24, 2011, 3:47 pm
#206
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin
Programs: AA Platinum 4MM; Marriott Titanium; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 324
Aug 24, 2011, 3:48 pm
#207
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AA ExecPlat (1MM), Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 41
Here's another side-effect. More crowded Admirals Club lounges.
The Citi Executive card ($450/year) includes a lot of benefits, such as priority check-in, etc. It also includes an AC membership.
So... lots of people will get the Citi Executive card so then can continue to get Lifetime miles from credit card purchase. They will also start visiting ACs, thus making increasing the AC population.
I'm not an AC member, and am wondering if I will AVOID the crowds by waiting near the departure gate instead of the AC!
The Citi Executive card ($450/year) includes a lot of benefits, such as priority check-in, etc. It also includes an AC membership.
So... lots of people will get the Citi Executive card so then can continue to get Lifetime miles from credit card purchase. They will also start visiting ACs, thus making increasing the AC population.
I'm not an AC member, and am wondering if I will AVOID the crowds by waiting near the departure gate instead of the AC!
I doubt this will have much impact as AmEx cards already offer the same benefit at the same annual fee, and considerably more other fringe benefits than the Exec card.
For people who are shopping for a good card (as opposed to those who want to take advantage of the EQM/MM perks), the Exec card isn't on the radar....and I can't see someone paying $450 just to get the miles associated with the Exec card, only to cancel in 2012.
Aug 24, 2011, 3:50 pm
#208
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ORF
Posts: 1,740
AmericanAirlines: As has been pointed out by a number of posters here, a deep discount Economy flyer would earn the same progress towards lifetime status than a full fare First flyer, when the latter has possibly paid many times the fare paid by the former. When it comes to qualifying for regular elite status (Gold, Platinum or EXP), premium flyers are rewarded through the Elite Qualifying Points system.
I agree (like many others here) that it makes sense to not count bonus miles earned fairly cheaply from the likes of credit cards, etc. However, is it truly a sound business decision to treat premium flyers exactly the same as deep discount flyers when it comes to Lifetime Status?
This isn't a concern of most on these forums, given that the vast majority of FTers fly deep discount and try to maximize their elite status at the lowest cost. However, for the few of us that do pay premium fares consistently, it would be helpful if these comments and concerns were passed on to Maya or the relevant decision makers. The Lifetime Program may have been announced but given that it doesn't fully implement until 12/1, there may yet be time to incorporate some (positive from a business standpoint) changes.
I agree (like many others here) that it makes sense to not count bonus miles earned fairly cheaply from the likes of credit cards, etc. However, is it truly a sound business decision to treat premium flyers exactly the same as deep discount flyers when it comes to Lifetime Status?
This isn't a concern of most on these forums, given that the vast majority of FTers fly deep discount and try to maximize their elite status at the lowest cost. However, for the few of us that do pay premium fares consistently, it would be helpful if these comments and concerns were passed on to Maya or the relevant decision makers. The Lifetime Program may have been announced but given that it doesn't fully implement until 12/1, there may yet be time to incorporate some (positive from a business standpoint) changes.
Aug 24, 2011, 3:53 pm
#209
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1.2MM; Hilton HHonors Silver
Posts: 9
My apologies if this was covered...this means that my current Citibank AA Visa Signature and AMEX cards will still give me miles, but will no longer count towards MM status? (I'm Lifetime GLD and well on my way to Lifetime PLT.)
Aug 24, 2011, 3:58 pm
#210
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
My apologies if this was covered...this means that my current Citibank AA Visa Signature and AMEX cards will still give me miles, but will no longer count towards MM status? (I'm Lifetime GLD and well on my way to Lifetime PLT.)
Most people don't know about the Million Miler program, as it was an unpublished benefit. (I, personally, had no clue until I got the email congratulating me on reaching 1 MM.)
Thus, for most people, the program will be unchanged except they now know there is "something" waiting for them as they cross MM threasholds.