ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Million Miler Program as of Dec 2011 (master thd)
Aug 24, 2011, 4:01 pm
#211
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 335
sad. i had dreams of making 2mm, but at 1.15 mm, I'll never make 2mm, or at least not for another 8 or so years. Sigh
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Aug 24, 2011, 4:01 pm
#212
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat
Posts: 205
First post at 2:25 today, its not even four hours later and we have 14 screens of posts.
I don't know if this a record, but it sure feels like AA has touched a raw nerve with its client base.
I don't know if this a record, but it sure feels like AA has touched a raw nerve with its client base.
Aug 24, 2011, 4:06 pm
#214
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: AA 1MM, Hyatt GP Platinum, *wood Gold
Posts: 173
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.
. LT members also have the advantage of not having to meet a minimum paid BIS miles quota each year, so they can save more money by using miles for free flights instead. I would have to crunch the numbers, but it could be worth it for me to keep some RDM-earning products.
Aug 24, 2011, 4:07 pm
#215
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
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...
My personal reaction: While the change to the AA MM program is lousy, disappointing news, it's somewhat expected and sort of understandable.
Last edited by Thunderroad; Aug 24, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Aug 24, 2011, 4:08 pm
#216
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/SFO & ORD
Programs: LT Gold/BA Executive Club/AS MP/Marriott
Posts: 1,646
Aug 24, 2011, 4:14 pm
#217
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA AA
Posts: 57
Just a point of clarification, AA. So you're saying those of us who have been very loyal, very longtime Citibank Platinum Select AAdvantage World MasterCard holders do not have the option to continue to earn BIS miles for the following year that brand new, bonus-chasing Citi Executive Cardholders have?
Aug 24, 2011, 4:15 pm
#218
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Ontario, California
Programs: PC Plat, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt plat,...
Posts: 370
This stinks.
While the lifetime program will not be much use to me I kept on accruing aa miles because if I get plat then I can use partner lounges on other airlines for international flights.
I fly to HKG twice a year on CX and placed more miles in aa (through shopping/credit cards/ etc) just for the fact that I can get plat status and access to their lounges.
Now I feel like I did all that work for nothing.
I might as well got back to NWA (now delta) and earn MM status with them now.
Although it is nice that Maya gave an official heads up to the program changes in advance so we can plan accordingly.
While the lifetime program will not be much use to me I kept on accruing aa miles because if I get plat then I can use partner lounges on other airlines for international flights.
I fly to HKG twice a year on CX and placed more miles in aa (through shopping/credit cards/ etc) just for the fact that I can get plat status and access to their lounges.
Now I feel like I did all that work for nothing.
I might as well got back to NWA (now delta) and earn MM status with them now.
Although it is nice that Maya gave an official heads up to the program changes in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Aug 24, 2011, 4:17 pm
#219
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Cayman, San Diego, London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, AA 4MM Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,054
Don't you just love the manner in which AA try to present one's "extraordinary commitment" as a reason to devalue the program. In any other sphere of life such misrepresentations would be deemed to be out and out lies. But using PR- speak allows them to pretend they are making a statement recognizing our "loyalty". Mr. Leibman signs the Email "President - AAdvantage Loyalty Program". Humbug!
Aug 24, 2011, 4:22 pm
#220
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SJC
Programs: AA 2MM PLT, HH Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 612
I disagree. UA doesn't recognize non-UA flights to count towards their lifetime counter; only UA metal flights. So if you happen to take a long ANA flight from LAX-NRT or SQ flight from NRT-SIN, it means jack on MM recognition on UA.
In contrast, AA recognizes flights like LAX-LHR on BA, or HKG-AMS on CX. Having AA count international flights on their partners to the MM counter is a big plus over UA.
In contrast, AA recognizes flights like LAX-LHR on BA, or HKG-AMS on CX. Having AA count international flights on their partners to the MM counter is a big plus over UA.
Aug 24, 2011, 4:23 pm
#221
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AA/HH/SPG Gold
Posts: 308
Don't you just love the manner in which AA try to present one's "extraordinary commitment" as a reason to devalue the program. In any other sphere of life such misrepresentations would be deemed to be out and out lies. But using PR- speak allows them to pretend they are making a statement recognizing our "loyalty". Mr. Leibman signs the Email "President - AAdvantage Loyalty Program". Humbug!
Aug 24, 2011, 4:24 pm
#222
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,905
New cardholder + $450/year fee + $? spend = 1 year/AA bonuses/unproven borrower.
Longtime cardholder + $85/year fee + $250,000/yearly spend = 17 years/no new AA bonuses = very wanted. @:-)
Aug 24, 2011, 4:29 pm
#224
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,148
On the other hand, all these threatened mass defections from AA will mean more room and more upgrades for those of us who will be grandfathered under the new plan . LT members also have the advantage of not having to meet a minimum paid BIS miles quota each year, so they can save more money by using miles for free flights instead. I would have to crunch the numbers, but it could be worth it for me to keep some RDM-earning products.
. LT members also have the advantage of not having to meet a minimum paid BIS miles quota each year, so they can save more money by using miles for free flights instead. I would have to crunch the numbers, but it could be worth it for me to keep some RDM-earning products.I have appx 400k lifetime miles, so I am bummed to read this, but it will not force me to leave for another carrier. It really is a YMMV situation for each specific traveler.
Aug 24, 2011, 4:31 pm
#225
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
You have the opportunity to earn BIS miles by flying AA or any AAdvantage participating airline. Unlike any other airline, you also have the opportunity to earn miles towards Million Miler status through the Citi Executive Card. This is a great card with a lot of benefits which you should check out if you haven't had the chance already.
I had kicked around the idea of getting this card previously (mainly for the AC benefits), and if this card would be valid for earning MM status for the long term, this would have pushed me over the edge. Knowing it only lasts for a year.. well, I'm not going to waste my time signing up for 1 year and then cancelling.