FlyerTalk Forums - ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Million Miler Program as of Dec 2011 (master thd)

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- - ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Million Miler Program as of Dec 2011 (master thd) (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1966301-archive-aadvantage-million-miler-program-dec-2011-master-thd.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambajuice (Post 16989573)

I thought even now we could exchange for bonus miles with our upgrade stickers as long as we talk nicely with the associate?

No. That easy exchange has long gone.

Now if it even is willing to consider it, AA would look at your history of flying and chances are, your history indicates you would be able to use the stickers even though you dont want to.

Am at 3.5M

While it would have been nice to get to that 4.0M in the sky, I am truly grateful for having made it this far in the program.

I honestly can understand why AA is doing this.

I wish everyone good travels in the future.

I don't think AA will sell their miles as 1 cent. Even we redeem the reward tickets while it does not affect AA too much since they have the award tickets control.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAExPlat (Post 16989515)

Unfortunately I disagree. AA is still an airline. Not a bank. Not a lending institution. They need to make their money flying paying pax. On the revenue side only, these frequent flyer bonanzas were terrific for AA, but what AA finally figured out along with its partners is that the bonanza was only smoke and mirrors.

So let's say you are a churner extraordinaire. This year, you enrolled in 3 cards when the 75k promos were available. You also opened a BD CD account and collected bunch more bonus miles that way. Then, a few months later, you close the credit card accounts after you hit the minimum spends of $1500 and you close the BD account as soon as you can. Then you book 4 J tickets on CX through AA with the 440k miles you earned through the bonuses of the cards, BD, Fidelity, etc.

The costs you would incur relative to the revenue you generated have to be staggering. If we assume that all partners paid AA 1 cent per mile, then they would have paid roughly $4,400 to earn your business. And in return, you generated how much revenue for the partners? That's right...a lot less.

And although AA made $4,400 off you by selling miles to its partners, they now have to pay CX for the 4 tix you booked using those miles you earned. And how much do those 4 seats cost AA? That's right...probably more than the $4,400 you generated in revenue.

The only saving grace is that not everyone is a pig and massive churner so those who maintain and continue to use services ultimately pay for at least a portion of the losses that the serial abusers incur at every step. But that said, can't you see why the airlines want to get rid of mileage chasers? The other alternative is to charge more for awards to mitigate the effect of churning/system abuse.

I am at 1.1 MM.

Not much flying this year.

Would love to reach the 2MM point, or atleast near to that. I most probably will be flying about 50K miles/yr for the next few years.

Question for all the gurus out there:

I have about 300k Marriott points. Is there any good way I can bring them into AA?

Similarly, what is the best way to bring in Hilton points ==> not much, but around 30k points

Have about 250k Delta miles, is there any good way to bring them in?

Have about 40k United miles, is there any good way to bring them in?

I will have about 300k SPG points by Nov1, and I will bring them in then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAExPlat (Post 16989515)

A concise, accurate and informed opinion, Sir. It's one thing for AA to promulgate multiples based on the class of service; it's another to get tangled up in lending/credit alliances that do very little to generate a cadre of devoted and tolerant customers that do not melt down when things are not perfect. This direction is the right one.//

Quote:

Originally Posted by kebosabi (Post 16986949)

Question regarding this portion:

Quote:

Originally Posted by American Airlines

...or any eligible AAdvantage program participating airline...

Do all AA partner airlines flights count toward lifetime status or just a select few like EQM/EQP/EQS earning OW airlines and AS flights?

What part about "any eligible AAdvantage program participating airline" is not 100% clear? Here's the list of AAdvantage Airline Partners if you want to double-check.

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxberg (Post 16986962)

This really sucks. The only reason I was accumulating AA miles is to eventually get to 1MM. I only fly enough to maintain Gold for the year.

Wow, really :confused: here. So you'll really be no worse off with or without 1MM status; you'll still have Gold. That sucks why?

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelbowser (Post 16988203)

American Airlines's announcement to quit counting every AAdvantage mile towards a flyer's lifetime status is an appalling decision. Every mile should count. Changing the rules for loyal customers in the middle of the game shows no respect for the loyalty received.

Show your support at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Let-Ev...866722?sk=wall

Welcome to FlyerTalk. Just to be clear, the AAdvantage program is 30 years old and "loyal" customers will still be rewarded, just not to same degree.

...deleted . incorrect

I don't know what to do. AA is not the cheapest carrier for me, but I viewed the difference in price as an investment toward lifetime status. Now those extra dollars don't have a return. :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightbulb (Post 16989854)

I don't know what to do. AA is not the cheapest carrier for me, but I viewed the difference in price as an investment toward lifetime status.

Here is what you should do: don't view the difference in price "as an investment toward lifetime status" any longer.

Regards

Totally disappointed. The bonus miles and cc miles counting towards life time elite status were some of the key reasons that I had chosen Aadvantage over other FFPs given that Aadvantage is only a middle of the pack FFP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubadu (Post 16989863)

Here is what you should do: don't view the difference in price "as an investment toward lifetime status" any longer.

Regards

I used the past tense form. ;)

a lot to think about the next few days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelbowser (Post 16988203)

You know, if you're going to protest this, and want people to join in your protest, you should probably have some actual logic supporting your viewpoint.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightbulb (Post 16989854)

I don't know what to do. AA is not the cheapest carrier for me, but I viewed the difference in price as an investment toward lifetime status. Now those extra dollars don't have a return. :(

May be worth it for ya to stay the course? Or look into other cheaper alternative airlines that can provide at least some return on your investment (hopefully).

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubadu (Post 16989863)

Here is what you should do: don't view the difference in price "as an investment toward lifetime status" any longer.

Shame you wasted your time typing this response, and our time having to read it. :rolleyes:

Thanks to FT I will cross 1MM in September. I will then push to get as many miles as I can before 12-1-11 to help me on my quest for LTPL.