Originally Posted by gegarrenton (Post 17007230)

Well, bump EXP to 125 then. I just dont think it should be the same, thtas all.

Originally Posted by JDiver (Post 17007252)

Just parenthetically, here's what real million milers looked like in the days or recips:

;)

Originally Posted by kebosabi (Post 17007324)

That would work as well; GLD 25%, PLT 100%, EXP 125%. Whatever it is, elite bonus miles for PLT /= EXP. But IMO, elite bonus should be reconsidered as part of "flight miles" as they only come with flying.

Originally Posted by Dave Noble (Post 17007477)

I don't see why bonus miles from having status should count towards lifetime status any more than they should count towards annual renewal. I can see some justification to reward premium fare travellers but not to make it a 500,000 Miler programme for those with Platinum or higher status

Originally Posted by JDiver (Post 17007252)

Just parenthetically, here's what real million milers looked like in the days or recips:


;)

Originally Posted by AZbba (Post 16987277)

I'm happy with this decision since I should have no problem hitting 1 million by Dec 1st. I might even wait and do a quick MR to push me over 1 mm for the 35k miles.

But honestly, this seems like a stupid decision for AA. It seems like a lose-lose to me. They decrease cc spend, decrease incoming mile transfers, decrease eshopping, and decrease loyalty (as anyone who doesn't fly enough for status but has gold from million mile is likely going to choose to fly on AA - even if it's a bit more expensive).

I also don't see how it dilutes the product that much. Either the million mile elites fly a lot and use their benefits (in which case they would be elite anyway) or they fly rarely, in which case it's not causing much dilution at all to the elite program.

It seems to me the smart move would have been to make the program semi-public (but don't advertise it) and either lower gold to 500k from any source or make a silver tier @ 500k. and make plat or above BIS only.

So you would get a ton of low level elites. Probably flying mostly for vacation and loving the novelty of having status, so they would be incredibly loyal to AA. In addition you'd get them to "earn" 500k miles somehow which would probably be a combination of flying/transfering points/cc spending/eshopping all of which are good for AA no?

In a market where AA is shrinking, doesn't have the international routes of it's peers (with the exception of Caribbean/South America) and is usually on the high side of pricing, loyalty seems like exactly what they would need.

Originally Posted by Dave Noble (Post 17007477)

I don't see why bonus miles from having status should count towards lifetime status any more than they should count towards annual renewal. I can see some justification to reward premium fare travellers but not to make it a 500,000 Miler programme for those with Platinum or higher status

Originally Posted by QueenOfCoach (Post 16999456)

If you now have 78K miles, 78,000, you would need an additional 922,000 miles to reach 1 million.

Good luck with that.

Once you reach 1 million miles, yes, you will get a 35K bonus once and Gold status for the rest of your life or the life of the Aadvantage program.

All miles from all sources will count before 12/1/2011. After 12/1/2011, your existing miles from all sources will count towards the 1MM goal, plus miles flown on AA or partner airlines, but not credit card miles. They will separate the miles on your AA.com and paper statement.

Your credit card miles will count towards mileage award, such as upgrades, free tickets and other things like that. They will not count towards the million mile goal.

Originally Posted by kebosabi (Post 17008167)

In that aspect, I think at least counting elite bonus miles as part of flight miles would be a good balancer to that if it's just going to be based upon 1MM EQM.

Originally Posted by Dave Noble (Post 17008375)

that doesn't balance; it just halves the requirements for those with status.

Dave

Originally Posted by susiesan (Post 17008633)

I am currently lifetime Gold. I have 1,450,039 program to date miles. I have 44,620 to go for lifetime Platinum according to AA. Is this different than elite Platinum? Is there any reason for me to expedite getting the 44K miles before 12/1 to get to Platinum under this Million Miler program? I can easily buy a CD from Direct Bank before then or get another Citi card.

I don't see much difference between Gold and Platinum in terms of benefits for me. I only fly AA on paid tickets 3-4 times a year, always domestic coach. I still have all the 500 mile upgrade stickers I got when turning Gold and will probably never use them.

So should I hasten becoming Platinum or not?