ARCHIVE: AAdvantage Million Miler Program as of Dec 2011 (master thd)
Aug 29, 2011, 10:28 am
#811
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/SFO & ORD
Programs: LT Gold/BA Executive Club/AS MP/Marriott
Posts: 1,646
Seems like a lot of people ostensibly are going to possibly end their Citibank, dining, etc. with AA due to the fact it won't add to the MM status.
I plan on sticking with most of the various AA programs because most of those will still get me tens of thousands of miles/year.
Now if AA starts to devalue their miles like DL has with their "Skypesos" then I would probably end a number of my AA-tied rewards.
YMMV.
I plan on sticking with most of the various AA programs because most of those will still get me tens of thousands of miles/year.
Now if AA starts to devalue their miles like DL has with their "Skypesos" then I would probably end a number of my AA-tied rewards.
YMMV.
Last edited by Jacobin777; Aug 29, 2011 at 10:38 am
Aug 29, 2011, 11:00 am
#812
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NJ/NYC
Programs: AA EXP/LT Plat, SPG Plat/LT Plat, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, MR Silver
Posts: 2,786
Success for me. Really only cared for the extra 35,000 lifetime miles - don't need the redeemable miles at the moment.
Aug 29, 2011, 11:41 am
#813
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CTS
Programs: AA:1MM
Posts: 743
Win to AA.
Aug 29, 2011, 12:07 pm
#814
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA LT GLD 1MM
Posts: 811
I would wager that our non-standard set of AA users probably generates CONSIDERABLY more revenue (be it from transfering miles / eshopping / dining / actual tix) for AA than a similar sized random set of AA customers.
Aug 29, 2011, 12:14 pm
#815
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,714
Simply browsing through the UA/CO boards or listening to the talk of Sky Pesos will quickly show that options are few and far between and that, for the moment, the benefits of the AAdvantage program still appear better than those of the competitors. All IMHO obviously....
Aug 29, 2011, 12:16 pm
#816
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
I think it is very odd how people here keep acting like flyertalk is the only way to learn about AA's existing lifetime program...
The first time I heard about it was watching CNN a couple years ago, then I saw a WSJ article comparing lifetime status programs from the major US airlines. After a major movie about the program and analysis on most if not all major US news networks the program was hardly a secret.
Add in the recent attention given to lifetime programs as a reaction to UAL's 10 MM festivities and there should be many well informed AA participants who have nothing to do with flyertalk.
The first time I heard about it was watching CNN a couple years ago, then I saw a WSJ article comparing lifetime status programs from the major US airlines. After a major movie about the program and analysis on most if not all major US news networks the program was hardly a secret.
Add in the recent attention given to lifetime programs as a reaction to UAL's 10 MM festivities and there should be many well informed AA participants who have nothing to do with flyertalk.
Aug 29, 2011, 12:18 pm
#818
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Marriott Lifetime PLT
Posts: 1,229
Aug 29, 2011, 1:16 pm
#819
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Seems like a lot of people ostensibly are going to possibly end their Citibank, dining, etc. with AA due to the fact it won't add to the MM status.
I plan on sticking with most of the various AA programs because most of those will still get me tens of thousands of miles/year.
Now if AA starts to devalue their miles like DL has with their "Skypesos" then I would probably end a number of my AA-tied rewards.
YMMV.
I plan on sticking with most of the various AA programs because most of those will still get me tens of thousands of miles/year.
Now if AA starts to devalue their miles like DL has with their "Skypesos" then I would probably end a number of my AA-tied rewards.
YMMV.
Aug 29, 2011, 1:37 pm
#820
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
Aug 29, 2011, 2:44 pm
#821
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Boston-Atlanta Metropolitan Axis
Posts: 208
I just got off the phone with an agent who informed me that despite the fact that the last stickers deposited into my account were from passing the 1 million mark, those stickers are used *first* before any others. Since I have received a couple of short hop upgrades between now and then, even though my current balance is more than 8, converting to miles is a no-go.
I think this offer is really intended for people who don't fly domestically at all.
Aug 29, 2011, 2:51 pm
#822
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington,DC
Posts: 1,822
I'd wager that a random sampling of AA customers of a given elite level (EXP, PLT, GLD) generates more revenue per capita than an equivalent sampling of FTers at the same level. We know how to game the system and get the same thing for less. Some people pay for a single TATL what we each pay for EXP.
.
.
On AA you can spend $100,000 and not be Platinum
You can also spend $5000 and be Exe Plat
Aug 29, 2011, 3:11 pm
#823
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I doubt everyone else will follow United. I have no doubt that some may follow, but even UA hasn't yet formally asserted that it will be going entirely that way.
Aug 29, 2011, 3:19 pm
#824
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: IND
Programs: AA LT Gold, 1.5MM, Marriot
Posts: 1,307
I am doing much the same as you are with Hubby miles and Hubby upgrades. When the new program starts on 12/01 I hope to be close enough to be able to fly my way to LT Plat in 2 to 3 years.
Right now I am doing a lot of AA eshopping for household items and supplies that won't go bad and that we will use in a reasonable period of time such as pet treats and toilet paper from Drugstore.com Putting everything on my AA branded credit cards etc.
Have also done most of my holiday shopping via AA eshopping.
After 12/1 much of my spending behavior will change to reflect AA's changes to the program. I will swtich my AA credit cards to ones with cash back and will send my eshopping ways that get me more discounts.
I also will be much less likely to insist that my air bookings be on AA and will go for cost savings. I predict a mailing from Citi offering me a better deal on credit cards than on my AA branded credit cards.
I respect your postings and your opinions. Very well done!
Right now I am doing a lot of AA eshopping for household items and supplies that won't go bad and that we will use in a reasonable period of time such as pet treats and toilet paper from Drugstore.com Putting everything on my AA branded credit cards etc.
Have also done most of my holiday shopping via AA eshopping.
After 12/1 much of my spending behavior will change to reflect AA's changes to the program. I will swtich my AA credit cards to ones with cash back and will send my eshopping ways that get me more discounts.
I also will be much less likely to insist that my air bookings be on AA and will go for cost savings. I predict a mailing from Citi offering me a better deal on credit cards than on my AA branded credit cards.
I respect your postings and your opinions. Very well done!
I was just thinking that if I continue to use my Citi debit card in the future to accrue AA miles, then I can continue to redeem those (and my BIS miles) for "hubby tickets," thus only paying for mine, which will, in effect, double the amount of cash available for travel. That said, the majority of our travel is international and those miles go pretty fast...
That said, I'm still looking at a minimum of 7 years, if and only if I boost travel to faraway destinations like Asia and Australia, something I haven't really explored yet.
I believe that when a company has something that inspires that kind of loyalty, it's a huge mistake to meddle with it. <shrug>
You can try, but only do this if you would use the stickers anyway because I doubt it will work.
I just got off the phone with an agent who informed me that despite the fact that the last stickers deposited into my account were from passing the 1 million mark, those stickers are used *first* before any others. Since I have received a couple of short hop upgrades between now and then, even though my current balance is more than 8, converting to miles is a no-go.
I think this offer is really intended for people who don't fly domestically at all.
I just got off the phone with an agent who informed me that despite the fact that the last stickers deposited into my account were from passing the 1 million mark, those stickers are used *first* before any others. Since I have received a couple of short hop upgrades between now and then, even though my current balance is more than 8, converting to miles is a no-go.
I think this offer is really intended for people who don't fly domestically at all.
Boo, AA.GG
Aug 29, 2011, 3:33 pm
#825
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
We have good news for some of you. Members who have earned 1 Million Miler status since January 1, 2011, will have a limited opportunity to exchange eight (8) 500-mile upgrades for 35,000 AAdvantage bonus miles if none of the upgrades have been used. Please call AAdvantage Customer Service at 1-800-882-8880 (say “AAdvantage Account” when prompted at the Main Menu) to request this transaction.
Warning to members who try this, be prepared for a time consuming and frustrating display of incompetence.
2 calls so far, and my account is a mess.
After first call was promised 35,000 miles for my 8 stickers, told to check back in 24 hours to see changes reflected.
I log in a day later and see I've had 16 stickers deducted, and no miles posted.
Call back, and for half an hour the supervisor seems to think that I never had the sticker balance I claimed to have, so, the 16 sticker deduction was accurate! Finally they found 'something' that let them figure out it was their mistake (they didn't tell me what), but, promised my missing 8 stickers would be returned. Also told that the 35,000 miles will appear in the next 24 hours.
Log in today, and... I have only been given 4,000 miles. Obviously they treated this exchange not as the special million miler 8 sticker for 35,000 miles exchange, but, instead as just a regular old swap at a rate of 500 miles given per sticker. This despite the fact being promised by multiple reps I'd be given 35,000 miles for my 8 stickers.
Problem is still not resolved, as, customer service is now closed. But, not looking forward to the fact I'll have to call back again. Each phone call so far (2 of them) has been about 45 minutes long. Can't see this next call taking less time.
I probably should have waited a couple of weeks before doing this. Clearly the customer service reps are not yet properly trained on how to do this million miler 8 sticker for 35,000 miles swap. I would hope this is something that would improve in the coming weeks.
2 calls so far, and my account is a mess.
After first call was promised 35,000 miles for my 8 stickers, told to check back in 24 hours to see changes reflected.
I log in a day later and see I've had 16 stickers deducted, and no miles posted.
Call back, and for half an hour the supervisor seems to think that I never had the sticker balance I claimed to have, so, the 16 sticker deduction was accurate! Finally they found 'something' that let them figure out it was their mistake (they didn't tell me what), but, promised my missing 8 stickers would be returned. Also told that the 35,000 miles will appear in the next 24 hours.
Log in today, and... I have only been given 4,000 miles. Obviously they treated this exchange not as the special million miler 8 sticker for 35,000 miles exchange, but, instead as just a regular old swap at a rate of 500 miles given per sticker. This despite the fact being promised by multiple reps I'd be given 35,000 miles for my 8 stickers.
Problem is still not resolved, as, customer service is now closed. But, not looking forward to the fact I'll have to call back again. Each phone call so far (2 of them) has been about 45 minutes long. Can't see this next call taking less time.
I probably should have waited a couple of weeks before doing this. Clearly the customer service reps are not yet properly trained on how to do this million miler 8 sticker for 35,000 miles swap. I would hope this is something that would improve in the coming weeks.
I got through to customer service yesterday and the agent said she saw the mistakes made during the previous two attempts to swap my MM stickers for the miles. She said that within 48 hours this would be fixed.
This morning the correct number of miles (35,000) had posted. No trace of the erroneous 4000 mile deposit.
My upgrade balance is also correct.
Very relieved that this has now been rectified.
My 35,000 miles indeed had the same description ("Customer Service Bonus"). Clearly something did go wrong in my case, but, I can't recall any one else's description of what the 35,000 miles were.