Speculation: Extend Status / Low Req’s / Challenges / Promos 4 Coronavirus?
Mar 13, 2020, 9:12 am
#46
Join Date: May 2017
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat Pro, HH Gold, National Exec
Posts: 41
It depends. If this continues into May, possibly further I would think they would need to do something. My company has suspended all travel like most others so status is looking grim at this point.
Mar 13, 2020, 10:07 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Finnair (AA TATL joint venture partner) is extending existing status levels for six months:
Mar 13, 2020, 10:55 am
#48
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
IHG just announced a reduction in nights required to achieve all statuses. 
55 nights now instead of 75 to reach their top tier.
55 nights now instead of 75 to reach their top tier.
Mar 13, 2020, 11:18 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,023
I really hope AA extends our status. My employer just put the total kabosh on all travel until further notice.
I’ve canceled three trips this morning. This is painful.
I’ve canceled three trips this morning. This is painful.
Mar 13, 2020, 11:32 am
#50
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
extending the qualification period by some number of months would be great and probably more likely than just lowering/removing the EQDs for the year. That said, I do wonder if AAs IT systems could handle such a feat (only half joking).
Mar 13, 2020, 11:49 am
#51
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
Would it just extend the earning period? So instead of having to hit the traditional increments by 12/31/2020, we would have until 6/30/2020 if it were a six-month extension? Seems reasonable, but still is a bit of a hiccup since a lot of us have seasonal leisure/business travel that wouldn't necessarily be replicated depending on how long the extension lasts. I'd think they would want to do something to reinvigorate travel booking when this is all over and also keep other programs from poaching their flyers.
Mar 13, 2020, 11:49 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,492
You routinely complain about how terrible AA is (and on that I agree with you) and now you are complaining about NOT having to fly three trips on a miserable airline. I'm really confused here. What is painful about the cancellation of three trips that, based on your posts here, were sure to be painful???
Mar 13, 2020, 11:50 am
#53
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 691
Again, would be easier to just extend it for an entire year and bag 2020. Doing so would seal up business flyers — especially since post COVID flying probably won’t be at the same level and these flyers will be more highly prized. I see delta making the first move, but we will see.
Mar 13, 2020, 12:13 pm
#54
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
I hope they just extend status through 2021. I made Plat last year (yay!) but have not been able to fly at all.
I had a personal trip scheduled Mar 12-15, but cancelled it late in the evening Mar 11.
As for employers forbidding personal air travel, it could happen. My boss called me and gently, politely reminded me of my risk category (age almost 66), my value to the company and what he would face should he need to replace me, even in the short term, or worse. After 20 years of him being the BEST BOSS IN THE WORLD, catching my back numerous times and changing policy to pay for my premium travel after I was diagnosed with arthritis, I decided to follow his polite suggestion.
I had a personal trip scheduled Mar 12-15, but cancelled it late in the evening Mar 11.
As for employers forbidding personal air travel, it could happen. My boss called me and gently, politely reminded me of my risk category (age almost 66), my value to the company and what he would face should he need to replace me, even in the short term, or worse. After 20 years of him being the BEST BOSS IN THE WORLD, catching my back numerous times and changing policy to pay for my premium travel after I was diagnosed with arthritis, I decided to follow his polite suggestion.
Mar 13, 2020, 12:17 pm
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
The real question is what will DL do. If this is relatively short lived maybe an extension of the elite period to obtain status levels. If this is more long term like 2008/2009 then probably incentives to fly.
Mar 13, 2020, 12:24 pm
#56
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I really like Finnair’s recent approach....I think AA will come thru with something for us just maybe a little later after we see how this all shakes out in a few months.
Mar 13, 2020, 12:25 pm
#57
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Titanum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 61
Great for personal travel, sucks if you need the EQDs. I missed EXP by $700 last year due to the increase to $15k.
Mar 13, 2020, 1:25 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Mar 13, 2020, 2:53 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
This is why we end up with a pandemic.
Mar 13, 2020, 3:39 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Finnair (AA TATL joint venture partner) is extending existing status levels for six months:
https://twitter.com/Finnair/status/1238455859384070147
https://twitter.com/Finnair/status/1238455859384070147