Keep in mind that upgrades are still based on rolling 12 month EQD's. So if you have 0 then you are going to be bottom of the barrel EXP.

I'm about halfway to executive platinum and am happy I can get 4 system-wide upgrades + 40,000 bonus miles (90k bonus) all for doing travel that I already have planned. There is still some incentive.

Agreed 60k EQM seems a bit light even given the circumstances. 9,000 EQD however will exclude a lot of people.

Especially if the media is correct that the airlines are looking to try and sell some more miles to the banks to raise cash, the credit card miles promotion was really needed (and pretty insignificant cost to allow the miles to increase the million counter again).

I still think that the travel expectations/rebound are pretty ambitious. Which means, AA can simply add (double EQM/EQD/etc.) promos on top as needed throughout the summer and fall if travel is still not happening.

exactly. This does nothing for existing EXP and just ensures there will be a glut of discount-EXP to muck everything up.

Looking mid-October. Nothing less than 180,000 miles one way in October LAX-LHR. UA is 60,000 for all dates in October. Again - Business for both.

Totally agree. The $9K EQD isn't helping either. Zone 2 line will be 100' long!

I mean not exactly, as EQD will still be the factor for UGs, so if you fly or are continuing to fly on high ticket spend you will be above these "discount-EXPs"; if you have a low EQD, then you extended your status but are now also a discount-EXP.

If you have both Citi and Barclay - you can get EXP for $6K and 40K EQM ($3K credit from Barclay only and then 10K EQM for each Card). Assumes you spend $50K on Barclay and $40K on Citi Exec.

Now the questions is - unless there is a vaccine (which there will not be until 2022) how many people are still going to want to do a lot of flying. Just because the "curve is leveling" doesn't mean the virus goes away. Maybe if you got it and are now immune - you can travel. Other option is to wear PPE on the flight - if you can get it.

AA would love that but not happening. You have to remember that many people have all travel canceled for March-June at a minimum, probably. That's 1/3 of the year and will likely be more, closer to 1/2. Possibly even 2/3. Travel is way, way down.

I have the citi exec card and was aware of the 10K eqm bonus after the $40K spend (thought it was $50K spend) but wasn't aware there was a $3K EQD bonus. That's a new one for me.

No they wont. How exactly would people suddenly make 60k EQM in part of a year when they couldn't make 100k in a full year?

I'm not sure what people expect AA to do with a loyalty program. If they said no extensions, then it looks like they'd be a fraction of EXPs. Most people don't requal for EXP in Feb.

So, with my status extended as EXP through Jan 2022, why would I have to worry about status this year? It is now all about next year, isn't it?

never mind--I just re-read the email. The reduced thresholds are for the rest of this year got it.

Next year will be back to normal for earning thresholds got it.

This leaves me one question--if one can't re-qualify this year with the reduced thresholds it doesn't matter anyway since your status is being extended to cover the following year, right??

As the Norm drop goes: "I don't think that's right."

point still stands. corporate budgets are down. travel policy will be revamped given economic uncertainty.

shorter flights (<4 hrs) could be turned into driving / train work trips for certain employees / companies