AAdvantage program changes rumored Oct 2021
Sep 30, 2021 | 2:31 pm
#61
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Safe Travels
Sep 30, 2021 | 2:34 pm
#62
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Houston , TX
Programs: Miles & More
Posts: 774
Sep 30, 2021 | 2:38 pm
#64
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Houston , TX
Programs: Miles & More
Posts: 774
Sep 30, 2021 | 2:43 pm
#65
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,474
The other thing that people are missing is that these new EQD would be reduce or get ride of the milage requirement entirely as well. Look to UA for inspiration.
Sep 30, 2021 | 2:50 pm
#66
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL DM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 9,808
Let's all be honest with ourselves-- they'll be a ton of speculation here on various permutations, and then when it comes out, it'll just match exactly what UA's is. We've seen this before, right? (Except in the past it was always matching DL.) And maybe because of the pandemic they will give existing elites a boost to get started.
Sep 30, 2021 | 2:55 pm
#67
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
The $9,000 is temporary due to covid. Its $15,000 otherwise. So what I would expect is them to raise it because simple enough to do when covid is messing with everything. Then they will give a temporary reduction like they did this year. No reason to drag it out yet another year if they think the market is strong enough for them to do changes.
The other thing that people are missing is that these new EQD would be reduce or get ride of the milage requirement entirely as well. Look to UA for inspiration.
The other thing that people are missing is that these new EQD would be reduce or get ride of the milage requirement entirely as well. Look to UA for inspiration.
The Company I just joined is really trying to get back to travel but we're still having pushback. Some clients are good with it but many want virtual. Some I suspect want to use COVID as an excuse for cutting costs (where have we've seen this before?).
At least in the interim period I don't see travel returning to 2019 levels, and even after and IF COVID fear porn ever subsidies. Airlines might have to completely rethink loyalty programs-as well as their entire business model.
Sep 30, 2021 | 2:56 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,588
Sep 30, 2021 | 3:01 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage Plat Pro, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 2,000
This is very much a YMMV situation. I retired to a university town, and on November 17, I can fly from ITH to SEA for 10,000 miles on the fastest (single-connection) itinerary, or 6,000 miles for the slower, double-connection itinerary. The cash price for each is just over $200, so you'd get 2˘/mile on the fast connection, and 3.3˘/mile on the slower one. But on November 19, both cash and mileage fares on that route are much higher, and you'd get poor value with a mileage redemption.
I do about 2 award tickets a year and it's a major effort finding a mileage redemption that won't make my wife kill me when I tell her the itinerary.
Sep 30, 2021 | 3:06 pm
#70
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 3,251
The $9,000 is temporary due to covid. Its $15,000 otherwise. So what I would expect is them to raise it because simple enough to do when covid is messing with everything. Then they will give a temporary reduction like they did this year. No reason to drag it out yet another year if they think the market is strong enough for them to do changes.
It wouldn’t make any sense for AA to raise EQD to $18,000+ and then give another Covid reduction. As it is, most existing EXP aren’t re-qualifying at $9,000. They’re spending $15,000 on a CC or spending $2,000 over the last five months of 2021.
Sep 30, 2021 | 3:17 pm
#71
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: LON, between FAB and EGTD
Programs: OWS - AA Lifetime Platinum, BA (back to the) Bronze (Age)
Posts: 1,126
Sep 30, 2021 | 3:18 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,474
Was the $15,000 ever in effect? I thought AA raised it to $15,000 for 2020, when it quickly became $0 due to Covid.
It wouldn’t make any sense for AA to raise EQD to $18,000+ and then give another Covid reduction. As it is, most existing EXP aren’t re-qualifying at $9,000. They’re spending $15,000 on a CC or spending $2,000 over the last five months of 2021.
It wouldn’t make any sense for AA to raise EQD to $18,000+ and then give another Covid reduction. As it is, most existing EXP aren’t re-qualifying at $9,000. They’re spending $15,000 on a CC or spending $2,000 over the last five months of 2021.
Sep 30, 2021 | 3:27 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,424
I find the whole tracking miles and segments and dollars all a big headache, especially when it comes to the various ways in which you can get EQM -or- EQD bonuses (but not both). For the last several years, my metrics all co-tracked, so I don't participate in tracking EQM bonuses on my citicard, for example, but it is completely meaningless without also finding the EQDs to go with it.
So, I really wouldn't mind simplification to just EQD just from the logistics standpoint of tracking targets.
Nor, would I mind mileage redemptions to be simpler. I don't have time to spend hours sorting through all of the mileage choices to see if there is any values that aren't a complete torture trip by adding a 9 hour overnight layover, and an extra stop 800 miles in the wrong direction. Of course, they could make them simpler in a way that ruins any chance of finding a good redemption, so I might just shut up now...
One last thing -- I wish Aadvantage would have -some- consideration for infrequent flyers. Have some sort of cumulative tracking towards something of value -- a couple free baggage vouchers, a few 500-mile upgrade stickers (which can actually be used even if you don't have status), MCE upgrades etc.
The vast flying public isn't flying every week for work, but they can still build loyalty and value in the long term if they were treated with something other than complete disdain. People will build loyalty to Carnival, for example, and take 10 cruises over 30 years on just those ships.
So, I really wouldn't mind simplification to just EQD just from the logistics standpoint of tracking targets.
Nor, would I mind mileage redemptions to be simpler. I don't have time to spend hours sorting through all of the mileage choices to see if there is any values that aren't a complete torture trip by adding a 9 hour overnight layover, and an extra stop 800 miles in the wrong direction. Of course, they could make them simpler in a way that ruins any chance of finding a good redemption, so I might just shut up now...
One last thing -- I wish Aadvantage would have -some- consideration for infrequent flyers. Have some sort of cumulative tracking towards something of value -- a couple free baggage vouchers, a few 500-mile upgrade stickers (which can actually be used even if you don't have status), MCE upgrades etc.
The vast flying public isn't flying every week for work, but they can still build loyalty and value in the long term if they were treated with something other than complete disdain. People will build loyalty to Carnival, for example, and take 10 cruises over 30 years on just those ships.
Sep 30, 2021 | 4:10 pm
#74
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Silver, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 7,493
Sep 30, 2021 | 4:24 pm
#75
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage Plat Pro, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 2,000
If we are talking about two options:
A. 1 cent per mile on whatever flight and cabin I want to take
B. 0.5 cents per mile on the flights I would want, 0.8 cents per mile on the flights I would accept, but heck, up to 5 cents per mile if I agree to massive inconveniences and spend hours searching on AA.com over months seeking out the right combination of miles, destination, flights that aren't torture. (and shoot, 5 cents per mile is generous. The last few web specials I scored still only ended up being worth about 2 cents per mile because the cash price was low anyways)
I find more value in option A, even if that might "cost more" than certain scenarios in option B. Time and flexibility matter.