Loyalty Points discussion/questions - From 2022 now used for determining elite status
 

https://aadvantagestatus.com/?anchor...=newaadvantage

Still digesting it. The big change is that miles flown don't matter (much), rather the focus is on flight spend and CC spend. At least nobody will blame AA for copying others this time.

I am sure many on here will hate it, but I see what AA is trying to do.

tl;dr earning status now tied to "Loyalty Points" which seems to be mostly the same as award miles earning. EXP requires 200,000 which is 18,000 in spend if you're already EXP, or apparently 27,000 if you aren't an EXP yet (because it's 5 base miles per dollar plus elite bonus).

No miles devaluation. We live to fight another day.

Wow. So this is it. I'm going to take some time digesting this. No more EQM or EQD.

The changes actually seem pretty well thought out to me. Definitely a concerted attempt to bestow higher status on their most profitable customers, rather than those who happen to fly the most miles.

A double whammy today with AA revamping their programme and Marriott moving to no more award charts......

Dynamic award pricing aswell as $ spend are the new loyalty driven factors for both hotels and airlines.
You can blame expectations that travel will resume prepandemic levels and everyone eager to travel and stay, cashing in points and willing to spend cash to make up for lost times.

source:https://onemileatatime.com/news/amer...oyalty-points/

The curse..... it might be starting now!

and the bigger surprise (good for me at least) is now credit card spend = loyalty points too. Credit card spend didn't = EQD's in the past.

I'm pleased that they are giving everyone an extra two months to earn status for 2022, and the "double-dipping" for January and February seems generous IMO.

I think the changes make sense in a post-COVID world. There are going to be tons of people who earn status just by CC spend alone.

Definitely. And while many miles "purists" will no doubt be offended by this, it makes sense for AA's business. And honestly, if people are earning elite status without flying much, then the rest of us shouldn't really care much because they will rarely be there to get upgrades anyway.

Am I reading this correctly - there is no longer a bonus mileage / loyalty point bonus for paid first class?

Wow the increase for EXP requirement is kind of insane.

Good: I like the added simplicity, I like recognizing something for CC spend (maybe I'll actually start using it). For me personally, it will be easier to find ways to maintain a status level, and I much prefer putting some spend on a CC to pushing me over the line than paying time and cash on last minute flight.

Bad: This makes my borderline gold family members, such as my wife, have to get a credit card because qualifying on flights alone is quite a bit harder at the gold level. Heck, earning your way up (from a base member) organically on flights alone to any level is too steep.

Is it? It looks like around $18k in spend compared to around $15k currently. Plus now CC spend will count, so it seems like it may actually be easier.

The math on getting an AA branded CC has never made sense for me in the past, but it might now. This is exactly the kind of thinking AA is hoping people will have.

yeah, for current ExecPlat members. Start from nothing and you would need a status match or challenge (or some decently hefty CC spend to swing) to even think about it.
(you'd need 25K or something in just flights alone, I haven't done the exact math yet)

Just curious on how you get the 18K conversion? (I'm being sincere).