New AA Status Program - Advice needed
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 6
New AA Status Program - Advice needed
I'm a domestic business traveler. I typically travel 12-15 flights on American per year. This typically gets me to Gold status.
I really value first class upgrades as part of status, and the 500 mile coupons are annoying. Additionally I rarely get upgraded, unless I fly uncommon routes/times.
I spend ~$80-$100k per year on my primary credit card.
A couple questions:
1) If I get an AA credit card and put that $80-$100k spend onto the card, in addition to my regular 12-15 domestic flights, I should be able to achieve platinum pro status, correct? Any thoughts on this approach?
2) What is a realistic expectation for frequency in which a plat pro will get upgraded to first? I fly out of PBI or FLL/MIA and travel all over the country.
Looking for general advise on this strategy.
I really value first class upgrades as part of status, and the 500 mile coupons are annoying. Additionally I rarely get upgraded, unless I fly uncommon routes/times.
I spend ~$80-$100k per year on my primary credit card.
A couple questions:
1) If I get an AA credit card and put that $80-$100k spend onto the card, in addition to my regular 12-15 domestic flights, I should be able to achieve platinum pro status, correct? Any thoughts on this approach?
2) What is a realistic expectation for frequency in which a plat pro will get upgraded to first? I fly out of PBI or FLL/MIA and travel all over the country.
Looking for general advise on this strategy.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 225
I get 5.25% cash back on dining and travel and that is a significant portion of my CC spend. For 5K feel like I am strongly considering free agency as I almost always buy first anyway and the cash back would certainly cover a large amount of the cost differential if you can secure a favorable cash back rate.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
CK and EXP are the one at the top. Unless you can beat them up, you will still be at the bottom of the food chain. Non-hub-to-hub chance will be higher.
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,546
I don't think anyone really knows what the density of elites will be post-2022. It's possible that some will be low-frequency fliers making elite status from credit card usage, but you're not competing for upgrades with people who are swiping their card at Lowe's.
Consider your opportunity cost. 80K in spend will get you 80K AA miles. What are your options for rewards on those $80K spent on other cards?
Consider your opportunity cost. 80K in spend will get you 80K AA miles. What are your options for rewards on those $80K spent on other cards?
#5
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,577
OP, when you say 12-15 'flights', do you actually mean trips? 12-15 flights it probably isn't worth it, 12-15 round-trips is another story, more so if you're usually connecting.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Clear
Posts: 98
Based on my years of AA in South Florida, upgrades are hard out of PBI as there are so few flights, the planes are small, and people seem to pay for first class, so very little open seats.
Flights out of MIA, especially the 777 or 787 generally have lots of open seats, but often get taken by Executive Platinum's, but a good friend of mine is Plat Pro and gets upgrades about 20% of the time if he is traveling solo out of MIA.
Flights out of MIA, especially the 777 or 787 generally have lots of open seats, but often get taken by Executive Platinum's, but a good friend of mine is Plat Pro and gets upgrades about 20% of the time if he is traveling solo out of MIA.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 6
For me it is all about the first class upgrade. If I have a good chance of getting upgraded on every flight, I will derive tremendous benefit personally.
Based on my years of AA in South Florida, upgrades are hard out of PBI as there are so few flights, the planes are small, and people seem to pay for first class, so very little open seats.
Flights out of MIA, especially the 777 or 787 generally have lots of open seats, but often get taken by Executive Platinum's, but a good friend of mine is Plat Pro and gets upgrades about 20% of the time if he is traveling solo out of MIA.
Flights out of MIA, especially the 777 or 787 generally have lots of open seats, but often get taken by Executive Platinum's, but a good friend of mine is Plat Pro and gets upgrades about 20% of the time if he is traveling solo out of MIA.
I had in my head getting upgraded 70-80% of the time as a plat pro. I will add that I do fly non-popular legs while traveling. So it would likely be a PBI to DFW or CLT and then from that hub to a regional airport. I also don't typically do the Monday 6 AM - Thursday 5 PM flights.
Last edited by JY1024; Nov 3, 2021 at 1:30 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts
#8
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Clear
Posts: 98
This is really concerning to hear. 20% upgrade chances and you think that is good as plat pro? Yikes.
I had in my head getting upgraded 70-80% of the time as a plat pro. I will add that I do fly non-popular legs while traveling. So it would likely be a PBI to DFW or CLT and then from that hub to a regional airport. I also don't typically do the Monday 6 AM - Thursday 5 PM flights.
I had in my head getting upgraded 70-80% of the time as a plat pro. I will add that I do fly non-popular legs while traveling. So it would likely be a PBI to DFW or CLT and then from that hub to a regional airport. I also don't typically do the Monday 6 AM - Thursday 5 PM flights.
By your standard of expecting 70-80% upgrades for Plat Pro, what would you put Executive Platinum and Concierge Key upgrades changes at?
There are no free lunches these days and IF flying first class or business class is important to you, then it is best to simply buy the ticket and not worry about free upgrades or focus on getting Executive Platinum.
Also, with the new system, it is pretty easy to hit Plat Pro and I expect a flood of members to hit that level and for 2022-2023 I think upgrades for Platinum Pro will probably drop to 10% or so (just my guess)
Last edited by MiamiBill; Nov 3, 2021 at 8:26 am
#9
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,546
You've asked the $64 million question. People do post information about their upgrade successes, but it's very difficult to reduce it to any kind of useful formula. As a PP you will be behind all the CK's and EXP's. Even EXP's with low 12-month rolling spend report mediocre upgrade success. And while there are certainly flights with less of an elite load, being on an elite-light flight is no guarantee at all.
I'm EXP on a Sunday evening PHL-LAS flight this week and F appeared to be sold out even before we hit the 100-hour window.
FWIW, note that as a PP you will not earn 500-mile stickers. Even if you never get a complimentary upgrade, you won't earn stickers for future use.
I would say make the stretch to get to EXP if you want meaningful upgrade chances.
I'm EXP on a Sunday evening PHL-LAS flight this week and F appeared to be sold out even before we hit the 100-hour window.
FWIW, note that as a PP you will not earn 500-mile stickers. Even if you never get a complimentary upgrade, you won't earn stickers for future use.
I would say make the stretch to get to EXP if you want meaningful upgrade chances.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,694
#11
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Programs: American Executive Platinum
Posts: 368
70-80% upgrades as Plat Pro is "very unreasonable" unless you are Concierge Key and even then, it may be lower.
There are no free lunches these days and IF flying first class or business class is important to you, then it is best to simply buy the ticket and not worry about free upgrades or focus on getting Executive Platinum.
Also, with the new system, it is pretty easy to hit Plat Pro and I expect a flood of members to hit that level.
There are no free lunches these days and IF flying first class or business class is important to you, then it is best to simply buy the ticket and not worry about free upgrades or focus on getting Executive Platinum.
Also, with the new system, it is pretty easy to hit Plat Pro and I expect a flood of members to hit that level.
The idea that this new system will open the flood gates for more higher level elites simply makes no sense to me. In addition, when’s the last time you talked to a business road warrior who fully expects all of those zoom meetings to go away and that they’ll fully resume previous travel? I think fewer elites would be qualifying under the old system, much less the new one. Of course, less business travel means fewer people to compete for upgrades.
OP, I have very little experience with this, but math and the current state of business travel suggest that you’ll have much less competition, and the upgrade percentages you’re being quoted are significantly out of date. The only variable I could see changing in a negative direction would be if AA cuts their flight schedule accordingly. So, while I predict the numerator in the odds equation will shrink, it’s entirely possible that the denominator will too.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Clear
Posts: 98
Are you reporting a less than 30% first class upgrade from coach as a Executive Platinum member with $17k spend?
What routes do you fly?
Also, FYI - the first class upgrade on those small planes (CRJ) are not impressive
What routes do you fly?
Also, FYI - the first class upgrade on those small planes (CRJ) are not impressive
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,694
I fly everywhere but mostly sea and lax/sna. I don't get upgraded mostly for 2 reasons: 1.either F is already sold out 7 days out or 2. with F available AA won't upgrade me at any window and FCM will sell out the remaining seats. For example, Friday night I'm flying to Tampa. There are 5 seats up front available but rather than AA upgrade me they are trying to dump them at $161 on the app. Why reward a BIS exp when they can sell them? Good if your a shareholder I suppose. Oh well. I bought Y and expect Y. That being said AA don't market free available upgrades when I'm batting this low %.
Last edited by enviroian; Nov 3, 2021 at 8:53 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Hartford, CT
Programs: AAdvantage Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 58
Plat Pro here. Of the 30 or so legs I've flown this year, every single qualifying route I have flown (except for one) earned me an upgrade. Some of them were confirmed 3 days ahead of time, some were confirmed at the gate. I mainly travel along the east coast, and I haven't ventured further west than Chicago or Dallas. Not sure what the upgrade landscape is like on flights to/from the west coast.
It is noteworthy that unlike Gold, you'll be able to select the MCE seats from the time you are booking, regardless of if you're paying with points or cash.
It is noteworthy that unlike Gold, you'll be able to select the MCE seats from the time you are booking, regardless of if you're paying with points or cash.