Full downgrade from EXP to general AA?
May 5, 2022, 2:31 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
F
But seriously, there were multiple emails, not to mention the posts here on FT and articles from every points and miles blog, detailing the pandemic status policy and the new LP system. Zero sympathy. No other airline made it as easy to maintain status - American was actually the first airline to announce 2021 status extensions and elite reduced elite thresholds. I actually went from Platinum (earned from a challenge back in fall of '19, extended through the end of last year) to EP based on the reduced EQM/EQD and extended qualification period (they effectively gave us 18 months to qualify for 2021 - last three months of 2020 and first three of 2022 counted).
Have fun with DL and their 180k one-way skypeso partner J awards (round-trip only) and decrepit fleet. And by the time you qualify for elite status they might actually have proper business class lounges a la AA Flagship and UA Polaris.
But seriously, there were multiple emails, not to mention the posts here on FT and articles from every points and miles blog, detailing the pandemic status policy and the new LP system. Zero sympathy. No other airline made it as easy to maintain status - American was actually the first airline to announce 2021 status extensions and elite reduced elite thresholds. I actually went from Platinum (earned from a challenge back in fall of '19, extended through the end of last year) to EP based on the reduced EQM/EQD and extended qualification period (they effectively gave us 18 months to qualify for 2021 - last three months of 2020 and first three of 2022 counted).
Have fun with DL and their 180k one-way skypeso partner J awards (round-trip only) and decrepit fleet. And by the time you qualify for elite status they might actually have proper business class lounges a la AA Flagship and UA Polaris.
lol
The new program is better for people who can spend $100,000+ on an AA CC. There's no way it's easier for people who actually fly. Let's be serious here. A person who made EXP last year with $9,000 in spending needs to spend over $18,000 this year to re-qualify.
May 5, 2022, 2:47 pm
#62
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Hawaii
Programs: AA EXP, HA PL, Hilton 💎, Marriott Ti, Wyndham/Caesars 💎, Hertz PC
Posts: 343
There are so many legitimate criticisms of AA that could be made which is why the OP's complaint is baffling. Retention of status is one of the few areas where AA is generous (relative to the other major airlines), with multiple ways to retain or even buy status. Then equally baffling is the OP romanticizing a move to Delta, where top status is much harder to obtain and retain.
May 5, 2022, 2:53 pm
#63
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Hawaii
Programs: AA EXP, HA PL, Hilton 💎, Marriott Ti, Wyndham/Caesars 💎, Hertz PC
Posts: 343
Except all the others, who extended status?
lol
The new program is better for people who can spend $100,000+ on an AA CC. There's no way it's easier for people who actually fly. Let's be serious here. A person who made EXP last year with $9,000 in spending needs to spend over $18,000 this year to re-qualify.
lol
The new program is better for people who can spend $100,000+ on an AA CC. There's no way it's easier for people who actually fly. Let's be serious here. A person who made EXP last year with $9,000 in spending needs to spend over $18,000 this year to re-qualify.
May 5, 2022, 3:27 pm
#64
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
You don't need any CC spend to make status. There's the shopping and dining portal, plus two hotel portals. And it took 12k EQD to earn EP in 2021, and 15k pre-pandemic. And there's still LP arbitrage vis-a-vis partner award charts where you can pick up more than 11 LP/mile depending on mileage and fare code. And there are more partners now that AS is full one-world and B6 has reciprocal status/loyalty benefits.
Thanks for reminding us that it was $15,000 EQD in 2019 and not $12,000. If I was a 2019 EXP qualifier who didn't get to use the benefits and then had status completely wiped away, I'd be even madder. Those people got robbed.
May 5, 2022, 5:04 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Hawaii
Programs: AA EXP, HA PL, Hilton 💎, Marriott Ti, Wyndham/Caesars 💎, Hertz PC
Posts: 343
AA gave all EXP $3,000 EQD in 2021, so it was $9,000.
Thanks for reminding us that it was $15,000 EQD in 2019 and not $12,000. If I was a 2019 EXP qualifier who didn't get to use the benefits and then had status completely wiped away, I'd be even madder. Those people got robbed.
Thanks for reminding us that it was $15,000 EQD in 2019 and not $12,000. If I was a 2019 EXP qualifier who didn't get to use the benefits and then had status completely wiped away, I'd be even madder. Those people got robbed.
AA effectively gave their elites money. Hardly getting "robbed."
May 5, 2022, 5:10 pm
#66
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
This is a really strange hill to die on. Whatever status one held in 2020 (earned in 2019) was extended through January of 2022. Status qualification was lowered. The earning period was extended. EPs were also given $400 in AA Vacation credit. AA co-brand card spend counted towards MM status. They were more than fair. The broad consensus is that AA were quite generous towards their elites.
AA effectively gave their elites money. Hardly getting "robbed."
AA effectively gave their elites money. Hardly getting "robbed."
People who qualified as EXP in 2019 after attaining $15,000 EQD promptly had the world shut down for 2020 and had most long-haul destinations shut down or severely restricted for most of 2021. Lounges and especially the best lounges were closed for most of that time, and some are still closed today. Onboard service was a joke, even in J. I'm not in the same situation as OP, but I'm still sitting on four unused SWUs from 2019 since travel options have been so limited, and I'm sure I have plenty of company.
But 2019 EXPs should be happy with the $400 AA Vacations coupon they probably couldn't use? Come on.
May 5, 2022, 5:40 pm
#67
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 591
May 5, 2022, 5:48 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
This is literally the first time I'm hearing about it. I stopped following travel stuff once Covid shut everything down. I still don't feel cheated. The $15k CC spend deal was great.
May 5, 2022, 5:59 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
If I recall, it was $400 off a trip with a minimum price of $2,000. Good luck using that on a decent destination before the coupon expired last year. I can't remember seeing anyone here talk about having used it.
May 6, 2022, 2:41 pm
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
May 6, 2022, 7:32 pm
#72
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
Except all the others, who extended status?
lol
The new program is better for people who can spend $100,000+ on an AA CC. There's no way it's easier for people who actually fly. Let's be serious here. A person who made EXP last year with $9,000 in spending needs to spend over $18,000 this year to re-qualify.
lol
The new program is better for people who can spend $100,000+ on an AA CC. There's no way it's easier for people who actually fly. Let's be serious here. A person who made EXP last year with $9,000 in spending needs to spend over $18,000 this year to re-qualify.
I've already surpassed plat threshold with 2022 actual flying activity that would have barely been gold in years past.
Flying + other non CC loyalty points = easier to earn and maintain status.
Quite a bizarre crusade you are on here.
May 6, 2022, 8:06 pm
#73
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
hi 👋 EXP here. I don't have an AA CC.
I've already surpassed plat threshold with 2022 actual flying activity that would have barely been gold in years past.
Flying + other non CC loyalty points = easier to earn and maintain status.
Quite a bizarre crusade you are on here.
I've already surpassed plat threshold with 2022 actual flying activity that would have barely been gold in years past.
Flying + other non CC loyalty points = easier to earn and maintain status.
Quite a bizarre crusade you are on here.
May 6, 2022, 8:43 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
hi 👋 EXP here. I don't have an AA CC.
I've already surpassed plat threshold with 2022 actual flying activity that would have barely been gold in years past.
Flying + other non CC loyalty points = easier to earn and maintain status.
Quite a bizarre crusade you are on here.
I've already surpassed plat threshold with 2022 actual flying activity that would have barely been gold in years past.
Flying + other non CC loyalty points = easier to earn and maintain status.
Quite a bizarre crusade you are on here.
May 6, 2022, 8:46 pm
#75
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
No way. Maybe among people on sites like this one, but there's no way more people are watching the AA portals for big multipliers than are spending big on AA CC. AA itself pushes the CCs far, far more than the portals, and there's a reason for that.