Full downgrade from EXP to general AA?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: Delta Dirt (fmr Plat), US Airways CP, Continental Silver, Marriott (almost LT) Plat, Starwood Gold
Posts: 26
Full downgrade from EXP to general AA?
I just noticed that AA has downgraded me from EXP to general member. I called to ask if this was an error and they confirmed that AA policy is to downgrade members IN FULL. Amazing. During a pandemic!
I realize I'm not the only person in this situation and likely you've all heard this a bunch, but it's still quite frustrating.
This downgrade, combined with the horror show that is the B6-AA Northeast partnership (no upgrades, no lounge, no changes, no nothing), is causing me to look at going back to Delta. I've already cancelled my Citi Executive AA Credit Card and moved my flight for Friday. My weekly flights are back and they will now go to a carrier other than American.
You were good to me, American. But you've made a series of choices that seem short sighted. Good luck to you!
I realize I'm not the only person in this situation and likely you've all heard this a bunch, but it's still quite frustrating.
This downgrade, combined with the horror show that is the B6-AA Northeast partnership (no upgrades, no lounge, no changes, no nothing), is causing me to look at going back to Delta. I've already cancelled my Citi Executive AA Credit Card and moved my flight for Friday. My weekly flights are back and they will now go to a carrier other than American.
You were good to me, American. But you've made a series of choices that seem short sighted. Good luck to you!
#2
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 591
I presume you never received any of the myriad of offers/ promotions to retain status, correct? Like spend X amount on your Citi AA credit card and retain status or a buy offer of $xxxx to retain EXP perhaps?
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,152
There have been many threads on this topic, in some form or another. AA made it extremely easy to keep one's status. I barely flew last year but am still EP for another year. AA went out of its way (in my opinion) to allow people to show even a little loyalty during the pandemic in order to keep their pre-pandemic status. (Full disclosure, the most I'll ever drop to is Gold since I'm a MM, but I still wouldn't expect anything more if I hadn't taken AA up on its numerous offers last year.)
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,120
AA extended 2019 status to 2020 and then offered a drastically reduced qualification in 2021 for 2022. All communicated with tons of time to spare.
AA does a lot of things shoddily, but this wasn't one of them
AA does a lot of things shoddily, but this wasn't one of them
#5
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 192
I just noticed that AA has downgraded me from EXP to general member. I called to ask if this was an error and they confirmed that AA policy is to downgrade members IN FULL. Amazing. During a pandemic!
I realize I'm not the only person in this situation and likely you've all heard this a bunch, but it's still quite frustrating.
This downgrade, combined with the horror show that is the B6-AA Northeast partnership (no upgrades, no lounge, no changes, no nothing), is causing me to look at going back to Delta. I've already cancelled my Citi Executive AA Credit Card and moved my flight for Friday. My weekly flights are back and they will now go to a carrier other than American.
You were good to me, American. But you've made a series of choices that seem short sighted. Good luck to you!
I realize I'm not the only person in this situation and likely you've all heard this a bunch, but it's still quite frustrating.
This downgrade, combined with the horror show that is the B6-AA Northeast partnership (no upgrades, no lounge, no changes, no nothing), is causing me to look at going back to Delta. I've already cancelled my Citi Executive AA Credit Card and moved my flight for Friday. My weekly flights are back and they will now go to a carrier other than American.
You were good to me, American. But you've made a series of choices that seem short sighted. Good luck to you!
#6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,355
You clearly want something for nothing. Your spend/loyalty in 2019 is old news. I paid to keep my EXP status this year as I fell a bit short of the qualification requirements with reduced international travel.. Sorry that you didn't.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
You were offered several chances to maintain status, one of several ways. You declined. So you lost your status.
I'm not sure why you are surprised. Did you think that those promos were just what everyone else needed to do to maintain status, and that some special unpublished rules applied to you?
Personally I just put $15k spend on an AA branded CC to maintain EXP. That was a ridiculously generous offer.
I'm not sure why you are surprised. Did you think that those promos were just what everyone else needed to do to maintain status, and that some special unpublished rules applied to you?
Personally I just put $15k spend on an AA branded CC to maintain EXP. That was a ridiculously generous offer.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,308
If AA sucks so much (spoiler alert: they do), why do you care if you have status on them? Especially when it seems DL is a good alternative for your specific travel pattern.
Pre-LP, I never understood why people would subject themselves to AA mileage runs. Let me get this straight, in order to maintain status on an airline that is miserable to fly, I'm going to voluntarily fly that airline more than I absolutely have to???
#10
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,546
AA used to offer a soft landing where you would only drop one level of status if you failed to requalify. This was discontinued many years ago. A few hotel chains may still offer this (Scandic, Radisson, and Accor I think) but none of the major US airlines do.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,120
Everyone doesn't have the means, corporate policies or value system to just buy F. Status makes a big, big difference.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,308
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,120
Nothing quite like having data free opinions. I bat 90+% (most years 95+%) on upgrades as an EXP. There is no one size fits all solution for everyone.
Regardless, why else would people chase status? It's not like having a fancy car that you can show off - people just look at you weird if you try flexing status.
Regardless, why else would people chase status? It's not like having a fancy car that you can show off - people just look at you weird if you try flexing status.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: USA
Programs: American Airlines (Executive Platinum), Hyatt (Globalist), Hilton (Diamond), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 2,917
Regardless, while the OP doesn't seem to be one of them, AA's promos were little help for foreign-based elites who couldn't fly and can't get an AA CC. AA apparently just waved goodbye to all of them.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904