First Experience as EXP - AA is flooded with Elites
Nov 9, 22, 1:43 pm
#76
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL DM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,475
I think it depends on how you value the AA miles and status vs. the cashback. Remember, you're getting both RDMs and status, and status does get you things that otherwise cost money, such as MCE seats at booking and extra checked bags. I suspect this valuation is different for each individual based on their own travel and spending patterns.
Nov 9, 22, 2:02 pm
#77
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Anywhere
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 640
Simple if they stopped handing out points like candy, there would be less elites. Being an EXP should be a rather rare thing, really any top tier should be. I am Alaska 100K Gold, which I will lose this year and reason I chased status with AA, but the 100K gold is rather rare, its hard to hit. I have a 100 percent upgrade as a 100K and this includes routes SAN - JFK and SAN to LIH
Nov 9, 22, 2:51 pm
#78
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DFW - North Texas
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Marriot Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum/2022 Titanium
Posts: 957
LAS flights will always have a high number of buy ups to First.
PHX will have a very large number of Elites.
Nov 9, 22, 2:55 pm
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 10,727
The only problem I see with lower LP EXP thresholds is that any other EXP will beat you for upgrades if you are on an award ticket... Other than that there is nothing bad about the current 200k LP level.
Nov 9, 22, 3:05 pm
#80
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 371
I agree that 200k is a good point. We're in the "golden window" of recovery incentive offers and travel raging back. I'm sure AA will make adjustments, but to the original poster, being a lower LP EXP is only going get you so much. I've been #2 only a few times this year between any markets, #1 almost every time, but, currently at 580,000 LPs.
Nov 9, 22, 3:11 pm
#81
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,389
I agree that 200k is a good point. We're in the "golden window" of recovery incentive offers and travel raging back. I'm sure AA will make adjustments, but to the original poster, being a lower LP EXP is only going get you so much. I've been #2 only a few times this year between any markets, #1 almost every time, but, currently at 580,000 LPs.
wowzas!!!
Nov 9, 22, 10:00 pm
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,691
Well, I hit EXP on 10/29, a few days over 8 weeks since I started to get "status". I did this mostly with CC spend and AA hotels, only took one flight. As suspected, there are WAY to many EXP already, AA is going to have to raise the bar.
I booked a mid afternoon flight, LAS to DEN via PHX departed yesterday. As of Thursday there were 7 open First Class seats and the fare was really high to pay the difference. By Monday AM all seats taken and I was number 11 on the upgrade list! On the flight from PHX to DEN 6 seats open as of Sunday night, but Monday all gone and I was number 17 on the upgrade list, 17 as an EXP ! WOW.
I suspected this would be the case, AA simply made it too easy to get status, so as the saying goes, if everyone is elite, nobody is.
I booked a mid afternoon flight, LAS to DEN via PHX departed yesterday. As of Thursday there were 7 open First Class seats and the fare was really high to pay the difference. By Monday AM all seats taken and I was number 11 on the upgrade list! On the flight from PHX to DEN 6 seats open as of Sunday night, but Monday all gone and I was number 17 on the upgrade list, 17 as an EXP ! WOW.
I suspected this would be the case, AA simply made it too easy to get status, so as the saying goes, if everyone is elite, nobody is.
Nov 10, 22, 6:59 am
#83
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,858
Exactly! As both an AA EXP and UA 1K (and less comparatively a DL Plat) - I can tell you my upgrade percentage this year is far higher on AA. When I don't clear on AA, I'm usually #1-3 on the upgrade list. On UA, it's not uncommon to be below #10 on the list with no one (including GSs) getting upgraded. These days, if you want first then buy first. Devaluation of elite status is no worse on AA than others, in my experience.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Nov 10, 22, 8:12 am
#84
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,729
U need to understand two issues.
1. You needed to call and have the status in all of ur PNRs to EP as u booked them when not EP. You will never know what your true position was or if you would have cleared. If you had any more PNRs booked when you weren’t EP, please call and update them!
2. the credit card warriors are greatly affecting the upgrade list. They don’t travel much, but when they do, they generally are at the upper part of the list. I see from above that you are a lite flier and attained EP status only through cx spend.
but think u will find that #1 is your main issue
PNRs
1. You needed to call and have the status in all of ur PNRs to EP as u booked them when not EP. You will never know what your true position was or if you would have cleared. If you had any more PNRs booked when you weren’t EP, please call and update them!
2. the credit card warriors are greatly affecting the upgrade list. They don’t travel much, but when they do, they generally are at the upper part of the list. I see from above that you are a lite flier and attained EP status only through cx spend.
but think u will find that #1 is your main issue
PNRs
Until today! Twitter rep said many of my upcoming reservations are still reflecting PP status. EXP phone rep had no clue what I was talking about and tried to transfer me.
Edit: big ups to 777lover as i would have missed out on 34 flights worth of upgrade priority. Twitter rep said 33/34 still had my PP status attached to the reservation. It took about 45 minutes to fix online with a 2nd EXP desk agent who knew what she was doing.
Last edited by nineworldseries; Nov 10, 22 at 11:04 am
Nov 10, 22, 8:28 am
#85
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,292
Well, I hit EXP on 10/29, a few days over 8 weeks since I started to get "status". I did this mostly with CC spend and AA hotels, only took one flight. As suspected, there are WAY to many EXP already, AA is going to have to raise the bar.
I booked a mid afternoon flight, LAS to DEN via PHX departed yesterday. As of Thursday there were 7 open First Class seats and the fare was really high to pay the difference. By Monday AM all seats taken and I was number 11 on the upgrade list! On the flight from PHX to DEN 6 seats open as of Sunday night, but Monday all gone and I was number 17 on the upgrade list, 17 as an EXP ! WOW.
I suspected this would be the case, AA simply made it too easy to get status, so as the saying goes, if everyone is elite, nobody is.
I booked a mid afternoon flight, LAS to DEN via PHX departed yesterday. As of Thursday there were 7 open First Class seats and the fare was really high to pay the difference. By Monday AM all seats taken and I was number 11 on the upgrade list! On the flight from PHX to DEN 6 seats open as of Sunday night, but Monday all gone and I was number 17 on the upgrade list, 17 as an EXP ! WOW.
I suspected this would be the case, AA simply made it too easy to get status, so as the saying goes, if everyone is elite, nobody is.
Have you seen a DL upgrade list recently by any chance?
Nov 10, 22, 9:59 am
#86
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,201
I was UA 1K for years and would routinely sit in Economy Plus seeing an upgrade list dozens of names long. On AA (though I don't fly domestic much), I've missed 3 upgrades ever as EXP. One pre-COVID PIT-ORD (didn't even check the list), and this year we missed (2 on same PNR) DFW-LAX on an early Friday evening, were #1 and 2 on upgrade list, and also LAX-DFW on a Friday night redeye (arriving Saturday) also #1 and 2 on the upgrade list. Both business commuter flights (if people still do such a thing), so no big surprise. I'm VERY VERY low LP which probably explains why we didn't get the T-100 upgrade on both (both were relatively lightly booked in F at T-100) but all in all, I get a lot more upgrades on AA than I did UA. Funnily enough my upgrades into and out of NYC (both LGA and JFK) are still 100% unlike an above poster mentioning MIA-LGA being difficult (yes I've done the MIA-LGA and sat up front).
Having said that, I do wish AA wouldn't include credit card spend, I can qualify on flying just fine when there are no COVID border controls. Obviously it makes them more money, or they wouldn't do it. $200k a year in credit card spend isn't something the average American can or would do in a year without some manufactured spend, but still I don't really care for it. UA PPs from credit cards are much harder to come by.
Having said that, I do wish AA wouldn't include credit card spend, I can qualify on flying just fine when there are no COVID border controls. Obviously it makes them more money, or they wouldn't do it. $200k a year in credit card spend isn't something the average American can or would do in a year without some manufactured spend, but still I don't really care for it. UA PPs from credit cards are much harder to come by.
Last edited by dvs7310; Nov 10, 22 at 10:06 am
Nov 10, 22, 12:04 pm
#87
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,490
I really don't understand what the problem is. If earning LPs with credit cards, hotels, etc is that easy, why doesn't everybody just do the same and add those points to the ones earned flying?
It is not that those earning LPs flying can't earn points other ways.
But again, if the "CC warriors" don't travel much, then (the logical conclusion) is that they won't affect the upgrade list much (for the most part).
When they do fly, it will affect the upgrade list for that particular one-off flight, they won't be "greatly affecting" overall anything, just that flight.
Nov 10, 22, 12:12 pm
#88
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Phoenix/Columbus
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United Gold, US Airways silver
Posts: 1,695
Nov 10, 22, 12:24 pm
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 34,653
An EXP with 20K rolling LPs will beat a PPRO with 100K rolling LPs every time.
Or did I misunderstand what you were saying?
Nov 10, 22, 3:08 pm
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 10,727
Yes, that's true, so the correlation is not perfect, so an EXP falling behind in LPs (likely on their way down to a lower status) gets some temporary (until end of year) cushion based on the elite level separation. But in general terms, the LPs matter either way, as the continuous measure of status and priority.
