AAdvantage Program Changes for 2024-2025
Jan 11, 2024 | 4:59 pm
#151
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 9,962
it would be less of an issue if the return of mikes and taxes worked automatically 100% of the time; for me, its only 80% and follow up required the rest of the time.
Jan 11, 2024 | 7:34 pm
#152
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The Land of Pleasant Living
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,939
Thats a fair point. I am usually in a spot where I have more AA miles than I can quickly use, so I was not thinking of that angle. Are the transfers not instant? If not I can definitely see the appeal.
Jan 13, 2024 | 5:45 pm
#153
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,212
Marriott transfers to AA, last I checked, take 2+ days, so that's one instance where the 5-day hold could be useful. Bilt transfers are instant, but not sure that many folks have significant stockpiles of Bilt points (I use it for 2x points on Lyft , on top of the 10x points I earn with CSR, but don't have the credit card). And being awash in AA points is a good place to be, Mr. BoH. I also have plenty, but as others above mentioned, it's much easier to let a hold expire (or cancel it) than to actually book and then cancel and then have to message or call to get miles redeposited (it randomly won't refund miles automatically for me, probably 10% of the time, and never if the trip is close at hand).
Jan 13, 2024 | 7:29 pm
#155
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 361
Marriott transfers to AA, last I checked, take 2+ days, so that's one instance where the 5-day hold could be useful. Bilt transfers are instant, but not sure that many folks have significant stockpiles of Bilt points (I use it for 2x points on Lyft , on top of the 10x points I earn with CSR, but don't have the credit card). And being awash in AA points is a good place to be, Mr. BoH. I also have plenty, but as others above mentioned, it's much easier to let a hold expire (or cancel it) than to actually book and then cancel and then have to message or call to get miles redeposited (it randomly won't refund miles automatically for me, probably 10% of the time, and never if the trip is close at hand).
Jan 16, 2024 | 11:42 pm
#157
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,696
if being on a company paid ticket is the reason to accept the buyup of an upgrade, why aren't those people already buying up on the offers? They want a few more hundred or maybe a couple thousand LPs and miles more than they want to sit up front when they used to turn them down? Sorry, im not agreeing that this change is going to sell out the front cabin suddenly. At All.
Jan 17, 2024 | 10:02 am
#158
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: 22,013
if being on a company paid ticket is the reason to accept the buyup of an upgrade, why aren't those people already buying up on the offers? They want a few more hundred or maybe a couple thousand LPs and miles more than they want to sit up front when they used to turn them down? Sorry, im not agreeing that this change is going to sell out the front cabin suddenly. At All.
Jan 17, 2024 | 10:42 am
#159
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA LT Gold; BA Silver; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,103
I think you misread what is changing about AC day passes.
Previously anyone could buy a day pass, even folks who were not AAdvantage members. With this change now you must be an AAdvantage member to buy a day pass.
So in theory this should reduce the number of day pass users, although in reality there probably won't be any noticeable change as I'm guessing a large % of folks buying passes were already members.
And of course nothing is changing regarding club crowding, so if a club is crowded they will just restrict day pass use like they always have.
Previously anyone could buy a day pass, even folks who were not AAdvantage members. With this change now you must be an AAdvantage member to buy a day pass.
So in theory this should reduce the number of day pass users, although in reality there probably won't be any noticeable change as I'm guessing a large % of folks buying passes were already members.
And of course nothing is changing regarding club crowding, so if a club is crowded they will just restrict day pass use like they always have.
Jan 17, 2024 | 12:50 pm
#160
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,425
Not to pile on, but my company policy does not reimburse for anything other than Main on domestic flights. If I was to pay for upgrade, it would be out of my own pocket... which I will not do as I've done pretty well with the upgrade lottery this year.
Jan 17, 2024 | 12:56 pm
#161
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,925
if being on a company paid ticket is the reason to accept the buyup of an upgrade, why aren't those people already buying up on the offers? They want a few more hundred or maybe a couple thousand LPs and miles more than they want to sit up front when they used to turn them down? Sorry, im not agreeing that this change is going to sell out the front cabin suddenly. At All.
This makes zero sense. People have not been buying upgrades because they didn't earn LPs? Now all the sudden people are going to buy upgrades in order to earn a currency that can only be used to achieve "status" - status that moves you higher up an upgrade list for comp upgrades that you will no longer be on???
Standard domestic F isn't worth paying money for, and a few measly additional LPs isn't going to change that.
On the other hand I will (and have) happily purchased $350 Y-->J upgrades on long-hauls. Excellent value for the comfort upgrade. LPs are irrelevant to the reasons I purchase the upgrade.
Jan 17, 2024 | 1:02 pm
#162
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAC, AA, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,523
The fact that you won't do it out of pocket, doesn't mean others won't (including leisure travelers), which again, could impact your upgrade chances.
Obviously, I don't know this for sure but time will tell. Honestly, I suspect most people that wanted a paid upgrade probably took it if they wanted it whether it gave them LPs or not, so we'll see if this change really impacts things that much (it might not).
Regards
Feb 7, 2024 | 9:31 am
#163
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,212
This makes zero sense. People have not been buying upgrades because they didn't earn LPs? Now all the sudden people are going to buy upgrades in order to earn a currency that can only be used to achieve "status" - status that moves you higher up an upgrade list for comp upgrades that you will no longer be on???
Feb 8, 2024 | 9:25 am
#164
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,462
I don't know that it makes zero sense. Some of my clients only allow economy/premium economy travel within the US, and I am definitely more likely to buy-up to first given that the spend now counts towards LPs. To me, status (and LPs for that matter) is not only about complimentary domestic upgrades. At the same time, I tend to agree this isn't likely to move the needle much. Time will tell.
Feb 8, 2024 | 1:53 pm
#165
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: $9 Fare Club
Posts: 1,655
I know everything is YMMV but it's hard to see it as 'the biggest benefit' unless you're a CK and could hang your hat on an upgrade clearing. Even at EXP level it strikes me as a nice to have, unless you're really putting time into game planning your flights for upgrade potential. Especially given the deterioration in cabin service standards on short hops, there's not a huge amount of difference in 8A and 4A on a 738 between MIA and CLT imo.