seanp7

This is not true - every time a thread like this comes up, there are definite examples of it. I was matched from UA in 2005, even while the 'challenge' was the known 'easy' path to status on AA. It happens.

WestLA-FF

Unfortunately, not all posts are equally valuable.

gemac

Au contraire, here on the new, improved flyertalk, all posts are above average.

acf573

Yes, we know that matches still happen under some rare circumstances. I think when long time posters say AA doesn't status match, they really mean they almost never status match. The stronger statement is intended to head off all of the inevitable questions about how to qualify for those special circumstances and then a ton of people listing exactly how they got this special exception, etc. which is generally not productive.

nako

I don't think that these intentions merit posters on FT giving the wrong info, and I think that your response is little more than saying, "It's okay for us to give the wrong answer, because it's just too hard to give the right one."

Frankly, I don't believe it's so much harder to give the correct info - that AA status matches UA customers on an occasional basis - and point them to the status match master thread in MilesBuzz. And it's certainly easier to give the right answer than it is to give wrong info and then spend numerous posts after the fact correcting the information and generally lamenting the decline of the quality of FT's AA forum.

But that's just me.

Mike

IceTrojan

Actually, to be even more accurate: Like cars, members are more valuable when they're newer.

Forget that trusty 86 Corolla... it's time for a New Yugo!

GRR_Flier

To begin with I am not sure if all the stated facts in this mail holds water, I would tell FTers as I was told by this young fortune 10 consultant (friend's daughter) about status matches.

She started travelling couple of months back and already has a status with US, DL (Gold) and AA (Plat). I was surprised when she told me about her elite status with all these airlines. Obviously like a true FTer I asked how did she manage that, her reply was "I just followed what my co-workers told me to do". First write to US Air and let them know about your travel plans, they would upgrade you to elite (takes about a month or so). Then when you get the elite card from US, mail a copy to DL and ask for a status match. DL matches Gold to her US elite status. Next copy the DL Gold card and repeat the process with AA. AA gave her Plat !!!!
She is a silver with NW (just by flying) and was asking me whether to stick with NW or move to AA. Like a true AA fan I told her to shift to AA (albeit a challenge as she flies out of DTW) and also asked her to get a AC membership.
Last I heard she is sticking with NW due to the non-stop options.

Anyway, I am not sure if all the things she told me holds water, but it is true that she is AA Plat (saw the card). So in my opinion Status Match across airlines do happen, however you have to play your cards right. The most interesting fact is that she became an US elite without flying a SINGLE flight. That really tells you volumes about that airline and its elite program.

Regards,
GRR_Flier

f9999

This is the correct answer. The only posts that are valued are ones where people who post hundreds of times a week make sure everyone knows that other people's posts are wasting their extraordinarily valuable time.

Posts that involve questions, answers, speculation, or idle chatter about AA's frequent flier program are not valued. It's crucial that this point be made, thanks to all those who chime in.

tom911

I'd also point out we've seen posts this year by AA FTers that have been comped through their employer's relationship with AA. Although the comped status may be on a limited, or even market-based basis, they're most certainly out there.

HNL

yeah, we get all kinds of time wasters around here....

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548854

Not that you'd know anything about that of course.

tom911

I didn't know this (but then I don't post hundreds of times a week).

gemac

Posts like this?

oklAAhoma

Thank you for clearly and concisely expressing your views. You have evidentally put a lot of thought into this topic during the short time you have been with FT.

I am curious, though, into which category would you put your own post? It's not really a question, answer, speculation or idle chatter about AA's frequent flier program, so it seems it must be one of those valued posts that points out the follies of others. Or maybe we should add a third category for combatitive posts? It's just a thought.

IceTrojan

Are you counting single user post count, or cumulative post counts across all screen names?

DataPlumber

It is an interesting observation. I am just curious, how do y'all propose to shift the mood around here??