Since JonNYC didn't answer I'll step in.

Yes the certificates (VPs) are good for one year. Let's say you qualify for Executive Platinum (EXP) in May of 2004. You would receive 8 certs that would expire at the end of May 2005. Your second batch out of the "bounty" would come in March of 2005 and they would expire at the end of March 2006. Remember that qualifying in May of 2004 would make you EXP until the end of February 2006, assuming you didn't requalify during 2005. Even if you didn't requalify, you can still use the VP's just the same until their expiration. You can also transfer these to someone else for their use.

Carry-on policies are essentially the same. Two items...a bag (rollaboard) and a personal item (briefcase or purse). You can usually sneak one more on if you are not too conspicuous with it. Overall, it's really no different than CO. Some of the MD80s acquired from TWA have smaller overhead bins, but otherwise AAs overheads are now comparable to COs. - They refitted their aircraft so it's not the problem it was a few years ago.

AA does not have an EXP challenge. You only get it by earning either 100K q-points (equal to CO's EQMS) or by 100K miles flown on ANY mileage earning fare, which includes the bottom-of-the barrel, deeply discounted coach fares. So let's take a 2000 mile flight. If you fly in F you will receive 3000 Q-points, full Y/B 3000 Q-points, mid-tier fares would earn 2000 Q-points and the deeply discounted fares would earn 1000 Q-points. However, you would still earn 2000 elite qualifying miles on the deeply discounted fare ticket. You can qualify either way. Obviously you can earn it faster flying on higher fares, but AA doesn't penalize you elite-qualifying-mileage-wise if you fly discounted economy. You're just going to have to fly the full 100K miles to reach EXP.

A good jump start would be the platinum challenge which would set you up to be earning a 100% mileage bonus on your flights once you complete it. Fly 20K on discounted fares within 90 days and your done. You're then PLAT and earn the 100% bonus on all your flights. If the flight is 1500 miles, you earn 3000 miles total no matter the fare.

Flying mainly international, AA really makes much more sense. Food is served in Y, and it's no better or worse than CO, and you can actually place the tray table down without your knees propping it up thanks to MRTC. Pitch is 33-35". Tell me that won't make a difference on how you feel after 8 hours.

After you earn some miles you'll be able to upgrade any fare with NONE of the hoops CO has.

In addition, EXPs, starting 3/18, will receive complimentary domestic (which includes Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America) upgrades on any published fare.



[This message has been edited by LLZ (edited Mar 09, 2004).]

I didn't mean defend or detract, but only state why. About the 24hr cancelation, that is only on cheapy tix, call right now, you hold BF for this friday up to the flt time.

So if your upgrade hadn't cleard , you see how one could pad things to help gate clearance. I would think that something better could be done, but I guess not?

I really have no issue with it. My company permits anything but Concorde (moot now anyway). I have used OP for friends or family (read g/f's parents); to Hawai'i I have always had to used NW, but I got a standard 100K BF to Spain last Aug, with ease. Oddly enough when I later needed to get a tix on the same flt it was sold out(ie no paid J avail), hence my first time on US across the Pond, now that was something to b@#$% about! Awful Awful Awful !

If false booksings by pax truely were a significant problem, why couldn't CO make and clearly post a rule that any cancelled BF seat would not be returned to reward inventory. That seat would become 'dead' as far as last-minute upgrades are concerned.

That would eliminate any incentive for pax to make phantom bookings, to be cancelled later. Those cancelled seats, if not subsequently sold, could then be released to non-revs, who would NEVER do such a thing as a false booking.

Any unsold seats could be "sold" at the gate (or at 24 hours or whatever), for miles, OR cash, rather than both. Priority could be based on Elite status/fare paid as it is for domestic upgrades.

I can't imagine that very many travelers with the expense account or means allowing for BF travel would prefer to gamble on last-minute seat availability. It would be a great incentive, however, for those of us who must travel on the lowest available fare, or upgrade on our own, to choose CO.