Agreed. The AA program favors long haul flyers on mid (1.0) and high end (1.5) fares or high segment flyers regardles of fare. With the 0.5 for cheap fares, you have to fly a lot of low fare miles to get EXP. Perhaps this is why they offer better long haul SWU on somewhat cheaper fares. I would probably achieve EXP on segments if flying AA, where as I always qualify on MQMs with DL despite limited long haul trips in my account.

avidflyer was quoting from the FAQ on Delta.com
to answer a question about the implementation schedule.

About $400 more. $1500 was with one N fare and $1800 (actually $1900) was with no N fares. The point is that AA is restricting N fares alot more now. There are no N fares from the USA to GRU or GIG for the first 2 weeks of January. Being able to use tham on cheap fares does no good if the cheap fares are not available.

And for your information, Deep SA and especially GRU is some of the least agressive pricing that DL has. GRU has been among DL's best performing routes for quite a while (hence the 777s and 764s used regularly).

Your sort of agreeing with me when I was saying that DL has more aggressive(I mean higher priced for Y/B/M) pricing to Europe than SA, even with that it is still more $$$$ to use PMU vs eVIP without AA having their lowest fares available to SA.

I was able to upgrade to Europe, during off season, on NW for $1200 before "M" was introduced. Now these fares are $2700 or so same market, same season.

I think I'll give a comparison for everyone on the difference between AA to EXP and DL to DM. Remember for upgrades, not other fluff, just upgrades both give unlimited domestic, AA gives unlimited to Hawaii and DL does not. For international DL has 10 PMU which needs M/B/Y fare and EXP has 8 on almost any fare, all except Netsaaver and lowest one.



(assume all
in same
category)

Fare Class, DL, AA,
F/J, 83K BIS, 68K BIS
Y/B/(M DL only) 83K BIS, 68K BIS
All other fares, 125K BIS, 100K BIS
Segments, 140, 100


For those of us that are looking for the best program for all around upgrades and ease of getting to the top tier it appears AA wins hands down.

I'm not taking into account people that feel they are hub captive or restricted by their company. Just getting to top tier and value of upgrades once there. I also understand there are exceptions to any analysis, such as a company always pays for Y/B/M for changeability, refunds, etc and 10 PMU would be better than 8 SWU.

As has been pointed out DL had their chance to be "best in class" but when an airline comes up with their best shot and so many people all of sudden start to look at other options or actually think about stopping 1 mile short of the latest and greatest just to get a better start on next year it is obvious that DL is a day late and a dollar short.

The .5 is if you get EXP via points. It is ONLY 100K miles.

Please read my post above to show miles to get to EXP vs DM.

Let me offer the discussion a little clearing up of some apparently broadly shared mis-perceptions of the AA system so that you will be on firm ground when doing your comparisons. Some features are more favorable, and some less. I make no judgments here, but simply offer an accurate comparison template. By all means, do compare further. I did, and discovered some interesting features out there-- for instance, did you know UA lets Y/B/C/D flyers upgrade on a set of 13 star alliance partners?


QUALIFICATION for AA Elite Status

Unlike DL's two counters, AA offers three counters for elite qual: segments, miles (EQM), and points (EQP). You need use only one of three to qualify. 30/60/100 segments will do it. 25/50/100k miles will do it (in any fare class). 25/50/100k points will do it. The points system is the one that works like Delta MQM's: 50% for G/Q/O/N/S, 100% for H/K/L/M/V/W, 150% for Y/B/I/D/J/A/F. You do not have to use the points system at all.

UPGRADES on AA

AA has four possible methods for upgrading:

1. The SWU, aka VIP upgrade or EXP upgrade. It seems misunderstood here, in that there is never a copay for using a SWU. They are usable on every published coach fare bucket except the very bottom O (and intl Q). Each SWU can upgrade a one-way trip of 3 segments. Usage is inventory controlled, but waitlistable and can clear right up to the gate. Where offered, a SWU can also be used to upgrade Business to First, but not the super-cheap business bucket I.

The allotment: EXP's get 8 of these per year, and if you fly well beyond 100K there is an unpublished but widely verified benefit of getting more. You also get 4 for every million-mile threshold starting at 2MM.

2. Miles. This one appears to be very misunderstood. Miles are usable on the same fares as SWU's: all except O, I, and international Q. They use the same inventory buckets as SWU's too.

Is there a copay? That depends on fare class. For upgrades from Y or B, there is no copay, AND the mileage charged is lower. For upgrades from J or D (Business to First), there is no copay. From discount coach, that's where the copays kick in. No clearing, no copay.

Imagine 3 tickets from LAX to LHR, and their one-way upgrade costs: a cheap N fare would need 25,000 miles plus $350; a flexible B fare would need only 15,000 miles (no copay); a D fare from Biz to First would need 25,000 miles (no copay). Yes, you are reading correctly. No one on a Y or B fare on AA would optimally consider using a SWU on that LAX-LHR trip because the same outcome costs only 15k miles.

3. 500-milers, aka "Stickers". Good on all published coach fares (even the lowest of the low; only opaque/priceline is excluded), these are at 1/2/4-day windows. Unlike DL, there is never any time-of-booking clearing (except inside the 1/2/4 day window), since the upgrade inventory class literally does not exist until 100 hrs before flight.

EXP's get unlimited use for free themselves, but must "pay" for companions. GLD and PLT both earn upgrades and can also buy them (with cash or with miles). IF they are on Y or B fares, it does not cost any upgrade credits.
The 500-mile system applies in: US (50 states, yes, Hawaii included), Canada Mexico, the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, and Central Ameica (but not Northern South America). There is no copay in this system, but the upgrades can cost.

4. Last-minute buy up, aka LFBU's. If the computer thinks there is "enough" space, check-in kiosks will offer an upgrade-for-cash option, both domestic and international. For elites, this offer is also valid for coach award tickets.

What event was this? WHY wasn't I invited? Did you have to be based in ATL?

-A

Thanks for this. It's hard to know the intricacies of even one program, much less all of them.

Thanks for a great update, much better than I tried to show and WAY more knowledgeable.

I did not know the mileage requirements rule for "Y" and "B" compared to all other classes.

I just checked so I wuold not give bad info. On DL (I did go to NWA.COM) you need "full fare", that means only Y26 not even a discounted Y for 15,000 to be in alignment with AA Y or B. Y/B/M, except Y26 are 25,000 miles. Therefore even when you can upgrade with DL you historically need more miles.

Good point, pun intended. Thanks for clarifying.

Any idea how available reward tickets @ lower levels are on AA? This past winter on 4 separate occassions it cost me 80k SM for an F ticket from RDU to DEN. On one occassion there was a 60k option but it was a ridiculous routing with 4 hour lay-overs and F in only 1 of 3 segments. It wasn't that long ago that it cost 90k SM for BE to SCL.

I am pretty knowledgeable in this area because I use both miles from AA and NW / DL.

It was always more difficult to use NW miles compared to AA but not very noticeable until DL implemented the three tier award. Since than NW / DL has become a bear to find an award for standard miles, even simple ones like ORD to MIA.

I did find a trick to make it a little easier on DL. While doing a search on their site NEVER put in your exact date. Always do a full monthly search and pick a few days behind or above. When you see your date for low miles click on it and get it. If you click on it and wait a day or so it will magically go to medium. If it does go to medium just stop looking at that date for a few days and it may come back to low.

I discussed this with a NW agent once, because I took no chances and called the agent when I saw it without hitting the button; it is pretty well written about award broken, I don't think it is broken I think they change inventory when you hit the button to see award. When I see low on their calendar and call the agent it is aways there. (moral to story DO NOT HIT THE BUTTON TO SEE THE FLIGHTS AT LOW).

The agent confirmed that the DL computer system does change inventory after being researched.

I don't want to pretend AA is like WN and if a seat is available than it is yours. I had a flight to ZRH that took the early ORD-LHR flight forcing me into a night at LHR. The night flight was not available. I checked everyday on-line and it did open up and I made the switch. Since the starting ORD and ending LHR stayed the same there was not a change fee, I am only PLT (their middle tier, equivalent to GLD on DL). Even a base member could have made this change for free.

According to AA's website EXP has better award availability. I have no experience with that function and maybe an AA EXP can verify.

See this thread. The thread had over 800 posts and over 31k views. It wasn't an invite event, it was first-come first-served, but I believe Atldlff worked magic and got a seat at the table for everyone who requested in that thread. MikeMPLS put together a page linking everyones event photos and other stuff at easyvictor.org.

So, if I understand correctly, you always have to use some sort of instrument to UG on AA? Not like the complimentary domestic UG's on DL?
If so, it makes the DL system easier and more generous for domestic, but the AA system easier and more generous for Int'l (and Hawaii).

Thank You Delta!
 

I am going to go against the trend here and say "Thank you Delta" for creating a great customer loyalty program for the new Delta Airlines. I, unlike so many of the posters here, appreciate the effort to balance business sense with perks that I can use to enhance my travel experience. Also, unlike many of the posters here, I am in no rush to jump ship and fly with AA or UA or US. This is because I find that Delta people generally provide a friendlier and more "connected" experience when I fly. I appreciate the small personal touches that I consistently receive from a DL gate agent in CWA or from a DL flight attendant enroute to LHR or from a DL phone agent who is helping me to find alternate flights after I've missed my original flight because I didn't leave the house early enough. Yes, AA, UA and US may have arguably better programs but I won't take the abuse from their surly staff just to qualify.

Just so you don't think that I am beholden to Delta, I feel that Alaska, Continental, Hawaiian, KLM, Southwest, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic and South African also provide the same connected experience.

I look forward to my new perks as a Diamond Medallion member of Skymiles in 2010. I also look forward to having fewer whining Medallion members onboard as they'll hopefully keep their word and switch to "more deserving" carriers.

^
That is a factor which just isn't getting acknowledged much any more. It's also why, although based at ORD, I avoid AA and UA. I always board a DL plane with a smile, due to the interactions with the ground staff, and I have boarded too many UA flights with a frown, or at least with a "what the * was that all about?" feeling. I haven't necessarily found AA staff surly, just very cursory, harried and disinterested.

EXP for AA which is what most threads are comparing to new DM forth tier has free unlimited upgrades just like DL's PM and DM. AA's also gives free upgrades to Hawaii for their EXP program where DM and PM need to use miles.

And of course the other factor that does keep SkyMiles in the running with the others despite the extra restrictions and the inflation in mileage requirements has been an almost equal inflation in the ability to garner bonus miles by the bushel in order to pay for those awards.