gold medallion vs. platinum aadvantage
Dec 25, 1998 | 8:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: los angeles
Programs: Hyatt Courtesy card. Delta 2MM Diamond. AA EXP 6MM
Posts: 1,929
gold medallion vs. platinum aadvantage
I am considering changing from gold at delta to platinum at American. Any advice?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jan 4, 1999 | 11:01 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,037
I did just that a year ago. Both programs give early boarding, special phone numbers, double flight miles, airport club membership discounts, and (be still, my beating heart!) luggage tags. The biggest difference between them (not counting airline differences, a separate issue that should probably drive your decision) is in upgrades.
Delta is liberal with upgrade coupons (8 of them, good for 6400 miles, for every 10,000 you fly) but you can't use them on discounted "L fares." What with those, commuter flights, shuttle flights, overseas flights, flights with a companion who couldn't upgrade and flights where first class was full, I could hardly ever use the darn things. I think I had 80+ in my account last week, most of which expired unused.
American is much tighter with the upgrades: four, worth 2,000 miles, for every 10,000 you fly - but you can use them with any fare and I've always been able to get a front-cabin seat when I wanted one. You can get more for $25 per 500 miles (any elite Aadvantage level, if you buy 8 at a time) which, again in my experience, is less than the added fare you'd have to pay to be upgradeable on Delta.
Another difference is in expiration. The conventional wisdom is that AA miles expire in three years but DL miles don't. This is a slight oversimplification. DL miles don't as long as you fly DL once every three years. AA miles don't as long as you maintain Platinum Aadvantage, which is a bit tougher. This wasn't a factor in my case but could be in yours.
My travel agent talked to AA and they gave me instant Plat. Aadvantage. I had to document my DL Gold Medallion status - a fax of a recent statement or Web status report is fine.
To give yourself maximum time to earn your renewal do this right after Feb. 28, since the Aadvantage program year starts March 1.
You might get more comments on this if you ask the question in the AA and DL forums too.
Delta is liberal with upgrade coupons (8 of them, good for 6400 miles, for every 10,000 you fly) but you can't use them on discounted "L fares." What with those, commuter flights, shuttle flights, overseas flights, flights with a companion who couldn't upgrade and flights where first class was full, I could hardly ever use the darn things. I think I had 80+ in my account last week, most of which expired unused.
American is much tighter with the upgrades: four, worth 2,000 miles, for every 10,000 you fly - but you can use them with any fare and I've always been able to get a front-cabin seat when I wanted one. You can get more for $25 per 500 miles (any elite Aadvantage level, if you buy 8 at a time) which, again in my experience, is less than the added fare you'd have to pay to be upgradeable on Delta.
Another difference is in expiration. The conventional wisdom is that AA miles expire in three years but DL miles don't. This is a slight oversimplification. DL miles don't as long as you fly DL once every three years. AA miles don't as long as you maintain Platinum Aadvantage, which is a bit tougher. This wasn't a factor in my case but could be in yours.
My travel agent talked to AA and they gave me instant Plat. Aadvantage. I had to document my DL Gold Medallion status - a fax of a recent statement or Web status report is fine.
To give yourself maximum time to earn your renewal do this right after Feb. 28, since the Aadvantage program year starts March 1.
You might get more comments on this if you ask the question in the AA and DL forums too.