We just hired a new company travel agent -- they say the airlines, especially American -- are aggressively comping anyone (especially United flyers) who they think will bring them business, to all but the top tier.

pinniped, could you please email me privately?

thanks, ron

Also, Disneybride, could you please drop me a note too?

Thanks, R

GLeyser and RVR: You've got mail.

Yep.

As I posted in the AA forum, I'm a UA 2P ("lowly Premier") who rarely flies AA. However, in the last year I've been building a lot of non-status miles on AA as a hedge, and also in hopes of getting 1MM some day (if AA is still around and still offers this!).

And I recently took advantage (I mean AAdvantage) of an offer from AA to comp my UA status. The offer was through my workplace, where AA recently became a preferred carrier. I received my Gold card the other day, and it's good till end of 02/04!

So, while I'm busily doing mileage runs on UA this year to keep my "lowly Premier" status on them through 02/04 (not much biz travel this year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif ), all I had to do for the equivalent on AA was send a fax!


Kathy


[This message has been edited by KathyWdrf (edited 08-23-2002).]

Just to test the "one time only" restriction some posts have mentioned, I called UA and was able to get a Premier Exec comp again even though I volunteered I had been comped to this status in the past. Based on our discussion, I think she could see this previous comp in my file. The agent said she was making a special exception for me for a second comp based on my current ff status, however she only asked me to fax in my DL record. My UA history has no flights in two years except a few Aloha segments and award travel on Lufthansa. I do have two domestic rt on UA currently booked, but I don't think this played a part in the decision to comp.

I'm Delta Gold, with, by the end of October, about 200,000lifetime, 500.000 current total miles and 50K base miles (35ish segments) this year. What sort of Comps to what status might I be able to get on AA (where I have 750,000 miles towards million-miler, but over 25 years!)or UA?

Thanks
Steve

Steve-

You sound like a clear-cut mid-tier flyer on AA or UA. On AA, that's Platinum status and on UA, it's Premier Executive. Those are the levels I'd ask for if you are serious about going for the comp (knowing that they won't give away the top levels, even if you could convince them that you were about to do top-tier travel on Delta).

I just came across the AA and US threads about those two airlines (and DL, and perhaps others) drastically TIGHTENING the requirements to gaining elite status. i.e., Only travelers flying Y/B or higher would earn Q-miles and Q-segments, leaving nearly all leisure traveleres - and a good portion of biz travelers - in the dust.

(Note: at the time I post this, only US has announced this change. US says that other majors are following, but so far the AA and DL part is rumor.)

I find this strange, as it is a move 100% in conflict with what this thread is all about. Why would the airlines aggressively comp and upgrade flyers to their status levels, and then shut out their own loyal flyers who actually give them a lot of business - albeit on restricted fares?

Only thing I can think of is that the majors have gotten together at the highest levels and laid out a vision that truly puts the "elite" back in elite status by 2004 or 2005, thereby rewarding the high-fare business traveler (who, honestly, is probably frustrated these days when his Monday morning and Friday afternoon flights are 75% Platinum).

Hang on a sec, the only people that have said that other majors are matching this are a bunch of low wage phone answerers reading off a prepared sheet when answering angry phone calls.

Of course they would say this. I highly doubt that the other airlines would do this and to have US employees read it out to people over the phone would stink of collusion. Do y'all think that US is in a position to collude these days with DL??

On the other hand, having your "public face" people inform the general public that they are aware of other carriers' unannounced plans to tighten their elite requirements gives evidence that there is some under-the-table discussion going on. Why would US want to incriminate themselves?

Agreed - I noted in my original post that the AA/DL part is, at this point, rumor.

Why not? They already collude all the time anyway (all of the majors). Once in a blue moon, somebody files a lawsuit about it, and we all get a class-action $5 rebate if we are willing to jump through about $10 worth of hoops.

Today I received a postcard from AA dated 8/23/02 and post marked 8/29/02. It stated:
"IN RESPONSE TO YOUR RECENT REQUEST, EARN 10,000 POINTS FROM 9/1/02 - 11/30/02 ON AA, ALASKA, AER LINGUS, BRITISH AIR, CATHAY, FINNAIR, IBERIA, LAN CHILE, QUANTAS OR AMERICANCONNECTION AND RECEIVE AADVANTAGE PLATINUM STATUS THROUGH 2/04. POINTS RANGE FROM .5 TO 1.50 PER MILE FLOWN, BASED ON BOOKING CLASS (EXCEPT ON IBERIA AND QANTAS WHERE POINTS FOR DISCOUNT COACH ARE BASED ON MILES POSTED).

SINCERELY,
AADVANTAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE"

Is this the regular platinum challenge? Based on the above I will be AA platinum next year. I currently have one round trip flight for 10/02 (PHL-DFW-MCI) and I plan to do an international flight between now and 11/30/02.


[This message has been edited by MyDearMiles (edited 09-03-2002).]

Yes, that looks a lot like the normal Platinum Challenge. 10,000 Q-points in 3 months, starting on either the 1st or the 15th of a given month.

Note that restricted fares earn 1/2 Q-point per mile, minimum 500 per segment (not 250).

Interestingly.. H class on CX posted as Y or full Q-points. I was indeed happy as one RT to KUL from LAX gave more 18000 Q-points http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Yeah!