Is OneWorld really an alliance?
Jun 25, 2011 | 11:34 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SQ, BA, TG, Sheba, VN, MPO since 1980
Posts: 1,058
There is one side of me which thinks a bit like you: Each alliance airline should treat any alliance elite like their own. But there is also one side of me which thinks that different benefits for different people is a good thing and helps with the development of the overall industry. And keeps FT going.
In AA it is only 100k miles for Exec Platinum - both have the oneworld Emerald status.
Lifetime no longer exists in CX but you can lietrally buy your way to status with AA. See below:
Look at this from another thread which shows how much easier it is in AA than CX :
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...er-status.html
I'm GR. Yes shocking for a mod to be GR. But as I've got Lifetime Sapphire status through my AA Plat card, I don't have to worry about gaining entry into lounges whenever I fly on any Oneworld flight. I still have my miles in my Asiamiles account though.________________________________________
Last edited by Guy Betsy; Jun 21, 11 at 1:00 am..
Actually I accumulated many flight bonuses through AA and that's how I earned my required 2mm miles. Remember that AA counts everything that goes into your AAdvantage account towards the lifetime status. Lifetime Gold is fine but Lifetime Platinum is the one that makes the difference.
Better to spend the money on say Starwood and then transfer the miles over. Or travel the routes (just bear and grin on the AA flights) that give you the bonus miles. Though some of the signup AA card bonuses are great too ie 75K miles for applying!CX 'bonuses' seem to be few and far between nowadays!
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Last edited by Guy Betsy; Jun 21, 11 at 1:15 pm.. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
2011 AAdvantage status year repurchase/buyback
http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/el...quirements.jsp
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...ite_Status_(AA)
Jul 21, 2011 | 10:59 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,460
Jul 21, 2011 | 1:56 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,822
Going back to original question of whether it is an alliance. From a practical perspective it is nothing more than a cross marketing agreement with rights to elite travelers to access clubs. I'm AA Plat. Booked coach flight through AA on Iberia from JFK to Madrid on 6/25. Delay in take off, and pilot deciding to circle Madrid a few times on a beautiful sunny day lead to missing 10 minute boarding cutoff for connection to Rome. By two %^*#ing minutes.
Sentenced to last flight out that evening even though there were three earlier flights. Call to AA Plat desk was fruitless as they said once the ticket is in control of the other airline (Iberia) you are at their mercy. Unfortunately, an equipment mechanical problem pushed the second departure back another six hours and we ended up on a de facto red eye by landing in Rome at 5am.
Had to eat my Trenitalia ticket and one night hotel. Although this was irrelevant to the original question, the end result is the alliance does not benefit the traveler unless you are elite and can be in the elite lounge.
Sentenced to last flight out that evening even though there were three earlier flights. Call to AA Plat desk was fruitless as they said once the ticket is in control of the other airline (Iberia) you are at their mercy. Unfortunately, an equipment mechanical problem pushed the second departure back another six hours and we ended up on a de facto red eye by landing in Rome at 5am.
Had to eat my Trenitalia ticket and one night hotel. Although this was irrelevant to the original question, the end result is the alliance does not benefit the traveler unless you are elite and can be in the elite lounge.