VIP Status
 

In the past, if you earned VIP Status (or elite as it was called in past years) in the current year, you kept that status in the next year (.ie you started January off as a VIP).

From what I can tell that is not true this year. We will all have to earn our status back with 12 dines at 3X miles starting January.

The exception (so far) being United with their current bonus of 3 dines of $50 or more get you VIP status for 2009.

I sure hope I'm wrong.

When I first looked at your post I thought that you were totally off base, but decided to look into this further. I, like may others I'm sure, also assumed as in other years that my 30 plus dines this year would qualify me for VIP status in 2009. After reading the entire Rewards network site including all the fine print, you are definitely correct. There is no more mention of VIP status with the 5 miles per dollar spent carrying over into 2009 after 12 dines. It was always stated before but its deletion has slipped by me and I assume many others. I hope that I am missing something but I doubt it. Maybe others here will have some insight for us.
Thanks for pointing this out.

I also read the RN-AAdvantage pages (T&Cs and FAQs) to try to find out if VIP status carries over to next year at all.

Like the above two posters, I was unable to find anything that addresses this either way -- it doesn't say we lose status at the end of the calendar year, but it doesn't say we keep it, either. :confused:

I suppose one could contact RN and simply ask them directly rather than speculate as we are doing! ;)

In all four programs
 

I've been marked at the 12th dine's posting as "re-qualified", with congrat message. I seriously doubt they intend to have every single (loyal!) diner start over again. I've been waiting for them to tighten the requirement (spending based) instead.

Gosh, I'm simply waiting for them to actually require 12 dines! :)

Consistently they seem to require only 11. For example, in each of the programs where I haven't yet requalified, the number of dines this year plus the number of dines they show I need to re-qualify adds up to 11. And in several previous years, I was always notified that I'd re-qqualified after 11, not 12, dines. Yet they keep documenting it as 12 dines! :confused:

11 vs 12 dines
 

Yes, they've confirm re-qual after the 11th, but I've never counted on that until my 12th has posted.

:confused: I sure hope that's not the case, but it sure seems like that they happen...maybe we'll get a "Thanks for being loyal" email at the end of the year which extends our status. <crosses fingers>

Another exception is the generic cash-back version of the rewards network program. There, they clearly state that if you meet VIP qualification ($500 spend) this year you retain status through 2009.

I sent an email off to see if they will answer the question regarding the AAdvantage version.

I love your optimism, and wish that would happen, however I doubt it and here's why; United's current bonus is dine 3 times in Oct and Nov and spend $50 or more, you get to retain your VIP Status for 2009. If they were just going to reward loyal members, they wouldn't offer that bonus.

What would not surprise me, is a bunch of December Bonus's similiar to United's current bonus, jump through a hoop or two, and retain your status.

Time will tell

Sounds like I will have the 12 days of Jack in the Box for $1.19 sodas!

It took two tries to get a response that addressed the question, but finally good news as far as the AAdvantage program (emphasis theirs):

"We have decided to change the benefits structure of the AAdvantage Dining program and The AAdvantage Hotel program, starting 01/01/08, the respective Elite accounts will be receiving only 5 miles per dollar spent. In order to receive the extra 5 miles per dollar spent the following must be adhered to:

"1. Make sure that your email address is current 2. Elect to receive our email updates 3. Dine more than 12 times in a calendar year (Once member meets 12 dines he will be eligible for elite status for the following year). 4. Complete the dining survey within 60 days following a qualified dining visit"

What does "eligible for elite status" mean? Everyone is eligible, you just have to dine 12 times. Their response doesn't say, we will automatically receive elite status, just be eligible.

I should have posted the entire reply. "Eligible" appears to mean that 12 dines is not the only condition required to receive elite status. You also have to provide a valid email address.

The rest of the story, emphasis added:

"We have decided to change the benefits structure of the AAdvantage Dining program and The AAdvantage Hotel program, starting 01/01/08, the respective Elite accounts will be receiving only 5 miles per dollar spent. In order to receive the extra 5 miles per dollar spent the following must be adhered to:

"1. Make sure that your email address is current 2. Elect to receive our email updates 3. Dine more than 12 times in a calendar year (Once member meets 12 dines he will be eligible for elite status for the following year). 4. Complete the dining survey within 60 days following a qualified dining visit.

"If there is not a valid email address on file, your account will automatically be downgraded to 1 mile per dollar spent regardless of how many times you dined in the previous calendar year. Our system will try up to 3 times over a span of several days to send an email notification to the email address that we have on file. If our email campaigns are returned 3 times and more than 15 days have elapsed since the first email was returned, your email address will be categorized as undeliverable and you will receive a postcard advising you of the invalid email address. If your account is not updated with a valid email address, your account will be downgraded to 1 mile per dollar spent."

In both Delta and NWA dining programs, I am top level (5+5) elite from last year, but haven't had 11 dines yet this year. They have a counter for me telling me how many dines I need to requalify. (And, btw, yes, they keep telling me things like dines so far = 6, dines needed for requalify = 5, thus 11 and not 12!)

Since I'm elite already for this year, what in the world would be the purpose of requalifying if it wasn't to extend the status beyond what it currently is??? :confused:

VIP Through 2009
 

Got an email from RewardsNetwork this afternoon.

Subject: Congratulations JY1024, You Are VIP Through 2009

Relevant text:

"The good news is that as a VIP Member of the AAdvantage DiningSM program, you're currently earning 5 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles per dollar—our highest level of rewards. The great news is that all of your dines this year have made you a VIP for next year too! So, keep on dining and enjoying our great restaurants, bars and clubs."


So it looks like we won't have to go order 12 cups of coffee on Jan 1 :p