Uh-oh, UA also eliminates 500-mile EQM minimum; Add your speculation about AA here
May 14, 2008, 9:25 am
#1
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Uh-oh, UA also eliminates 500-mile EQM minimum; Add your speculation about AA here
Pretty much as the title says. UA joined US in moving to eliminate the 500-mile EQM minimums. This trend is just not a good one.
Mike
Mike
May 14, 2008, 9:28 am
#2
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As a SJC-based flier with a number of RJ hops to LAX to get to what AA considers a "real" airport, I am none too happy with the potential implications.
That said, the reality in any given year is not that many miles in an EXP qualification scheme.
Cheers.
That said, the reality in any given year is not that many miles in an EXP qualification scheme.
Cheers.
May 14, 2008, 9:30 am
#3
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I don't see AA following this bone-headed decision by US and UA, but I've been wrong before.
What it clearly doesn't do is solve the airlines' biggest pressing problem: Revenue that doesn't quite match expenses. Eliminating the 500 mile (point) minimum doesn't do anything to raise revenue.
What it clearly doesn't do is solve the airlines' biggest pressing problem: Revenue that doesn't quite match expenses. Eliminating the 500 mile (point) minimum doesn't do anything to raise revenue.
May 14, 2008, 9:34 am
#4
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I'm not certain that AA will follow suit, fuel surcharges, increased baggage fees I understand. This relates more directly to the AAdvantage program and there are a variety of differences between AA and the other programs. I can't help but think this is just one more step to equalize the US and UAs FF programs in anticipation of a merger.
May 14, 2008, 9:42 am
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Do you have a link you can provide?
May 14, 2008, 9:44 am
#6
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I hope AA plays this the smart way. A nw/dl and ua/us merger will cause massive problems with their FF programs and customer service for years. AA may be the beneficiery of swarms of disgruntled travelers coming over to AA and a stable FF plan. Thats IF they play it smart.
May 14, 2008, 9:49 am
#7
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3.5 Months...
While it does nothing to raise revenue as pointed out before, it does slightly reduce award liability and # of people with status.
In reality completely meaningless, a bonehead move...
Desperate measures for desperate people
Cheers
While it does nothing to raise revenue as pointed out before, it does slightly reduce award liability and # of people with status.
In reality completely meaningless, a bonehead move...
Desperate measures for desperate people
Cheers
May 14, 2008, 9:57 am
#9
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May 14, 2008, 10:00 am
#10
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May 14, 2008, 10:00 am
#11
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Reducing the number of people with status isn't an especially big win for airlines. Leaving aside award travel, and just looking at upgrades, how many upgrades squeeze out paid fares? I'd think not too many. How much more does it cost to provide a J or F seat over a Y seat? The seat is already installed, there's an FA already serving the cabin. The marginal cost can't be too high.
May 14, 2008, 10:08 am
#12
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It seems to me that the real logic for AA would be to do what they already do with cheap BA flights, reduce RDM to actual (+ various bonuses) and leave EQM at 500 minimum. This way it will have no effect on elite numbers (and not annoy some of their best flyers), but will reduce the number of miles out there to be spent.
May 14, 2008, 10:20 am
#13
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It seems to me that the real logic for AA would be to do what they already do with cheap BA flights, reduce RDM to actual (+ various bonuses) and leave EQM at 500 minimum. This way it will have no effect on elite numbers (and not annoy some of their best flyers), but will reduce the number of miles out there to be spent.
May 14, 2008, 10:50 am
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May 14, 2008, 10:55 am
#15
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someone pointed that out on the UA forum too - why host a DEQM promo, then go hack-n-slash on the miles? Not to mention, UA was the last of the 3 to offer a DEQM promo. How does any of this make sense?