Slow DM Status Emails?
Jan 23, 2013, 8:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
Slow DM Status Emails?
I'm sure this has come up before as spinoffs of other discussions, but does anyone have any specific info about why emails/mailings about DM status take so long to process?
A flight on 12/6 bumped me from SP to GP - so I guess that actually credited on about 12/7 or 8. I got my mailer with the new card sometime in early January. Then today, 45 days (+/-) since I bumped up a level, I get the "Welcome to Gold Preferred" email.
Physical mailings I can kind of understand taking a little time to process. A month still seems long with today's technology, but I accept the fact that that's probably not a benchmark unique to US. But the emails? Seriously? 45 days to send an automated email? Do they just batch together anyone who's reached a new level in a given period and send them all out on one day? It just seems so disorganized.
I work in software, so the sluggishness of their internal processes really intrigues me. I'm just curious if anyone out there knows if there are any specific reasons why their communication plan seems so disjointed.
(PS - I know this may be asking a lot, seeing as US can't even keep my mileage balance in sync between my My Account page and the number that appears next to my name in the site header, but I figured I'd throw the question out there.
)
A flight on 12/6 bumped me from SP to GP - so I guess that actually credited on about 12/7 or 8. I got my mailer with the new card sometime in early January. Then today, 45 days (+/-) since I bumped up a level, I get the "Welcome to Gold Preferred" email.
Physical mailings I can kind of understand taking a little time to process. A month still seems long with today's technology, but I accept the fact that that's probably not a benchmark unique to US. But the emails? Seriously? 45 days to send an automated email? Do they just batch together anyone who's reached a new level in a given period and send them all out on one day? It just seems so disorganized.
I work in software, so the sluggishness of their internal processes really intrigues me. I'm just curious if anyone out there knows if there are any specific reasons why their communication plan seems so disjointed.
(PS - I know this may be asking a lot, seeing as US can't even keep my mileage balance in sync between my My Account page and the number that appears next to my name in the site header, but I figured I'd throw the question out there.
)
Jan 23, 2013, 8:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 305
I know that some came out tonight for people qualifying in late December...(i.e. maybe they were holding the December qualifiers to notify in a batch).
Jan 23, 2013, 8:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The Phoenix Desert
Programs: Hilton Cubic Zirconia, Marriott Fools Gold
Posts: 1,692
Slow DM Status Emails?
I requalified for SP in October and I too got the "welcome to preferred" email tonite.
Jan 23, 2013, 8:57 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum; HHonors Diamond;Emerald Club Executive Elite
Posts: 285
I requalified in Sept and received the email tonight. Is there a difference between those who requalified and those who moved to a higher tier? I suspect the latter would've received an email once they reached the threshhold.
Jan 23, 2013, 9:14 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
I bought up to CP in December and just got the email today so it seems like a batch. I haven't gotten the card or anything else in the physical mail. This is also the order time I ever got an email about my new status and I went from dirt up to platinum before buying up to CP last December.
Jan 23, 2013, 9:25 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
So far, sounds like they deal with these types of emails in large batches. And seeing as some of the data points mentioned go back as far as Sept & Oct, it sounds like they're fairly infrequent batches.
Maybe US IT also has to deal with the occasional MX delay...
Jan 23, 2013, 9:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
I think they probably sent them now as they have finalized status for everyone for 2012.
Jan 23, 2013, 10:26 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: US CP, SPG Plat
Posts: 310
I requalified for CP back in September and got my email today too. I of course have had the benefits since then so the email timing is sort of irrelevant.
Jan 23, 2013, 10:36 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
If they are working in batches, then I guess my question shifts to why they're not more frequent. I still don't understand why they don't just have an automatic daily/weekly email that goes to anyone who just reached/retained a preferred level. But even without that, it looks as though they're batching many months worth of data into one email push.
Jan 23, 2013, 11:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, AA Plat, DL Silver, SW A-List, Emerald Club Exec
Posts: 132
Slow DM Status Emails?
Hey guys,
I qualified for CP back in early December, and had my card by Christmas, yet I too got the email today saying 'Welcome to Chairman's Preferred".
I qualified for CP back in early December, and had my card by Christmas, yet I too got the email today saying 'Welcome to Chairman's Preferred".
Jan 23, 2013, 11:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, AA Plat, DL Silver, SW A-List, Emerald Club Exec
Posts: 132
Slow DM Status Emails?
Too bad it wasn't a "Welcome to TSA Precheck" email...
Jan 24, 2013, 5:13 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Exp, IHG Plat, National EE, Sixt Plat
Posts: 648
Jan 24, 2013, 5:28 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Stavanger, Norway
Programs: US Platinum, KL FB Gold, UA Gold, AS MVP Gold, IC Amb.
Posts: 61
Platinum for nothing
Strangest thing happened to me.. Received a welcome to platinum preferred email tonight, but has 0 qualifying miles!!
Do you think my status will be revoked?
Do you think my status will be revoked?
Jan 24, 2013, 5:51 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP ; Cunard Plat
Posts: 4,211
If you've flown US on higher fares but credited to another FF program, it may be part of US' marketing efforts to recruit high-value flyers like you into the Dividend Miles program
If you have a card like Amex Centurion, Platinum is part of your benefits .....
Easy way to check is to log into your US account (if you have one!). Under 'quick links" there's a tab to "reprint your card" ... click on that to see if you're indeed Platinum and look at the expiration date - if it says Platinum until Feb 28, 2014 then it's indeed a gift from US.
In short, I don't think it would be revoked. If you don't fly US, it doesn't really matter (except for certain benefits like complimentary StarGold lounge access); if it encourages you to, then it's a win for US.
Jan 24, 2013, 6:12 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Stavanger, Norway
Programs: US Platinum, KL FB Gold, UA Gold, AS MVP Gold, IC Amb.
Posts: 61
If you've never flown US, then it appears to a mistake ...
If you've flown US on higher fares but credited to another FF program, it may be part of US' marketing efforts to recruit high-value flyers like you into the Dividend Miles program
If you have a card like Amex Centurion, Platinum is part of your benefits .....
Easy way to check is to log into your US account (if you have one!). Under 'quick links" there's a tab to "reprint your card" ... click on that to see if you're indeed Platinum and look at the expiration date - if it says Platinum until Feb 28, 2014 then it's indeed a gift from US.
In short, I don't think it would be revoked. If you don't fly US, it doesn't really matter (except for certain benefits like complimentary StarGold lounge access); if it encourages you to, then it's a win for US.
If you've flown US on higher fares but credited to another FF program, it may be part of US' marketing efforts to recruit high-value flyers like you into the Dividend Miles program
If you have a card like Amex Centurion, Platinum is part of your benefits .....
Easy way to check is to log into your US account (if you have one!). Under 'quick links" there's a tab to "reprint your card" ... click on that to see if you're indeed Platinum and look at the expiration date - if it says Platinum until Feb 28, 2014 then it's indeed a gift from US.
In short, I don't think it would be revoked. If you don't fly US, it doesn't really matter (except for certain benefits like complimentary StarGold lounge access); if it encourages you to, then it's a win for US.
what my friend and I have in common is that we have purchased serious amount of miles (on purchase bonuses..) - and flown premium on star carriers..
The card does indeed say until february 2014.. Well - lets just hope I receive me card package in the mail and I am happy