American Airlines tweaks frequent flier program
- Thread starter 700UW
- Start date
RJcasualty
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- Jun 29, 2004
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"Loyalty Program"? ;-)700UW said:
eolesen
Veteran
- Jul 23, 2003
- 15,958
- 9,374
The loyalty program is our labor agreement, defining what we get in return for giving your employer money instead of someone else.
Obviously, it works, because we continue to put up with shabby lounges, airplanes, and occasionally surly service in exchange for the points and elite status, rather than flying on another airline who has invested in their lounges, airplanes, and has employees who don't carry huge chips on their shoulders for what's happened or what the future might bring...
None of the changes are really all that bad. I've got lifetime Gold status, so the bag allowance could affect me at some point, but I rarely check more than one bag, so it's a moot point. Plus, I've managed to stay at Platinum or higher for the last eight years, so they won't apply now.
The only expected tweak they haven't acted on creating the fourth tier between 50K and 100K. That's a pretty large leap to achieve, and US already has a 75K tier, as do AS, DL and UA.
Obviously, it works, because we continue to put up with shabby lounges, airplanes, and occasionally surly service in exchange for the points and elite status, rather than flying on another airline who has invested in their lounges, airplanes, and has employees who don't carry huge chips on their shoulders for what's happened or what the future might bring...
None of the changes are really all that bad. I've got lifetime Gold status, so the bag allowance could affect me at some point, but I rarely check more than one bag, so it's a moot point. Plus, I've managed to stay at Platinum or higher for the last eight years, so they won't apply now.
The only expected tweak they haven't acted on creating the fourth tier between 50K and 100K. That's a pretty large leap to achieve, and US already has a 75K tier, as do AS, DL and UA.
eolesen
Veteran
- Jul 23, 2003
- 15,958
- 9,374
I think it will be hard to drop the one-way awards, especially if they've increased mileage burn rates, and allowed AA to drop the free stopovers that we used to be able to do.
I'm looking at a routing right now that goes AAA-BBB-CCC-AAA for my son, and under the old rules, I'd burn up 25,000 miles for that routing with the free stopover. Today, it's between 37,500 and 50,000 depending on how many stops he makes along the way.
I'm looking at a routing right now that goes AAA-BBB-CCC-AAA for my son, and under the old rules, I'd burn up 25,000 miles for that routing with the free stopover. Today, it's between 37,500 and 50,000 depending on how many stops he makes along the way.
eolesen said:
The $25.00 and $50.00 fee for redeeming miles was brought to you by the airline that for a some time charged for water.
Nice way to treat your best and frequent customers. As of now, AA does not charge these outrageous fees, but I wonder what will happen when the new award levels go into effect later this year.
ChrisUS
Senior
- Aug 20, 2005
- 449
- 72
I'd pretty much count on the fees. I was speaking to US DM on the phone and he told me the OW option would be going away soon. We are going on a cruise in the Fall and I want to non rev down ( have several days to get there) and want to use DM on the way back. The flights I want show a 12,500 mile seat but apparently only one on an empty flight. :-(
