Will AA eliminate ALL elite bonus miles like US Airways did today?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Programs: AA (PLATINUM), HHonors (DIAMOND)
Posts: 1,067
Will AA eliminate ALL elite bonus miles like US Airways did today?
From the US Airways press release:
US Airways is also eliminating its bonus miles program for Preferred status Dividend Miles members. Preferred members currently receive mileage bonuses based on their status level. The Preferred bonus program will be discontinued for tickets purchased on/after Aug. 6, 2008.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...sreleases.aspx
US Airways is also eliminating its bonus miles program for Preferred status Dividend Miles members. Preferred members currently receive mileage bonuses based on their status level. The Preferred bonus program will be discontinued for tickets purchased on/after Aug. 6, 2008.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...sreleases.aspx
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,511
Sure, why not?
Cheers.
Cheers.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 1,615
Very likely. The sky is falling.
I predict this will be announced on Monday at 12 noon.
I predict this will be announced on Monday at 12 noon.
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,337
It would certainly take care of the LT GLDs/PLTS complaining about how easy it is for new people to achieve their ranks and how it should be BIS....
#5
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Programs: AA-LTP, HH-DIA, Marriott-LT+AMB, Hyatt-Globalist, Hertz-PC, UA-GS
Posts: 6,823
well if all airlines did this, would u still stick with AA for other reasons?
#6
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,017
If removing bonus miles stems from the obvious financial issues, then I can see a few ways to produce the same result:
1) remove the bonus miles (affects only elites)
2) increase the mileage requirements for redemption (affects everyone)
3) decrease redemption availability (affects everyone)
Seems as though #2 and #3 would be sufficient. AA has recently decided to implement #2, and it sure seems as though #3 is in effect (IME it's harder than before to score a 90k business AAward).
1) remove the bonus miles (affects only elites)
2) increase the mileage requirements for redemption (affects everyone)
3) decrease redemption availability (affects everyone)
Seems as though #2 and #3 would be sufficient. AA has recently decided to implement #2, and it sure seems as though #3 is in effect (IME it's harder than before to score a 90k business AAward).
#7
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA GLD .25MM, CO, UA, US, DL, HH, SPG (all cardboard)
Posts: 1,951
Aren't 90K Awards AAnytime Awards? I thought those weren't capacity controlled. Or are you referring to an International one as opposed to domestic first?
#9
Join Date: May 2001
Programs: AA PLT 2MM, LH SEN *, HH Gold
Posts: 3,075
If removing bonus miles stems from the obvious financial issues, then I can see a few ways to produce the same result:
1) remove the bonus miles (affects only elites)
2) increase the mileage requirements for redemption (affects everyone)
3) decrease redemption availability (affects everyone)
Seems as though #2 and #3 would be sufficient. AA has recently decided to implement #2, and it sure seems as though #3 is in effect (IME it's harder than before to score a 90k business AAward).
1) remove the bonus miles (affects only elites)
2) increase the mileage requirements for redemption (affects everyone)
3) decrease redemption availability (affects everyone)
Seems as though #2 and #3 would be sufficient. AA has recently decided to implement #2, and it sure seems as though #3 is in effect (IME it's harder than before to score a 90k business AAward).
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,511
Or, they can do what actually would make some sense, reduce mileage earning for the very cheapest fares (no, I'm not giving them any ideas, this is how many non-US programmes already work) and perhaps at the same time increase the bonus for premium cabins. Presently, a PLT/EXP on a deep dicsount coach fare earns significantly more miles than a non-elite in paid first class, which is a bit odd.
They've also taken a different tack along the same lines. Presumably under the assumption that status counts more than redeemable miles (it certainly does for me), they assign the Elite Qualifying Points (EQP) based on the fare purchased. This allows status more easily on higher fares.
I accumulate far more miles than I use, so I wouldn't mind this change at all- it would likely result in fewer people flying at status levels, and fewer people trying to steal my upgrades.
Cheers.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP,2MM, DL Gold,Starwood PLT
Posts: 3,876
Nope. I don't expect a match. AA is smart enough to realize that one of the few AAdantages they have left is retaining the value of it's FF program. Maintaining elite benefits is a key to this value in attracting higher paying passengers. Without the benfits of AAdvantage, they have little left to the high value passnegers.
AA has many flaws, but this point they get.
AA has many flaws, but this point they get.
#12
Moderator: New York City and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA PLT, Natl EC
Posts: 10,855
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...horEvent=false
[AAdvantage members] also earn bonus miles for flying on an eligible purchased-fare Business Class or First Class ticket on American Airlines or any of our airline partners as follows:
An additional 25% of flight mileage flown in Business Class, or
An additional 50% of flight mileage flown in First Class.
An additional 25% of flight mileage flown in Business Class, or
An additional 50% of flight mileage flown in First Class.
#14
Join Date: May 2001
Programs: AA PLT 2MM, LH SEN *, HH Gold
Posts: 3,075
On Lufthansa, for example, you earn (except intra-Europe where there are fixed numbers) 50% (status and redeemable) of flown miles in deep discount coach, double miles in business class, triple in first class, whereas their elite bonus is 25%. Here an elite member in deep discount coach would earn 75% of flown miles and a non-elite in F 300%.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
From the US Airways press release:
US Airways is also eliminating its bonus miles program for Preferred status Dividend Miles members. Preferred members currently receive mileage bonuses based on their status level. The Preferred bonus program will be discontinued for tickets purchased on/after Aug. 6, 2008.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...sreleases.aspx
US Airways is also eliminating its bonus miles program for Preferred status Dividend Miles members. Preferred members currently receive mileage bonuses based on their status level. The Preferred bonus program will be discontinued for tickets purchased on/after Aug. 6, 2008.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...sreleases.aspx