AA Changes

[Danette]

American Airlines email:

Upcoming Policy Change On Shorter Flights

Effective January 1, 2009, we are discontinuing the minimum mileage guarantee for non-elite status members for flights on American Airlines, American Eagle®, AmericanConnection®, oneworld® member airlines, AAdvantage® participating airlines as well as rail service and codeshare service booked under an AA flight number.

With this change, customers will earn AAdvantage miles equal to the actual distance flown or the applicable percentage* of the miles flown, and any associated bonuses will be calculated accordingly. Similarly, elite status qualifying miles and points earned for travel on eligible flights will also be based on the actual miles earned. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® and AAdvantage Gold® members are exempt from this change.

The new policy will apply to non-elite status members traveling on or after January 1, 2009, regardless of when the ticket was booked or purchased. Flights flown on or before December 31, 2008, will continue to accrue AAdvantage miles under the current policy. For more information, visit AA.com/AAdvantage.

Thank you for your business. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon.

Sincerely,

Rob Friedman
President
AAdvantage Marketing Programs


*In some cases, the base miles earned are calculated as a percentage of the actual miles flown. To view details regarding each participating airine's mileage accrual policy, visit the applicable airline page.

 

[Carolinian]

An all too common occurence with airlines these days, but overall not as bad as the DL changes and US changes. It pays to be an elite. Unfortunately, AA is one of two US-based legacies that do not comp elite status from other airlines but make you do a challenge. The other is UA.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

An all too common occurence with airlines these days, but overall not as bad as the DL changes and US changes. It pays to be an elite. Unfortunately, AA is one of two US-based legacies that do not comp elite status from other airlines but make you do a challenge. The other is UA.

As of October 15, 2008, AA also makes you pay a fee to do a challenge: $80 for Gold (need to fly 5,000 EQP in 90 days) and $150 for Platinum (need to fly 10,000 EQP in 90 days). As a non-elite the challenge will also be harder due to this change. Before 1/1/09, a flight from MCO to MIA would earn 500 EQP in any class for any flyer; on and after that date, anon-elite will earn between 96, 192 or 288 EQPs, depending on the ticket class. -- Suzanne

 

[Carolinian]

As of October 15, 2008, AA also makes you pay a fee to do a challenge: $80 for Gold (need to fly 5,000 EQP in 90 days) and $150 for Platinum (need to fly 10,000 EQP in 90 days). As a non-elite the challenge will also be harder due to this change. Before 1/1/09, a flight from MCO to MIA would earn 500 EQP in any class for any flyer; on and after that date, anon-elite will earn between 96, 192 or 288 EQPs, depending on the ticket class. -- Suzanne

CO will do a straight comp for my NW elite status with no challenge required, and charges no fee. That is a better bet, and avoids two big negatives for AA TATL flying - LHR connections and BA. BA is not a bad airline, it just has a bad ff program and especially a bad partner arrangement with AA.

 

[Jimster]

Change

This change was a forgone conclusion once United did basically the same thing. At least this exempts elites.

 

[3kids4me]

An all too common occurence with airlines these days, but overall not as bad as the DL changes and US changes. It pays to be an elite. Unfortunately, AA is one of two US-based legacies that do not comp elite status from other airlines but make you do a challenge. The other is UA.

Does Delta comp elite based status from AA? Hard to believe...you just ask them and it happens?

 

[Carolinian]

Four airlines will comp status - NW, CO, US, and DL. The other two majors require challenges (AA and UA). Most European airlines require earning status the old fashion way, although some, like buzzards, are now comping status from AZ flyers.

Given that DL and US are on the cutting edge of trashing ff programs, I cannot see why anyone would want to comp into either of those two.