AAdvantage to Add Minimum Revenue Criteria to status earn

[wandering_fred]

From JonNYC
June 6th, 2016 will be a date that will live in AAdvantage-infamy without a doubt.

Could it be that "fairer and simpler" QFF will end up as the most customer friendly program?

Meanwhile - back to my wandering

Fred

Rumor: new elite level(s) and low-fare product details coming - Page 22 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[JohnK]

I don't think Qantas will be too far behind with revenue based elite status earning.

And by the way that's not a good thing. There will be lots of disappointments but there will be nowhere to run. The grass on the other side has been dead for a while.

 

[wandering_fred]

Info is out. Minimum spend for PLT (OW Sapphire) will be US$6000 (in EQD)

And partner flights will earn a calculated EQD which will go into the qualification minimums. However, those tables are about another month away though will be based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class.

Upgrade priority will be based on status and a rolling 12 month EQD commencing sometime in 2017. So the lifetime members can likely forget upgrades unless currently spending $$.

Maybe happy wandering

Fred

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/...positoryName=undefined&repositoryId=undefined

 

[dajop]

I don't think Qantas will be too far behind with revenue based elite status earning.

Qantas are not behind at all, I'd argue they are well ahead of the game, they've always had revenue based status earning (through status credits)!

Originally it was loosely based on revenue - the higher the fare generally the greater the status credits, with a few loopholes here and there (such as YUPs). Simpler and fairer eliminated most of the loopholes and more directly tied status to QF or key partner revenue, and reduced the ability to earn status through some of the directly competing oneworld partners. Uberelite status (WP1) is even more tightly linked to QF revenue.

This contrast to the original mileage based model that US based carriers adopted which has now transformed into a direct revenue based model.

 

[Bundy Bear]

If you didn't know this was coming; then you have been living under a rock.

Disappointed that AA aren't offering discounts for those who don't live in the USA but I am sure a few airlines realized that some people who travel lived outside their home countries.

Almost makes look Qantas ok at the moment.

 

[JohnK]

Qantas are not behind at all, I'd argue they are well ahead of the game, they've always had revenue based status earning (through status credits)!

I think there are too many loopholes in QFF which negate any attempt to enforce the revenue based model.

If QFF enforce minimum USD6,000 spend for Gold and minimum USD12,000 spend for Platinum the whole of the AFF community will be up in arms.

 

[dajop]

I think there are too many loopholes in QFF which negate any attempt to enforce the revenue based model.

The loopholes now are marginal and are only really exploited by a very small number of people. This is very different to the situations with US based programs up to 2-3 years ago .

Apart from the uproar on AFF, more genuine competition may prevent QF from going to far. QF arguably has more independent competition than the Big 3 in the US - Definitely internationally (which the US3 all have mostly sown up with JVs, hence have vociferously opposed anyone such as EK trying to threaten those cosy arrangements) and even domestically as QF faces a competitor with a completely different (and ecelectic) set of shareholders, whereas in US it has been alleged the US3 are if not owned by exactly the same institutional investors are certainty are being driven by Wall St into convergence.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I think there are too many loopholes in QFF which negate any attempt to enforce the revenue based model.

If QFF enforce minimum USD6,000 spend for Gold and minimum USD12,000 spend for Platinum the whole of the AFF community will be up in arms.

You would think that QF wouldn't use USD to calculate spend. although they are using miles, so anything is possible.

 

[drron]

Info is out. Minimum spend for PLT (OW Sapphire) will be US$6000 (in EQD)

And partner flights will earn a calculated EQD which will go into the qualification minimums. However, those tables are about another month away though will be based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class.

Upgrade priority will be based on status and a rolling 12 month EQD commencing sometime in 2017. So the lifetime members can likely forget upgrades unless currently spending $$.

Maybe happy wandering

Fred

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/...positoryName=undefined&repositoryId=undefined

Not all LTPs will be worse off.This little bunny has got to 75000 miles each year since reaching LTP so I will become a Pro and a little further up the pecking order.
Plus seeing our purchased fares are all in premium cabins I may well get to EXP again based on spend.Will now definitely use AA codeshares wherever possible.

 

[dajop]

Interesting they have dropped the AA sector requirement. I guess that means the EQD earn calculation from partners could be quite woeful, although will be interesting if they adopt the DL/QF approach to partners with an inner circle (you're with us) and outer circle (you're against us) of different partners.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Almost makes look Qantas ok at the moment.

Alone the fact that this can now be a serious statement shows how far the FFP game has fallen in the last couple of years.

Interesting they have dropped the AA sector requirement. I guess that means the EQD earn calculation from partners could be quite woeful, although will be interesting if they adopt the DL/QF approach to partners with an inner circle (you're with us) and outer circle (you're against us) of different partners.

I suspect you will see the same approach - the JV partners BA, IB, AY, JL will probably get better treatment than the rest. It would be a surprise though if they treated any 'partner' as badly as QF does with Malaysian or Qatar.

 

[amaroo]

Upgrade priority will be based on status and a rolling 12 month EQD commencing sometime in 2017.

Interesting initiative. Kinda takes the wind out of sails for chasing LT OWE on airlines like BA and AY... can see all airlines enhancing this in the future.

 

[wandering_fred]

Interesting initiative. Kinda takes the wind out of sails for chasing LT OW on airlines like BA and AY... can see all airlines enhancing this in the future.

Perhaps. Status points/credits used to define qualification is a slightly different animal to the basically mileage (or $$) based ones. Even with "additional" considerations there is still some incentive to have MPC status when flying CX or KA (or QF status when flying QF)

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[amaroo]

Perhaps. Status points/credits used to define qualification is a slightly different animal to the basically mileage (or $$) based ones. Even with "additional" considerations there is still some incentive to have MPC status when flying CX or KA (or QF status when flying QF)

Happy wandering

Fred

Edit, forgot to add the "E" to LT OWE Agree - LTS is worth chasing for the basics.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

... the whole of the AFF community will be up in arms.

like that's ever influenced QF policy in the past?

- removal of anytime access
- charging for exit rows
- simpler and fairer
- removal of chauffeur driven cars

all caused significant comment and debate - nothing changed

 

[amaroo]

I think there are too many loopholes in QFF which negate any attempt to enforce the revenue based model.

If QFF enforce minimum USD6,000 spend for Gold and minimum USD12,000 spend for Platinum the whole of the AFF community will be up in arms.

I wouldn't have an issue with a minimun $$$$ obligation... the lounges would be less hectic, F/J award seats would be easy to harvest. Win-Win in my books.

 

[JohnK]

I wouldn't have an issue with a minimun $$$$ obligation... the lounges would be less hectic, F/J award seats would be easy to harvest. Win-Win in my books.

Minimum $ spend would be a backward step. But looks inevitable. Thankfully have Lifetime Gold.

 

[amaroo]

Minimum $ spend would be a backward step. But looks inevitable. Thankfully have Lifetime Gold.

No more backward than cutting ASA or el-cheapo flights on other carriers. Same remedy - different disease.

 

[JohnK]

No more backward than cutting ASA or el-cheapo flights on other carriers. Same remedy - different disease.

Then don't turn around and offer double SCs to all and sundry when someone can go from 700 SCs to 1400 SCs for less than AUD2000. Really stupid move but I get castrated for saying something

 

[amaroo]

<snip> but I get castrated for saying something

Not from me I was in Peru when the DSC offer was on the go, didn't have the inclination to bother. However, I will confess - perfect timing did play a role and I took advantage of a 50% offer a few weeks later ... it worked for QF - I dropped $5,300 on tickets to LAX and back. Another win - win*

* I will earn another 450SC on the cheap flying the long way to JFK and back :mrgreen: