Devaluation of AA Awards

[Princess Fiona]

And here's the email


Hello Princess Fiona
AAdvantage Number: xx_xx_x

As we integrate our two airlines, our goal is simple: restore American Airlines to its status as the greatest airline in the world. That's why we're taking delivery of two new aircraft every week, have given you access to the world's best network through a codeshare agreement, and now offer the ability to earn and redeem miles on both carriers.

As we continue to align our business, we have a few updates to share with you about our new award travel levels and checked bag policies:

Redeem for less. Effective today for travel starting June 1, 2014, a one‑way AAnytime award now starts as low as 20,000 miles plus applicable taxes and carrier–imposed fees. Plus we've lowered the minimum number of miles needed for AAnytime awards to popular destinations like Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe. Our lowest AAnytime mileage levels are available for more than 50% of the year. Don't forget we still offer MileSAAver awards that can be redeemed for as low as 12,500 miles each way, plus applicable taxes and carrier–imposed fees.

No blackout dates! Continue to use your miles for any seat on any American Airlines flight using an AAnytime Award. Award levels vary by date and a few select dates throughout the year are now offered at higher mileage levels.

For complete information, visit the American Airlines award chart.

Checked Baggage — We've also updated our baggage policies, effective for tickets issued on American Airlines flights on or after April 8 and for tickets issued on US Airways flights on or after April 23.

For complete information, visit aa.com/baggage.

Thank you for flying with us. We appreciate your loyalty and will keep you updated as we continue to build the new American.
Regards,


Suzanne L. Rubin
President
AAdvantage Loyalty Program




No mention of the negative changes at all :evil:

 

[anna2103]

Any update to this?

I tweeted @americanair to express (politely of course) my displeasure at no notice being given which is the real issue.

Worringly they wrote back and told me that further policy changes would be announced later today. I responded that the new charts were already published and they again responded that further policies would be announced later today.

Dale.

 

[kempvet]

For some reason, I have never had to take advantage of the free AAdvantage US gateway flight post landing in the USA (time constraints and I wouldn't get the complimentary F upgrade anyway), I guess, what you have never had, you never miss, the same with the oneworld explorer deals as I often like to cycle through the same cities (LAX, SYD especially) on multi city fares.

I suppose you will also see the off peak 20k awards trans Atlantic disappear in the near future.

 

[Bofter]

I am now confused as to why people would be unhappy. The email I received from AA (and US) to advertise the changes clearly says "redeem for less" and doesn't mention anywhere words like "increase", "more" or "remove". Sure they have also made "updates", but only to baggage policies.

With all this good news, it's really quite strange why they felt the need for a small print statement like "American Airlines reserves the right to change the AAdvantage[SUP]®[/SUP] program and its terms and conditions at any time without notice". After all, who could complain about redeeming for less.

 

[burmans]

I am now confused as to why people would be unhappy. The email I received from AA (and US) to advertise the changes clearly says "redeem for less" and doesn't mention anywhere words like "increase", "more" or "remove". Sure they have also made "updates", but only to baggage policies.

With all this good news, it's really quite strange why they felt the need for a small print statement like "American Airlines reserves the right to change the AAdvantage[SUP]®[/SUP] program and its terms and conditions at any time without notice". After all, who could complain about redeeming for less.

I've got a used car to sell if you are interested.

 

[Bofter]

I've got a used car to sell if you are interested.

Oooh, does it come with any special "enhancements"?
I'll only be happy if you can sell me it's lowered suspension that somehow increased its ground clearance.

 

[drron]

I am now confused as to why people would be unhappy. The email I received from AA (and US) to advertise the changes clearly says "redeem for less" and doesn't mention anywhere words like "increase", "more" or "remove". Sure they have also made "updates", but only to baggage policies.

With all this good news, it's really quite strange why they felt the need for a small print statement like "American Airlines reserves the right to change the AAdvantage[SUP]®[/SUP] program and its terms and conditions at any time without notice". After all, who could complain about redeeming for less.

Sure you didn't mean to put a or a or even a with that.
Most F awards have increased in points required.The decreases are of limited availability apart from Y redemptions.For me definitely a QF like enhancement.

 

[NM]

Even if you have to convert a "free stopover at international gateway" into two one-way flights, the award cost is still likely to remain better value than another OneWorld airline's award cost. I have only use the free stopover once (for a booking I have for my daughter later this year), and initially I was expecting to have to book it as two one-way awards anyway, so the free stopover was a bonus when it was "priced" on-line. While a little forewarning would have been nice, it would not have made any difference to me personally - I would not gave make any new bookings based on knowledge the change was coming.

While the loss of OneWorld awards removes one of the options for awards outside USA, I have never used this award type with AAdvantage and did not have any plans to book any in the next 12 months. So again this change does not directly impact me at this time. But I do understand why some people would be upset by this change.

 

[Nizar]

How about for award travel on partner airlines not travelling to/from the USA ?
Like DXB/AUH-SYD/MEL ? Or even HKG-MEL/SYD ?

All the "new" charts that I have seen have only shown awards to/from the USA.

Cheers.

 

[Princess Fiona]

How about for award travel on partner airlines not travelling to/from the USA ?
Like DXB/AUH-SYD/MEL ? Or even HKG-MEL/SYD ?

All the "new" charts that I have seen have only shown awards to/from the USA.

Cheers.

The gremlins are still working on that chart :mrgreen:
Get booking folks, spend your Parker Points now :!:

(The latter phrase shamelessly pinched from FT )

 

[anna2103]

The gremlins are still working on that chart :mrgreen:
Get booking folks, spend your Parker Points now :!:

(The latter phrase shamelessly pinched from FT )

Would if I could - as you know AA only release awards 331 dates out, so can't book for April next year yet. HOw long do you think we have to they attack the AA savers?

 

[zig]

Would if I could - as you know AA only release awards 331 dates out, so can't book for April next year yet. HOw long do you think we have to they attack the AA savers?

I'm in the same boat, waiting to book for April/May '15 - counting the days down.

 

[Paddy55]

The Gateway stopover looks the most likely to impact... always try for the Saver Awards so haven't seen much change there.

With the elimination of OWE awards and QF's 'simplification' it looks like a small cooling of relations among the participating airlines

 

[anna2103]

slightly o/t but can you make aa awards bookings through the normal AA reservations, or is it only Monday to Friday (US time) My 331 days falls on a Saturday so don't want to wait till the MOnday ( I want a CX flight which you cannot book online) thanks to anyone who knows

 

[Princess Fiona]

slightly o/t but can you make aa awards bookings through the normal AA reservations, or is it only Monday to Friday (US time) My 331 days falls on a Saturday so don't want to wait till the MOnday ( I want a CX flight which you cannot book online) thanks to anyone who knows

It's 24/7 so definitely ring up on the Saturday. There can be some delay in when AA agents see it.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Summary here by thepointsguy A Consolidated List of American’s Surprise Policy Changes (And It Ain’t Pretty) | The Points Guy

 

[Princess Fiona]

Would if I could - as you know AA only release awards 331 dates out, so can't book for April next year yet. HOw long do you think we have to they attack the AA savers?

I don't know when or if in fact they will attack them hence the " :mrgreen: " in my post.
I just wouldn't want to be in the position of hoarding miles for a big trip and then find out I couldn't take it anymore (as happened to those who wanted OW awards).

Below is an excellent summary IMO of why we should be concerned about the changes
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22674661-post278.html

 

[drron]

My experience has been that Y Aawards are released at the 331 day mark but J and F Aawards often at the 330 day mark.
I did use the OW explorer aaward once.Rang and got an Aagent who was having her first day in the job.Turned out a bonus as she did not know that some things were impossible.
I had tried QFF first which could get me all the flights except J on QF23/24.AA could get those as well.

 

[kempvet]

Even if you have to convert a "free stopover at international gateway" into two one-way flights, the award cost is still likely to remain better value than another OneWorld airline's award cost. I have only use the free stopover once (for a booking I have for my daughter later this year), and initially I was expecting to have to book it as two one-way awards anyway, so the free stopover was a bonus when it was "priced" on-line. While a little forewarning would have been nice, it would not have made any difference to me personally - I would not gave make any new bookings based on knowledge the change was coming.

While the loss of OneWorld awards removes one of the options for awards outside USA, I have never used this award type with AAdvantage and did not have any plans to book any in the next 12 months. So again this change does not directly impact me at this time. But I do understand why some people would be upset by this change.

Here are the disadvantages according to Loyalty Lobby
Here’s what President of loyalty Suzanne L. Rubin forgot to mention on her email:
1. The new AAnytime awards are so expensive that American hasn’t even published the Level 3 pricing.
2. American has eliminated the possibility of having a stop-over at the North American Gateway city effective immediately.
3. Oneworld Explorer Awards were also discontinued effective immediately.
4. The “enhanced” baggage policy means that American Airlines AAdvantage Gold members are now eligible for only one checked bag.

Like NM, there are plenty of AA FF's who are not affected by these changes. None of the 4 points mentioned by Loyalty Lobby affect my flying pattern with AA. No doubt, AASaver redemption will likely increase at some stage, but if it only marginal, it will not affect me. My thinking is that perhaps elite qualification my become more difficult, again, this may not affect me, but we will have to wait and see.

 

[NM]

My thinking is that perhaps elite qualification my become more difficult, again, this may not affect me, but we will have to wait and see.[/FONT][/COLOR]

I don't expect to see any changes in elite qualification. They have always been very strict about qualification and re-qualification enforcement, and do not offer short-cuts (such as double SCs that some other airlines offer) except for new members and that is only through proving yourself via a challenge. EXP requires significant Butt-In-Seat time to achieve, and lifetime status earning has been massively slowed by basing only on base miles from flying.