USDM & AA account balances to Merge from March 28th

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re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Nice to know that I'm not the only one sitting on a stockpile of AA points amongst 6 accounts (450K), purchased mostly when the AUD was ~ $1.05, so I'm laughing.
 
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re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

I cant see any reason why rewards booked under US cant be changed under AA. it is the same set of airlines so availability should be similar.

I'm not so worried about the availability; it's routing rules (i.e. book something under US DM routing rules, then changed when regimes change to AA). My gut tells me that such a changed booking will be subject to the AA rules, unless possibly it is a simple change that doesn't require dumping the e-ticket and recreation.

In other news, however, I still haven't received the email. Funny enough, the bloggers also have not jumped up and down on this, when you'd think there'd be at least one of them saying "you have 30 days until the bolts tighten".
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

I'm not so worried about the availability; it's routing rules (i.e. book something under US DM routing rules, then changed when regimes change to AA). My gut tells me that such a changed booking will be subject to the AA rules, unless possibly it is a simple change that doesn't require dumping the e-ticket and recreation.

In other news, however, I still haven't received the email. Funny enough, the bloggers also have not jumped up and down on this, when you'd think there'd be at least one of them saying "you have 30 days until the bolts tighten".

While it's not beyond the realm of possibility that they would say you wee able to do this before but you can't now, I think it's far more likely they will look to replace on a segment by segment basis rather than cancel and start again! Of course only time will tell bit I'm a realist rather than a pessimist.
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Looking at changes to the AA merger info page noted on FT, it seems that 20th March is a key date.

It may very well be that DM redemptions will be no more by Easter (or during/very shortly after).

The 2015 AAdvantage program
Combining your miles, activity and accounts If you have an account in both programs, let us know by March 20, so we can transfer your miles and activity into your existing AAdvantage account when we combine loyalty programs.
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Looking at changes to the AA merger info page noted on FT, it seems that 20th March is a key date.

It may very well be that DM redemptions will be no more by Easter (or during/very shortly after).

If 20 March is the date when no more US DM redemptions then I'm going to be inundated next week :o :o :o
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Anyone successfully linked their accounts? I have control of 4 US DM accounts but only 2 of those have AA accounts - tried to link today and had a problem with mine which I expected but the other one was a straight out match of details and still didn't link. Email sent to AA asking if they can link them but come merge I suspect I will have 2 AA accounts per the two people
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Anyone successfully linked their accounts? I have control of 4 US DM accounts but only 2 of those have AA accounts - tried to link today and had a problem with mine which I expected but the other one was a straight out match of details and still didn't link. Email sent to AA asking if they can link them but come merge I suspect I will have 2 AA accounts per the two people

We've matched the three family accounts.
Did have have a problem where one of the birthdays had originally been inadvertently mis-entered, but was able to fix that with a bit of to-ing and fro-ing once we realised the discrepancy.
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Thought people might find this table useful. It's not really information that you can't work out right now, but I thought I'd just put it here since the conversion will be rather imminent.

Note that the information in the table isn't directly a reflection of how AA or US presents the same data. I've used this table mainly as a means of simplifying the impacts of the conversion to other people I am helping out, who are not necessarily FF or of similar knowledge like us.

I apologise for the image rather than a text-based table. I can't remember the BB code to make tables with lines and I'll plead laziness as I can't be <expletive> to re-look them up or deal with the hideous coding. A big apology for those of you who are blind or hard-of-seeing.

To explain the table below:
  • Numbers quoted are for return trips, in thousands of miles (e.g. award travel between Australia and India is 90,000 miles in Business round trip under both US Dividend Miles and AAdvantage).
  • J = Business; F = First.
  • The "Diff" columns give the difference in miles required, calculated as the AAdvantage price minus the US Dividend Miles price. A red positive number means you need more miles under AAdvantage compared to now with US Dividend Miles; a green negative number means you need less miles.
  • Where no notes have been made about routing allowances, generally under AAdvantage, the most direct routing is required between regions, and transiting third regions is not allowed without increasing the cost of the award.
  • For travel between Australia and Europe, awards on QF1/2/9/10 are possible at the given AA mileage prices but only if booked on a single continuous service between SYD or MEL and LHR, and the availability must be shown directly between the two endpoints.

Comparison Table.jpg
 
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re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Thought people might find this table useful. It's not really information that you can't work out right now, but I thought I'd just put it here since the conversion will be rather imminent.

Note that the information in the table isn't directly a reflection of how AA or US presents the same data. I've used this table mainly as a means of simplifying the impacts of the conversion to other people I am helping out, who are not necessarily FF or of similar knowledge like us.

I apologise for the image rather than a text-based table. I can't remember the BB code to make tables with lines and I'll plead laziness as I can't be <expletive> to re-look them up or deal with the hideous coding. A big apology for those of you who are blind or hard-of-seeing.

To explain the table below:
  • Numbers quoted are for return trips, in thousands of miles (e.g. award travel between Australia and India is 90,000 miles in Business round trip under both US Dividend Miles and AAdvantage).
  • J = Business; F = First.
  • The "Diff" columns give the difference in miles required, calculated as the AAdvantage price minus the US Dividend Miles price. A red positive number means you need more miles under AAdvantage compared to now with US Dividend Miles; a green negative number means you need less miles.
  • Where no notes have been made about routing allowances, generally under AAdvantage, the most direct routing is required between regions, and transiting third regions is not allowed without increasing the cost of the award.
  • For travel between Australia and Europe, awards on QF1/2/9/10 are possible at the given AA mileage prices but only if booked on a single continuous service between SYD or MEL and LHR, and the availability must be shown directly between the two endpoints.

View attachment 43589


Very useful table, thanks.
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Good work Anat0l. One minor amendment if I may, and more a comment/remark (which I'm sure you're already aware of). Oceania - AA J wholly within country Australia rule is 35k.
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Text of an email that came in at 530am this morning

In October, we announced we would combine our frequent flyer programs in the second quarter of this year. And now, we're on track to bring the US Airways Dividend Miles® program into the AAdvantage® program within the next 30 days. We'll be providing you with more information on timing in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, here's what you need to know:

Moving to the AAdvantage program

Once we combine programs, we'll begin transferring your Dividend Miles mileage balance, Preferred-qualifying activity and million mile balance into your AAdvantage account on a one-to-one ratio. We'll determine your elite status level by looking at your combined elite-qualifying activity for 2014, and separately, your combined 2015 year-to-date elite-qualifying activity. It may take a few days to transfer everything, but we'll email you once it's completed.

As a member of the most rewarding airline loyalty program, you'll continue earning miles when you fly on American, US Airways, oneworld® and other participating airlines, as well as with over 1,000 partners. And, you'll still be able to redeem miles for flights, upgrades on American and US Airways, car rentals, hotel stays and more.
Benefits of the AAdvantage program »

Booking award travel

Dividend Miles award bookings and mileage upgrade requests will be disabled a few days before we combine programs to allow us to integrate your accounts. If you plan to redeem Dividend Miles for an upcoming trip, we encourage you to book now. Once our programs are combined, Dividend Miles will be converted into AAdvantage miles, and you'll be able to redeem AAdvantage miles with American.

Upgrading your experience

Once we combine programs, your elite benefits will initially work differently for American and US Airways flights, as we'll still operate as two separate airlines. We'll adopt the American upgrade process for all flights when we have a single reservation system later this year.
How upgrades will work »

To upgrade, you should book flights that are marketed and operated by the same airline – either American or US Airways. If you're booked on a codeshare flight, you'll only be able to upgrade when you check in based on availability.
What is a codeshare? »

Soon after we combine programs, qualifying Dividend Miles Preferred members will receive 500-mile upgrades to use on American flights.
How to calculate 500 mile-upgrades »
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

What's the deal with booking through AA online for awards? afters years of ringing USDM it would be good if it could all just be done online...
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Arrrgh I've got 390,000 USDM miles that I've got to put a dent in before conversion! Quick, everyone, inspire me!! ;)

Remembering GUM is only a tiny dent in that.
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Arrrgh I've got 390,000 USDM miles that I've got to put a dent in before conversion! Quick, everyone, inspire me!! ;)

Remembering GUM is only a tiny dent in that.

SYD - PER return * 13?
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

It will be interesting. I have an award to the US in early June and I'd like to change the timing of a US domestic flight - not essential but a nice to have. The change would be free under AA rules but cost $150 under DM. I'm hoping that I'll be able to do it for free BUT they might turn around and say I need to pay extra points because the AA awards costs more points.

I was reading a thread on FT and their opinion was that USDM awards would not be changeable at all but this would surprise me. I suspect they'll take the path of least resistance and try not to upset their frequent flyers where possible.

Wow, very interesting - strategic for those who don't want to fork out the $150 change fee.
USDM allowed changes to booked *A awards once they moved to OW, so it wouldn't make sense to not allow any form of changes (fee charged or not)..
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Arrrgh I've got 390,000 USDM miles that I've got to put a dent in before conversion! Quick, everyone, inspire me!! ;)

Were are we going :)

I think a nice Circle Pacific would be good if within the rules.
 
re: USDM & AA account balances to convert from March 28th

Found this:
Changing Dividend Miles Awards After AAdvantage Takeover? - One Mile at a Time

Cliff for when the programs merge:
-AA change fees will apply
-AA routing rules will apply
-AAwards will be repriced if a ticket reissue is required

GUM is also considered Asia 2 in the AA chart.

A bit of a grey area with changes to GUM trips, if you just do a date/time change then there is no fee - but in doing so, the AA routing rules would not let you do it at the previous mileage levels so it may require a reissue and cost the "full" amount...
 
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