Yesterday, I wrote a short post about rumors that we’d be seeing the details of a combined AAdvantage program soon. I’d hoped to hear something as part of today’s earnings release, but that wasn’t to be. There’s always tomorrow, but good news is usually announced earlier in the week. That said, IF they are ready to go with a combined program by March 1 as the rumors suggested, there’s only so much damage that can be done.
OK, the Piedmont program was my first, but the truth is that I’ve earned and burned more AAdvantage miles than any other currency, I care about it the most, and for what it’s worth….I still have a little red, white, and blue in me. AAdvantage is THE frequent flyer program in my opinion, and everything that happens there matters to me. In the absence of an announcement that may or may not be forthcoming, here are my best guesses, take them for what you will.
Near Term
IF AAdvantage announces a combined AA-US program soon, it is going to look a lot more like the current AAdvantage program than anything else. Frankly, with all the IT work that must go on behind the scenes, there really is no other option. It is possible that we get a fourth tier. As much as I dislike complication, the truth is that most of the rest of the industry has been on four tiers for a while now. It’s more possible than not that AAdvantage had a fourth tier in mind for as far back as bankruptcy. Further, we’ve already been through a bit of a devaluation a few months back. Here we go –
- Four tiers – Silver (25K), Gold (50K), Platinum (75K), Executive Platinum (100 and something K). I’m least sure about this).
- Complimentary upgrades for Executive Platinum.
- Earned/Paid upgrades by the “sticker” for everyone else (Sorry CTG) :).
- Program mostly unchanged otherwise.
Longer Term
- We’re headed towards a revenue based program.
- Whether that copies Delta or not remains to be seen. I predict it looks more like BA than DL. Of course, all this depends on how the programs at DL/UA pan out.
So…there you have my thoughts. What are yours? Predictions for the future? Let’s watch what happens.
-MJ, October 23, 2014
@Captain I like the idea. I am a US Gold and cannot seem to make any upgrade. I would rather sit in a premium economy for short hauls and then pay $40 for the times I am making an East/West coast flight for added comfort.
Anything is better than the current ad-hoc system. I have found booking via AA.com is easier and cheaper, but I have to book as a guest for some reason which converts to no upgrades.
I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.
I believe they will add another level. They should keep the stickers but make the cost of a sticker vary for the different elite levels.
ExPlat Free
Plat $20
Gold $40
Silver $60
This will keep the lists shorter with the combined programs. It will also reward you according to you value/loyalty.
Hmm… I hadn’t considered a graduated scale, Captain. I kind of like it, even if I’d be only lifetime Silver in a 4-tier scheme.
With the increase of elites combined together I agree no more comp upgrades without the 500 mile stickers. Unless the stickers are a pain in the butt for AA now and then they may use it as an excuse to do away with them.
@Dan,
Things could have evolved since my day….but those stickers were once a real revenue source. I’m not convinced that’s changed.
I’ll be happy with the ‘stickers’ as long as they apply to everyone… ExPlats too. 😉 Otherwise, I think they are long overdue for the bin. As I said in my piece, I know we US Airways loyalists are going to get the short straw on this. It’s really sad for those of us who stuck by US Airways in their ‘darkest’ days and helped to grow that airline into one that could bail American out of its mess.
@Susan, my heart wants to agree with you. It’s just that I don’t think comp domestic upgrades were a good idea for any airline. I’ve seen one too many 50+ upgrade lists on Delta to think that it was a good idea. This goes way back with me…. but I don’t think it was a good idea to ever “give away” the premium cabin. I thought comps for the highest tier was almost the perfect compromise. We’ll see what happens.
What about the US Air people who flew 50k plus miles to reach gold …now no complimentary upgrades..They have to do something to compensate for that
I disagree. I think the days of the comp domestic upgrade are numbered. I could be proven wrong within days. Only time will tell.