As the dust settles on American’s recently announced 2016 AAdvantage program, I find myself in a reflective mood. The bottom line of the changes is that many, if not most will earn fewer miles with the new program, even if I don’t count myself in that category. The price of most (but certainly not all) awards is going up, in some cases, way up. (Feature image credit: Shutterstock)
My initial focus on the changes was not surprisingly on the things that matter most in my workaday domestic business travel life. Those are: priority boarding, upgrades, and customer support. In short – elite status. For the most part, other than the loss of four systemwide upgrades for Executive Platinums, elite status and how you get it is not changing in a way that negatively impacts lots of fliers. In fact, some believe status will be easier to achieve, and depending on your ticket buying habits, that’s true.
In the end, the ultimate purpose of these programs from the perspective of most members is to amass enough points to fly somewhere they want to go for “free.” Keeping in mind that I have never crossed an ocean in the coach cabin of an airliner and never intend to, I will close with a question. Has anyone actually tried to redeem an AAdvantage mile on American metal lately? How’d it go? Success stories welcome, because I haven’t had much luck.
-MJ, November 21, 2015
Booked return flight from Bologna through LHR to LAX 330 days out. There was only 1 1st class seat and only 1 business seat available at saver mileage. Went ahead and booked it 112500 miles (50 +62.5). 777 on flight from LHR to LAX. Hoping that between now and flight date (March 31) additional 1st class seat may open up. Worst case my wife is in lie flat business class (Hey, I’m the one doing all the work here). Any advice on strategies to get into first class?
You’re more likely to win the lottery than you are to find an international J/F award on AA metal. They simply don’t exist. If availability doesn’t improve next year, I’m dumping the program. What’s the point if my only choice is to pay BA $500 a ticket in fuel surcharges?
SkyMiles is the better program at this point if you want low-level award availability on non-partner metal. Their partners also usually don’t charge fuel surcharges.
They exist on Mondays and Tuesday’s in February to Paris. Otherwise, Not so much. Plenty on BA though.
3x J awards LAX to LHR on AA booked 330 days out. I overpaid at 110,000 miles / ticket, but it gets me where I need to go for ~$15 out of pocket.
I concur with Jay and many of the other commenters. Zero luck on AA metal, some decent availability on BA to LHR…with the crazy surcharges.
The AAdvantage fan-boys have done a great job covering for the legendary loyalty-destroyer, Doug Parker, over the past year. How can anyone possibly be surprised that Parker would take the lowest road in respect to AAdvantage and loyalty? His long track record of dismissing customer loyalty and being a cheapskate is well documented.
I have seen that they basically have gotten rid of all international saver awards in all classes except one per 6 months on economy. That’s their business strategy so I don’t think with the increases award prices, its going to make much difference to how I use my points. They already gutted the program secretly one year ago. Prior to that you have all sort of saver awards. Nobody, especially “View from the Wing” seems to acknowledge this.
I’ve had lots of trouble for anything other than domestic with a connection. I read somewhere the AA strategy seems to be award a bunch of miles to drive revenue; keep the seats on your own planes available for sale and push redemptions through to partner airlines.
Whether this is a defined strategy or not – the effect is the same.
I think I looked at Dallas to every European city in the spring for an hour. Couldn’t find any business seats on AA. Everything was BA. This isn’t new but then I switched to economy…much worse than it used to be.
No point in even discussing Hong Kong or Sydney.
Just got 4 F Saver awards PHX to OGG at the end of June…expert flyer to the rescue. Wish it were on Hawaiian but PMUS’s old 757 in F is better than some alternatives.