American Airlines (AA) just sent me an email (screenshot below) encouraging me to buy back my AAdvantage Executive Platinum status. I appreciate them giving me ample notice, but the offer was absurd.
I’ve been on the fence about staying loyal to American Airlines and its Oneworld partners. This year, I just crossed the million-mile mark on AA and it was a big letdown (there was no acknowledgement, and the lifetime perk of gold isn’t worth much). And after attending United’s Media Day, I feel that United is the better airline and going in the right direction. But I don’t like its new frequent flyer program since I’m not a big spender. Also, my United frequent flyer friends say that their upgrades rarely clear.
One thing I really like about American is that my upgrades do clear. Since I don’t have a traditional 9-to-5 job, I can be flexible with my schedule and take flights when I know my upgrades will most likely clear (like early morning or late at night on a Tuesday, Wednesday or best of all Saturday). American also flies to almost all the places I tend to go the most, like: Miami, New York, Hawaii, Chicago, London…
American also flies the 777 on its LAX-Miami route, which I do the most, and it has an excellent business class. The 52 seats are lie-flat and configured 1-2-1, making it a real premium product (photo above). When I get upgraded I can sleep like a baby, which makes the flight seem short.
Even when I can’t get upgraded, I usually can secure a premium economy seat (photo below), which is better than domestic first class with the exception of on the A321T plane.
So how does one qualify and what makes American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum status so great? First of all to qualify, members need to fly either 100,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or 120 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) AND spend $15,000 in a given year. The latter part was implemented last year and is a real obstacle for me, since I tend to buy the cheapest tickets.
What does AAdvantage Executive Platinum status get?
- 4 one-way systemwide upgrades*
- Complimentary auto-requested upgrades*
- 100-hour upgrade window
- 120% elite mileage bonus
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats*
- 3 free checked bags
- Additional rewards starting at 150,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs)
My buy-back offer
As you can see from the screenshot below, so far this year I’m at $12,206 Dollars (EQDs), 99,096 Miles (EQMs) and 39 Segments (EQSs).
The craziest thing is my buy back offer (see screenshot below) is—get this—$2,995 or 299.5K miles!
Has AA lost its mind? Why would I or anyone ever spend that kind of money or miles for a level of status that’s not much better than the previous level (Platinum Pro) that I’ve achieved? To qualify for Platinum Pro, you need to fly either 75,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or 90 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) AND spend $9,000 USD. Here’s what it gets you:
- Complimentary auto-requested upgrades*
- 72-hour upgrade window
- 80% elite mileage bonus
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats*
- 2 free checked bags
The bottom line
It’s the beginning of November so it’s a little presumptuous of AA to think that its frequent flyers are done flying for the year. Secondly, if it had better technology (or used it better), it would know that I have a bunch of trips already booked before December 31 that will put me past the minimum requirement. This is just another lame way that AA’s sales department is trying to squeeze more money out of its most loyal flyers. And no, I’m not paying up for AAdvantage Executive Platinum.
What’s your AA buy-back offer?
To check your own renewal price, check this link. I’m curious what your buy-back offer was, so please post in the comments below how much AA wants to charge you and how many miles/dollars you’ve accrued so far in 2019.
Think, Doug Parker. First Piemont, then US Air, then America West, now American. He, and his team, messed up those airlines and now American. There is a definite trend. Seriously considering Delta’s swap program. Better airplanes, service and lounges.
My situation is similar: to reach EP status before EOY. ~$3600 or 490k miles. One word – RIDICULOUS
I will have 122 segments by year’s end but sadly fall $98.00 short of the 15K for EP. I have an option to upgrade to 1st class for cash ($295.00) on one of my flights but am not sure if that will count towards my EQD. Would appreciate any advice
I don’t think the UG $ count. I would ask AA but once complete check what your new offer is. I hope it’s $100 but knowing AA it could be crazy so you might need to fly somewhere on a cheap ticket.
I had been a gikd member for many man years and a walking advertisement for aa. Since five years ago they enforced their long time policy of cutting benefits more diligently. I remember about twenty years ago they were so proudly announcing in their aa magazine that the then ceo had saved aa $20mil buy cutting one olive from the business class salad. They have persued the same tactic- cutting benefits forever. It was a coincident I got on delta flight JFK-lax and noticed their basic economy seats are larger than aa premium seats. I switched to delta and have been flying at least 75k/year and am very satisfied. Once I felt my luggage is heavy and after I checked in I went back to delta agent and asked how heavy was my luggage. With a smile she said lbs 58 and she had not told me a word. A few times I had to change. Y ticker with delta and no problem or the fees as charges. When I get such customer service from delta, of course I will go back to them. I wont be surprised if aa files for bankruptcy soon!
I love American. I am not a stuffed shirt though. The thousand’s of us upcoming business travelers are not this demanding for free crap. Any perks are a bonus. I’ve been upgraded several times this last year and I have sat next to some of the most self absorbed, rude idiots I have ever met. Being pushed by so a entitled flyer could get to their pre assigned seat 1 second before me. Chill out people,come back to humanity and enjoy life more. I guess money doesn’t make you happy but a humble attitude makes you human.
$1200 or 198K miles for up to platinum pro. Absurd. They had already swindled me into spending $540 instead of $240 for the AA platinum challenge bc I’d get immediate platinum benefits vs when I beat the challenge a few weeks later. Still might call them about that.
It’s absurd really.
I am one of the rare ones that qualify based on flight legs, for Platinum Pro I am on #85 and my dollar spend is at $12,386 so that has already been met for next year. The offer is $1,095 to secure pro. Blasphemous!
Since i am a flight leg person, due to my commute every week to work which is for 2 direct flight legs per week at 507 miles each. Am I the only one that finds it to be wrong that if i dont miss a week of work all year it is only 104 flight legs total, still short if exec platinum? Sorry, just something that drives me nuts, especially since my spend will more than pass the exec platinum minimum.
$1555 to hit Platinum. I hit gold earlier this year (which is useless and an AA representative told me that as well.) There are so many Platinum and Platinum Pro travelers that anything under Platinum Pro is useless. It’s hard to get upgraded because there are 16 people ahead of you with higher status.
Secure your Gold status for 2020
Exclusive for you – Pay with miles for a limited time.
$715
or
71.5K miles
Guess I’ll just take a trip. Or maybe not, now that I think about it.
My offer is $3225 for ExPlat – which I already requalified for (once the flights post). Charging more for status alone than it would cost to retain it with a ticket purchase is ridiculous. (Ignoring partner hacks) If I really wanted/needed another $3k in spend, I’d jump on a J fare and at least get an added experience out of it.
$10,056 spent, but I’m 20,000 miles and 14 segments short, I have 6 more segments booked so far thru end of year. They want $1750 or 174k miles to keep platinum pro thru end of year 2021, the 75+ flights I’ve taken in the last 28 weeks I think I had issues on 60% of them. I could easily clear another 8 segments for under $1750 but the idea of getting stranded it an airport any more than necessary makes me cringe. Thing is I’m going on my honeymoon to Hawaii in January and I really don’t wanna pay the $700 “co-pay” (insert eye roll here) to upgrade to first with points. Either way, if I want to be treated like a loyal customer, looks like I’ll have to spend some money. Ugh.
I’ve been looking at all of the offers, unless I’m reading them wrong, it seems AA charges more for the status if your EQD is lower as opposed to your EQM’s being lower.
My conclusion…..they care more about how much $$$$$$ you’re spending than how many miles you’re flying. Either way, it’s pathetic.