The End of Cheap Status

[juddles]

I doubt they will stop calling it "first" - even though it is a truly barbaric use of the term given what they offer domestically. But each to their own

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

If proven correct will be sad to see those F, A, P codes disappear on domestic AA flights. Some fantastic value to be had on any flight greater than 750 miles.

But all is not lost, as some others have pointed out, just requires a few more sectors and a bit more $ spent to earn those valuable SC's that can't be earnt that cheap back home in OZ. ( The only exception being those occasional JQ paid upgrades to J Max bundles, from Y on long haul).

 

[codash1099]

Combine with "Simpler and Fairer", this will just about remove my chances of maintaining WP. Without that, I have no loyalty to OneWorld, so a fond farewell.

 

[Captain Halliday]

A upside to this, if I'm not mistaken, is for a 280k OW award is it not? Such an award with an AA sector (excluding Trans con) would bump you down to Y. Under this proposed change, you'd be better off.

Glass half full and all that...

 

[anat0l]

A upside to this, if I'm not mistaken, is for a 280k OW award is it not? Such an award with an AA sector (excluding Trans con) would bump you down to Y. Under this proposed change, you'd be better off.

Glass half full and all that...

A good observation, but that would depend on those sectors being available in the Business award class (they may still be charged as First awards even though they earn in Business as a cash fare).

 

[drron]

Well fortunately Mrsdrron should reach LTG 2017/18.Plan then is to stop the connecting flights and go direct as any further SCs are pretty meaningless.Already resigned to her WP status unlikely to continue past 2018 as we start to scale back the longer trips.
Has been good whilst it lasted.

 

[JohnK]

So AA are making these changes?

One way of looking at changes is possibly more Platinum benefits for those willing to pay a little more to maintain Platinum?

 

[Princess Fiona]

So AA are making these changes?

One way of looking at changes is possibly more Platinum benefits for those willing to pay a little more to maintain Platinum?

I think there's no chance of that happening.
I'd wager there's way more Platinums created in other ways, MH runs, double and 50 % SC promos etc. for any loss of AA mileage runners to meaningfully cause a fall in WPs.

 

[Mattg]

I'm hoping this will at least mean intra-USA premium cabin award flights are priced at J class levels. Having to redeem QF points for F class on AA domestic is both a rip-off (considering the quality of the AA domestic product) and causes many problems when trying to book a QF oneworld award in J.

 

[JohnK]

I think there's no chance of that happening.
I'd wager there's way more Platinums created in other ways, MH runs, double and 50 % SC promos etc. for any loss of AA mileage runners to meaningfully cause a fall in WPs.

Really? I think the writing was on the wall when AFF'ers who have never met each other are meeting randomly on their status runs in MIA of all places going to/from the Caribbean. One occasion they were on same flight and met in the air? That doesn't scream out over use? But I suspect the overuse was much greater on Flyertalk amongst the AA elite.

And it doesn't help constantly discussing these deals on online forums.

Anyway would be interesting to see if there is any noticeable fallout on AAdvantage and then QFF.

P.S. I am not judging. I have been researching some runs I wanted to utilise next July at the beginning of my year as I don't want to fly that often domestically. Have to do it a different way now.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Really?

P.S. I am not judging. I have been researching some runs I wanted to utilise next July at the beginning of my year as I don't want to fly that often domestically. Have to do it a different way now.

Yes really.
When you think about it we really are very small fish here.

And your first post did sound a wee bit judgemental IMO about the use of cheap AA runs to gain WP status on QF especially considering there are plenty of other ways of leveraging QF status which you and I have both used.

About 1800 of my lifetime SC tally on QF have come from AA F KUPPS.

EDIT: There will be no fall out on AAdvantage as they are on a revenue based status earn now and flying F over J was never of benefit to them for status earn. BAEC would have been a much larger although still minuscule pool of the "overuse" you are referring to from FT.

 

[Kangol]

A upside to this, if I'm not mistaken, is for a 280k OW award is it not? Such an award with an AA sector (excluding Trans con) would bump you down to Y. Under this proposed change, you'd be better off.

Glass half full and all that...

Interesting, but if they still call it "First class" and QFF recognises it as what it is called, then it wouldn't make any difference.
Good creativity though.

 

[JohnK]

And your first post did sound a wee bit judgemental IMO about the use of cheap AA runs to gain WP status on QF especially considering there are plenty of other ways of leveraging QF status which you and I have both used.

Oh Princess. If it sounded just a tiny bit judgemental then it must have been tongue in cheek?

 

[NM]

This seems quite a reasonable change to me, and brings it more into alignment with the product actually delivered. It may signal the end of an anomaly that has benefited many people here. But its really just calling aligning it with what nearly every other airline around the world does with their premium cabin on short-haul domestic flights. I don't think we can complain about that.

 

[Mattg]

Interesting, but if they still call it "First class" and QFF recognises it as what it is called, then it wouldn't make any difference.
Good creativity though.

Actually, I don't see any reason the AA awards would not price as Business if that's how they were recognised in terms of SC earning.

QF can't have it both ways... (Let's not talk about earn rates vs award cost on ADL-SYD or ADL-PER...)

 

[footy99]

I'm happy enough with this if it means I can start flying US domestic J on 280K awards. It's a better reflection of the class travelled. Seems to be just fixing an anomaly that was advantageous for gaining status but painful for awards.

 

[codash1099]

Actually, I don't see any reason the AA awards would not price as Business if that's how they were recognised in terms of SC earning.

QF can't have it both ways... (Let's not talk about earn rates vs award cost on ADL-SYD or ADL-PER...)

Qantas have a long history of trying to have it both ways!

 

[JohnK]

Qantas have a long history of trying to have it both ways!

Isn't premium economy one of them? Earn 10% extra over economy for revenue airfares but need to spend 50% extra over economy for awards.

 

[hotpaws]

Isn't premium economy one of them? Earn 10% extra over economy for revenue airfares but need to spend 50% extra over economy for awards.

And reduction in points and SC earn for Australian domestic flights 600-750 miles, but still charging higher points for redemption and upgrades!

 

[RichardMEL]

One way of looking at changes is possibly more Platinum benefits for those willing to pay a little more to maintain Platinum?

"Tell him he's dreaming"