Interesting move by UA today; I hope AA doesn't match lock-step!

UA 1K flyer here with a spouse (Premier Executive) who will lose about 25k bonus RDM each year because of this change. Since we are based at SFO, there's no way I am going to move our business to another airline because of this change. Scheduling convenience and availability of non-stop flights is just more important to us.

As for the four elite Premier levels, I actually like that change. The step between Premier Executive (50k EQM) and 1K (100k EQM) always seemed too large with not enough incentive to keep sending money UA's way for people who easily surpass 50k EQM but can't reach 100k. My wife might reach the 75k level in some years. Heck, I might in some years in the future fall short of 100k EQM and won't feel so bad anymore. The fee waiver benefits of the 75k Platinum Premier level can be worth quite a bit.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the new program, especially since the MM program changes for the first time puts it within my reach when they re-base the UA side on EQMs and then add the CO balance. So far the MM aspect had not entered any of my planning as it seemed goal post at least 5-6 years out in the future.

I am certain that AA has no intention of extending Lifetime status beyond the current 2mm miles=Platinum lifetime. Anything else is probably a waste of money for them IMO. if they did change it though I would be a beneficiary, and I'd like EXP without more current AA flying, even though I cannot see the point form their perspective.

exactly, like me.

I painfully refer to the Seinfeld episode as an analogy to my 'lifetime' benefits that UA said I would have: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZYsyrP3Co

"United, you know how to give me lifetime benefits, you just don't know how to hold lifetime benefits"

This has already been posted over on the United threads, but since this how-will-it-spill-over-onto-AA thread has almost taken on a life of its own, I will bend the rules a bit and add it here, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlS2dL2Sgx0

I agree. For Premier Silver members, there's no change. This only affects Premier Gold and Premier Platinum, and the reduction is only 50-25%. Significant but not huge. And I think a lot of ordinary frequent travelers don't actually know that much about the program. My dad lumps me in with other family members who fly often for business (I fly for fun) and it's kind of insulting because they have no strategy at all. One of them was splitting miles between UA, AC, and AA so that she only got silver with UA and nothing else. Plus her redemption choices were questionable. (domestic rewards to Hawaii? )

You chose a clip that cut the best part -- the insurance!

ha ha, sorry, "I'm going to beat the hell out of this car"

In fairness, I'll say that I already know that OP KSKeith says AA service is improving, but...

AA might offer a better program. They might go so far as to offer Southwest pricing with free luggage, double miles, free food and drinks, all 1st class seating, free wifi, free IFE, flight attendants with nothing less than Masters degrees and none below a 9... I don't care WHAT they do. I will never spend another dime to fly their airline.

I have been an Aadvantage member since 1984. I lived in Dallas most of those years. My experience, and the experiences shared with me by my FF friends is that AA is the most arrogant airline in the business. It is apparent that the management has no respect for any individual customer, and that they believe there will always be someone walking in behind any one who walks out.

This may sound like a rant, but it's really just meant to express what 25 years of being mostly hostage to AA by means of my home location has done to my attitude about them. With a few notable exceptions, I found them to be rude, arrogant, unyielding, inconsistent and unreliable. For the transgressions to be so widespread, it has to be the result of a corporate culture that starts at the top and permeates the troops.

Having switched to CO a couple of years ago, I have been shocked... impressed... amazed... totally pleased with the level of service that truly represents almost the polar opposite of my experience on AA. I can only hope that my employees make my customers feel as special as CO has made me feel.

Speaking of hope, I'm also now hoping that the UA merger won't corrupt the culture to the point that an attitudinal change is notable. I've never used UA much, so I have no personal experience on which to reflect. The reviews appear to be less favorable than those for CO, so I'm cautiously optimistic that the merger will result in the best of each being continued.

I really think it's just luck of the draw. Sounds like you've had an awful run with AA (considering your pending issue with AA miles, too!) but at the end of the day you'll find someone who has a very similar story when it comes to any other airline, even CO.

I fly with AA for a number of reasons. The mileage program works for me, I think that EXP is still the best elite tier in the US, they have good service out of ORD where I'm based, etc. But I also fly with AA because I find that the service is good, whether on the ground, in the air, or over the phone. I get lots of smiles, lots of "thank yous", and lots of satisfaction when I fly with AA.

I can honestly say your experience with AA is, to quote you, the polar opposite of what I've experienced. I've flown with US/UA/CO/DL on previous occasions and have not been impressed. DL's plane and terminal scared me. UA has canceled EVERY flight I've had with them in the past 2 years. CO's ground and air service was downright rude. And US is just... US.

At the end of the day, if CO works better for you, then you should definitely fly with them. I don't think that AA is systemically an inconsiderate, rude, arrogant or unreliable airline. You just had bad luck with them. Just like I did with UA and CO.

That's in Government not Coke or mileage redemptions!

Your are absolutely correct in regards to your assessment of AA's management/employee arrogant
attitudes during their "heyday." They were the best and the brightest during that time. I do not know if
you've ever been tops in any area of your life. However, I have, Its a great wonderful feeling and sometimes leads to irrational thinking. Sometimes we have to learn to be humble. If you would've flown CO during your AA years you would've noticed and appreciated the AA difference. They were not the largest airline or most profitable, however AA always received the highest revenues of any carrier each quarter and provided the best service. Most business
peak, then start to decline. That is why many business seek a new/fresh start through bankruptcy proceedings.
AA was the target to beat or out perform. DL/CO/NW/UA all knew that, they couldnt just sit still. AA can't
afford to be arrogant anymore. Everyone deserves a second chance.

I'm really glad to hear that not everyone has experienced my level of dissatisfaction with AA. Not because I care about AA, but because FFs have enough stress these days without having their airline step on their toes.

That said, I find it hard to believe that 25 years of flying AA left me with an impression that was the result of any "luck of the draw." I run a business that is dependent on customer satisfaction, so I'm really tolerant of what I know to be reasonable margins of error. AA always exceeded those margins with offensive behavior.

My last negative experience with them was in 2009. That was hardly in their "heyday," as another post referenced. The shockingly offensive treatment I received in this case came from more than one high level executive. Being consistent with my prior 25 years as an AA customer, it lead me to decide that enough was enough.

Living in Costa Rica now, it was easier to leave AA than it would have been as a Dallas resident. Still, however, my regular trips to Dallas now all go through Houston. I did have to sacrifice the occasional non-stop from SJO-DFW. On the bright side, I haven't had to go through customs and immigration at MIA for over 2 years now. I consider that a fair trade.

I'm trying to tread lightly, because I genuinely don't want to offend you. I can certainly understand where you're coming from, and I don't contest at all that you've had awful experiences in your 25 years that have lead to you to move to a new carrier and provided a sour mouth when it comes to AA.

All I can do is point out that there are plenty of FFers, many of whom post on this website and others just like it, that have the same or even more years of experience flying AA and have not been given the same impression. Every company has it's bad apples, communication failures, and service failures. I certainly believe you've had more than your fair share of them with AA. I just can't get onboard with the idea that your experience the standard service AA provides, especially when I take my own experience into account and the experiences so many others have shared.

Or maybe it's quite possible that we're the ones who are experiencing the luck of the draw.

This has gotten more than a bit off the intended topic of the thread though, so I hope we can just leave things as they are: Two FFers who have different opinions of the same airlines, both with very good reasons.

It might come as a surprise that some of us has flown AA more than 25 years not encountered any problems which what would result in us certainly giving the apprearance at least harbouring a grudge against the airline . Fly the airline of your choice and leave us to make our own choices what does the poster want/expect/hope somebody here to agree with him?

Now explain to me the even tangental relevance of not having to travel through MIA to this discussion ( off topic as it may be)

Well, I'm not him but I couldn't resist a quick story about Miami immigration and customs, probably even "off-topic-er" than you imagined, newbluesea. Maybe KenInEscazu is among the considerable number of folks that don't find the airport all that hospitable, and particularly not the Federal Clearance area. I've come through there several times, never had a downright horrible experience, but have had my share of less than charming U.S. agents. One, at 5 a.m. as I was returning from EZE, was particularly surly, though if I had to go to work before 5:00 every day I might have been like her. But my biggest memory of MIA international arrivals was the first time I cleared, way back in the late 80s, when Ronald Reagan was president and soon-to-be Pres. G.H.W. Bush was veep. We came through the maze, up the stairs, past the flag, past the pictures of Ronnie and George, maybe another flag, and prepared to enter Immigration. As I looked at Mr. Reagan's picture, a recorded voice came on, saying "Returning U.S. Citizens, keep to the far right." Doing Ronald proud

LOL! Classic!

I'm too tired to even try to respond to newblue other than to say, "huh?" Talk about reading non-existent intent into a post.