When American Airlines offered a status match to United Airlines elite customers last month, I quickly jumped onboard. It was not that I was overly disgruntled with United: as I shared a few days ago, I just had another great trip with them. Rather, I figured I would give them a try (since I already re-qualified for 1K status on United) and take advantage of the eight AA systemwide upgrades that came with the offer.
But I never thought I would re-qualify for Executive Platinum status. Flying 100,000 miles between now and the end of the year seemed a bit too ambitious for what I had planned and besides, United prices were much lower for the trips I did need to book. But then I received this e-mail from American:
Dear Mr. Klint,
We hope you are enjoying the exclusive benefits of your AAdvantage Executive Platinum® status, including unlimited complimentary upgrades, access to Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seating, PriorityAAccessSM privileges, and more.
I’m delighted to tell you about a special offer to extend your AAdvantage Executive Platinum status for another year.
Earn 55,000 elite-qualifying miles or points between April 24, 2012, and December 31, 2012, and extend your AAdvantage Executive Platinum status through February 28, 2014.
It is not necessary to register for this promotion. You have been pre-enrolled for this offer.
Plus, we know that staying connected while you travel is important, so I am pleased to let you know that we will offer Wi-Fi service on the majority of our domestic fleet by the end of summer, with more aircraft being added each month. For more information about Inflight Wi-Fi onboard American Airlines, please visit AA.com/wifi.
Sincerely,
Suzanne L. Rubin
President
AAdvantage® Loyalty Program
I love that AA rubs in how they have wi-fi. That is admittedly a huge advantage the carrier has over United right now and it is smart to send this note to United elites like me who would be happy to pay for wi-fi aboard United flights.
55,000 EQMs (DEQM promotions do not apply) is much more manageable than 100,000. If I can stick exclusively to American for unbooked travel the rest of the year (which will depend on ticket prices of course…) I should be able to re-qualify.
I bet some AA elites who still have quite a ways to go for status re-qualification are angered over this news, as I would no doubt be if United offered 1K status to American Airlines elites for 55K miles, but AA is making a strategic move right now to win over business and I cannot blame them. Besides, what are the AA folks going to do, jump ship to United?
Not when AA has a much more generous mileage program…for now.
DEQM does not count, only BIS EQM.
Just one (rather important) footnote on this offer – “Bonus elite qualifying miles earned through special promotions are excluded.”. I wouldn’t count on the DEQM 🙂
Thank you both! I have updated the post.
How long did it take for the your credentials and card to arrive?
I was matched on May 2nd and still didn’t received mine.
I think it’s fascinating the high caliber of communications coming from AA, in stark contrast to the muddled, often curt communications I keep hearing about from UA.
All I get from UA now are 1) silence or 2) promos to get me to spend my miles on anything BUT flights.
@Fábio: Mine arrived about a week ago (in California).
Longtime AA EXP here. And yes, peeved about this match program. While some of the early matchers will receive 16 SWUs and status through 2/14 for flying 55k EQMs, I will get 8 SWUs for flying three times as many EQMs without any DEQMs.
The real problem isn’t the “moral inequity”, but the sheer scale of this promotion. While we have no firm and published numbers with respect to how many folks have taken advantage of this offer, I think it is safe to say that several thousand 1ks have taken up this offer.
And in my humble opinion, that kind of participation has the potential to erode the program tier benefits substantially. An, outcome that would feat the very reason why many made the switch to begin with.