Question about AA Double EQMs promotion
Mar 28th, 2009, 02:05 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Question about AA Double EQMs promotion
I am a little confused about the details as to which fares qualify and which don't for the promotion. From what I can understand, all fares that are eliable for mileage accumulation qualify. If I participate in this promotion, I will by a ticket from my travel agent, who books with his wholesaler, for travel accross the pacific in Q class, which does earn miles, and I won't book an AA published fare for this ticket, since, my TA's price is much less.
I need to know if the double EQM bonus would apply. I called AA twice, and you guessed it, once I was told yes, and once I was told no. If I don't qualify, I would postpone the trip to late 2009.
Any suggestions?
Thnaks in advance.
I need to know if the double EQM bonus would apply. I called AA twice, and you guessed it, once I was told yes, and once I was told no. If I don't qualify, I would postpone the trip to late 2009.
Any suggestions?
Thnaks in advance.
Mar 28th, 2009, 02:44 PM
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One more thing, I have Gold Status for 2009, if I earn 50,000 EQMs by June 2009, which is possible if I take advantage of this promotion. Do I automatically get Platinum status for the remandier of this year which will be valid until Feb, 2011?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Mar 28th, 2009, 03:20 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is my take on this deal (and I could be totally wrong.... 
)
You can qualify on miles or points
Q gives you 100% miles or 50% Qpoints
So, if you are trying to qualify with miles then you'll get 100 % miles plus the bonus
but if are trying to qualify with Qpoints then you'll only get 50% x 2
(btw, the point system is geared towards the full fare economy, business or first class tickets. It gets you 1.5 Qpoints per mile, so you don't need full 25, 50 or 100K miles to qualify)
The answer to your second question - yes, you will be Platinum until 2/11.
)You can qualify on miles or points
Q gives you 100% miles or 50% Qpoints
So, if you are trying to qualify with miles then you'll get 100 % miles plus the bonus
but if are trying to qualify with Qpoints then you'll only get 50% x 2
(btw, the point system is geared towards the full fare economy, business or first class tickets. It gets you 1.5 Qpoints per mile, so you don't need full 25, 50 or 100K miles to qualify)
The answer to your second question - yes, you will be Platinum until 2/11.
Mar 28th, 2009, 04:23 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AAFrenquentFlyer, thanks for the feedback, I am trying to qualify on miles, if I fly 25,000 miles during the promo; then I will have 50,000 EQMs. In which case I can earn Plt status again, which I lost last year since I didn't fly enough.
I remember last year you had to purchase a published fare, however, I don't see this in this years rules. In my case, the Q transpacific flight will not be on a published fare.
What does AA classifly as a published fare? Are fares from consolidators out of the question?
It boils down to this, I'll go for it if I know I can get back Plt status. If not, I'll travel later in the year which is what I had originally planned.
I remember last year you had to purchase a published fare, however, I don't see this in this years rules. In my case, the Q transpacific flight will not be on a published fare.
What does AA classifly as a published fare? Are fares from consolidators out of the question?
It boils down to this, I'll go for it if I know I can get back Plt status. If not, I'll travel later in the year which is what I had originally planned.
Mar 29th, 2009, 10:16 AM
#6
Q fares are published for transpacific flights. They aren't eligible for mileage or eVIP UPGRADES, but they'll qualify for the double EQM promo.
But all DBEQM flights have to be on AA metal, so "transpacific" needs to be on AA flights to NRT or PVG (DEL is transatlantic.)
If you earn 50K EQM during calendar 2009 your Plat status will last until Feb. 2011.
But all DBEQM flights have to be on AA metal, so "transpacific" needs to be on AA flights to NRT or PVG (DEL is transatlantic.)
If you earn 50K EQM during calendar 2009 your Plat status will last until Feb. 2011.
Mar 29th, 2009, 05:40 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 921
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Check out the AA "Challenges" for fast upgrades to Gold or Plat, see Flyertalk forums:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage-445/
Warning, jargon and acronym heavy
I used it a couple of years ago but I believe some requirements have since changed.
If it fits your travel patterns it's worth doing.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage-445/
Warning, jargon and acronym heavy
I used it a couple of years ago but I believe some requirements have since changed.
If it fits your travel patterns it's worth doing.
Mar 30th, 2009, 09:45 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the feedback.
The published fare clause part of AA's terms and conditions for this offer. So, I guess it is debatable if a Q class transpacific ticket from a consolidator would qualify. I'll check with AA again, although I doubt I'd get a satisfactory answer. I'd hate to do this, only to be told, I didn't qualify, double EQMs on a long transpacific flight adds ups quickly.
My question about Platinum status wasn't too clear, I currently have Gold status, does my Platinum status take effect immediately after I qualify in 2009 or do I have to wait for 2010 to benefit from Platinum status when my Gold status expires (since last year I didn't fly enough to qualify for Platinum status this year).
In 2002, when I qualified for Gold status, it took immediate effect for the remainer of the year, late in the year I qualified for Platinum status, and I've had that status until this year, since I did very little flying last year.
Also, I have a question about the Plt Challenge, how many times can one person use this? I'm sure there's a restriction on the number of times a AAdvantage member can use this. If I'd know about this in 2002, I'd have an extra 25,000 RDM in my account.
I'm still working on life time Gold status, hopefully, I'll get there soon.
The published fare clause part of AA's terms and conditions for this offer. So, I guess it is debatable if a Q class transpacific ticket from a consolidator would qualify. I'll check with AA again, although I doubt I'd get a satisfactory answer. I'd hate to do this, only to be told, I didn't qualify, double EQMs on a long transpacific flight adds ups quickly.
My question about Platinum status wasn't too clear, I currently have Gold status, does my Platinum status take effect immediately after I qualify in 2009 or do I have to wait for 2010 to benefit from Platinum status when my Gold status expires (since last year I didn't fly enough to qualify for Platinum status this year).
In 2002, when I qualified for Gold status, it took immediate effect for the remainer of the year, late in the year I qualified for Platinum status, and I've had that status until this year, since I did very little flying last year.
Also, I have a question about the Plt Challenge, how many times can one person use this? I'm sure there's a restriction on the number of times a AAdvantage member can use this. If I'd know about this in 2002, I'd have an extra 25,000 RDM in my account.
I'm still working on life time Gold status, hopefully, I'll get there soon.
Mar 30th, 2009, 10:52 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Once you reach PLT, the elite benefits start immediately (well, a few days after your miles post). However, I think the current double EQM promo says miles won't be posted until 6-8 weeks after traveling? Double check that. Anyway, your status starts as soon as the double EQM hit your account.
Mar 30th, 2009, 11:38 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think your best bet, if you want to do this trip, is to send an email to AA.com to ask again about your Q fare. You should receive an email reponse back. If the reply is a YES, and you end up NOT getting the double EQM, at least you have some physical proof that you were told the wrong information and give you some leveage to argue with AA. While phone conversations are recorded, they aren't as easy to retrieve as an email.
Mar 30th, 2009, 04:19 PM
#12
AA has been tightening up on the challenges, and they now charge ($150 I think) for Plat challenges. They haven't said that they're going to limit them to once per lifetime, so if it's been that long since you first qualified, they'd probably allow a Plat challenge this year. Note the double EQM promo has not effect on the EQ<b>P</b> requirements of the challenges. 10K elite qualifying points in 90 days, unrelated to EQM. Q fares earn 1/2 point per mile, so e.g. LAX-NRT-LAX would earn around 5450 points, whereas booking into a V fare (1 pt/mi) would earn almost 11K points, enough for the Plat challenge in one RT.
Given the economy and the financial condition of the airlines, I doubt if they're going to tighten up on elite qualifying measures anytime soon - the evidence is the opposite. Frequent flyers are just what they need.
Given the economy and the financial condition of the airlines, I doubt if they're going to tighten up on elite qualifying measures anytime soon - the evidence is the opposite. Frequent flyers are just what they need.
Mar 30th, 2009, 09:01 PM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AAFrequentFlyer, Jeff_Costa_Rica, Gardyloo, pspercy and yk, thank you for helping me.
I did call AA again today, explained the situation and was told "um, yes, I think you'll qualify"..that really doesn't reassure me.
yk, sending an email to AA is an excellent idea, I will do this.
I did call AA again today, explained the situation and was told "um, yes, I think you'll qualify"..that really doesn't reassure me.
yk, sending an email to AA is an excellent idea, I will do this.
Apr 5th, 2009, 12:24 PM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For those of you who are interested, I emailed AA, as yk had suggested. Here's there reply:-
"Certain airline tickets are not eligible for earning mileage credit. These include AAdvantage awards and promotional tickets, reducedrate and unpublished fare tickets, charter flight and consolidator-fare tickets, and tickets purchased using Internet opaque fares. You may accrue flight mileage only for purchased, eligible, published fare tickets on American Airlines and other participating carriers."
It looks like I'm out of luck to take advantage of the promotion based on AA's response.
"Certain airline tickets are not eligible for earning mileage credit. These include AAdvantage awards and promotional tickets, reducedrate and unpublished fare tickets, charter flight and consolidator-fare tickets, and tickets purchased using Internet opaque fares. You may accrue flight mileage only for purchased, eligible, published fare tickets on American Airlines and other participating carriers."
It looks like I'm out of luck to take advantage of the promotion based on AA's response.
Apr 5th, 2009, 01:07 PM
#17
The language in the email regarding "consolidator-fare tickets" is a holdover from when "O" (not "Q") fares didn't earn miles; now they all do except "O" for travel to Latin America. The language in the table here is clearer: http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...anAirlines.jsp
"Certain airline tickets are not eligible for mileage credit. These include, without limitation, the following:
* all tickets issued as AAdvantage awards
* other free ticket promotions including free or reduced rate tickets
* companion tickets
* charter flight tickets
* travel agency/industry reduced rate tickets
* infant tickets
* items occupying a purchased seat
* <b>unpublished fare tickets</b>, including consolidator fares
* tickets issued subject to special provisions"
If you want to be dead certain, just phone the Aadvantage customer service desk (not the reservations lines - they don't know so much about Aadvantage) and tell them your reservation locator number ("PNR" - 6 letters) and the letters/numbers starting with Q in the "detailed fare rules" that should appear somewhere on your booking, and ask them if it will earn miles. My guess is that, as AAFF said above, a Q fare is a Q fare, and it will earn full miles and any applicable bonuses. What have you got to lose?
"Certain airline tickets are not eligible for mileage credit. These include, without limitation, the following:
* all tickets issued as AAdvantage awards
* other free ticket promotions including free or reduced rate tickets
* companion tickets
* charter flight tickets
* travel agency/industry reduced rate tickets
* infant tickets
* items occupying a purchased seat
* <b>unpublished fare tickets</b>, including consolidator fares
* tickets issued subject to special provisions"
If you want to be dead certain, just phone the Aadvantage customer service desk (not the reservations lines - they don't know so much about Aadvantage) and tell them your reservation locator number ("PNR" - 6 letters) and the letters/numbers starting with Q in the "detailed fare rules" that should appear somewhere on your booking, and ask them if it will earn miles. My guess is that, as AAFF said above, a Q fare is a Q fare, and it will earn full miles and any applicable bonuses. What have you got to lose?
