Do any of you more experienced travelers have any insight on the AA program changes?

I'm Platinum with an outside chance of making Platinum Pro. It looks like the program now allows you to apply points from your credit card toward status (don't think that was the case before?)

I'm guessing this may devolve into AA sucking, but since I live 5 minutes from DFW, I don't really care

In addition to the loyalty points received from flying, you get 1 loyalty point for every dollar you send on an AA card, as well as miles earned from their eshopping and "miles ahead" portals. Theoretically you could make executive platinum without stepping foot on a plane going forward but they are holding back SWUs and some other status perks for those who do not fly at least 30 segments a year, which have become pretty useless over the years anyways so I don't care.

We started using the eshopping portal last fall when this all came out and it is amazing how many miles you can rack up regardless of whether or not you are aiming for status. Between that and using an AA credit card it can probably make a huge difference in you status depending on how much you use it.

thanks for the heads up on the eshop portal. looks like i'm using my aa card for a while!

Platinum member here... I'm thinking it'll keep us Platinum for the foreseeable future... 75k in points is pretty easy to make, I think.

Roughly 5k a month in regular spending + travel miles + I book work travel with my card and get reimbursed... which could be upwards of $10k-$15k/year.

IMO, the difference between Platinum and Platinum Pro is pretty minimal... the "upgrade" things they're providing are kinda weak. The biggest is the bonus multiplier - which I'm not sure count towards status?

If you're Pro and fly DFW to NYC or something in First Class (like a $1,300 ticket)... you're talking probably 10-15k AA miles.

Biggest difference Platinum vs Platinum Pro is Oneworld Sapphire vs Emerald status. If you travel internationally it's great perk.

aggiejumper said:

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Biggest difference Platinum vs Platinum Pro is Oneworld Sapphire vs Emerald status. If you travel internationally it's great perk.

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I thought platinum had lounge access in BA? I guess just Pro? I had Pro a few years back and that lounge at Heathrow was LEGIT.

Business vs first class lounges