Yesterday I wrote about American’s holiday gift promotion and new targeted promotions for flying. Offers are now live in member accounts. What gift did you receive, and what offer was targeted to encourage you to fly?
Here’s what I got – I’m left shaking my head.
- My gift: 500-mile upgrades a complimentary single car class upgrade from Avis.
- My promotion: Earn (4) 500-mile upgrades and 2000 miles for making a booking after registration and then flying four premium cabin flights between January 1 and February 28, 2021.
These offers make absolutely no sense.
- I receive unlimited complimentary upgrades. As an Executive Platinum my domestic upgrades do not require 500 mile certificates. American has deep data on my transactions with them, yet in giving a Christmas gift appears not to know me at all.
- While sponsoring an upgrade for a companion would require 500 mile upgrades, I still have 500 mile upgrade certificates sitting in my account from when I was a ‘mere’ Platinum member of AAdvantage – prior to 2011.
- The promotion doesn’t even say how many 500 mile upgrades I’ve been gifted, and they don’t post to your account right away (when you register you’re told they’ll deposit within 24 hours). What kind of gift do you open and still not learn what it is?
- They’re offering me 2000 miles to add to my seven figure balance, and more 500 mile upgrade certificates I do not need, and to earn this I have to fly four premium cabin flights in the first two months of 2021.
Somehow the promotion terms, echoed by an American Airlines spokesman, say “Your gift is based off your membership, travel with American Airlines and other account and transaction-related activity.”
The free gift doesn’t make sense for an Executive Platinum and the flight promotion makes little sense for someone that hasn’t flown American Airlines since March, and is stunning in its lack of generosity – a potential 500 bonus miles per paid premium cabin flight. I think American AAdvantage either needs a new CRM, or different folks doing their list pulls.
My wife’s account received a 100 mile gift (extends her account expiration out beyond when American will start expiring miles again), and double miles starting with the third flight taken in January and February. My daughter received the same.
Frequent flyer programs are the most successful marketing innovation in history. They’ve turned marketing from a business cost center into a profit engine. The three largest U.S. airlines have mortgaged theirs for between $6.5 billion and $9.5 billion each.
Yet somehow U.S. programs seem to be playing small ball at a time they need their marketing engine the most, primarily worried that someone, somewhere might benefit too much rather than generating excitement for travel and really encouraging people to fly.
Perhaps the Straussian read is that they’re not actually comfortable marketing travel in today’s broader conditions, after all.
Maybe your offers were better, or made more sense?
EXP: gift 250 miles
GLD: gift 250 miles / double miles in any class of service with 4 flights Jan-Feb
@ Gary — My SO got the same garbage as you. I received 1,000 MM miles plus an offer to earn 10,000 more MM miles for 4 premium flights. I have been intentionally delaying hitting 3 MM until a time when I can hopefully use the 4 SWUs. Can I re-gift my 1,000 MM miles? Please?
I’m Lifetime Gold, former DFW hub captive but now in a non-hub city, with only one or two AA trips a year since 2017. Over a million miles but just two 500s. So upgrades are probably the best thing I could get.
What I got. 2 500 upgrades (the number is shown on the registration page, but once you register, until they show up, no was to see that again). And my offer was 4 more 500s when I fly 4 flights, but any published fare, even coach, will do.
So in may case, they got it right. Whether it’s CRM genius, or just the proverbial blind squirrel finding an acorn, who know?
You come off as extremely ungrateful. They did not have to do anything and the other carriers haven’t. I don’t always get a gift I need, but I don’t turn around and bitch at the person that gave it to me. This isn’t a good look for the site.
Lifetime Platinum Multi-Million Miler Chump Change
I’m EXP and flew 101k EQM and spent $15k EQD (yes, even during COVID)…and I got the same as you, Gary. Worthless. Already sent my email over to Customer Service. AA continues to exceed in disappointing me.
No status. Got 100 miles. I think my offer is for double qualifying miles in Jan-Feb – I didn’t really pay attention.
Stupid and cheap as it goes, no gift would’ve been preferable to the noise. Received worthless 1,000 AA Million Miler miles. AA should’ve invested the time improving the experience of having to deal with them.
I’ve avoided accumulating Million Miler Miles to avoid crossing the next threshold to push out the expiration date of the accompanying upgrades.
GLD and received same as your wife, Gary.
Cheapo promo.Even 1,000 or 2,000 would have cost them practically nothing–who can use 1000 miles for a flight, nowadays?
I got 100 miles but I get in some weird loop when trying to register for the sweepstakes. Anyone know how to register for the bigger sweep?
I saw 1 Admirals Club day pass + a way to get 2 additional club day passes + 500 miles after 6 flights.
I get lounge access anyway, as most of my AA flights involve international flights giving me same-day lounge access on one basis or another and there’s BA elite status otherwise. And the 500 miles? Is that AA’s attempt at adding insult to injury? Either way, it’s a joke that won’t move me.
Don’t be a baby. Its like complaining about a Christmas gift you obviously didn’t pay for.
250 miles. ExP with >130k EQMs on 135 Segments in 2020.
150 more miles than the guy above with no status. My flying really paid off this year!
Lifetime Platinum – No AA flights in 2020. Awarded 250 miles!! If I book six flights after registration and fly all six of those flights between Jan 1 and Feb 28, 2021 I will receive double miles on those flights.
No status:
100 AA miles
Earn double miles from January 1 – February 28, 2021 after you book and fly two trips in that time period.
Not whining…just stating as an additional data point: EXP for 10+ years (even requalifying organically for 2021) and received 250 miles. My wife…never anything higher than Platinum Pro (once) and just barely made Gold even with this year’s much lower hurdle…received 250 miles. Go figure!
EXP: 250 miles 😛
I’m Executive Plat and got the unknown number of 500 mile upgrades, a car upgrade, and an offer for 4 500 mile upgrades plus 2,000 bonus miles for premium cabin flights in early q1.
Of all the data points, I’m happiest with 500 mile upgrades! I have to pay for these with miles or $ every time I upgrade a companion. Unlike Gary, I don’t have a stash of them!
However, I agree that the promo was poorly put together and executed. I would say though that 95% of flyers who don’t read travel blogs don’t know about the promo and even if AA sends out emails they will get some small percentage of clicks.
I agree on the point of lack of generosity but again I’m happiest with 500 mile upgrades. I don’t care too much about small number of bonus miles, I have an AC club membership, etc.
Lapsed ExecPlat, no status: 100 RDMs, book/fly at least two flights before the end of February, get double miles.
My gift didn’t make any sense either – fly 2 paid flights and get a main cabin upgrade afterwards! LOL! So spend $400-$800 and earn $10? This is not even as good as just the miles I would earn anyway!
I got the same as Demetrius above. I’m AA Gold.
My 12 year old son received two 500-mile upgrades and a complimentary single car class upgrade on Avis. Brilliant.
Same w/the 500 mile upgrade offer as an EXP. But they aren’t totally worthless because they are needed when you want to upgrade your companion to first.
This might be a good time to remind people that a gift, properly given, has no strings attached and is given with no motives for reciprocity.
American’s scheme is a marketing promotion, requires something in return from the recipient, and anyone is justified in not being happy with the type of promotion they received.
I’m verklempt from their generosity
All that and @ return of the 737 max with 3 inch lavatories
Can it get any better ?
In other news American has promised to keep one way wards to @ or just under 500,000 miles one way in business class to international destinations so those 250 miles should come in handy
I mentioned the other day I thought the whole idea was worthless. I haven’t checked to see what I got. I rarely fly them anymore, and recently canceled my Citi AA Exec card since even at $250 AF (with a $200 offer) it doesn’t benefit me w/o flying them.
But yeah, it is free so you can wonder why they are doing it but complaining about what you got is pretty pointless.
The default gift seems to be 100 miles & double miles on flghts from 1/1 thru 2/28/21.
Gary – they buried the lead a bit on the Avis – it’s a one-class upgrade PLUS 35% off the base rate–not a game changer, but not nothing either for a longer rental.
Good grief, it’s a GIFT, with no strings associated! Don’t be a Grinch.
2MM that hasn’t flown AA in years. I got the same offer as GUWonder. I have an Alaska Lounge membership, the one day pass is especially useful.
Got 100 miles. This gift values out at less than the price of a cup of coffee in at Denny’s purchased with a 15% AARP discount using a CSR card earning 3 URs per dollar. However, that cup of coffee comes with the added risk of catching COVID-19, so that makes American’s gift more valuable.
100miles and double miles for next year qualifying flights. Laughable.
No status:
Gifts:
1 Preferred seat coupon and a car class upgrade + double miles with Hertz (Restrictions apply.)
Challenge:
Earn a Main Cabin Extra seat coupon from January 1 – February 28, 2021:
Register by December 16, 2020, and before creating a flight reservation
After you’re registered, book 2 qualifying, eligible flights for travel on or after January 1, 2021
After completing your qualifying flights, you’ll earn a Main Cabin Extra seat coupon
Meh. Better than a kick in the ass.
@ Tim Dunn — This should also be a reminder to not be so cheap when selecting a gift.
@TD I have never found real world savings with these supposed discount offers, they’re never ‘35% off true lowest rate’
100 miles
If this offer qualifies as keeping my account active, that’s worth more.
maybe you were on SAAntas naughty list? 🙂
@Gary – fair point on 35%.
(also, argh, “lede,” not “lead”)
With no current status I got the standard gift of 100 miles and double miles in January and February. Miles that I value at less than $2. The main value to me is that it does reset the expiration date on my 200,000-odd existing miles (I checked).
So 250 miles and a bonus on flights until Feb 28? I’ve already booked 3 round trips, do those count?
A one way confirmed upgrade would have made tons more sense.
I manage six accounts for my immediate family. Five of them are regular, one of them is lifetime gold. All five got 100 bonus miles. Equal to about $1.50 – which wasn’t worth my time of even registering. The lifetime gold got two free 500 mile upgrades
I got a lounge pass that expires on 2/28/01, which makes it unlikely that I’ll use it.
Free is free but it seems pretty clear that these “gifts” are more of an attempt to get people to consider travel. At least some of them are. Too bad. I would have found a lounge pass with a longer expiration date to have been a really nice gift.
Gold – 1 MCE seat upgrade. Earn 2×500 upgrades (I have hundreds)
Beyond insulting.
Yep -worthless. I got 1000 million miles (have 2.8 million credited to my account so this really doesn’t do anything). I know DL gives lifetime Platinum at 3 million FF miles but haven’t seen AA offering lifetime Platinum Pro at 3 million. Since I’m lifetime Platinum and, to my knowledge, there are no lifetime tiers above that adding million mile credits do nothing.
Oh yeah I got an offer that they would add 5000 more million mile credits if I registered and flew 6 flights by 2/28/21 (not counting any reservations already made before registering). Crazy!
Not looking for much but the thought was appreciated. Just wish they could have maybe offered a lounge pass good for 6 months to lifetime and any current elites. That would at least have mattered. Not that I spend time in the Admirals Club anymore since CLT has a Centurion Lounge but the effort would have been nice.
FOUR words:
pAAthetic
pAAltry
pAArsimonious
pAAss
No status
100 miles
take 2 flights 1/1-2/28 and get double miles.
Does a round trip count as 2 flights?
Thanks for the socks Grandma…I particularly like that I only have to fly two flights after January 1st to earn double points all the way through, wait for it, the end of February! OMG, this is better than that Iberia deal of the year in 2018!!
Your gift:
100 AAdvantage® bonus miles
To claim your gift, register by December 16, 2020. (Your gift will be deposited in your account within 24 hours.)
After registering you’ll also automatically earn 1 entry into Our Greatest Gift Sweepstakes. (U.S. residents only.)
Plus, your registration will also unlock a promotional bonus offer to kick-start 2021 by earning even more rewards.
Earn double miles from January 1 – February 28, 2021:
Register by December 16, 2020, and before creating a flight reservation
After you’re registered, book 2 qualifying, eligible flights for travel on or after January 1, 2021
Earn double award miles after completing those flights and any additional eligible flights through February 28, 2021
Gary hit the nail on the head — this is a stupid promo. I don’t have much more goodwill to throw AA’s way anyway, and this promo left me feeling that I wasted the 15 seconds it took me to register and get my gift. 250 miles for a Lifetime Plat. To those that felt grateful, well, that’s just adorable, really.
I got a 1 time admirals club pass, but then it says we are unable to process your request.
2mm platinum
Former Plat, no status currently, no email from them, no new activity in my account from this. Yeah, seems like they had the interns crunch the list.
EXP: 250 miles. I received more miles ordering coffee pods on the Keurig website recently…
So at 1:05pm Central Time, I get an email from AA saying that I have a gift in my account, and to log on to receive it. I have been trying to do so for the last 20 minutes, both at AA.com and on the app. No go. Seems their system is overloaded with suckers like me (a longtime ExPlat member) trying to find out what’s in their “Christmas stocking”… lol.
I got the same 500 mile upgrades as Gary. I’ve been an EXP since 2005.
Santa sent out too many gifts at once! Please check your stocking online at aa.com or your wallet in the app at a later time. You have until December 16th. On behalf of Santa, I do appoligize!!
I got one free visit to Admiral’s Club, and I get 2 more free visits if I fly twice between Jan 1 and Feb 28.
Seems clear to me the “gift” is just a Trojan horse to introduce the Q1 “promotion” and make sure they lay eyeballs on it
I haven’t received any email (I’m EXP) and AA website has been down the past couple hours for me…
I’m AA Gold. And Millionmiler. I got one upgrade for a premium main cabin seat.
ExPlat, million miler with BIS miles and I got 250 miles as a gift!
I got 250 award miles and double award miles on up to 4 flights in Jan/Feb 2021. I’m an EXP with over $20K EQD the past couple of years (2018 & 2019).
My Gold wife got the same thing.
What a joke. Glad you’re hammering them about this, Gary. This was an embarrassing flop of a promotion.
I was given 100 miles.
*Update to my previous comment:
@Econometrics, I got the same thing, and am in the same boat as you status-wise and spend-wise…was finally able to log in, and received a measly 250 miles added to my almost 700,000 mile balance. Wow, 2020 just keeps on giving, doesn’t it? I know times are tough all over, but jeez Dougie, couldn’t impress me less.
At least we tried! Time to blame it on the new guy., but maybe his Vaccination Special for later in 2021 will be better! Those IT guys are in trouble for not being ready.
I got 100 miles as a nobody with 0 miles in my account who last flew AA 10 years ago. (Sadly I lost 12,500 miles a couple years ago because I stupidly missed the 18 month inactivity deadline).
It seems like the vast majority of the “gifts” have a value of somewhere between $1 (e.g., 100 miles) and effectively $0 (500-mile upgrades for Executive Platinums.) Not a bad price for AA to pay to gather info about who actually reads their emails and how quickly, as measured by when the log in to collect the gift after receiving the email. Of course, the heavy volume crashing their site ruined that possibility; the whole promotion was poorly planned and executed from start to finish. AA claims the “gifts” are based on travel and transaction activity, yet I got the same 100 miles that CP@YOW got with 0 miles and 0 flights over the past decade, even though I was ExP until earlier this year with probably 50 flights to 3 continents, mostly in premium cabins, in the preceding 2 years. The logic escapes me.
American Airlines awarded me 100 bonus miles Yes 100 bonus miles. Real generous offer LOL
What a joke especially after having been a loyal customer for over 37 years
Maybe I’ll stick with Delta Airlines henceforth
Spot on Gary. They offered me 250 miles a PPRO. I’ve heard of a lot of ExPlats getting 500 mile upgrades- wondering if they’re finally realizing the big joke 500 mile ups are for companions for the top 2 tiers. I’ve been able to upgrade companions on tons of flights during the pandemic so my 500 mile upgrade balance from years ago is drying up. Charging top tier elites for stickers that literally no other carrier requires is an embarrassment considering these are the most loyal pax
They would have been better off not doing the promo. It just looks like a half ass effort. A thank you for your future business would have been better than the 100 miles they gave out.
I’m a CK with 7 Million Miles…170 EQM Miles this year, even during the pandemic. I got 2,000 bonus miles (oh, and a chance to earn Gold after 6 flights next year). They should have just not bothered.
Gary,
Don’t feel like the “Lone Stranger”!! My gifts were one free rental car upgrade and 100 air miles! I’ve been loyal American and Alaska Air freq. flyer for more than thirty years now, 9 currently have about 200,000 American miles in my account, still unused. However, I’m admittedly not a “frequent enuff” flyer to have ever gained any edit status. I have spent money on business class product, mainly for international flights, but not on domestic, as it’s just not worth it unless one is flying more than 6 hrs. I guess my gifts were better than poke in the eye with a sharp stick!?!
Robert
I received 1,000 Million Miler miles as my gift. My promotion is…
“Earn 10,000 additional Million Miler miles from January 1 – February 28, 2021:
– Register by December 16, 2020, and before creating a flight reservation
– After you’re registered, book 4 qualifying eligible flights in Premium Economy, Business, or First for travel on or after January 1, 2021
– After completing your qualifying flights, 10,000 Million Miler miles will be added to your account, getting you closer to lifetime elite status.”
This is actually a useful gift to me and a useful promotion. I’m only 200k away from 2 Million Miles which will earn me lifetime Platinum. I earned my first Million Miles in 2011 from US Airways and that converted in when Dividend Miles was combined with AAdvantage. Pre-COVID travel schedule had me on pace to hit the 2 Mil in three years. With this gift and promotion, plus the 1 Million Miler mile per US dollar promo from the Avator Silver card, I haven’t lost a whole year’s worth of pace to 2 Mil. Thanks to the 1yr extension, I’ll keep my EP going into 2021. Re-earning EP in 2021 will be a challenge.