Questions and Answers

I know how much everyone around here is opposed to EQD requirements but, what if you didn’t have to get it but, it could still contribute to status? Here is my idea: You qualify for status on a combo of EQMs, EQDs, and EQSs to form the new qualifier EQPs (elite qualifying points) (I’m just using AA for sake of simplicity) You Would need the following:
6k EQP: Gold
12K EQP: Platinum
18K EQP: Platinum Pro
24k EQP: Executive Platinum
For each trip you would get
100 EQPs for each Segment
1 EQP for every Dollar spent on your ticket
12% of distance flown (when 1 EQM is earned per mile flown) with all old rules still applying (Such as 3 EQMs per mile flown for flights on AA booked in F or J fare class or 0.5 EQMs per mile flown for flights on BA in the O fare class.) You earn 12% so that no part of the package overpowers the other and 3000 is 12% of 25000 (the old amount needed to get to the next level of status.)

For example: A flight from DCA-LAX in the A fare class would get
100 EQPs for 1 segment
615 EQPs because of the price of the ticket (615$)
554 EQPs because the flight is 2311 miles and 24% of the distance flown (100% EQM bonus) is 554
Adds up to 1269 EQPs as opposed to getting 4622 EQMs (2 EQMs per mile flown) 1 EQS and 615 EQDs which you would get under the current system

If you want to use it on one of the cheap QR fares that Ben posted about Earlier like CAI-SYD-CAI (via Doha) also in the A fare class. You would get
400 EQP for the 4 Segments
5380 EQPs for the 30% of miles flown that AA gives you EQDs for under the new system
3228 EQPs for the mileage flown 18% of 17935
Adds opposed to the 26902 EQMs, 4 EQSs, and 5380 EQDs that you would get under the current system.

This sounds like it’d be too easy to earn status meaning the airline would be elite heavy. Based on your 2nd example, 3 round trips would earn you top tier in your scheme. Status wouldnt be worth much if a ton of people are competing for upgrades at the same level. AA sort of already has that problem now. I flew JFK-SEA and half the plane boarded because elites board first. Only a handful of people were left when Group 2 was called.

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 22725, member: 29″]This sounds like it’d be too easy to earn status meaning the airline would be elite heavy. Based on your 2nd example, 3 round trips would earn you top tier in your scheme. Status wouldn’t be worth much if a ton of people are competing for upgrades at the same level. AA sort of already has that problem now. I flew JFK-SEA and half the plane boarded because elites board first. Only a handful of people were left when Group 2 was called.[/QUOTE]
Maybe it would work better if it was 9k for Gold, 18k for Plat, 27k for Plat Pro, and 36k for EXP

Plus the point of airlines moving to a revenue based system is that they want to focus on high revenue customers. This means that miles and segments which might have been good approximators of customer value at one point but are game-able are not going to be used as measures of loyalty.

Sorry, I just joined this forum and this topic came closest to my question, which is seeking clarification on requirements for AA Gold and Platinum status.
I’m getting mixed messages, so is it 25,000 EQMs [I][U]and[/U] 30 [/I]segments for Gold, or is it 25,000 EQMs [I][U]or[/U] 30 [/I]segments. I’ve heard “and,” heard “or,” and heard “and/or.” Help me, please.

You [I][B]MUST[/B][/I] meet the EQD requirement [I][B]and[/B][/I] either EQMs [I][B]or[/B][/I] EQSs.

Well that sucks. They just keep moving the goal posts, don’t they?
Thank you, David.

[QUOTE=”Gaurav, post: 22729, member: 79″]Plus the point of airlines moving to a revenue based system is that they want to focus on high revenue customers. This means that miles and segments which might have been good approximators of customer value at one point but are game-able are not going to be used as measures of loyalty.[/QUOTE]
I had a year where I spent over $12,000 and only made PLT – one could make the case that status should be solely revenue based.