American Airlines AAdvantage MAAsacre Has AArrived: MAAsive 2016 Devaluations For Earning And Redeeming Miles

JFK to HKG F on Cathay Pacific was ?
and Now is?

business 55k now 70k
first 67.5k now 110k

The bloggers except for Dan and their readers have been asking for devaluation from AA for sometime and now you got it. You have been saying” if AA gives us advance notice, you were all for any devaluation”. Well they gave you advance notice and they destroyed the aadvantage program so be happy from April 2015.

AA is now one of the worst reward program after doing away with stop over and now this award devaluation.
time to use cash back cards cos the gov rarely ever devalues currency.

Love my 2% back on everything everyday card.

will be canceling my AA cards just like i have done with UA cards cos we all know these programs are a SCAM!

@matovu:
That’s Asia 2, just take a look at the chart.

@cubicles:
Yup.

@jim:
I think this was inevitable. No point on being so much better than Delta and United, it’s all commoditized here.

They’re still not as bad as Delta.

And you can still beat 2% easily, it just will be harder to get 25% like in the past. But I can respect those switching to a 2% card if they don’t care about last-minute or premium cabin tickets.

@Jim the dollar gets devalues as a currency every day when the fed prints money.

@It’s me:
True. It just happens every day rather than every 5 years so that we don’t notice the pain of inflation.

Your info isn’t correct. You still earn 1 mile for every mile flown. The miles per revenue you reference is for credit card spending

Hi Dan, I applied earlier today for the sapphire and got a pending status, I went to the bank right after and they said they can’t do anything since it doesn’t even show up that I applied, what’s you suggestion? Please answer if there is a solution I don’t want to loose it thanks

ROFL. Your crazy.

@David:
Lol, I wish I was wrong here.
But I am not.

@Oscar:
Did you try calling Recon?

THE WHOLE MILES BUSINESS GOES IN THE GARBAGE NOW STARTED WITH BA AND NOW AA WE ARE HEADING TO THE END OF THE GAME…

@joe:
This is the reality of an industry that’s in good times.

When times are rough they’ll start competing again hopefully.

Still, at least the redeeming side isn’t revenue based. That’s when this whole game dies.

Any idea if AAnytime Awards also increase?

@Dan: web site says 1 eqm for each mile flown

So if my primary goal is business class travel from Chicago to Tel Aviv, what is the best card at this point. I am lifetime platinum with aa but given their recent changes and devaluations, I am thinking of switching to the BA card and accumulating mostly avios. What other approaches would you recommend. If you book BA flights using avios are you still having to pay the exorbitant fuel surcharges?

@Dan:

While i agree it hurts when your miles lose value, i don’t think this is such a big deal. Miles go down in value, that’s a given. However earning opportunities are still around by the dozens (especially with Citi AA) and we never really got most of our miles by flying anyway. I will keep collecting AA miles on the cheap and use them for free flights.

@Kidooo:
They do, see the links in the post.

@Anonymous:
That’s only to earn elite status.

Redeemable miles will be earned based on fare paid effective Q3 2016.

@Jeffb:
BA isn’t good for TLV.
United would be a better option.

@Kidooo:
Some of the best award have gone up more than 50%.
That stings.

Doesn’t mean I’m not going to collect miles, but it does sting.

AA is still one of the best programs out there – even with this devaluation. I cant call anything a scam when I’ve (like most people here) have flown on tens of thousands of dollars of flights, basically for free by playing the credit card/points game. I am grateful for that! If anything, WE are responsible for the devaluation because we have increased the “demand” for award seats through accumulating lots of points, without providing corresponding revenue to the airlines (I rarely pay for flights).

@Anonymous: link?

@jim dont be an idiot:
What makes AA better than United at this point? Pretty comparable now, some pluses and minuses to each.

What is the policy if you change dates of a ticket issued by 3/22?

Also, are date changes still free on domestic award tickets?

@Dan:
can’t say if its better than United (i defer to you on that!) but I think we are pretty spoiled with the US airlines’ mileage programs compared to international airlines. Even if AA is only the 2nd or 3rd best program, its still “one of the best.”

@Al:
I’d imagine that simple date changes are fine, will try to confirm that.

Date changes are free with AA, a nice perk to be sure!

@jim dont be an idiot:
Fair enough. AA is really hurt by the fuel surcharges on BA though. If not for that it would be a much stronger program.

That’s really where United shines.

@Dan: what’s Recon and phone number? Tia

@Anonymous:
888-270-2127

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I think this is not so bad.

Europe in-season remains unchanged for coach travel. The Middle East coach travel has actually come down 10,000 miles/rt, and the
Caribbean is down 5,000 miles/rt.

how do you find availability for JFK – HKG on CX ? i need to burn these miles before march

@Anonymous: people are telling me not to call this number because they became very strict, and they could close all my chase accounts, is that your experience? Or should I take the risk and call?

@jaymar01:
Coach travel is rarely a good use of miles. Unless you’re flying one-way or last minute, you’d have been better off with a 2% card.

It’s the business and first that’s painful. And the loss of earning actual flight miles.

@rediplus:
You need to call AA to book.
You can search on Qantas or BA.com.

Good luck!

@Oscar:
Highly unlikely. But you can wait for a letter and then go to a branch if you want.

Canceling without redeposit before 3/21 and rebooking after 3/22, will go according to old or new chart?

@rediplus:
User BA.com. I just booked CX from HKG to BOS in first class and business for my fiancee and I for our return leg of our honeymoon. Hoping 1 other first award opens up before March 22nd to upgrade from biz to first, but I’m not holding my breath.

You will need a BA account to search though.

https://www.britishairways.com/travel/redeem/execclub/_gf/en_gb?eId=106019&tab_selected=redeem&redemption_type=STD_RED

@D93:
My guess is that won’t work for AA.

It only really worked with United when done online, which can’t be done with AA.

But I’d love to be wrong.

@gilcresr:
Good luck!

Cathay is good about opening more seats so check twice daily. But often times they don’t open until it’s within a few days of the flight.

My guess is that date changes will be allowed, so try to find another date on that route and try changing it later on for free.

I am so upset!!! What will i do with my 400k AA miles?

Also will the new award chart go in affect January 1?

I found one bright side. US to Middle East goes down from 45k to 40k each way.

@Samuel:
03/22.

@Jack out of the box:
It was 40K anyway between October and May.

Is the new award going to raise the cost to travel to Brasil? Which region is it in? Nowadays it costs 20 K miles off peak.

I sympathize for those people who primarily have booked business/first class awards and have gotten used to that quality of service. This change obviously hurts them the most or those who actually purchase revenue tickets.

For someone like myself who is perfectly fine in coach, this isn’t that big of a deal. 5k increase here or there isn’t that big of a deal with the credit card/points game still chugging along. I actually can’t remember when I paid cash last for a ticket.

I know I’m going to face a lot of slack for saying this, but traveling is about the destination more than the flight (excluding avation/plane buffs). It’s great in the past you where able to use slightly more miles to sit up front in comfort. Although, if you didn’t think this would change at some point you are kidding yourself. Coach rates still are very affordable with how cheap we are manufacturing. You’ll survive in coach I promise!

I agree with the airline business being strong as Dan mentions and this is a result. I’m also hoping with planes full, we all get more bump options and vouchers in our pocket 😉

It’s not flashy, but I’m materially impacted by the elimination of the deep South America coach saver award (which was a steal at 20K) and the gutting of the Europe coach saver award (now limited to the dead of winter). Does anyone know whether you can still book these awards using the old off-peak dates, or whether the new dates apply for 2016 (which would mean no S. America off-peak, of course)?

@Celso:
Boa Tarde.
Brasil is in South America 2, with price increases in every class of service 🙁

@Chris:
No flak, I respect that.

I don’t fly around the world in first class just to try out a new plane, that’s craziness. But if I can hit my destination running thanks to being well rested that’s time I wouldn’t have otherwise.

@iahphx:
The current off-peak dates should apply as long as you book by 03/21.

@Dan: Now peak season as well.

@Jack out of the box:
It’s something I suppose. Though you’d be better off with a 2% card and just buying coach tickets than redeeming for coach awards to TLV.

Anyone knows when JAPAN AIRLINES release their business seats from Tokyo (NRT or HND) or Nagoya (NGO) to HNL?
Hawaii to Europe will require double the miles after this MAAsacre – totally removed Main Cabin OffPerk!

I’m not experienced in this field – I have spg points that are expiring next month. Which airline would be best to transfer them to?

@Ken:
Typically close-in to the flight.

Wow, Hawaii really got hosed with these changes!

@eWeiss:
Transfer them to anyone in your household and they’ll be extended. No need to transfer them to an airline.

Is jfk to mia consedarded short haul?
How many miles round trip

@zack:
No.
It would be 25K AA miles or 15K BA Avios round-trip.

Are the routing rules still the same? Like flying USA to Africa via Doha?

The sweetest AA partner deal has been Israel to Australia at only 45k [o/w] in Business, the same as an Economy ticket to the USA. Price is going up to 80k – a 78% increase. Even though the tickets are very hard to come by, when you could get them it was a tremendous deal.

@Yehuda:
No changes announced.

@Gabbai:
Huge blow there in business and first.

@Dan:
so you’re saying their best value is as spg points for now?

Am I getting this right that using AA in coach from NY to Israel anytime of year is now 80,000 miles (instead of 90,000)? Or did they eliminate Israel all together? I’m interested in summer travel. If it is still an option, which route would you recommend from NY to TLV without major fuel/tax charges. (I know they don’t go directly to TLV anymore.)

What is the future rate for Europe to middle east in F? Right now it’s a sweet spot at 40k

Where this hurts for me is the chase in off peak to Europe. I really love traveling in October. I fly BC so the the 7.5k in miles does not hurt too bad. AA miles are still way easy to earn.
Every time there is a devaluation some people go off the reservation an decry “This is the Apocalypse, the game is over”. Pure nonsense

well it looks like etihad deal to india just got better for economy class 🙂 . Sorry for seeing a ray of hope in the mAAssacre 🙂

&somy you did good by looking at the positives ..

@Anonymous:
Unless you have a specific airline need, sure.

@Rochel:
Yes, it’s 80K under the new chart year-round, though they won’t fly there anymore so you’ll have to go on Iberia, Air Berlin, Finnair, etc.

@High end hobo:
62.5K.

Thank you. What would you recommend for the cheapest tax surcharge for a round trip AA ticket from NY – TLV? Iberia, Air Berlin…

@Rochel:
Everything besides BA should be fairly minimal.

Dan,
As a life time Platinum am I correct that the benefits as far as seating / early boarding are not being massacred ?
Also it would seem to me that those of us who use points to go to TLV in business class – and now that there is no direct flight the only pain as far as redemption is another 5000 miles round trip- if that is correct probably not s bad idea to convert Starwoods now to A A – do you agree?

Dan, just want to say a BIG thank you for doing what you do. You always provide all the bits and pieces of information in your posts that leave no room for confusion (as long as one can read, haha), and I appreciate that.
When you do find out and/or can confirm whether or not date changes AFTER 3/21 on flights already ticketed would require additional miles or not, I’d love to know!! Thank you.

we all should have davened better on rosh hashanna !!!

I flew Europe to JFK
Us air tax only was over $100 one way
London to JFK on American tax only was about
$220

Rt would be. $220 for “cheap” or $450 or so
London

Lots of $ for ” free award “

@Reb Dave:
Star Alliance is probably a better option.

@Peter:
Thanks.
I think it’s safe to assume that if you just change dates and not the route that it won’t cost more miles after 03/21.

@Air Berlin:
London is always crazy taxes. Can’t avoid that.

@dan what is going on with tlv-bkk?

@jim dont be an idiot: Could not agree more with jim dont be an idiot
Where is the gratitude?
We have amazing opportunities to travel still. This is one more wonderful part of our experience that has a limited life span. It will disappear sometime, and we will move on to something else.
Cherish what you have.
Remember the tale of the poor man and the rich man who are davening. Which one is happy?

@Dan I’m willing to bet that changes to tickets after 03/21 will require the new mileage, unless it’s on a partially flown ticket

@shay peleg:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/78056
Thailand is Asia 2.

@Dov:
For a ticket where you’re keeping the class of service/routing and just making a date change?

I’d take that bet any day.

@Dan
Talking about a date change

As u mentioned earlier the united website was programmed to use the old chart if ticketed prior to the devaluation on the other hand agents over the phone usually got the new rate even if ticketed pre devaluation and u had to ask for an override with the rates desk

Something tells me that this won’t work with AA even for simple date changes and unless its a partially flown ticket

@Dov:
No, the question being asked was about cancel without redeposit:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/40712

That United trick allowed me (and readers who believed in me) to keep accessing the old chart even after it was gone. Many other bloggers wrote that I was nuts beforehand, but it worked like a charm.

A simple date change (and then some) was allowed by United over the phone and I’m very confident, though granted not positive, that AA would allow it as well over the phone.

@Dan
Referred to the same

I’m not confident its will work I’m more confident its will work on partially flown tickets changing a return flight

I guess will know in 4 months

@dan, if change date later same route, is
There a limit of how many times u can change?
Is nyc- tlv considered same if stop or carrier change?

Hey Dan, Maybe my brain is feeling abit dull tonite from the ugly AA devaluation. But how many AA points do I need to fly from NRT to SIN in business or first? Thanks!

Doug Parker is disgusting. AA will become America West in no time.

CB cards are looking better every day. No wonder why so many of the expert miles/points members are going this way.

@Dan Do you think the shorthaul rate will apply to flights to Canada as well?

On the site it says US48 shorthaul.

@Menachem: Unless Canada was just made one of the US48 why would it?

@Menachem @Anonymous
The chart specifically says US48/Canada shorthaul could it be more clearer

It looks like AA is really ahead of the game; they have removed almost all availability on business and first class award travel
with Etihad even though the guest seats are wide open in Etihad’s website.
Anything to do about it Dan.

@david:
Huh?
Did you call to book?

@Dan: Yes, several times. All tickets to Australia during April, May are wide open on the website, and American only has it available in Economy.

@Anonymous:
Apparently you need to call AA’s call center in Australia to book them.
Let us know how it goes.

@Dan: WOW! Thanks Dan! how on earth did you figure that out!

Hi Dan,

I’m an American living in Israel. I fly frequently between Israel and the US (six times in 2015, six times in 2014) for business. I pay for my tickets. Unfortunately, all my miles are real airlines miles – I don’t have an airline credit card.

The new rules for earning miles are confusing, but I fear that I will lose my elite status because I always fly on cheap tickets. As I understand it, I will keep earning miles, but because of the way the EQM’s work, unless I fly on American, I will only get 25% of the miles I should get. I have no choice – I have to fly BA or IB or AX (which doesn’t come to TLV for much of the year) or AB for one leg, unless I fly an LY code share with an AA number (in which case I only get one checked bag instead of the two elite flyers normally get).

At the moment, I have 560K AA miles, including 86K this year, and am thinking of taking one more trip before the end of the month to put me over 100K for the year and bump up to Executive Platinum.

Any advice how to maximize my mileage and EQM’s under the new rules?

Really frustrated by this.

Thanks in advance.

What is the difference between the flights from US48 to US48/Canada Shorthaul va US48 to Canada & Alaska??
what would constitute a shorthaul flight between the US and Canada and what would constitute a long haul(?) – it’s a matter of 7.5k vs 15k booking after tomorrow.
Would Vancouver to NYC qualify as a long haul flight??

@Chaya:
Flights under 500 miles are short-haul. YVR-JFK is most definitely long-=haul.

Can’t you only extend these tickets for up to one year from the date of issue? So I couldn’t book now and change the date to next summer since it’d be past one year from date of issue and thus they’d have to reissue and reprice? I think your post is missing this key piece of information

Wouldn’t it make sense at this point for everyone to defect to Alaska’s Mileage Plan? I am lifetime Platinum with Air France – which I think is also often overlooked… It is 10 years @ 70,000 miles / year. And then you don’t have to worry ever again. Always 100% bonus miles… It used to be that the European FFPs weren’t good, but now, compared to the ones states side, they look fantastic… Also, if you live in Israel, Lufthansa considers Israel part of Europe (but you have to live in Israel for that benefit…) At this point I really don’t see any of the US FFPs as valuable propositions.

Dan –
If I have a first award North America – Asia 2 with all segments F, though mixed carriers.
LAX – HKG in F on AA
HKG – BKK in F on CX
Can I change the LAX – HKG segment to CX F after March 22, if something opens up, without penalty or would that trigger a reprice?

Any word on whether Alaska miles on AA international flights are being devalued as well? Currently Alaska redemption mirrors AA redemptions on TATL flights.

dont mean to sound like a novice but what is us/48 canada short haul in chart as opposed to us/48 short haul meaning shorter distance? if so what is the # of miles for shorthaul txs!

you can cancel that last question i reread the post and found my answer ty

after increasing their business class miles required on JFK-LAX
whats now the cheapest way to get on a decent business class on this route?? ( not like united so called business with 4 in a row)
is there any way to get on american JFK-LAX via a one world partner for less??

If I book now on BA first and later switch to AA for the same route any chance they will reimburse the surcharge?

Dan- does this affect Using BA Avios on AA flights?

I have 300k miles left on AA. is it better to use them for HOTEL stays and vacation packages(such as day tours etc (while in Australia later this year?) or is it still more valuable to use them for flights?

When looking at this chart, I’m not sure what the MAAsacre truly is here. Yes, some routes are going up by anywhere between 2,500 and 7,500 points each way. HOWEVER, it would appear that several routes that I’m sure your readers fly are either staying the same or going DOWN (short haul flights going down, domestic the same, etc.) The caveat should be that the MAAsacre is really only a massacre for those wanting to fly business or first class (which I know for you Dan is the ONLY way to fly :))

@J:
Sounds like you don’t need AA to massacre the value in your miles. You do it yourself.

@Shloimy:
Without knowing specifically what you’re referring to, probably still infinitely more valuable to use on flights.

@Gary: I have zero idea what that means Gary. What’s that an attempt to insult my comment? I frequently fly short haul, so happy they are going DOWN, and I’m one of the many who don’t fly business class every single flight I go on since I have a wife and children and don’t have 4,000 credit cards. I know Dan is a man of good taste who likes to fly biz/first class when he can and this can certainly hurt him and many like him, but I just don’t think it’s a massacre for everyone. Cheers Gary!

@dan stupid question if i put a trip on hold when i confirm will it go on the old or new rates ?

I both booked tickets and held reservations on my AAdvantage account before midnight. Four interesting observations. 1) I was able to book a business class ticket shortly after midnight EST for the old rate of 50k miles. 2) I am unable on line to now purchase any of the reservations I was holding although it still states they are held until 3/26. 3) Any reservations I have made on my account for other names are no longer listed under “my trips”. Although, if I do a search of the locator code and the passenger name, I can access it; but unable to purchase. 4) If I try to book an economy milesaver ticket from US to Europe the price has gone from 20k miles to 30k. Much more than what they had told us!

Ok, so my understanding was and has always been that if I book an economy or business (in this example let’s use Cathay Pacific HKG to NYC) and if I booked prior to March 22, I can change my dates or upgrade to a higher fare class using the “old” mileage chart. I’ve seen mixed forums regarding this but the 2 AA agents I spoke to both confirmed this to be true. Please can someone clarify once and for all?