My Elite Status Plan Going Forward – British Airways, American Airlines Or Something Else

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American Airlines has devalued the AAdvantage program considerably over the past year and when I take a look at the changes we know are coming, the changes we’re pretty sure are coming and the changes that are rumored to be coming, things just seem to get worse.

A few months ago I wrote a post in which I wrote that, for next year, I was torn between two choices:

• I could continue to credit my flights to the AAdvantage program in order to retain American Airlines Executive Platinum status
• I could start to credit my flights to the British Airways Executive Club and aim for BA Gold status.

Both options would give me the oneworld Emerald status benefits that I value highly but both also come with compromises.

The oneworld Emerald status benefits that I enjoy

Considering the flights I already have booked for 2017 it wouldn’t take much for me to hit BA Gold status….but the trade-off would be that I’d be earning Avios as my loyalty currency.

I really don’t like Avios – it’s a terrible currency if you like to book long haul award flights – so the thought of it being my primary currency doesn’t sit well.

If, on the other hand, I credit my flights to American Airlines I would earn AAdvantage miles that, although significantly devalued, are a considerably better proposition than Avios and that would be very useful for trips with Joanna.

In this instance the trade-off would be that it would take more flights to earn AAdvantage Executive Platinum status than BA Gold so my out-of-pocket costs would be higher.

After quite a bit of thinking I’ve come to a decision and it’s a decision that involves an option that I hadn’t seriously considered before.

What I’ll Do For 2017

As it is, all my trips in the first two months of next year have been booked using miles so the first flights that will earn me miles/points towards status won’t be until March…and that buys me a little more time.

Provisionally I’m going to credit my flights to AAdvantage and aim for Executive Platinum status next year….but I’m going to keep a very close eye on what American does between now and my first revenue flight of 2017.

As I wrote yesterday, I’ve made my peace with the AAdvantage devaluations that have already been foisted upon us and I’ve made peace with the devaluations I’m expecting to be confirmed in the next few months ….but there’s always a chance that American goes even further.

The introduction of Premium Economy cabins is widely expected to result in a devaluation in systemwide upgrades

As long as American doesn’t do something I’m not expecting I’ll stick with AAdvantage for 2017 and see how things go – if we get hit with another significant and unexpected change I’ll ditch AAdvantage in a heartbeat.

What’s more, even if I don’t ditch AAdvantage in 2017, I can’t see me aiming for top-tier status with American in 2018. I think it’s time to branch out.

Not only will I probably ditch AAdvantage in 2018 (at the latest) but I also don’t plan on aiming for top-tier status at all.

Life Without Top-Tier Status

I’m going to have AAdvantage Executive Platinum status through February 2018 whatever happens and, after that, the worst-case scenario is that I drop down to Lifetime Platinum status in the AAdvantage program (equivalent to oneworld Sapphire/BA Silver).

I’m not sure I’d really miss non having top-tier status all that much.

My Platinum status will still get me into all the oneworld Business Class lounges regardless of the cabin I’m booked into and my Priority Pass membership will still get me into lounges when there’s no oneworld option.

The British Airways Galleries Lounge (B Gates) at London Heathrow

I don’t book that many US domestic flights any more so I’m not really going to miss the complimentary upgrades (they’re going to become a lot more scarce even if I keep Executive Platinum status anyway) and the systemwide upgrades that come with American’s current top status level are soon to be significantly devalued too.

On top of all that most of the fares I’m booking now are highly discounted Business Class fares and when you travel in Business Class you don’t really need status at all.

With airlines like Finnair and Qatar Airways regularly offering fantastic Business Class fares between Europe and Asia and the likes of British Airways, American, United, Air France and Delta often offering great Business class fares between the US and Europe, I’m booking more Business Class fares than ever before.

I’m typing this post while sitting in Business Class on Air France, flying from Paris to New York and, although I have no status that’s relevant to Air France, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.

More importantly I paid less than $1,000 for my roundtrip ticket and I don’t remember seeing American or any other oneworld airline offering fares that low.

Sure, I’ve been sitting in Business Class lounges rather than First Class lounges today but I’ve had mostly excellent service from all the Air France/SkyTeam staff I’ve been in contact with and I don’t see how having status would have made things significantly better.

Not chasing top-tier status would give me the opportunity to try out a host of other airlines that I wouldn’t normaly get a chance to try and, more importantly, it would free me up to book cheap Business Class fares regardless of who the carrier is.

So Why Don’t I Just Break Free Now?

Truthfully it’s because I’ve already got 4 trips booked on oneworld airlines next year so, all things being equal, it makes sense to credit those flights to one loyalty program…and that may as well be AAdvantage

Once all four trips have been credited to AAdvantage I will only need two more trips to maintain Executive Platinum status for another year so I may as well book those trips with oneworld airlines and lock that up.

The Gilded Cage

Status is like a gilded cage in that it’s nice and it’s comfortable but it’s actually quite restrictive and hard to get away from.

Once you’ve had an airline status that genuinely makes a big difference to your travel experiences it’s very hard to give it up…and that’s what the airlines bank on.

Airlines invented loyalty programs and status for a very good reason – they did it to condition travelers into making irrational decisions that benefit the airlines.

The classic example of such behavior is when a traveler pays more to fly with an airline that will earn him/her miles towards elite qualification rather than booking a cheaper fare with another airline of equal caliber. In the cold light of day most people would think that was nuts…but that’s what chasing status does to you.

I’ve done just that in the past and I’m prepared to bet that most people reading this blog have done that at some point as well.

The reason why today is the first time I’ve been on Air France for over a decade and why tomorrow will be the first time in my life I fly with Delta is because I’ve been trying to maintain American Airlines status all these years…and that’s a little sad.

Air France 777 Business Class

Bottom Line

I’m going to credit my flights to AAdvantage for 2017 as long as there aren’t any nasty surprises between now and when I fly my first revenue flight and, in 2018, I’m just going to book my flights based on which airline I feel like trying out and which airline is offering the best value for money.