As per this URL (http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry0713-american-airlines-to-do-away-with-non-expiring-aadvantage-miles2. Ece), on July 14, American
Airlines (AA) announced that they were changing their "Miles With No Expiration" program so that the miles will now expire! I find it incredible that AA can reverse its position on non-expiring miles at a time in our economy when customer service and consumer loyalty should be paramount. What is the meaning of no expiration if they will in fact now expire??? American Airlines promised they would not ever expire. I have the original letter from AA to this effect.
It is abundantly clear to me that AA is not doing this to "streamline" their program, as they have stated in their 7/14 email.instead, they are doing this to reduce their expense liabilities by forcing point redemption now, even if it means that some consumers may not be able to use the miles.
It is not fair or right that AA is now forcing me and others to use these miles by November 1 or lose the right to redeem them under the original award structure. After November 1 AA is automatically converting all mileage points to their current award structure. Even with a 25% additional mile credit which they offer to automatically apply to my current mileage point credit, this would not make the new awards equivalent with the old award structure.instead, the mileage points will become worth significantly less since the new points would have to be redeemed under the new award structure, which is much less rewarding.
I wrote a complaint to the FTC who advised me that unless other consumers complain, and there is a "pattern of misbehavior", the FTC will do nothing. The Texas Attorney Generals office took the same position. I am hoping to force AA and its AAdvantage program to reverse their decision with regard to convert their "miles with no expiration" program to expiring miles under a now revised and less rewarding award structure.
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