It’s my Anniversary: Ten years with AAdvantage

This week marks my 10th year with AAdvantage, and to tell the truth, I forgot our anniversary.  But the new AAdvantage President Suzanne Rubin didn’t, and I received this Happy Anniversary email from American Airlines:

Dear [AAdvantage Geek]

We know you have a choice when it comes to air travel and we appreciate the business you have given us this past year. Today, we’d like to extend a special thanks to you as you celebrate your 10th AAdvantage anniversary.

Since we launched the world’s first frequent flyer program in 1981, we have worked hard to provide great value whether you earn your miles by flying or through products and services offered by the wide range of companies participating in the AAdvantage program. And now, your miles are redeemable for award travel on more than 20 participating airlines to nearly 950 destinations in almost 150 countries worldwide.

Thank you again for your business. We look forward to seeing you on an American Airlines flight soon!

Suzanne L. Rubin
President, AAdvantage Loyalty Program
American Airlines, Inc.

I’m a little embarrassed, I didn’t get her anything.  I’m not the only one though.  The Weekly Flyer over at Points, Miles, & Martinis also celebrated his 10th Anniversary with AAdvantage this week, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t her anything either.  I’m certain she’s used to it by now,

It’s hard to believe ten years with AAdvantage have gone by so quickly. I remember when we met.

It was 2002. I was a loyal Delta SkyMiles member about to make my first trip on American.

Our first date was to Detroit. It was fun.  I earned 986 miles. I enjoyed it.

After that first trip, I wasn’t ready to leave Delta yet (that would happen later in 2002) but looking back, it’s not so much that I left Delta, we just parted ways.

I got used to “More Legroom in Coach” and Delta got tired of fighting American, and shut down their hub at DFW.

In those ten years, I used my miles for free travel, I’ve been able to use miles to bring a friend or family member along with me when I went on a vacation, I’ve used my miles to upgrade to the front of the plane.  I’ve gotten far more out of the AAdvantage Program than I ever expected.

It’s been fun, but it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years.  So much has changed…back then:

My laptop: Apple G3 PowerBook. 333MHz with a 20GB hard drive and a 2X DVD-ROM

American Airlines Hubs: ORD, DFW, MIA, JFK, LAX, SJC, RDU, BOS

American still operated the Boeing 727. The final 727 passenger flight happened a little later on April 30, 2002

Complimentary meals were still offered in coach

American still published a system timetable

I still carried around the OAG Pocket Guide

Kim Cattrall was on the cover of American Way Magazine

There were 10 oneworld member airlines (compared to 12 full members now)

American still had airphones

Number of planes equipped with wifi. In 2002: 0. In 2012: more than 175

Baggage Allowance: Two pieces with total outside dimensions not exceeding 62 inches each. One piece with total outside dimensions not exceeding 45 inches. Checked baggage may weigh up to 70 pounds

Remember this?  It’s the American Airlines website back in 2002 (credit Internet Wayback Machine at Archive.org):

Wow.

I didn’t think that 10 years could go by so quickly. It’s been fun though….and I hope to make it to my 50th!

What’s changed since you first joined AAdvantage?