American Airways introduced a slew of modifications to its American Airways AAdvantage loyalty program Tuesday. There’s rather a lot to digest, however thus far, I am pleasantly shocked that there is not a serious devaluation. In reality, there are surprisingly some issues to love in regards to the information.
The most effective factor to come back out of the announcement is that the service did not make it tougher to earn top-tier Government Platinum standing for 2025, which means I will stick to my plan of striving to requalify for a similar standing subsequent yr. To succeed, I will have to accrue 200,000 Loyalty Factors as soon as the brand new status-earning yr kicks off March 1.
The shortage of tweaks to qualification necessities is not the one optimistic from American’s most up-to-date program modifications. Listed below are 5 AAdvantage modifications I am enthusiastic about — together with one which additionally worries me.
New Loyalty Factors rewards
American Airways has added an thrilling new perk that elites can select from as soon as they’ve accrued varied ranges of Loyalty Factors. You will now be capable of choose 1,000 Loyalty Factors as quickly as you’ve got acquired 15,000 Loyalty Factors. Beforehand, your solely choices have been a one-time precedence check-in and Group 4 boarding, or 5 Most popular Seat coupons. These advantages have been duplicative of and even inferior to the perks you get as a top-tier elite, so this can be a good change for these with standing.
When you earn 175,000 Loyalty Factors, now you can choose 5,000 further Loyalty Factors. That possibility is along with the present decisions, which embody two systemwide upgrades or 25,000 AAdvantage bonus miles. I am not as excited by this selection as an elite since I worth the improve certificates extra, but it surely’s good to have choices.
On the 250,000 Loyalty Factors threshold, you’ll be able to choose 15,000 further Loyalty Factors as a reward. That comes on prime of earlier choices like two extra systemwide upgrades or as much as 30,000 bonus miles.
All in all, whereas the brand new decisions aren’t spectacular (I’d have liked one other alternative to pick out improve certificates), it is a optimistic on the margins. I’ll undoubtedly select one other 1,000 Loyalty Factors on the 15,000 Loyalty Factors stage.
The flexibility to improve on companion flights
This could possibly be an enormous one, although particulars are elusive for now. American says it should introduce the power to improve flights on some companion airways utilizing AAdvantage miles in some unspecified time in the future this yr.
At present, you should utilize systemwide improve certificates on choose British Airways flights. It’s also possible to improve with miles on some British Airways and Iberia flights. Nonetheless, there are many restrictions.
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If American makes it simpler to improve with miles on each British Airways and different companion airways like Alaska Airways, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airways, it could possibly be a recreation changer.
Flagship First entry
For my part, this one is a extremely cool enhancement.
When you hit AAdvantage Platinum Professional standing, you’ll be able to redeem miles to dine in considered one of American’s ultra-exclusive lounges. You can spend your miles for entry to the Flagship First eating amenities in Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW), Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) and Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX).
I am curious to see if this finally ends up being prohibitively costly, however for now, I will take into account this transformation a win and take a “wait and see” strategy for the pricing.
Limiting some perks to solely AAdvantage members
American is placing some advantages behind a membership paywall. Moreover, members will now be capable of cancel primary economic system tickets, which hadn’t been changeable earlier than, for a charge of $99.
Different new perks for AAdvantage members embody with the ability to purchase one-day passes to the Admirals Membership lounges and the Flagship Lounges, free same-day standby and complimentary 24-hour ticket holds. These perks had beforehand been accessible to everybody.
Incomes Loyalty Factors for upgrades
There’s one change that I am particularly joyful about, although I am additionally anxious about what the fallout could possibly be.
American Airways has gotten more and more aggressive at promoting upgrades. I’ve frequently grabbed affords to improve transcontinental flights on my journeys to and from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) on American Airbus A321T planes (together with Flagship First). In reality, I have been bought upgrades for as little as $242.
Nonetheless, in contrast to Delta Air Strains, American Airways beforehand didn’t award Loyalty Factors or further redeemable miles for upgrades bought with money. That may change going ahead. Someday in 2024, you’ll earn redeemable miles and extra Loyalty Factors whenever you pay with money to improve to a premium cabin.
Whereas the change sounds incredible on the floor, my foremost concern is that American has already made upgrades tougher to get without cost — a key purpose to try for Government Platinum standing — and that will turn out to be much more true now that there is added incentive to reap the benefits of an improve provide earlier than a flight.
Backside line
There’s rather a lot to like in regards to the modifications American Airways rolled out Tuesday. I am most excited in regards to the potential for added reward choices and extra methods to improve on companion flights.
I am additionally trying ahead to a number of the beforehand introduced modifications, such because the spending bonuses that American had beforehand rolled out. There’s a 20% to 30% Loyalty Factors bonus on spending with a number of American companions and applications, together with American Airways Holidays, AA Lodges, SimplyMiles and the AAdvantage eShopping and Eating portals. On the 60,000 Loyalty Factors stage, you will get a 20% spend bonus, and on the 100,000 Loyalty Factors stage, you will get a 30% bonus.
I received hooked again into the AAdvantage universe again in 2022 once I enrolled in a standing problem and shortly certified for Government Platinum standing. Now, I’ve requalified for 2024.
I am excited to see what American does with this system this yr and past. If these newest modifications are an indication of what to anticipate for the remainder of the yr, I stay up for persevering with to go all-in on AAdvantage.
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