American’s big AAdvantage change starts in a matter of weeks. (Image: Jim Glab)
American Airlines last fall announced it would change its AAdvantage program to a revenue-based regimen in 2016, and in case you forgot, a major milestone for that changeover is fast approaching.
American this week issued a reminder to AAdvantage members that the way they earn award miles will radically change on August 1. These moves generally bring the AAdvantage program inline with Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus; American will no longer enjoy the “outlier” status it had while merging with US Airways, and putting off any major program changes.
For trips beginning August 1 or later, a new earning formula kicks in, paying a base rate for non-elites of five miles per dollar spent (including base fare plus carrier fees, but not government fees or taxes). Elites will earn bonus miles based on their status: Golds get seven miles per dollar spent, Platinums get eight, and Executive Platinums earn 11.
Starting later in June, American said, “customers will be able to see an estimate of the number of miles and elite-qualifying credits they will earn for a chosen itinerary when booking their trip on aa.com.”
A few months ago, American revised the award side of the program, instituting a new award level for flights of less than 500 miles, and increasing the mileage cost for some awards, especially for its lowest-priced MileSAAver awards.
For flights on AAdvantage partner airlines not operated by American, members will earn miles “based on a percentage of the flight distance and the fare class of your ticket,” AA said, promising to release specific earning rates by mid-July.
More changes are coming in 2017. Starting January 1, spending will also figure into qualification for elite status, with access to each level requiring a combination of elite-qualifying dollars (EQDs) plus elite-qualifying miles or segments. And a new Platinum Pro status is being added in between Platinum and Executive Platinum.
Here’s a look at the new qualification chart:
Finally, American said additional changes will come later on in 2017: Upgrade priority “will be based on a 12-month rolling EQD total, sorted by elite status level;” and Executive Platinums will be able to use complimentary 500-mile upgrades with AAdvantage award tickets for travel on American.
American has a web page that summarizes all the upcoming changes in the AAdvantage program.
How does this make you feel about American? Please leave your comments below.
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Chris McGinnis says
June 10, 2016 at 11:01 amThanks, L! Good to hear from you as always!
Kirk says
June 7, 2016 at 12:56 pmYou seem to be confusing business relationships with romantic relationships. Romantic relationships are about loyalty, business relationships are about profit
If an airline profits $1000 from 1 or 2 full F tickets, vs $50 profit from each of 10 coach tickets, then yes, the airline is making twice as much profit from the full F guy.
Once again, airlines are businesses. They are interested in profit. Once you understand the difference between a business and a romantic relationship this will make more sense to you.
Anon says
June 7, 2016 at 12:38 pmIs a person who buys a full fare F ticket on an airline one or twice a year more loyal than someone who buys a series of moderately priced coach tickets?
Kirk says
June 6, 2016 at 4:56 pmIt never made sense to award people for flying lots of miles. It does make sense to award people for paying lots of dollars. I’m not surprised that UA and AA followed DL’s lead. It just makes sense that way
Salvatore Johnson says
June 6, 2016 at 4:52 pmFunny how things have changed.
20 years ago airlines went out of their way to start these programs and try to top each other and give more to the customers.
Now they go out of their way to find some excuse to screw there most “loyal” customers more and more and when one is brillant like cutting out the mileage on frequent flyers, they all follow suit and give us less and less for more money.
They have diluted these programs to the point that to make points, you have to do it with credit card spending, not flying a lot and long distances.
In a way just wish they get rid of the programs, if your like me that only flies 30,000 or so miles a year with a trip to Europe and a couple cross country it’s getting hard to really earn miles that have value anymore. The way of the world I guess.
Chris McGinnis says
June 6, 2016 at 4:35 pmSo far, there there is no word on a credit card exemption… but that does not mean that it’s not in the works.
Anon says
June 6, 2016 at 3:50 pmIt’s like they are copying United who copies Delta. What I never understood is that United and American are giving 11 miles per dollar for top tier when it only requires 100k miles instead of Delta’s 125k.
Any word on whether you can get an exemption on credit card spend like UA and DL?