American Airlines is following United Airlines and Delta Air Lines by announcing significant updates to its loyalty program, AAdvantage. The changes will introduce new benefits for frequent fliers, even before they reach Gold status and after attaining Executive Platinum, the program’s lowest and highest tiers. However, these updates may also decrease the value of earned points.
Starting in March 2023, American will launch Loyalty Point Rewards, replacing the current Loyalty Choice Awards. This change will allow passengers to personalize their travel experiences more effectively, according to the airline.
To achieve Gold status, members will now need 40,000 Loyalty Points, up from the previous 30,000. However, the thresholds for higher tiers like Platinum (75,000 points), Platinum Pro (125,000 points), and Executive Platinum (200,000 points) will stay the same. Despite Gold status being harder to reach—particularly for occasional travelers—AAdvantage members can earn rewards even before reaching any status level.
For example, accruing just 15,000 points qualifies members for the first Loyalty Point Reward, which includes Group 5 boarding for the rest of the year and a choice between one-time Group 4 boarding (with priority check-in and security) or five preferred seating coupons. Executive Platinum members can enjoy additional perks like trip credits, Admirals Club One Day Passes, and discounts on trips booked using miles.
Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Commercial Officer, stated, “We’re creating a more meaningful travel rewards program for our AAdvantage members,” emphasizing that only members will access everything the airline offers, unlocking unique experiences with both American and its partners.
Yet, American has revealed plans for “fully dynamic mileage awards” with a “new, simplified award chart.” Heather Samp, managing director of AAdvantage, told The Points Guy that the airline will phase out MileSAAver and AAnytime awards in favor of focusing on its Web Specials. Introduced in 2018, Web Specials allow redemptions for selected flights and dates, with costs influenced by demand and seasonality. Although initially requiring fewer miles than saver or anytime awards, this is not always true now.
For AAdvantage members, the shift towards Web Special awards could mean their points hold less value compared to before. The precise details of the new award chart remain unclear, but the chart itself will continue. “Since we introduced Web Specials a couple years ago, our members have gravitated toward those fares,” a spokeswoman told CNBC. “We’ll maintain the award chart for its ease in understanding award opportunities.”
Long-haul fliers will also experience changes, as American will eliminate the 75,000-mile cap on single tickets. Frequent fliers on American and partner flights will earn two miles per dollar spent on basic economy fares—eligible for travel beginning March 1, 2023, with bookings available from January 1, 2023. Points can also be accrued via a co-branded Mastercard and purchases made with over 1,000 partners including hotels, cruises, and rental cars.
The revamped rewards program will enable travelers to redeem points beyond flights, applying miles to American’s vacation packages. Co-branded Mastercard holders can also use points for events like private dinners, food festivals, theater, and sports.
The announcement comes shortly after JetBlue revealed updates to its loyalty program, offering substantial perks like free drinks, early boarding, and waived pet fees for non-elite members.
