American Airlines has overhauled its AAdvantage loyalty programme, introducing complimentary seat upgrades and simplified elite qualifications for members.
As of today members of the AAdvantage programme will only need to track their Loyalty Points to earn status, with every qualifying mile earned equal to one Loyalty Point.
Members will have access to an updated online AAdvantage Status Estimator which will help them project their status qualification, and they can also watch their progress within their AAdvantage account via the website and the carrier’s app.
Alison Taylor, AA’s chief customer officer, commented:
“The past few years have taught us that loyalty is not one-size-fits all — it comes in different forms.
“We recognize the path to earning status is different for each individual, which is why we’re giving members more ways to earn Loyalty Points — whether by flying, shopping or using an AAdvantage credit card. We want to make it easier for our customers to achieve status wherever they may be in their travel journey.”
Members have been accruing Loyalty Points since January 1, and we previously reported on the revamped programme last October.
The status requirements for 2022 are as follows:
- Gold – 30,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum – 75,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum Pro – 125,000 Loyalty Points
- Executive Platinum – 200,000 Loyalty Points
Once members reach a status level, it will remain valid until March 31 of the following year.
Gold and Platinum members will also receive access to complimentary upgrades on all American flights within North America (regardless of the flight distance) from March 2. Upgrades will be automatically requested if everyone in the reservation is eligible for a complimentary upgrade, and members will only need to use 500-mile upgrades if they want to upgrade companions who do not hold AAdvantage status.
Later this year the airline will also extend complimentary upgrades to a companion travelling on the same flight as the status member. At this point, all existing 500-mile upgrades in members’ accounts will each convert to 250 Loyalty Points toward the 2022 status qualification period.
The AAdvantage programme allows members to earn miles and Loyalty Points by flying, dining, shopping and using an AAdvantage credit card. Members can also earn miles when flying on Oneworld partners and other eligible airlines such as Jetblue.
The airline added that it is continuing to expand opportunities for its members to “earn, redeem and enjoy reciprocal benefits” across Brazil’s GOL network, following AA’s recent partnership with the airline.
