American Airlines redesigns AAdvantage loyalty programme

American Airlines has made changes to its AAdvantage loyalty programme, with miles awarded based on the price of tickets. The changes take effect for travel from August 1, and will see members earn miles as follows on AA-marketed flights:

• AAdvantage members earn five miles per dollar spent
• Gold members earn seven miles per dollar spent (40 per cent bonus)
• Platinum members earn eight miles per dollar spent (60 per cent bonus)
• Executive members earn 11 miles per dollar spent (120 per cent bonus)

Note that the amount spent includes the base fare and any carrier-imposed charges, but not government-imposed taxes and fees. Miles awarded on “most” flights marketed by partner airlines will be based “on a percentage of the flight distance and the booking code purchased”. From January 1, 2017 a fourth elite tier will be added to the programme. Platinum Pro will sit between the Platinum and Executive Platinum levels, and will offer the following benefits:

• Complimentary auto-requested upgrades on all eligible flights within North America and between the US and Central America
• Nine award miles earned per US dollar spent
• Two free checked bag
• Oneworld Sapphire status

From the same date changes will also be made to elite-qualification requirements. Members will be required to reach the Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQD) threshold, and either the Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) threshold, in order to earn the next level of membership, as follows:

• For Gold membership: US£3,000 EQD, and either 25,000 EQM or 30 EQS
• For Platinum membership: US$6,000 EQD, and either 50,000 EQM or 60 EQS
• For Platinum Pro membership: US$ 9,000 EQD, and either 75,000 EQM or 90 EQS
• For Executive Platinum membership: US$12,000 EQD, and either 100,000 EQM or 120 EQS

Finally, beginning later this month members will be able to see an estimate of the number of miles and elite-qualifying credits that they will earn for a chosen itinerary, when booking their trip at aa.com. aa.com/aadvantage2016 Mark Caswell