American Airlines recently announced several changes to its AAdvantage loyalty program, and overall, the news is quite positive. One of the best things about the announcement is that the carrier did not make it harder to earn top-tier Executive Platinum status for 2025, which is a relief for those working towards that goal.
One of the exciting new perks that American Airlines has added is the ability for elites to choose from various levels of Loyalty Points rewards. Previously, the only options were priority check-in and boarding or Preferred Seat coupons, which were not as valuable as the perks offered to top-tier elites. Now, once you accumulate 15,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose 1,000 more Loyalty Points. At 175,000 Loyalty Points, you can pick an additional 5,000 Loyalty Points, and at 250,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose 15,000 more. While these new choices may not be spectacular, they do provide some additional value for elites.
Another exciting change is the introduction of the ability to upgrade flights on partner airlines using AAdvantage miles. Currently, you can only use systemwide upgrade certificates on select British Airways flights, with many restrictions. If American makes it easier to upgrade with miles on partner airlines like Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines, it could be a game changer for loyal customers.
A cool enhancement for AAdvantage Platinum Pro members is the ability to redeem miles for access to the Flagship First dining facilities at select airports. This allows members to enjoy a premium dining experience while traveling.
However, there are also some changes that may not be as well-received. American is putting some benefits behind a membership paywall, meaning that only AAdvantage members will have access to certain perks. Additionally, members will now be able to cancel basic economy tickets for a fee of $99, which was previously not allowed. While these changes may not be ideal for all customers, they do provide some additional options and flexibility.
One change that is both exciting and worrisome is the ability to earn redeemable miles and additional Loyalty Points when paying with cash to upgrade to a premium cabin. While this sounds fantastic on the surface, there is a concern that it may become even harder to get upgrades for free, which is a key benefit of achieving Executive Platinum status.
Overall, the changes to the American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program are mostly positive. The addition of new reward options, the ability to upgrade on partner flights, and the opportunity to earn Loyalty Points for cash upgrades are all welcome enhancements. It will be interesting to see what other changes American Airlines has in store for its loyalty program in the future.