American Airlines promised frequent flyers when they merged with US Airways that they were “going for great” and as the two airlines merged to create the world’s largest airline. American Airlines was supposedly going to do it with frequent flyers in mind.
Over the last two years we have seen improvements such as new widebody jets, lay flat seats in premium cabins on the 767 and 772, refurbishment of older airline clubs, and enhance snack offers and options across the airline clubs. Yet, we have also witnessed the airline destroy their frequent flyer program and take away perks from their most loyal flyers. The airline promised us great things, but instead we were handed a washed up CEO from US Airways and backhanded for being loyal.
Less than one year ago, US Airways and AA were too busy trying to combine operations to focus on their frequent flyer program, but made a last ditch effort to try to attract high revenue flyers by rewarding them with more points and miles. At that time, AAdvantage President Suzanne Rubin reminded us that AA had the best frequent flyer program of the three major legacy carriers
As the largest airline in the world, with a global network that spans 54 countries, our frequent flyer program must also be the best in the business. A mile flown continues to be a mile earned in AAdvantage, and now we’re going to reward customers even more when they purchase a First or Business Class ticket…
However, today we learn, not only did American Airlines raise award costs for tickets issued on or after March 22, 2016, but they copied Delta and plan to move to a revenue based system for earning miles in 2016! In fact the earning rate is EXACTLY the same as United who copied Delta. For an airline who put such heavy emphases on a mile flown is a mile earned, they sure are eating their own words quickly!
American has had among the best in class frequent flyer programs with 8 system wide upgrade certificates gifted for top tier flyers, some of the lowest first and business class award ticket costs worldwide, and a program that rewarded customers by miles flown, not by dollar spent. Yet under the See Delta DO, Copy Delta mentality, AA’s frequent flyer program is now easily the WORST in Class! And here’s why.
American Airlines Has the Strictest Routing Rules
American Airlines has some of the strictest award routing rules in the industry. The airline does not allow transit via a third region with minimal exceptions and requires frequent flyers to take the most direct route. Some of American’s hodgepodge rules include no transiting via the Middle East on Award travel from the United State to Africa. Yet, they allow an exception if you are flying Partner Airline Qatar via Doha, but not on partner Etihad via Abu Dhabi. However, transits via Europe are completely acceptable.
Or another example, travel to Australia must be direct from the United States meanwhile both Delta and United allow transfers via Asia. Even Delta will allow someone to travel to Bali via Australia, but American again, only allows transit via North Asia to Indonesia. American Airlines has the stingiest Award transit rules, and to make it worse the just raised the price of awards on nearly all routes!!
No Stopovers on American Airlines Award Travel
Unlike other Airlines, i.e. Alaska and United, American Airlines does not allow stop overs on award travel. A stopover is defined as a stop of more than 24 hours while enroute to your final destination. Both Alaska and United allows stopovers while travel on Award ticket. United allows 1 stop over per round trip and Alaska allows one in both directions of travel.
Stopovers are a fantastic way to explore a destination while enroute and to break up the monotony of flying. American ended stopovers unannounced when the GEO Doug Parker took over and #Parked frequent flyers. AA also ended AA Explorer Awards unannounced at the same time.
The Least Amount of System Wide Upgrades/ Upgrade Certificates
American Airlines will be giving their top tier elite’s 4 less system wide upgrades to use per year; currently, AA Elites earn 8 system wide upgrades which was the most of any airline. This will be reduced to only 4 in 2017.
| America | United | Delta | |
| System Wide |
4 |
6 |
4 |
| Regional Upgrades |
0 |
4 |
4 |
American will allow elites to earn additional system wide upgrades by presenting each frequent flyer with an additional two system wide upgrades after each 50,000 elite miles are earned over 100,000 with a cap of 8 system wide upgrades per year. American Airlines already allows elites to earn extra system wide upgrades on top of the 8 given each year, so again this is a net loss.
Furthermore, United also allows Elites to earn two additional regional upgrades for every 25,000 EQMs and two systemwide upgrades for every 50,000 EQMs with no caps. Although Delta only gives 4 system wide upgrade, they also provide regional upgrades which gives their top tier elite priority within North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
American Airlines Award Chart
American Airlines has not released all award charts for tickets purchased on or after March 22, 2016, but their new award chart for flights departing from the lower 48 does give us some foresight to the atrocious changes that are coming. It’s not as bad as it could be, but it’s still bad with the majority of awards increasing in cost between 10% and 40%, especially on the highly sought after first class and business class awards
First class Awards:
In 2016, award travel is going to nearly double in cost for travel in the First class cabin
| Lower 48 To: | 2016 AAdvantage First Class Award | United Mileage Plus First |
| Contiguous 48 U.S. States | 50,000 | 35,000 |
| Canada & Alaska | 55,000 | 35,000 |
| Hawaii | 65,000 | 50,000 |
| Caribbean | 52,500 | 40,000 |
| Mexico | 52,500 | 40,000 |
| Central America | 52,500 | 40,000 |
| South America Zone 1 | 55,000 | 45,000 |
| South America Zone 2 | 85,000 | 70,000 |
| Europe | 85,000 | 110,000 |
| Middle East / India | 115,000 | 140,000 |
| Africa | 120,000 | 130,000 |
| Asia Zone 1 (Japan, Korea, Mongolia) | 80,000 | Japan: 110,000 |
| North Asia: 120,000 | ||
|
Asia Zone 2 (Greater China, SouthEast Asia) |
110,000 |
Southeast Asia: 130,000 |
| Central Asia/India: 140,000 | ||
| South Pacific | 110,000 | 130,000 |
It is important to note that first class is not offered on most of the routes listed above in North America, with the exception of SFO/LAX to JFK routes and LAX to Miami. Yet travel to South America is taking a beating, with some of the worst redemption rates in the industry. Thankfully other areas were not hit as bad as when United devalued their award Chart.
Business Class Awards
Business class awards are increasing in nearly all regions with the exception of North America where some awards will decrease in cost, such as those to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. This makes sense as American Airline serves these destinations with the same planes and product as the serve the USA and Canada with.
| Departing from Lower 48 |
AAdvantage Business Class Awards |
United Business Class Awards |
Delta Business Class Awards |
| Contiguous 48 U.S. states* |
25,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
| Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada (≤ 500 miles)^ |
15,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
| Canada & Alaska* |
30,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
| Hawaii* |
40,000 |
40,000 |
40,000 |
| Caribbean* |
25,000 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
| Mexico* |
25,000 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
| Central America* |
25,000 |
35,000 |
30,000 |
| South America Region 1* |
30,000 |
35,000 |
45,000 |
| South America Region 2 |
57,500 |
55,000 |
62,500 |
| Europe |
57,500 |
70,000 |
62,500 |
| Asia Region 1 |
60,000 |
75,000 |
70,000 |
| Asia Region 2 |
70,000 |
80,000 |
70,000 |
| South Pacific |
80,000 |
80,000 |
80,000 |
|
all zones across the airlines are not completely the same |
|||
The new award chart is not a complete blow, but matches the cost of awards in many region to United or Delta. There is now fewer regions where American miles will get your further for less in Business class.
American Airlines Economy Class Awards
American Airlines economy class awards look as though the airline just copied United’s award chart, with the exception of North America Awards.
| Departing from Lower 48 |
AAdvantage Economy Class Awards |
United Economy Class Awards |
Delta Economy Class Awards |
| Contiguous 48 U.S. states |
12,500 |
12,500 |
5,000-12,500 |
| Contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada (≤ 500 miles)^ |
7,500 |
12,500 |
5,000-12,500 |
| Canada & Alaska |
15,000 |
17,500 |
12,500 |
| Hawaii |
22,500 |
22,500 |
22,500 |
| Caribbean |
15,000 |
17,500 |
17,500 |
| Mexico |
15,000 |
17,500 |
17,500 |
| Central America |
15,000 |
17,500 |
17,500 |
| South America Region 1 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
22,500 |
| South America Region 2 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
| Europe |
30,000 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
| Asia Region 1 |
35,000 |
35,000 |
35,000 |
| Asia Region 2 |
35,000 |
40,000 |
40,000 |
| South Pacific |
40,000 |
40,000 |
50,000 |
|
all zones across the airlines are not completely the same |
|||
Overall this is a blow as American Arlines is not a transfer partner like United and Delta are of Chase and American Express respectively. Even though AA partners with Citi, they are not a transfer partner of the Citi ThankYou Rewards. Meaning miles are More difficult to obtain on AA, but nearly as expensive to redeem.
More Elites, Fewer Upgrades
American Airlines will most likely single handedly have the most top tier or midtier elite of any Airline program as they are making it even easier to earn elite status in 2017. Instead of requiring 100,000 points, 100,000 butt in seat miles, or 120 segments, the airline is going to give out huge bonuses for high revenue spenders which actually requires less flying to earn elite status!
Under the new program, American will provide business class flyers with 3x elite qualifying miles! Although most people don’t buy full fare first and business class tickets, someone could potentially earn Executive Platinum status by flying just 33,333 miles under the new program! Or for the savvy business class traveler, they will now earn top tier elite status after flying just 66,666 miles! With more people easily earning elite status, the upgrade lists are going to lengthen and those highly coveted upgrades will go by the wayside.
|
EQMs Earned On Carrier-Marketed Flights |
|||
|
Booking code purchased |
EQM / mile American |
EQM / mile Delta |
EQM / mile United |
| Full-Fare First/Business |
3 |
2 |
1.5 |
| Discount First/Business |
2 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
| Full-Fare Economy |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
| Discount Economy |
1 |
1 |
1 |
American Airlines provided a good slap in the face to their frequent flyers as they announced major changes to their frequent flyer program. They have diluted what it takes to become a top tier frequent flyer, diminished benefits for executive platinum frequent flyers by decreasing the number of earned system wide upgrades, and inflated the cost of award travel while announcing that a mile flown will no longer be a mile earned. American is following United’s lead in the Monkey See, Monkey Do game leaving every major US airline aspiring to be the next Delta.
