Since last March, members of American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program have seen their Loyalty Point earnings increase significantly when they use the airline’s affiliated services.
American Airlines has quietly boosted one of the most profitable aspects of its loyalty program. The bonus applied to spending through a range of partner platforms has increased from 20% to 25%, a rise that is part of the broader overhaul of the AAdvantage program initiated at the beginning of this year.
To learn everything about how to join this program and get the most out of it, consult our AAdvantage Loyalty Program Member Guide before analyzing the new features below.
Which platforms are affected?
Six services are now included in this bonus:
- American Airlines Vacations: booking package holidays
- AAdvantage Hotels: hotel booking portal
- AAdvantage eShopping: online shopping mall with over a thousand brands
- AAdvantage Dining: points program at partner restaurants
- AAdvantage Cruises: cruise booking
- SimplyMiles: a program that links a Mastercard to targeted offers at partner merchants.
Specifically, a member who signs up for this promotion receives a 25% bonus on purchases made through these channels for a period of six months following registration. However, there is a limit: a maximum of 25,000 additional Loyalty Points can be earned with this offer.
An evolution rather than a revolution
Indeed, these aren’t new tools: eShopping, SimplyMiles, and AAdvantage Dining have been around for a while and operate according to distinct principles. eShopping rewards purchases made via an outbound click to the merchant’s website, regardless of the payment method used, while SimplyMiles works by activating offers directly linked to a registered Mastercard, without going through a portal. These two mechanisms can even be combined to maximize earnings on a single purchase.
The only change here is the conversion rate: spending now generates a quarter more points than the base rate for members who have activated the promotion.
This change is accompanied by other program adjustments
This bonus increase comes within the context of a broader overhaul of the AAdvantage rewards system for the current year. Several other changes were implemented during the same period:
Removal of existing rewards: The 30% bonus at 100,000 Loyalty Points and the Bang & Olufsen gift options were removed from the catalog last March.
New reward options: Members can now choose two food/drink vouchers redeemable on flights, and a 12-month subscription to The New York Times (Games, Food, or The Athletic) will be offered later.
Mixed cash + miles bookings: American plans to allow U.S. members to pay for their tickets with a combination of cash and miles, initially on domestic flights operated by American (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), with a gradual expansion to other routes.
Expanded free Wi-Fi: The free Wi-Fi connection sponsored by AT&T now covers all narrow-body aircraft, some 787s, and certain regional jets.
Centenary year: To mark the company’s 100th anniversary, members reaching 15,000 Loyalty Points can obtain a limited edition baggage tag, subject to validating their address and agreeing to receive marketing communications.