Major American AAdvantage Changes Coming 2023

I agree with Basic economy restrictions; it comes with too many perks and benefits if you’re an elite member currently. Mileage earning , seat selection , priority boarding , complimentary upgrades should not be given on a basic economy fare simply because you’re an elite member.

1) It is pretty clear that basically all airlines think flying volume is back to a new normal and are comfortable increasing status requirements. DL, UA, AA have all done this

2) As someone without status that has considered AA, these changes are daunting, on top of an increase last year. I guess getting preferred seats at 15K or whatever is a bonus, but you seem to have to totally commit to AA (cards, partner shopping, and flying) to get any kind of meaningful benefits. The AA program is increasingly disadvantageous to those that don't pay attention to things like shopping portals (which I never do).

Sticking with DL for now.

Agreed. It’s shocking that AA has been letting elite members earn airmiles whilst flying with them on their entry-level pricing. It’s high time that these loyal elite customers realise that they’re not valuable to the company at all unless they’re overpaying for a seat

Will it still be possible to earn the new status thru CC spending?

@ Shaim -- Yep, nothing is changing there. Each dollar spent on an eligible American Airlines credit card earns you one Loyalty Point.

I'm curious to see what the partner chart ends up looking like. Right now, there are a few outliers (eg. DFW to SIN in J on Finnair) that can hit the 75k mile cap with relatively low fares (~$3.5K). Being someone who actually takes such routes occasionally, increased earnings would make hitting the new rewards thresholds a bit easier.

Wow, they keep mining ways to destroy loyalty. The way I see it there is really no reason to be loyal to AA or any other carrier. I’m 3100 points away from achieving Ex Plat again and I’m seriously wondering why I should bother. AA not very reliable, their baggage delivery is best described as “glacial”, the inflight environment is “meh”, etc. And now they continue to chip away at the requirement that one even flys them to maintain status or rewards. Like all the of the other carriers, they’ve morphed into a marketing company; one that oh by the way also flys airplanes. You know, in their spare time.

One thing I think AA needs to sort out is the way in which a Flagship lounge pass and/or Flagship First dining pass will translate at JFK given the recent lounge changes. I would assume that a Flagship Lounge pass would gain entry to Greenwich and Flagship First Dining would gain access to Chelsea. Also this begs another interesting question which is can you purchase access to any of the new JFK premium lounges in the way you’re able to purchase Flagship Lounge access?

Well, AA is all in on credit card spend. Frankly I like all the changes. The 30 segment requirement was going to be a pain for myself in 2023, and now I can fly whatever airline I want but choose AA for elite treatment when the routing works. I have small business spend which offers a lot of flexibility with this program. If I was not connected with a small business this would be difficult.

I think a real question going forward is how is CK awarded in the future (points, spend or both). It’s also just gotta be a matter of time before elite requirements increase.

I was already planning out ways to convince my wife to let me do some segment runs next year, now I don't have to!

"you seem to have to totally commit to AA"

Almost as if that's, you know, their goal.

Yeah, I gotta kinda disagree from someone who thought this current year would be impossible at first, and now I'm EP for the first time ever. The shopping portal(s) is maybe 1%-2% of my total Loyalty Points earned. Including ALL of them (simply, dining, eshopping, etc.) I think it was too easy to hit that in 16 months And now that upgrades work off of status and LP'S, and the fact that I live in DFW, I'll probably never be upgraded grom there on popular segments, but I hit every single thing AA threw at me this year and then some. Have flown 30 segments this year, 275k LP's so far, 2 personal CC's with Citi. I'll hit 350k LP's by March. Next year worries me a little, as I requalify later in the year.

(1) I think changing the rules of AAdvantage every year is simply a bad idea for keeping loyal customers.
(2) Personally, I find the idea of earning LPs from many sources too complicated and the new multiple award levels make the program even more confusing.
(3) The real question is what the awards would look like because AA could easily raise most of the awards making the advantage miles a new sky peso.

Where you stand on this matter depends on where you sit. The biggest problem AA was facing with the current system was with its highest value customers. The Concierge Key who is flying monthly between JFK and LHR or LAX and JFK in first class and spending $60k+. These customers were earning 660k Loyalty Points, all of which were useless because they only had 24 segments. You can't stiff your best customers. Moreover, it actually created a disincentive to spend once you achieved 200k Loyalty Points. So, something needed to change. Next year, don't be surprised if "unused" Loyalty Points start to roll over like Delta's MQMs roll over. You heard it here first.

In all seriousness, how does one earn 5 million points in a year? I realize that very few will, and that it's there as a flashy, aspirational status, but still! Is it business owners who put all their spending on some AA-branded cards?

Yes, there are (a small number of) people with multi-million dollar a year credit card bills, mostly people with inventory-based businesses.

Yes, I'm always chasing the legendary $2k, 100k LP partner business class itinerary. Not sure it exists in the wild but I haven't given up hope!

For my part, I'm surprised with how happy I've been as a Platinum Pro with a 70% or so upgrade success rate on domestic (and Mexico) flights. Plan to jump through some hoops through February to see if I can repeat for next year.

It’s an invitation to manufactured spending. Even if still flying AA, you can expect a good amount of churners on AA next year.
Or maybe their business cycle is sell points and Linda them back to get free bucks?

This is really frustrating. I fly a lot, but I fly shorter, lower priced segments for work. I have never earned more than Gold, which I have valued because its really nice after a long week of work travel to sit near the front of the plane, not worry about overhead bin space, and be able to get off first. Every once in a while I get upgraded, but that was a nice little bonus.

With the new, 40,000 loyalty point level, I'll be RIGHT on the cusp of making it. This is despite flying 35 or 40 segments a year, twice a month exclusively on AA.

I get I'm not that important, but that amount of flying should be enough to give someone the basics I've been getting. This will for SURE give me a different thought about some of my trips.

Right now, because I have Gold, I am more likely to route through PHX or DAL to get to DEN, despite there being a non-stop Southwest option. That non-stop looks SIGNIFICANTLY better if status isn't a factor anymore.

This makes me really, really happy I earned lifetime Gold. Those benefits are "enough" for me in terms of early boarding, etc. vs. the flexibility to choose airlines (and alliances) based on price and service.

Tony - Is there any spend you could put on an AA no-fee credit card to get the LP's for?

The company would prefer they not fly at all. Just spend on cards.

Any clarification for the loyalty choice awards if you can choose the same one twice at the 250k level (i.e. to select 4 SWUs)?

It's not clear (to me) what these changes mean for Million Miler with so-called lifetime Gold. Just reading about the program leaves me feeling that the complexity is enough to make me give up on AA.

Oh yeah, totally. But getting another card all to press for something I used to get via flying is annoying AND playing directly into their strategy.

So you win, AA.

Big gap between 250K and 400K discourages using them for more than the minimum to hit EP tier, same as this year. Hit 200K but the next so-called benefits aren't until 300K, so I do the minimum then use United to hit their second tier (I don't fly enough to hit top tier in both). As others have said, this actually discourages loyalty to just one airline. I get that they're tweaking the system to find the optimal way of getting the most money out of you while providing the fewest benefits, but this is just dumb.

It's a not a devaluation. It's a neutral change.

Yes, more LPs required to earn some of the more significant rewards (e.g. 250 instead of 200 for the second set of SWUs.). But they've also made it easier to earn those points (bonus on certain portals earned with earlier thresholds). So it's likely a wash.

You can't evaluate the LP program by the standards of the old mileage programs. It's a new approach and people need to think about it differently.

Signed,

A AA EXP

And still no changes to their woefully uncompetitive million miler program . No incentive to go past 2 million lifetime miles with AA .

For me, I think I'm ok with the changes except the Basic Economy. It's a revenue-based program at this point, so why does it matter? It actually forces my wife to NOT spend on AA, since she travels to MX every month for her business. I was able to steer her to pay that little extra for the BE AA flights as it has helped her get status and whatnot. Now? She'll just look for the best flights price/schedule wise, and ditch her Gold/Plat status.

Do well and earn enough money to buy a seat in the cabin you wish to fly in. Simple.

@ Ben -- Please clarify something... are thresholds stackable?

I'm currently EXP and about to prequalify for next year. Obviously, the 15k threshold benefits (priority check-in, preferred seat coupons) mean nothing to an EXP, but when can I count on receiving the 60k point benefits (Avis Preferred status and 20% points bonus on spending with AAVacations etc.) or does that not come in till I actually hit 60k in 2023?

More importantly, when I hit 175k points next year, will I be able to choose one of the benefits then or, as a current EXP, will I not be eligible for a threshold benefit until I reach 250k?

Seems like AA has not clearly defined this.

I may have missed the point of the question, but it appears to me that come 1 Mar 23, your benefits from 2022 continue for the following 12 months but your LP score resets at zero and you begin accruing LP for the new range of benefits, whether they be tier status or LP points benefits. If any of the perks are not available from 2022 LP earnings then I expect you have to wait until you reach the relevant earning level in 2023. Your 2022 status doesn't give you a head-start on earning gold or higher status in 2023 so there's no reason it should give you early access to LP perks that you had not achieved under the 2022 suite of benefits, and that would include any benefit that was not available in 2022.

On the other hand, I can see no reason why current status should affect whether you can take advantage of reaching each of the new LP accrual levels, whether they are for status or for selection from the LP points benefits list.

It's actually 350k this year....

Lifetime Gold no problem

Do you get to top tier status and then use a different airline? Why?

I'm not the type to rage against the airlines for devuations. I've been exp for I think eight years running now, all of that entirely by choice, and earned by making sure to jump through the hoops. I think, though, the cumulative changes from last year and this are enough to get me off the wheel. It took effort to earn the EQMs in the past, but trying to route all my spending onto certain cards and through certain portals (that, I find are often slow and don't always credit me correctly) is exhausting.

The credit cards themselves are also just such a let down. Over the last year, on multiple occasions I've found myself stranded overnight on canceled flights, wishing I hadn't used my AA card, but rather one that actually offered travel insurance.

I'll likely still try to keep platinum or above status on OW, but I'll easily attain that using another airline's program--a program focused on flying. As for upgrades, I imagine what I save from detaching myself from the mouse wheel will save me enough to pay for first directly when needed.

Basic Economy

“This will apply for all tickets issued on or after January 1, 2023, and for travel starting March 1, 2023.“

Just tried booking a basic economy domestic ticket for Jan 17 , 2023 as Platinum Pro and after booking my reservation read complimentary upgrade not offered.

Pretty disappointing news for EP's who fly on a weekly basis and are truly dedicated to AA. Giving the credit card spenders equal or higher priority is truly a massive let down.

Good job American Airlines showing others the best practice in How to kill loyalty.

American Airlines is waging war against their best customers. I've been Executive Platinum for years & AAdvantage member since 1983. Very sad to see what this airline has become-terrible service & a lousy loyalty program as well. Once travel slows down (recesssions are inevitable) they'll experience a need to retain their best customers.

I am an exec plat and have been for the last 16 years. I fly mostly on transcontinental and international flights and so i have hit 200,000 loyalty points but will not attain 30 segments. I wonder what this will screw me out of.

Why bother with them at all! There are plenty of other Airlines!

I've been an exec plat for 15+ years. The major advantage for me is the exec plat phone line help. When problems occur, that makes all the difference -- and enough reason to stay loyal. BUT I don't think I'll qualify this year, and if I lose the exec plat call center, then AA loses me.

I am a multimillion miler and this year Platimnum Pro. Probably just Platinum this next year because we cannot get flights that are to where we want to go. From Las Vegas to Denver almost 4.5 hours as you have to go through LA or Phoenix. We picked Southwest and were there in two hours. San Francisco roundtrip from Las Vegas had the highest cost. We fly for work and American has been our corporate choice but no longer.

I'll hit Exec Plat in 2023, and probably get to 250k to earn the 4 systemwide upgrades, but boy has the value gone down. So that will be the last year I hit that mark. I'll also hit 3 million miles in 2023 and get more upgrades. I'll burn them and my miles in 2023-2024, then goodbye AA. With permanent Platinum the highest AA offers in the million miler program, I have no incentive to stay with AA. I also have permanent Gold on United, which means my wife does as well (unlike with AA). So from 2025 on, we will be flying United.

They have devalued the program so much. Systemwide upgrades are not longer garanteed and you have to sweat it out at the last minute and not get it. I lost 13 systemwide last year as I was not able to get anyone of them confirmed.

Have loyalty program users seen significant increases in the actual number of points needed to book round trip domestic flights. I am trying to plan a trip, and the number of points required has tripled since last year.