The American AAdvantage program has launched some targeted promotions offering bonus miles for flights in premium cabins. This seems to be pretty widely targeted, so you’ll want to check if you’re eligible…
In this post:
Bonus AAdvantage miles for premium flights
American AAdvantage is offering some targeted promotions, whereby you can earn bonus miles for premium cabin travel. To find this offer, log into your AAdvantage account through aa.com or the American Airlines app, go to your main account page, and click on the “Promotions” tab. If eligible, you’ll see this listed there.
Let me emphasize that this is targeted, though it at least seems to be widely targeted, as all the accounts that I manage show one offer or another. Best I can tell, there are at least three versions of this offer:
- Fly two premium flights, earn 5,000 bonus miles
- Fly four premium flights, earn 10,000 bonus miles
- Fly eight premium flights, earn 20,000 bonus miles
As you’d expect, there are some terms to be aware of:
- You must register by July 22, 2024, and prior to booking your eligible flights
- You must then fly between August 1 and September 30, 2024
- Eligible flights include those in first class, business class, and premium economy
- Eligible flights have to be operated and marketed by American, and not by partner airlines
- Only revenue tickets count toward this, and not award flights
- Bonus miles will post within 14 days of an eligible flight
- This promotion only offers bonus AAdvantage miles, and they wouldn’t count toward your Loyalty Points total
Personally I value AAdvantage miles at 1.5 cents each. In the right increments, this promotion offers 2,500 bonus AAdvantage miles per eligible segment, which I value at a return of $37.50 per segment. That’s not half bad.
It’s nice to see an offer incentivizing travel, for once!
Suffice it to say that airline frequent flyer programs have evolved over the years. Back in the day, these programs were intended to fill airplane seats, and were a cost center. However, we’ve seen these evolve, as they’ve gone from being frequent flyer programs, to being frequent buyer programs.
With that in mind, the AAdvantage program has been all about incentivizing credit card spending, rather than actually incentivizing flying with the airline. So it’s kind of refreshing to see an offer for bonus rewards in conjunction with certain flying activity, since I don’t remember the last time we saw an offer like this from AAdvantage.
Bottom line
American AAdvantage has rolled out some targeted promotions, offering bonus miles for completing a certain number of premium cabin flights. Essentially you can earn 2,500 bonus miles per eligible premium cabin segment, in certain increments. Definitely check to see if you’re eligible, as this could represent a good deal.
Were you eligible for one of these targeted offers? If so, do you plan on taking advantage of it?
I registered before July 22, booked flights and then flew them within the timeframe but was surprised to not see any of the bonus miles posting. Then I noticed the part that says not only do you have to register before July 22, the flights had to be booked by July 22 as well. That’s a bummer!
It may turn out to be temporary, but something has definitely changed since the ouster of Raja. I'm currently in Sydney because AAdvantage suddenly made a boatload of J SAAver space available to darn near everywhere. And this promotion entices people to travel too. When was the last time Raja's AAdvantage program did anything of the sort? Never?
They are really trying to monetize first (good for them). I have a r/t CLT-PHX in August I booked w a web special for 18,000 miles. Got an offer to upgrade outbound flight for $230 and return for $200. Jumped on the return (outbound is morning and already have MCE aisle so fine w that).
Sorry CK, EP and PP members but this lowly lifetime Platinum just took seat 4B on the afternoon return...
They are really trying to monetize first (good for them). I have a r/t CLT-PHX in August I booked w a web special for 18,000 miles. Got an offer to upgrade outbound flight for $230 and return for $200. Jumped on the return (outbound is morning and already have MCE aisle so fine w that).
Sorry CK, EP and PP members but this lowly lifetime Platinum just took seat 4B on the afternoon return flight to CLT out of play for any upgrades. Love that AA sells these for a reasonable price (and I think $200 for 3 1/2-4 hours hub to hub where I know I would never clear is reasonable).
My offer was 2000 miles for 2 flights. No cabin specified. I wonder how they determine what to offer. I am EXP and am halfway there for for next year.
Existing reservations don't count.
My offer is for 2 premium cabin flights for 5,000 points.
Ben, Thanks for posting this. I think you're the only blogger so far to do so, at least from the handful I check out most days. It's rare I bother even checking promotions on the aa page anymore, as they're usually so mundane and irrelevant to me. While the July 22nd deadline is not ideal, this is still the best (only?) incentive for premium cabins I've seen from aa in years. Four flights in First,...
Ben, Thanks for posting this. I think you're the only blogger so far to do so, at least from the handful I check out most days. It's rare I bother even checking promotions on the aa page anymore, as they're usually so mundane and irrelevant to me. While the July 22nd deadline is not ideal, this is still the best (only?) incentive for premium cabins I've seen from aa in years. Four flights in First, Business, or premium economy for 10K and I'm registered now thanks to you!
Nothing targeting me. A lot of premium, but also a lot of non-premium booked.
My offer was 8 flights, any cabin for only 8000 points.
I assume a connection counts as 2 flights, so this would be 2 roundtrips which would probably happen anyhow. I guess my point 'award' is low because I'd be meeting the qualification for it without doing anything extra. Easy 8000.
I got offered 6 flights for 15,000 miles. It’s very annoying to have to book by 7/22 as I don’t know my work schedule that far out. :(
Not sure what would happened if I speculatively booked and then ended up changing the flights.
My offer: 6 flights for 12,000 mikes.
Book by July 22.
I got 6 flights (any cabin) for 6,000 miles. Annoying thing is having to book by July 22…
I got 4,000 bonus miles for 2 flights in any cabin (not just premium) August 1-September 30. So even more versions.
I got this version of the offer as well
Same here
I have domestic J round trips already booked every week from now until November, and I didn’t receive an offer :(
Probably avoiding those who already fly premium anyway …
Apparently AA counts on me to always fly premium, so no offer for this. What a shame.