American AAdvantage has announced some program changes for 2023. While there are a couple of positive updates, I’d say they’re pretty negative overall, as this marks a significant devaluation for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum status. I’ll cover most of the details below, and then in a separate post I wrote about how American is introducing “fully dynamic” award pricing.
In this post:
American changing mileage earning & elite requirements
To start, American is adjusting mileage earning on both its cheapest and most expensive fares, and is increasing the requirements to earn entry level elite status. Let’s go over those details.
Basic economy mileage earning reduced by 60%
Over the past few years, American has made basic economy fares more rewarding and less punitive for AAdvantage members, but that’s a trend that will reverse. As of 2023, American basic economy fares will earn only 2x AAdvantage miles per dollar spent, rather than 5x AAdvantage miles, which represents a 60% reduction in mileage earning on these fares.
This will apply for all tickets issued on or after January 1, 2023, and for travel starting March 1, 2023.
Cap of 75,000 miles per ticket being eliminated
When airlines shifted to revenue based frequent flyer programs, they started awarding miles based on how much you spend. However, there has been a cap of earning up to 75,000 miles per ticket. That always seemed a bit odd to me, since it penalized elite members (who earn up to 11x miles per dollar rather than up to 5x miles per dollar), and you’d think you’d want to incentivize really expensive tickets.
American will be removing this cap on mileage earning, that those on very expensive fares can earn more miles. That’s good news for those who regularly book tickets costing five figures (eek).
Gold status requirements increasing by 33%
As of March 2023, American AAdvantage will be increasing the elite status requirements for AAdvantage Gold status. This currently requires earning 30,000 Loyalty Points, while next year it will require earning 40,000 Loyalty Points, so that’s a 33% increase.
There are no changes to other AAdvantage elite thresholds — Platinum will require 75,000 Loyalty Points, Platinum Pro will require 125,000 Loyalty Points, and Executive Platinum will require 200,000 Loyalty Points. However, as I’ll cover below, some of the perks associated with the status will be changing.
The new AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards
With American’s Loyalty Choice Rewards program, elite members can select certain benefits when passing any of five different thresholds (ranging from 125,000 points to 750,000 points). This program will be changing significantly as of March 2023:
- The program will be rebranded from Loyalty Choice Rewards to Loyalty Point Rewards
- You’ll no longer need 30 qualifying segments in order to unlock Loyalty Choice Rewards; you can earn these without flying a single segment
- The program will go from having five thresholds to having 11 thresholds
- The lowest threshold will decrease from 125,000 Loyalty Points to 15,000 Loyalty Points, and the highest threshold will increase from 750,000 Loyalty Points to 5,000,000 Loyalty Points; this means you can start earning some perks before you even qualify for status
- Most crucially, you’ll no longer be able to select these benefits at 125,000 Loyalty Points and 200,000 Loyalty Points (the requirements for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum, respectively), but rather you’ll earn them at 175,000 Loyalty Points and 250,000 Loyalty Points; if you value those perks, that’s indirectly a pretty significant increase in elite requirements
What are the new benefits? Keep in mind that these are all based on how many Loyalty Points you earn, and you can earn those exclusively through credit card spending, if you’d like.
Loyalty Point Rewards at 15,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 15,000 Loyalty Points, you receive Group 5 boarding for the membership year, and can select one of the following:
- Priority check-in, security, and Group 4 boarding for one trip
- Five preferred seat coupons
Loyalty Point Rewards at 60,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 60,000 Loyalty Points, you receive:
- Avis Preferred status
- A 20% Loyalty Points bonus on spending with AAVacations, AAHotels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, and SimplyMiles
Loyalty Point Rewards at 100,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 100,000 Loyalty Points, you receive:
- Avis President’s Club status
- A 30% Loyalty Points bonus on spending with AAVacations, AAHotels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, and SimplyMiles
Loyalty Point Rewards at 175,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 175,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- Two systemwide upgrades
- 20,000 bonus miles, or 25,000 bonus miles for AAdvantage credit card members
- Six Admirals Club day passes
- A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
- A $250 donation to a partner charity
- A 15% AAdvantage award rebate
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Gold status to two people
Loyalty Point Rewards at 250,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 250,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose two of the following:
- Two systemwide upgrades
- 20,000 bonus miles, or 30,000 bonus miles for AAdvantage credit card members
- Six Admirals Club day passes
- An Admirals Club membership (this requires both choices)
- A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
- A $250 donation to a partner charity
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Gold status to two people
- A selection of Bang & Olufsen products (this requires both choices)
- A Flagship Lounge single visit pass, or two passes for AAdvantage credit card members
Loyalty Point Rewards at 400,000, 550,000, and 750,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 400,000, 550,000, or 750,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose two of the following at each threshold:
- One systemwide upgrades
- 25,000 bonus miles
- An Admirals Club membership (this requires both choices)
- A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Platinum status
- A selection of Bang & Olufsen products (this requires both choices)
- Two Flagship Lounge single visit passes
- One Flagship First Dining visit pass
Loyalty Point Rewards at 1,000,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 1,000,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- Four systemwide upgrades
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Platinum Pro status
- A mileage rebate of 100,000 AAdvantage miles
Loyalty Point Rewards at 3,000,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 3,000,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- Six systemwide upgrades
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
- A mileage rebate of 300,000 AAdvantage miles
Loyalty Point Rewards at 5,000,000 Loyalty Points
When earning 5,000,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose one of the following:
- 10 systemwide upgrades
- The ability to gift AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
- A mileage rebate of 500,000 AAdvantage miles
Bottom line
American AAdvantage is making some major program changes as of 2023. The requirements for AAdvantage Gold status will be increasing, mileage earning on basic economy fares will be decreasing, and the cap on how many miles you can earn on a ticket will be eliminated.
The biggest changes, though, are to Loyalty Choice Rewards, which are being rebranded as Loyalty Point Rewards. Going forward, you’ll no longer receive these rewards at the thresholds for AAdvantage Platinum Pro and AAdvantage Executive Platinum. So while the requirements to earn these elite tiers aren’t increasing, you’ll need to earn a lot more Loyalty Points to receive the same rewards.
On the plus side, some will appreciate that you can unlock perks at lower and higher thresholds than before, and many will also like that the requirement to fly 30 segments is being eliminated in order to earn these benefits.
What do you make of these AAdvantage program changes?
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.
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.
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...
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.
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'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.
Why bother with them at all! There are plenty of other Airlines!
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.
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.
Good job American Airlines showing others the best practice in How to kill loyalty.
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.
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.
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...
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.
Lifetime Gold no problem
@ 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...
@ 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...
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.
Do well and earn enough money to buy a seat in the cabin you wish to fly in. Simple.
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.
And still no changes to their woefully uncompetitive million miler program . No incentive to go past 2 million lifetime miles with AA .
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
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...
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 actually 350k this year....
Do you get to top tier status and then use a different airline? Why?
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.
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)?
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.
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....
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.
Tony - Is there any spend you could put on an AA no-fee credit card to get the LP's for?
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.
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?
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.
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...
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.
(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.
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....
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!
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...
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?
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...
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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...
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.
"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...
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.
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.
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
The company would prefer they not fly at all. Just spend on cards.