With the new American AAdvantage program year being right around the corner (it starts on March 1), the airline has just revealed a new luggage tag that members can select as part of the Loyalty Point Rewards system.
In this post:
American’s new 15,000 Loyalty Points luggage tag
With the Loyalty Point Rewards program, AAdvantage members can select from various perks for passing different thresholds. New as of this year, American is letting members select a “personalized, collectable luggage tag” when passing 15,000 Loyalty Points, which is the first tier at which you can select a reward.
To be clear, you have to select this in lieu of other perks, with the other three choices being the following:
- Priority check-in, security, and Group 4 boarding for one trip
- Five preferred seat coupons
- 1,000 Loyalty Points toward status
American has been teasing this new perk for some time, and has now unveiled the design of this new luggage tag. Well, below is the first picture…
I wasn’t expecting some incredible luggage tag, or anything, but this does look like your typical, cheap, plastic luggage tag. Fair enough, since it’s not like the other rewards cost American much to provide. But calling this “collectible?” That seems like a bit of a stretch to me.
Does selecting this perk make sense for anyone?
I’m mainly writing about this because I’m curious to see how many of these tags there are around airports in the future, and I wouldn’t otherwise know what they are. However, unless you’re really desperate for an American luggage tag, I have a hard time imagining the type of travelers who would select this over the alternatives:
- If you have elite status or are pursuing elite status, you’ll probably want to select the reward of 1,000 Loyalty Points, as that gets you closer to the next elite threshold
- If you don’t have elite status, the five preferred seat coupons, or priority services on one trip, seem like the better option
Over the years, American has cut back the number of luggage tags it sends elite members. Nowadays, Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members typically get one luggage tag in their elite kit. I don’t believe lower elite tiers get luggage tags anymore, but I could be mistaken.
Bottom line
American has unveiled the design of its “personalized, collectible” luggage tags, which can be selected as part of the Loyalty Point Rewards program. When you pass 15,000 Loyalty Points in a year, you can select one of these tags, though it comes at an opportunity cost.
What do you make of American’s new luggage tags? Do you think a good number of people will select these?
A couple of years ago I received a tag with the PLAT kit.
If the personalization can be customized, put a little kid's name on it and give it to them on their birthday. Kids and grandkids eat this stuff up.
Well as someone whose AA collection has dishes, ticket jackets all the way back to DC-3 days, I'll probably get one. Having my name on it and the fact I do have to 'earn' it makes it better. I guess I'm more of an av-geek than you ;)
I assume I can delay selection just like I did for last year's 1,000 and 5,000 LP selections. I didn't end up needing them, so I'm holding...
Well as someone whose AA collection has dishes, ticket jackets all the way back to DC-3 days, I'll probably get one. Having my name on it and the fact I do have to 'earn' it makes it better. I guess I'm more of an av-geek than you ;)
I assume I can delay selection just like I did for last year's 1,000 and 5,000 LP selections. I didn't end up needing them, so I'm holding off both selections until Mar 1.
So I already have a 6K headstart for the coming program year, I won't feel guilty getting this bag tag.
Ben, what is your source for this? Your first paragraph only links to your own articles about past year loyalty point rewards
@ david -- American corporate communications shared this directly. It's also shared in this press release:
https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2025/Ready-set-jet-toward-status-with-up-to-5000-Loyalty-Points-as-American-Airlines-kicks-off-the-AAdvantage-program-new-year-AADV-02/default.aspx
Don’t know why you have to be such a a**, about this Ben. To some it is collectible. Does it really matter if it’s plastic? What do you want it to be titanium metal or platinum? Stop giving AA such bad vibes. All US carriers suck, except for AS
@ Todd -- I'm not trying to be a jerk, but typically if something is collectible, there's either something special about it, there are several different kinds you can acquire, etc. In this case, it's just a simple, plastic luggage tag. It would be like American claiming that its boarding passes are collectible. Can they be collected? Sure. Is there anything about them that makes them inherently collectible? I'd argue not...
@Todd, Ben's comments seem fair and reasonable. Your comments seem as if there's a fight and you got a dog in it.
If these were the metal tags like they give CK then it would actually be worth it.
I was CK for years and received one metal luggage tag. Ya gotta laugh.
Makes sense for someone that will not make Gold at 40K LP, but say earns 20K LP. And is a partner to an EXP, and they travel together on same PNR, so don't need priority seats coupons. The 1,000 LP is only LP, and not award points.
I’ve made plat pro as well for the past 2 years and got 1 tag each time.
Delta is offering the ability to personalize the annual Medallion status luggage tags this year. They provided the option of including your Million Miler status and your name.
Made Platinum Pro last year and was sent one luggage tag. May be just a one-time thing upon attaining the status.