Enter the Budget Travel “Iceland” sweepstakes by February 19, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a trip for two to Iceland, including air, nine nights’ hotel, some meals, and local tours.
Bad News for AAdvantage Members: New Earning Rates on Partner Airlines
27.07.2023 - 18:45 / smartertravel.com / Tim Winship / News / Airlines
On Friday evening—traditional timing for bad-news announcements that companies hope will go unnoticed by the public and unreported by the media—American published the new mileage-earning rates, effective from August 1, for travel on AAdvantage partner airlines.
As the timing would suggest, there’s more bad news than good news for AAdvantage members. While earning rates for a very few premium-cabin fares will increase, the great majority of travelers, who fly on discounted coach fares, will earn fewer miles after the change.
Related:No U.S. Airlines Among the World’s 20 BestOn Hawaiian Airlines flights, for example, AAdvantage members will earn 150 percent of flown miles for Business Class, versus 125 percent currently. But many coach fares that currently award 100 percent of flown miles will only earn 50 or 75 percent of flown miles beginning next month.
Note that the changes take effect based on travel date, not the date travel was booked.
It’s all in keeping with American’s conversion to a spend-based earning scheme, and a renewed focus on disproportionately rewarding the airline’s most profitable customers. And while the changes represent a disappointing devaluation of the program, they’re not unexpected.
Both disappointing and unexpected is American’s handling of the change, giving members just over two weeks’ notice of such an impactful program modification, with no news release or email notification to AAdvantage members. Sneaky at best, sleazy at worst.
Reader Reality Check
How will these changes affect your loyalty to American and the AAdvantage program?
More from SmarterTravel: New J.D. Power Study Reveals What Hotel Guests Really Want Why United’s $412 Million Write Down Is Good for Flyers Hotel Booking: How to Get the Best DealAfter 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:51
Alaska Airlines Offers Bonus for Partner Flights
Alaska Airlines is justly lauded for its Mileage Plan loyalty program, which among other features boasts 17 airline partners, allowing program members to earn and redeem miles for flights throughout the world.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:51
Win a Trip to California Wine Country for 2
Enter the Clos Du Bois “Spring in Sonoma” sweepstakes by April 26, 2016, for a chance to win one of the two grand prizes: trips for two to Sonoma, including air, three nights’ hotel, and $700 spending money.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:51
Bad News: Alaska Air’s New Earning Rates for American Flights
Until yesterday, American Airlines customers dismayed at the airline’s August 1 pivot to a spend-based mileage program had a fallback option: Earn miles for their American flights in Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan program, which still awards miles the old-fashioned way, according to the distance flown.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:50
American Ups the Ante for Premium Airport Lounges
In its latest effort to capture the hearts, minds, and expense accounts of the travel universe’s most privileged 1 percent, American is raising the bar for airport lounges.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:50
Win a 6-day trip for 2 to New Delhi, India
Enter the Liberty Richter “Kitchens of India” sweepstakes by June 15, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a six-day trip for two to New Delhi, India, including air, transfers, and hotel.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:49
Alaska Air Enhances Mileage Program with New Europe Partner
By traditional measures, Alaska Airlines is a carrier of decidedly modest size, even after its acquisition of Virgin America. Its own flight network is small, compared to those of American, Delta, and United. And it’s not a member of one of the three global airline alliances.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:49
Win a 6-Night Tour of India for 2
Enter the Budget Travel “Incredible India” sweepstakes by August 7, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a six-night tour of India for two, including air, hotels, coach transport, breakfast and dinner daily, tour guide.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:46
The 10 Worst U.S. Cities for Traffic
U.S. commuters wasted 8 billion hours sitting in traffic last year.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:45
Win a 7-Night Trip for 2 to New Zealand
Enter the Babich Wines “Trip to New Zealand” sweepstakes by August 31, 2016, for a chance to win the grand prize: a seven-night trip for two to New Zealand, including air to and within New Zealand; hotels in Auckland, Marlborough, and Queenstown; choice of activities; and a NZD$1,000 gift card.
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:45
Coming: New York to London in 3 Hours, for $5,000 Roundtrip
Supersonic speed – mainstream fares
smartertravel.com
27.07.2023 / 18:43
For Newark Flyers, Help Is on the Way!
In April, when the FAA removed restrictions on additional flights at Newark Liberty International Airport, the hope was that other airlines would increase their share of the airport’s flights, in the process eroding United’s dominance and near-monopoly pricing in that important market.