American tips

A major U.S. airline is poised to launch a new nonstop route from New York to Tokyo. American Airlines plans to soon fly from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND).

If it wasn't already clear prior to the end of last year, American Airlines executives crystallized it during Thursday's Q4 earnings call: American eventually plans to go to 100% internet bookings -- in the direct and travel agency channels.

Demand for travel has shown no signs of slowing down since the pandemic, but American Airlines is underperforming when stacked up against its competitors. 

In the US, I'd never go out of my way to visit a 7-Eleven for a meal. But when I was in Japan, 7-Eleven was one of my favorite places to grab a bite.

In early March 2022, American Airlines switched from elite qualifying miles, dollars and segments to Loyalty Points as the qualifying metric to earn elite status.

I've had quite a multiyear journey with American Airlines. I had given up on its frequent flyer program, quitting in disgust as AAdvantage upped the qualification requirements for Executive Platinum back in 2018 (to $15,000 in spending). That led me into the arms of Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines — at least until the pandemic hit. My Platinum Pro status from 2019 carried over all the way until early 2022, when I dropped back down to the dreaded "member" status.

American Airlines sparked controversy this week when the carrier swapped its high-end brand amenity kit for a boxed kit.

Daybreak hesitates on the horizon as we make our bone-rattling journey across the prairies. Up ahead is a scene so majestic, even the shock of the 4am wake-up call suddenly loses its sting. Illuminated by the first mellow rays of buttery sunlight, a herd of over 1,000 mighty buffalo roams into view, a little overdressed for South Dakota’s balmy summer climate in thick woolly overcoats and Viking horns.

The number of seniors on the slopes has reached epic proportions. In 2020-21 seniors accounted for 16.1% of skier visits, totaling 59 million, while a record 10.5 million seniors participated in the sport according to the National Ski Areas Association. Contrary to popular belief, not all seniors are snowbirds who fly south at the first sign of winter.

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Depending on your perspective, American Airlines' latest move may be good or bad news.

In 2022, I worked remotely and traveled across Europe, visiting friends and exploring some of the big cities I'd heard so much about.

American Airlines has just announced a series of AAdvantage program updates for 2024. The forthcoming enhancements are said to offer increased flexibility and exclusive benefits for American Airlines passengers. The updated AAdvantage program introduces new ways to earn, redeem, and receive rewards.

AIANTA Board President Travis Owens (left) and AIANTA CEO Sherry L. Rupert (right) at the 25th Annual American Indigenous Tourism Conference. (Photo Credit: AIANTA)

In a recent shift that has ruffled feathers in the frequent flyer community, on some flights American Airlines has replaced its customary fabric or plastic zippered business class amenity kits with cardboard boxes. This decision, ostensibly driven by ecological considerations, has sparked lively discussions in the FlyerTalk community. Members are voicing their skepticism, viewing the change as a cost-cutting measure, not a genuine environmental effort.

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American Airlines is enhancing its loyalty program to offer greater rewards to all members, and not just those with elite status.

American Airlines announced a slew of changes to its American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program Tuesday. There's a lot to digest, but so far, I'm pleasantly surprised that there's not a major devaluation. In fact, there are surprisingly some things to like about the news.

American Airlines is introducing several new benefits for its AAdvantage loyalty program members. Namely, there are more ways to utilize miles and Loyalty Points. There are also more ways to receive trip credits. These features are rolling out over the coming months during the program year starting on March 1, 2024.

While many loyalty programs run on the calendar year, the qualifying year for elite status on American Airlines AAdvantage begins on March 1 annually and runs through the end of February the following year. In anticipation of the end of one qualifying year and the dawn of another, the program has announced a series of upcoming changes—and they’re all for the better. In short, elite status and reward levels will remain the same, but AAdvantage members will have more avenues for earning rewards and redeeming them. Also, AAdvantage will start rewarding all its members from the get-go, regardless of their elite status, with access to exclusive members-only benefits. After speaking with AAdvantage Director Chris Isaac, here’s what we know so far.

American Airlines is out with another big update to its AAdvantage loyalty program.