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Today, American Airlines announced changes to its AAdvantage loyalty program for the 2024 membership year — which begins March 1, 2024. The Dallas/Fort Worth-based airline is generally keeping the AAdvantage program the same. However, it's adding a new Loyalty Points Reward option and teasing many upcoming changes — from using AAdvantage miles to upgrade on partners to making American Airlines basic economy fares less punitive.
Here's what's been shared so far about American Airlines AAdvantage program changes for 2024.
What Isn't Changing About the AAdvantage Program
Perhaps the most notable news is what isn't changing. American Airlines is sticking with its current AAdvantage elite status requirements:
- Gold: 40,000 Loyalty Points (increased from 30,000 in early 2023)
- Platinum: 75,000 Loyalty Points
- Platinum Pro: 125,000 Loyalty Points
- Executive Platinum: 200,000 Loyalty Points
In addition, AA is keeping the same Loyalty Point Rewards tiers and choices — with one exception…
New Loyalty Point Reward Choice
The one change American Airlines is making to its Loyalty Point Rewards is to add a choice to earn “additional Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage status starting at the 15,000 Loyalty Point Reward level.”
For the 2023 loyalty program year — which ends February 29, 2024 — AAdvantage members have the choice between two options at the 15,000 Loyalty Point Reward level:
- Priority privileges and Group 4 boarding for a trip
- 5 Preferred Seat coupons
Currently, AAdvantage members don't start earning bonus Loyalty Points on select partners until the 60,000 Loyalty Point tier. Starting in 2024, American Airlines will add some Loyalty Point acceleration option starting at 15,000 Loyalty Points. However, AA hasn't yet shared details of this new choice.
American Airlines Basic Economy Flexibility
Currently, American Airlines basic economy fares are fully nonrefundable (outside 24 hours of booking) and non-changeable. That was the industry standard when basic economy fares were rolled out. However, American's current policy is an outlier as Delta, United, and JetBlue have all modified their basic economy policies to allow travelers to cancel basic economy tickets for a partial refund.
Now, American Airlines is set to match its competitors — with a twist. Starting later in January 2024, AAdvantage members will be able to cancel a basic economy ticket for a partial trip credit. This new option will seemingly only be available to AAdvantage members, meaning non-members will be stuck with nonrefundable basic economy fares.
American Airlines hasn't shared what the cancellation fee will be for basic economy fares. We will share more when more details are announced.
Earn AAdvantage Miles on Cash Upgrades
Another AAdvantage program tweak teased in this announcement is that travelers will soon earn miles when paying cash to upgrade their flight to a premium cabin.
Currently, travelers generally don't earn miles or Loyalty Points when upgrading their flight. And some of these cash upgrades aren't cheap. This change is great news for travelers who like to take advantage of these upgrade offers, which American Airlines seems to be pushing as hard as ever.
Mileage Upgrades on Partner Airlines
Another nice change coming to the AAdvantage program sometime in 2024 will be the ability to use AAdvantage miles “for upgrades with select airline partners.”
American Airlines hasn't shared any further details about this upcoming addition, such as which airlines this will be available on or what the upgrades will cost. However, we can assume that American Airlines will start with its closest airline partners: British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.
Other AAdvantage Member-Exclusive Benefits
As teased in today's announcement, American Airlines plans to restrict some common benefits to AAdvantage members:
- 24-hour hold: Airlines are required to offer either a 24-hour hold or 24-hour free cancellation. Currently, American Airlines offers all travelers both. However, it will soon make the 24-hour hold option an exclusive benefit of AAdvantage members.
- Same-day standby: Currently all American Airlines travelers are able to standby for an earlier flight. However, American Airlines seemingly plans to restrict this option to only AAdvantage members. [Update: American Airlines will restrict same-day standby to AAdvantage members starting March 1, 2024.]
- Admirals Club day passes: After a price increase in summer 2023, any American Airlines traveler can currently pay $79 to purchase an Admirals Club day pass. Sometime soon, American Airlines will limit this option to AAdvantage members only.
- Flagship Lounge day passes: Travelers flying American Airlines or its Oneworld partners can currently purchase a Flagship Lounge day pass for $150. As with Admirals Club day passes, this option will also soon be restricted to AAdvantage members.
- Trip credit extension: AAdvantage members will get six more months of validity to use American Airlines Trip Credits when canceling their travel online. [Update: American Airlines will implement this Trip Credit validity improvement for online cancellations effective March 11, 2024.]
More To Be Announced Soon?
As if all of those tweaks aren't enough, American Airlines noted in today's announcement that it “will continue to enhance the program” throughout the new program year that starts March 1, 2024. Long-time points and miles collectors know to be wary whenever a loyalty program mentions “enhancements.” But hopefully, American Airlines will continue to make positive changes — at least for AAdvantage members.
Our Take
In 2022, American Airlines revamped its AAdvantage program to incentivize credit card spending and earning miles through other partnerships and deprioritize the importance of flying the airline. In 2023, American Airlines doubled down on this change, eliminating the need to fly the airline at all to earn Loyalty Point Rewards.
With today's announcement, it seems American Airlines is pretty satisfied with the direction it went with the AAdvantage program. Instead of making major changes, American Airlines is tweaking its program here and there. Most of the changes are good for AAdvantage members — from less-restrictive basic economy fares to mileage upgrades on partners. But, travelers will need to be an AAdvantage member to enjoy many of the new improvements.
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