American Airlines Announces Big Changes
American Airlines announced major updates to its AAdvantage program today due to the coronavirus outbreak. The airline has extended elite status through January 31, 2022, made it easier to earn status in 2020, credit card spend will count toward Million Miler status and more. Changes include:
- Extending elite status for AAdvantage members until Jan. 31, 2022.
- Reducing elite status qualifications for 2020.
- Extending Admirals Club® memberships purchased from American for 6 months.
- Introducing up to $400 special credits for future travel on American Airlines Vacations packages for elite members.
- Every dollar spent on an eligible AAdvantage co-branded credit card through the end of 2020 will count for one mile toward Million Miler℠ status.
- Award reinstatement fees waived for travel through September 2020.
Let’s look at these changes in more detail.
Extended Elite Status
AAdvantage members will automatically receive an extension of their current elite status through Jan. 31, 2022. These updates will be reflected in member accounts in a few weeks.
Lowered Elite Qualification Requirements
The airline has lowered AAdvantage elite qualification requirements for all of 2020. AAdvantage members will achieve status more easily during the current elite qualifying year through lower Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD), Elite Qualifying Mile (EQM) and Elite Qualifying Segment (EQS) requirements.
| Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro | Executive Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EQD | ||||
| EQM | ||||
| EQS |
Members who qualify for Executive Platinum status previously received a choice of one reward upon reaching 150,000, 200,000 and 250,000 EQMs. Lowered EQM requirements in 2020 will now make these rewards more attainable. For the first choice, customers only need 90,000 EQMs. Second and third choice has been reduced to 120,000 and 150,000 EQMs respectively.
Admirals Club Membership Extension
Admirals Club memberships and One-Day Passes purchased from the airline will be automatically extended for 6 months beyond their expiration date as part of American’s effort to care for customers.
American Airlines Vacations Credit
Elite members will also receive a special credit up to $400 to use toward an American Airlines Vacations package, giving customers something to look forward to when travel resumes. Customers can receive the credit when they call American Airlines Vacations to book a trip. Members can learn more by visiting aa.com.
Earn Million Miler Status with Credit Card Spend
For all eligible Citi® / AAdvantage® and AAdvantage® Aviator credit card products, as well as select AAdvantage® credit cards outside the U.S., every dollar spent on net purchases that post to your AAdvantage account between May 2020 and December 2020 will count as one mile toward Million Miler status.
You can read the full details of the announcement here. AAdvantage members were also sent emails regarding these changes.
