Summary
- Earn up to 11 AAdvantage miles and loyalty points per dollar spent on upgrades, depending on elite status.
- Members can also use miles to upgrade flights, starting at 5,000 miles on select carriers.
- More perks coming soon: upgrade with miles on additional partner airlines and the ability to manage upgrades online.
US carrier
has rolled out the latest improvement to its frequent flyer program. Beginning today, August 14th, members of its loyalty program can earn miles and loyalty points on upgrade purchases.
How many points do you earn?
The airline confirmed on its website today that members of its
loyalty program can earn miles and Loyalty points when purchasing cash upgrades. The standard earning rate is in line with the points earned on buying flight tickets and varies based on the member’s elite status as follows:
- AAdvantage Basic members earn 5 AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points per dollar spent
- AAdvantage Gold status holders earn 7 AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points per dollar spent
- AAdvantage Platinum status holders earn 8 AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points per dollar spent
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro status holders earn 9x AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points per dollar spent
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum status holders earn 11x AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points per dollar spent
Related
The Different Tiers Of American Airlines’ AAdvantage Program
Earning status is an important part of the AAdvantage program for those that fly frequently.
The airline regularly offers passengers the opportunity to pay for an upgrade to first or business class. The price and respective value of such upgrades can vary dramatically. The new changes can potentially help passengers find a more affordable way into the front of the plane while providing the airline with revenue on a seat that may otherwise go empty or be offered to another passenger with elite status as a complimentary upgrade.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
The miles earned are in addition to any miles or bonus points earned by paying for the upgrade with an American Airlines credit card.
How can you use miles on upgrades?
Passengers have long been able to upgrade flights with miles, but this is the first time they have been able to earn miles and loyalty points on the upgrades. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program members have long been offered the opportunity to earn miles and status qualifying points on upgrades, as have United Airlines MileagePlus frequent flyers.
How To Upgrade Your Next American Airlines Flight Using Frequent Flyer Miles
Perhaps the most straightforward way, though not the easiest, to score an upgrade is by earning miles and using them for the upgrade.
Passengers wishing to use miles on upgrades can find the full chart showing how much each upgrade will cost. Moving up a single cabin starts at 5,000 miles for those who purchased a full-fare economy ticket. In comparison, those on basic economy itineraries must fork out at least 15,000 miles to move forward on domestic flights. The full chart for flights within the US is below:
Photo: American Airlines
The airline confirmed today that it is still on track to implement additional upgrade perks by the end of the year. The most significant update is expanding the number of partner airlines on which members can upgrade with miles. Currently, members can use miles to upgrade from select fares to a higher cabin on Qantas, British Airways, and Iberia.
Later this year, AAdvantage members will also be able to request and manage systemwide upgrades online.
