American Airlines today announced the changes to the combined AAdvantage that will take place in 2015 and (surprisingly) nothing negative.
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The airline is not moving to issue frequent flier miles based on the monetary spend with the airline (at least not in 2015) and there is no $$$ figure required for each status levels as is the case now with United Airlines and Delta.
You can access AA’s web page for these changes here.
US Airways Dividend Miles Status Mapping To American Airlines AAdvantage
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The combined program will have three levels and both US Airways Gold and Platinum will morph to AAdvantage Platinum. US Airways Silver will become AA gold and Chairman’s Preferred becomes Executive Platinum.
Programs Will Merge In The 2nd Quarter Of 2015
American Airlines doesn’t have a firm date for the program merger yet that they would be willing to communicate to the program members. This should happen by the end of June 2015, however.
Upgrade Changes
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Flights of less than 500 miles will no longer require 500 milers for AAdvantage Gold and Platinum members. Upgrades on these flights will be complimentary.
Executive Platinum members will continue enjoying unlimited domestic upgrades including Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Central America.
US Airways Dividend Miles members that have had unlimited space available upgrades must get used to the sticker upgrades.
Business Class Redeemable Bonus Increases To 50%
The mileage bonus for business class will increase to 50% from the current 25%.
Combined Status In 2015
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You can “link” you AAdvantage and Dividend Miles accounts in early 2015 and your combined 2014 activity will determine your status level per the chart above.
Executive Platinum Qualification Change
Those that qualify based on the number of segments (100 currently) must get used to the new requirement of 120 instead.
What’s new
Dividend Miles Preferred
Right now
- Complimentary snacks and drinks in the Main Cabin for Chairman’s Preferred members on all US Airways and American flights
January 2015
- Enjoy complimentary same-day confirmed flight changes on American, a new benefit for Chairman’s Preferred members
- Redeem all your Special Dividends by early 2015; qualification ends in December 2014
Second quarter of 2015 (when programs are combined)
- Move to three elite status levels in the AAdvantage program – Gold, Platinum and Executive Platinum
- Qualify for elite status based on elite-qualifying miles, segments and points
- Receive a 100% mileage bonus if you’re a Dividend Miles Gold or Platinum member who becomes AAdvantage Platinum
- Redeem miles for AAnytime awards and mileage upgrade awards on both American and US Airways marketed and operated flights
- Upgrade on American marketed and operated flights before day of departure
AAdvantage elite
Right now
- Executive Platinum members now enjoy a complimentary snack and drink in the Main Cabin on US Airways
January 2015
- Move to 120 segments to qualify for Executive Platinum status for the 2016 membership year
- Complimentary confirmed flight changes for Executive Platinum members flying on American
- Increased class of service bonus for Business Class tickets from 25% to 50%
Second quarter of 2015 (when programs are combined)
- Enjoy complimentary upgrades on flights 500 miles or less on flights marketed and operated by American
- Complimentary upgrades will be auto-requested on flights marketed and operated by American and US Airways
- Complimentary upgrades on flights marketed and operated by US Airways before day of departure
- Redeem miles for upgrades on flights marketed and operated by US Airways
- Use systemwide upgrades on flights marketed and operated by US Airways
- Redeem miles for AAnytime awards on flights marketed and operated by US Airways
Conclusion
As a lifetime Platinum AAdvantage member, I have been eagerly waiting for this combined program announcement. Nothing drastic coming in early 2015. Let’s hope that they don’t “trash” the program then in 2016.
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