Why I’m not a fan of American Airlines’ new Loyalty Points program

[@douglasmilligan9040]

I just reached Executive Platinum this month, never came close to spending 200k. I don't care about hotel rewards so I book all of my hotels through Rocketmiles. Just with Rocketmiles, I've received 98k in Loyalty Points alone. I do agree that it's like a game trying to figure out the most economical way to get status, but that's also what I like about the new Loyalty program.

[@andydang5257]

As someone who doesn’t fly enough to qualify for status, I love the Loyalty Points program. It makes earning (lowly) Gold achievable, it has enough benefits just to make flying a little more pleasant. I think this does make status harder at the higher levels, but on the lower end it makes getting status easier

[@PedroRamirez23769]

I am with you in this one.

[@ramonortega4993]

😅😅😅😅f😊

[@JamenLS]

Yeah, gold is fine with me. I'm pretty low maintenance so the perks gold gives, are just fine. I'm not Jeff Bezos lol. I don't need platinum executive status 😂

[@maliasadowski5195]

My husband and I are extremely disappointed with the new “loyalty” program. We are both top tier executive platinum status and has been for years. We fly multiple times a week as we live between Utah and Florida. Literally multiple times a week. We are flying back-and-forth. starting next week we both have to start from scratch below gold it’s absolutely ludicrous and so infuriating. Although we have been loyal to AmericanAirlines for years, the airline has gone extremely downhill, especially after Covid we have had to spend multiple nights on layovers, and our time is worth more than this airline, incredibly disappointed that we have been loyal, but we have not felt like the airline is consistent, and even loyal to their customers I’m disgusted with their customer service. For them it is all about how much money they make an hour about how happy their loyal customers are.

[@shirl5953]

You are SO right, I have been flying AA since 1986, am a Million Miler and Platinum for many years (I did this almost entirely with US flights and very few international). I could tell from the beginning of the program it was going to be a challenge even with my 60% bonus (Platinum). I am so disappointed because I really do like flying American with family and friends and treating them to my perks but with the new "Loyalty" program I can see that I am going to very likely miss the threshold this year and if not this, then next without getting the 500 mile upgrade certificate conversion, etc. They are going to need to do a lot of double and triple point incentives (IMO) at year end or risk losing a ton of long term customers. Glad you all are seeing it too and hopefully it is something that they rectify before we all move over to Delta next year via the status challenge option!

[@MarkReese]

The eShopping portal + SimplyMiles program has been great; I hit AA Gold though it. However, it’d be great to see award flights count towards status. Good points mentioned in this video, too 👍

[@marcjr3]

Can you share the website?

[@geewisner]

I'm with the Points Guy - since American changed to "Loyalty Points" is confusing and frustrating and not as easy as the original program!!

[@nicolasburnand8488]

No clue what you are talking about, got always all the miles I expected (dinning, flowers or other). I agree that the fly + miles for the additional perks is insane, but the remaining so far work as expected.

[@orangegatoraaade1]

AA dining is correctly awarding me loyalty(not bonus) miles. You may want to review that point.

[@abmindprof]

I agree. I wasn't even aware of the shopping portal. I'm Plat Pro, and I just want to make Plat next year. Flew on a mid-range Qatar ticket from BCN-PER (which is almost half way around the world) and got a measly 4000 LPs. Turns out ticket class S is only 25% (people then told me about the loyalty points calculator which would have helped). Now we're going back from SIN to BCN in biz, and we'll only get 100% of the miles credited. For a biz ticket! No, I don't have time to figure it out. Maybe it's time for a status challenge with Delta.

[@danibizzle569]

after my elite status expires, I’m cutting ties with AA too.

[@MattNav]

For me being a Oneworld Sapphire status holder outside of AA and/or Alaska has proven to be very useful for me on my travels as it provides all the benefits one would expect (especially love the free Main Cabin Extra legroom) plus I love having AA Flagship Lounge / Admirals Club / Alaska Lounge access even when flying on cheap domestic tickets. In my case I'm using either my British Airways Silver status or my Royal Air Maroc Gold status

[@steventravels4035]

I’m currently a Platinum Pro status member so I am really disappointed with the new rollout of this LP thing as well. I kinda wanna try out getting United status once the new year rolls around because it does more promising than Delta’s to me. Two major factors of my decision is the fact that I live at a Delta hub (which naturally means that I’d have to pay higher prices for flights into and out of MSP) and the fact that they don’t allow you to purchase lounge access at all anymore without a credit card. They have also devalued their Skymiles so much to the point that it’s not even worth exchanging your miles for an award ticket in Delta One. At least with United there is still the spending limit and the flight qualification portion. I would try Alaska but, the reason why not is that Alaska is just as expensive as Delta and they have a more limited route network in addition to the fact if I had status with them, I’d most likely not even get upgraded at all because for some reason, First Class is always booked up by the time the flight comes around.

[@cristianarrington1949]

I’ve been with United for 5 years now at Premier gold. I have only been upgraded to first class once. Besides that I’m #15 on the list.

[@SimplyChrist]

Great site! I’m an AA Platinum Pro member and am extremely disappointed in their promises and policies. They offer perks for members and then don’t honor them. I was stunned when they told this to me on the phone and the chat. I’m leaving AA. Not that any other airline is any better, but I won’t tolerate a company listing their perks and then refusing to honor them. Subscribed!

[@mmonroe1025]

Now that your points total resets to 0 every March 1st, its nearly impossible to achieve the status you want. I just became Platinum 3 days before the reset. I had enough points when they would accrue and carry over. I fly 2 trips per month and 1 international trip per year. With their new system I may not hit 75000 to remain platinum. At that rate I would never be able to become platinum pro since they reset to 0 every year now. So much for being loyal to a carrier. Will see what happens this year. Perhaps its time to change to Delta. Thanks American , For what !!

[@305music9]

Been a loyal customer for over two decades. Earned 2.5 million miles over pure miles. This new system is horrible to me. People who earned miles on pure flying cannot possibly like this system. Not really a good system for the truly loyal miles customers.

[@henryroif8537]

One of the interesting things are the 2X miles/$ in ELEGIBLE purchases; but they don't tell you what are ELEGIBLE....

[@AlexRubensShares]

I love the new format -- at 1M LP and counting since April 1, never would have hit that otherwise

[@TheWiggelsworth]

Delta for international, SW for domestic

[@kirkbean8197]

Agreed!

[@trojanalum2622]

American Airlines ripped me off of 10,000 miles. Round Trip LAX-SYD is 14,976. AA credited me only 10,884 miles...net loss of 4,092 miles. I also flew Round Trip LAX-AUH is 17,358, AA credited me only 11,884...net loss of 5,474 miles. Just in two trips I was shorted 9,566 miles. I called AAdvantage Program and they said loyalty points/miles is based on fare - not miles??? How is this not misleading? Looking forward to the forthcoming Class Action Lawsuit for which I will join!

[@JamenLS]

It says based on fare everywhere.

[@jimmyjames6492]

I have no issue with the new program. How is the Skymiles program any less confusing? MQM + MQD + MQS thresholds along with waivers based on high co-branded credit card spend?

[@jumemowery1050]

I agree.

[@Bronx_Yankee]

Platinum Pro 2023, Ill be lucky to get Platinum in 2024

[@oui.monsieur]

Been confused also and with tix prices have gone super expensive it's like wth

[@lenovo2024chico]

Subscribed!

[@timanderson7015]

A LOT has changed since this video, correct?

[@Danny_ll]

literally 0 award dates available in the next 9 months for SFO to BKK.. AA is a giant scam.

[@PedroRamirez23769]

It works for me. I just want the gold status

[@JennyAmigo31]

It’s like a mean teacher in a High School Calculus class - I’m gonna get an F no matter what!

[@TibaaaUSA]

AA No more!! Too many miles for flight right now… I’ll switch to United airlines… way better and lower mileage to travel

[@firecat-dy9go]

Had Gold status but it 'expired'. So now I have to start from scratch again. Why would you have status miles expire? Poor form, American.

[@kirkbean8197]

AA is the absolute worst in every category. Avoid at all cost.

[@UTubeVidWatcher]

I couldn't finish watching this video. The comments that this guy is making about the AA Loyalty program is so wrong that I don't even know where to start, so I am not going to waste my time correcting the inaccuracies.

[@jdm11q]

This review is flat out misinformation and sad. This is uncomplicated. Dining miles do also yield loyalty points as well as eShopping. In 15 days I’m at 30k loyalty points. Just pay attention and intentional and status is more easy to achieve than ever.

[@Crwendling]

I don’t want to have to spend on e shopping I want rewarded for choosing to fly AA

[@Afrocow]

With $200,000 in spend, I’d much rather put it on the AMEX platinum for a centurion card invite 😂

[@2010CMU]

Wait you still fly AA??? How pedestrian!

[@jonathanfactor6688]

I have my miles on united airlines

[@ChristianMFrank]

Absolutely horrendous. Not even mile redemptions count for status. Even milage runs suck. I’m sitting on over 200k unused miles, and I’m considering never shooting for AA status.

[@TimeCoral1967]

American Airlines points system is trash! United is way better and has a better point system