Major American AAdvantage Changes Coming 2023

There are some program changes for the year. This marks a significant devaluation for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum status as there are a couple of positive updates.

American changing mileage earning & elite requirements

American is adjusting mileage earning on its cheapest and most expensive fares in order to earn entry level elite status. Let's take a closer look at those details.

Basic economy mileage earning reduced by 60%

American has made basic economy fares more rewarding and less punishing over the past few years, but that will change in the near future. American basic economy fares will only earn 2x AAdvantage miles per dollar spent, instead of 5x AAdvantage miles, which will result in a 60% reduction in mileage earning on these fares.

All tickets issued on or after January 1, 2023, and travel starting March 1, 2023, will be applied.

Cap of 75,000 miles per ticket being eliminated

When airlines started to award miles based on how much you spend, it was called revenue based frequent flyer programs. There is a limit on the amount of miles that can be earned per ticket. You would think that you would want to incentivize really expensive tickets since it penalizes elite members who earn up to 11x miles per dollar.

Those on very expensive fares will be able to earn more miles. It is good news for those who book tickets frequently.

Gold status requirements increasing by 33%

The elite status requirements for AAdvantage Gold will be increased. It will require earning 40,000 Loyalty Points next year, which is a 33% increase from the current requirement.

There are no changes to the thresholds for Platinum, Pro, and Executive Platinum. Some of the perks associated with the status are going to change.

The new AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards

When members pass any of the five different thresholds, they can choose certain benefits. As of March 2023, this program will change a lot.

• The program will be rebranded from Loyalty Choice Rewards to Loyalty Point Rewards
• You’ll no longer need 30 qualifying segments in order to unlock Loyalty Choice Rewards; you can earn these without flying a single segment
• The program will go from having five thresholds to having 11 thresholds
• The lowest threshold will decrease from 125,000 Loyalty Points to 15,000 Loyalty Points, and the highest threshold will increase from 750,000 Loyalty Points to 5,000,000 Loyalty Points; this means you can start earning some perks before you even qualify for status
• Most crucially, you’ll no longer be able to select these benefits at 125,000 Loyalty Points and 200,000 Loyalty Points (the requirements for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum, respectively), but rather you’ll earn them at 175,000 Loyalty Points and 250,000 Loyalty Points; if you value those perks, that’s indirectly a pretty significant increase in elite requirements

There are new benefits. If you would like, you can earn those exclusively through credit card spending, but keep in mind that these are all based on how many loyalty points you earn.

Loyalty Point Rewards at 15,000 Loyalty Points

Group 5 boarding will be given to you when you earn 15,000 Loyalty Points.

• Priority check-in, security, and Group 4 boarding for one trip
• Five preferred seat coupons

Loyalty Point Rewards at 60,000 Loyalty Points

You get 60,000 Loyalty Points when you earn them.

• Avis Preferred status
• A 20% Loyalty Points bonus on spending with AAVacations, AAHotels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, and SimplyMiles

Loyalty Point Rewards at 100,000 Loyalty Points

You get 100,000 Loyalty Points when you earn 100,000.

• Avis Presidents Club status
• A 30% Loyalty Points bonus on spending with AAVacations, AAHotels, AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Dining, and SimplyMiles

Loyalty Point Rewards at 175,000 Loyalty Points

You have the option to choose one of the following.

• Two systemwide upgrades
• 20,000 bonus miles, or 25,000 bonus miles for AAdvantage credit card members
• Six Admirals Club day passes
• A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
• A $250 donation to a partner charity
• A 15% AAdvantage award rebate
• The ability to gift AAdvantage Gold status to two people

Loyalty Point Rewards at 250,000 Loyalty Points

You have the option to choose two of the following.

• Two systemwide upgrades
• 20,000 bonus miles, or 30,000 bonus miles for AAdvantage credit card members
• Six Admirals Club day passes
• An Admirals Club membership (this requires both choices)
• A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
• A $250 donation to a partner charity
• The ability to gift AAdvantage Gold status to two people
• A selection of Bang & Olufsen products (this requires both choices)
• A Flagship Lounge single visit pass, or two passes for AAdvantage credit card members

Loyalty Point Rewards at 400,000, 550,000, and 750,000 Loyalty Points

If you earn 400,000, 550,000, or 750,000 Loyalty Points, you can choose two of the following.

• One systemwide upgrades
• 25,000 bonus miles
• An Admirals Club membership (this requires both choices)
• A $200 trip credit, or $250 for AAdvantage credit card members
• The ability to gift AAdvantage Platinum status
• A selection of Bang & Olufsen products (this requires both choices)
• Two Flagship Lounge single visit passes
• One Flagship First Dining visit pass

Loyalty Point Rewards at 1,000,000 Loyalty Points

You have the option of choosing one of the following when you earn 1 million Loyalty Points.

• Four systemwide upgrades
• The ability to gift AAdvantage Platinum Pro status
• A mileage rebate of 100,000 AAdvantage miles

Loyalty Point Rewards at 3,000,000 Loyalty Points

You have the option of choosing one of the following when you earn 3,000,000 Loyalty Points.

• Six systemwide upgrades
• The ability to gift AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
• A mileage rebate of 300,000 AAdvantage miles

Loyalty Point Rewards at 5,000,000 Loyalty Points

You can choose from one of the following.

• 10 systemwide upgrades
• The ability to gift AAdvantage Executive Platinum status
• A mileage rebate of 500,000 AAdvantage miles

Major program changes are on the horizon. The mileage you earn on basic economy fares will be decreasing, and the cap on how many miles you can earn on a ticket will be eliminated.

The Loyalty ChoiceRewards are being renamed as Loyalty PointRewards. You won't get these rewards at the thresholds for AAdvantage Platinum Pro and AAdvantage Executive Platinum. You will need to earn more loyalty points to get the same rewards as before.

Some people will appreciate that you can get perks at lower and higher thresholds than before, and others will like that the requirement to fly 30 segments is being eliminated.

What do you think about these changes?