American Airlines joins Delta, United, Air Canada and Alaska Airlines in offering status extensions for their elite customers.
American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Climbing out of O’Hare – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
For those with Elite status, AAdvantage members will automatically receive an extension of their current status, which will now last until 31st January 2022. These updates will be reflected in member accounts in a few weeks and will be updated by 15th May 2020.
Those of you who hold Admirals Club memberships and One-Day Passes purchased from the airline will have a six-month extension applied to them from their current expiry date.
System-Wide Upgrades (or SWU’s) expiry dates will be extended, with any unused system-wide upgrades with an expiration date of 31st January 2021 will be automatically extended through 31st July 31 2021. The airline will not be awarding new system-wide upgrades with the extension of Executive Platinum status, members who qualify or re-qualify for Executive Platinum status in 2020 will receive 4 systemwide upgrades valid through 31st January 2022.
Meanwhile, in terms of re-qualification, the airline has lowered the elite qualification requirements for all of 2020, with lower Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD), Elite Qualifying Mile (EQM) and Elite Qualifying Segment (EQS) requirements for the remainder of the year.
The airline has is offering a bonus credit if you purchase a holiday from AA Vacations, with up to US$400 discount depending on their status. The credit given will be based on your elite status on the 30th June 2020, with the credit available from the 1st July.
The airline is also making an offering on their Million Miler Programme, Lowering EQM requirements for Executive Platinum Awards and Waiving award reinstatement and change fees for award bookings.
More information can be found at https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/aadvantage-program-updates.jsp
Opinion: North America reacts. Europe… *cricket sounds*
It’s clear the North American market has now reacted in terms of how it wants to keep its elites flying and how they’re tempting them, with retention of status and offerings to get passengers in the air once COVID-19 calms down.
Meanwhile in Europe… there have been token efforts, with airlines trying to conserve cash, offering vouchers when they can and minimal changes to loyalty programmes.
Hopefully, the moves by the North American carriers might give the big airline groups in Europe pause for concern as they attempt to attract passengers back post-pandemic.
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Bet that rankles Parker to have to do this !