AAdvantage Loyalty Points
I was fairly quick to jump on the AAdvantage Loyalty Points train (or plane?) upon its 2022 arrival, first achieving Executive Platinum status that year and every one since. I can’t think of a loyalty program update that has changed my behavior more drastically. It’s been a fun ride. But, of course, American’s also a big winner with their diabolically-genius creation. Their traditional elite levels are still around and can be worth pursuing, but a more obfuscated competition is happening in the background, as well – which invariably pumps more interest and cash AA’s way. Today, I’m reminding everyone about one such wrinkle. Indeed, it’s been around since the scheme’s beginning, but it’s worth remembering.
The Most Sought-After AAdvantage Elite Benefit, Perhaps
Among the various benefits unlocked with American’s traditional, published elite levels – Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum – is one many covet most, complimentary upgrades. While individual tastes can vary, this is probably the most sought-after benefit.
To review, travelers at each level are theoretically eligible for confirmed upgrades on flights within North America in these respective timeframes:
- 24 hours prior to departure for Gold members
- 48 hours prior to departure for Platinum members
- 72 hours prior to departure for Platinum Pro members
- 100 hours prior to departure for Executive Platinum members
What Have You Done For Me Lately?
For AAdvantage, maybe Janet Jackson said it best. More elites, within and across various levels, are vying for a limited supply of complimentary upgrades. With the AAdvantage Loyalty Points program, a traveler’s specific elite status seems increasingly inconsequential on its own for obtaining a confirmed upgrade. So what is American considering, anyway?
American prioritizes upgrades based on:
- AAdvantage elite status
- Upgrade type (systemwide and mileage award upgrades prior to complimentary ones)
- Loyalty Points earned in the last 12 months (bold emphasis mine)
AA specifically notes a key aspect of #3. According to American, a member’s 12-month rolling Loyalty Point value updates daily and is different from the members year-to-date Loyalty Points used to track progress toward AAdvantage status.
When competing with members of a common status for a complimentary upgrade, American places higher value on members who have more recently earned superior amounts of Loyalty Points.
My Take
The days of picking up complimentary upgrades simply based on status have been gone for years (if they ever truly existed). And American has jacked up the competition even more. On a daily basis, American recomputes competing members’ rolling LP earning totals to determine complimentary upgrade priority.
And, again, complimentary upgrades is the most attractive benefit for many American elites. Inevitably, that rolling 12-month LP total is the tiebreaker for who does and does not get upgraded. With such focus on members’ LP earning for a superior benefit, American (and savvy LP earners) have moved passed the traditional elite levels. For complimentary upgrade priority, infinite elite levels exist.
All American elites are competing with each other, more than ever. And for those who care about upgrades, they’re incentivized to keep earning more Loyalty Points every day. In this way, the ka-ching never stops for American. Again, what a diabolically genius program!
AAdvantage elites who care about complimentary upgrades must have the stomach for the competition. For anyone who plays this type of game with AA, it’s key to understand the costs of doing so – time, effort, money, lost alternative rewards, etc.
AAdvantage Loyalty Points – Conclusion
For many, including this writer, participating in the AAdvantage Loyalty Points scheme is about more than just complimentary upgrades. Regardless, every individual should consider their motivation for pursuing status before they commit. Understand the programs and prospective benefits and evaluate accordingly. Know that walking the other way is a viable option. Everyone else is an easy mark.
How does the complimentary upgrades benefit play a role in your AAdvantage status chase?
I used to worry about trying to get an upgrade on domestic business trips where my company paid but was too cheap to book first class. I would even score one occasionally but usually only on weird routes from secondary airports on some weird time of day, like Sunday mornings at 7am. Then the upgrades stopped and I started noticing 20, 40, 60 or more people on the upgrade list and I knew it was over. I still enjoy some elite perks from time to time but I just assume I will never get an upgrade since I’m not EP or CK with 500,000 in loyalty points over the past year. For personal travel I usually book First anyway so it matters very little to me anymore. The game has changed and not worrying about an upgrade has allowed for less stress in my life.
Indeed. I think some in the hobby consider themselves quite clever that they can do this or that.
Consider the guy who does a “ghost” booking via AA’s hotel portal and says he earned 40X. Which really means he’s paying 2.5 cents per AA point. While he was getting some value, that’s still money he didn’t have to spend.
Some might MS an AA credit card for the LPs but the same MS dollar volume on another card will likely be worth more. That’s an opportunity cost.
Some might place purchases through the AA online shopping site when bonuses are high but the same dollar spending on Rakuten when bonuses are high will likely be worth more. That’s an opportunity cost.
But, they rationalize it.
For me, given the opportunity cost of tier status (as well as time and energy), just buying the premium cabin ticket is the best course of action. It comes with most benefits that tier status would provide.
So, unless tier status in a specific program provides a specific benefit I want that is otherwise unattainable, no thanks.